A concise total synthesis of (+)-pyrenolide D

The concise total synthesis of antitumor natural product (+)-pyrenolide D has been achieved in seven steps from readily available natural carbohydrate d-xylose with 10.8% overall yield. The key steps involved methylpropiolate-mediated stereoselective alkynylation on lactone carbonyl group and the tandem one-pot desilylation–spirolactonization.