Studies directed towards the stereoselective total synthesis of ilexlactone via a tandem ring-closing enyne metathesis protocol

Studies directed towards the stereoselective total synthesis of ilexlactone resulted in the synthesis of bicyclic systems 1a, 1b and ent-1a through tandem ring-closing enyne metathesis using Grubbs’ catalyst. The structures of synthetic 1a, 1b and ent-1a revealed that the proposed structure for ilexlactone is incorrect.