Versicolactones A and B: total synthesis and structure revision

To further determine absolute configurations of versicolactones A and B, total synthesis of versicolactones A and B and their six stereoisomers were reported in this Letter. The 1H and 13C NMR spectra of the synthetic erythro-stereoisomers matched perfectly with those of the natural products. Combined with the comparison of the specific rotations, the absolute configuration of versicolactones A and B were revised as (4Z,6R,7S)- and (4E,6R,7S)- from the corresponding (4Z,6R,7R)- and (4E,6R,7R)-6,7-dihydroxyocta-2,4-dien-4-lactone, respectively.