A total synthesis of the Annonaceous acetogenin mucocin has been accomplished. The synthesis follows a convergent strategy, wherein at a very late stage the left part of the molecule is connected with the right part. The key reaction is the stereocontrolled addition of an organomagnesium compound 2 to the aldehyde 3. The THP ring of mucocin is build by a 6-endo epoxide cyclization of an epoxyacetonide
A highly convergent, modular strategy for the total synthesis of the annonaceousacetogenin (-)-mucocin is reported. The remarkable features are the endo-selective formation of the tetrahydropyran ring from an activated epoxide and the stability of the butenolide in the coupling with an organomagnesium compound.