Concise Synthesis of Key 3-Polyenoyl-5-methylenefuran-2,4-dione Putative Intermediates in Quartromicin Biosynthesis

Abstract

Concise syntheses of two 3-polyenoyl-5-methylenefuran-2,4-diones, which are proposed to be key intermediates in the biosynthesis of the unusual 32-membered carbocycle-containing quartromicin antibiotics, are reported involving acylation of 3-lithio-4-methoxy-5-methylene-5H-furan-2-one as a key step.