First stereoselective total synthesis of pectinolide A

The enantioselective synthesis of bio-active 5,6-dihydro-α-pyrone, pectinolide A, has been achieved in 10 steps in good overall yield. Of the three stereogenic centres, the C-5/C-6 vic-diol was obtained using diastereo- and enantioselective Brown hydroxyl crotylation, while the C-3′ stereocentre was created by Jacobsen hydrolytic kinetic resolution method.