Studies towards the synthesis of halomon: asymmetric hexafunctionalisation of myrcene.

A novel dihydroxylation-dibromination-dihydroxylation sequence employing in situ protection of diols as boronate esters during the dihydroxylation reactions provides the first enantiomerically pure hexafunctionalised myrcene derivative. This concise four-step asymmetric sequence provides an advanced intermediate for the targeted synthesis of halomon via stereospecific transformations, where both stereogenic centres of the natural product have been set.