Abstract
Herein we report the stereoselective total synthesis of Exserolide F. The key step involves triflic acid catalyzed highly regioselective intramolecular cyclization of an O-alkynyl benzoic acid derivative to accomplish the core isocoumarin skeleton of the natural product via 6-endo-dig mode of cyclization. The other important steps are: Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, Barbier propargylation, Sonogashira coupling en route to access the O-alkynyl benzoic acid derivative.
Graphical Abstract
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