A formal synthesis of the auriside aglycon.

A highly convergent formal synthesis of the auriside aglycon was achieved. An indene-based thiazolidinethione chiral auxiliary was used for the construction of both the C1-C9 and C10-C17 fragments via acetate aldol reactions. A Meinwald reaction was utilized to install the stereocenter at C2, and a conjugated addition to an ynone was used to construct the C9-C11 enone.