Stereoselective total synthesis of (+)-artemisinin

The total synthesis of the novel antimalarial drug, a sesquiterpene endoperoxide, (+)-artemisinin is described. The approach is flexible and stereoselective. The use of an intermolecular radical reaction on an intermediate iodolactone and a Wittig reaction on a ketone were employed for the synthesis. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.