Formation of Substituted Tetrahydropyrans through Oxetane Ring Opening: Application to the Synthesis of C1-C17 Fragment of Salinomycin

The stereoselective synthesis of C1-C17 fragment of salinomycin is achieved. The strategy employs a desymmetrization approach and utilizes an intramolecular oxetane opening reaction with O-nucleophile to result in the tetrahydropyran skeleton as the key step.