Total synthesis of hyptolide

The total synthesis of hyptolide, a naturally occurring α,β-unsaturated six-membered δ-lactone substituted with a polyoxygenated chain, is described. Sharpless kinetic resolution and opening of two different epoxy alcohols under two different conditions—Swern oxidation conditions and a radical reaction using Cp2TiCl—fixed the stereocenters at C-9, C-11, and C-12, respectively. Brown’s asymmetric allylation reaction installed the remaining stereocenter at C-6. A RCM protocol was used for construction of the α,β-unsaturated six-membered δ-lactone moiety of the molecule.