Approach toward the total synthesis of 5-hydroxyaloin A.

The synthesis of a thiomethyl analogue of 5-hydroxyaloin A has been achieved using benzyne and naphthyne [4 + 2] cycloadditions with substituted furans. A regiocontrolled cycloaddition was achieved using a silicon tether, and a regioselective ring opening was accomplished using a sulfide as a directing group.