Enantioselective Approach to the Right-Hand Substructure of Solanoeclepin A

An enantioselective synthesis of the right-hand substructure of solanoeclepin A has been developed. The key step was an intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition between an allene and a butenolide providing a methylenecyclobutane with three quaternary carbon atoms in a complex tetracyclic framework. Other crucial steps included an enantioselective Noyori transfer hydrogenation of a ketone, a diastereoselective silver-mediated silyl dienolate allylation, and a diastereoselective cyclopropanation of an allylic alcohol. The installation of the bridgehead methyl group by reduction of the lactone moiety proved to be troublesome.