Synthesis of tricyclic aryl spiroacetals related to the papulacandins

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0040-4020(96)00492-9

A convenient synthesis of aryl spiroacetals related to the antifungal agents, the populacandins, is reported. The synthetic methodology involves the addition of ortho-lithiated diethylbenzamides to lactones followed by acid catalysed cyclization of the resultant keto-alcohols.