Stereoselective synthesis of key fragments for the synthesis of aplysiatoxin has been achieved. All the stereogenic carbons contained in fragments B≈E were elaborated on the basis of [2,3] Wittig rearrangement and titanium-mediated asymmetric epoxidation.
Two steps synthesis of 3-acetoxyfuran derivative (4) from acetylene derivative (3) and the conversion of 4 to (3R,4R)-3,4-dihydroxypentanoic acid derivative (5) are described.