Total synthesis of (-)-dihydrosporothriolide utilizing an indium-mediated Reformatsky-Claisen rearrangement.

The asymmetric synthesis of (-)-dihydrosporothriolide (1), a biologically active bis-γ-butyrolactone, is described, that proceeds through a D-proline-catalyzed asymmetric aminooxylation, indium-mediated Reformatsky-Claisen rearrangement of an α,α-dibromoacetate derivative, and diastereoselective dihydroxylation. The route requires no protective group manipulation and allows the concise seven-step synthesis of 1 from n-octanal.