Facile synthesis of (−)-6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide by size-selective ring-closing/cross metathesis

A total synthesis of (−)-6-acetoxy-5-hexadecanolide, in six steps and 37% overall yield from (2R,3S)-1,2-epoxy-4-penten-3-ol is reported. The key synthetic step is a size-selective ring-closing/cross metathesis reaction in which lactone formation and alkyl chain extension are accomplished in an efficient one-pot process.