Three rings in one step: a quick approach to IKD-8344.

A highly efficient enantioselective total synthesis of the natural antibiotic IKD-8344 is achieved through a convergent route. This route features an otherwise impossible concurrent formation of the THF rings from a linear polyketide precursor through intramolecular O alkylations of mesylates in competition with normally rather facile β elimination and/or α racemization reactions (see scheme, Ms=methanesulfonyl).