Stereodivergent and reiterative synthesis of bistetrahydrofuran ring cores of annonaceous acetogenins.

Eight diastereoisomers of the bistetrahydrofuran ring cores of annonaceous acetogenins have been synthesized by asymmetric alkynylation of alpha-tetrahydrofuranic aldehydes and stereodivergent one-pot tetrahydrofuran (THF) ring formation. In all cases, the asymmetric alkynylation proceeded with very high diastereoselectivity to give eight kinds of optically pure THF cores. We also describe a comparison of the (1)H and (13)C NMR spectral data of the eight isomers and give full details of the THF ring construction.