An epoxidation approach to a chiral lactone: Application of the Shi epoxidation

The large-scale epoxidation of the alkene 7 with the organocatalyst, Epoxone (10), and Oxone as the oxidant is described. This is the first large-scale application of the Shi epoxidation methodology. The large-scale preparation of the catalyst 10 is also described. The potassium salt of the unsaturated acid precursor 7 was prepared by a Suzuki coupling from 3-fluorobenzyl chloride and the vinylborane 8 derived from 4-pentynoic acid.