A concise and stereoselective synthesis of the A-ring fragment of the gambieric acids.

The A-ring fragment of the gambieric acids has been prepared by a short and efficient route. The key 3(2H)-furanone intermediate has been obtained by [2,3] rearrangement of an allylic oxonium ylide generated from intramolecular reaction of a crotyl ether with a copper carbenoid. A single stereogenic center has been set by using a chiral pool starting material and the other three have been established by using highly diastereoselective substrate-controlled transformations. [reaction--see text]