The first enantioselective total synthesis of the anti-Helicobacter pylori agent (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether

The first enantioselective synthesis of the anti-Helicobacter pylori agent (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether has been carried out in a convergent fashion by heterocycle-activated Julia olefination of a spiroacetal-containing sulfone fragment with a phthalide-containing aldehyde fragment. The total synthesis of (+)-spirolaxine methyl ether establishes the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product to be (3R^ll,2R^ll,5R^ll,7R).