An antitumor acetogenin, muconin, was synthesized through a coupling reaction of a THF–THP segment and a terminal butenolide. The key reactions include 6-exo cyclization of an epoxy tetraol, regioselective cyclization of hydroxy tosylate, and stereoselectivereduction of an acyclic ketone adjacent to the 2,6-cis THP ring with Zn(BH4)2.
muconin, was synthesized through a coupling reaction of a THF–THP segment and a terminal butenolide. The key reactions include successive ether-ring formation reaction under acidic and basic conditions or one-pot double cyclization promoted by TBAF and stereoselective reduction of acyclic ketones adjacent to the 2,6-cis THP with Zn(BH4)2.