Biomimetic enantioselective total synthesis of (-)-siccanin via the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) and sequential radical cyclizations

(-)-Siccanin (1), a natural product possessing significant antifungal properties, was synthesized enantioselectively via a biomimetic route. This synthetic route features two sequential radical cyclizations: a Ti(III)-mediated radical cyclization of epoxyolefin 48 to construct the B-ring, and a Suarez reaction to establish the tetrahyrofuran ring. Chiral chroman moiety of siccanin was prepared based on our recent development of the Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation (AAA) of phenol trisubstituted allyl carbonates. Several other members of the siccanin family were also synthesized including siccanochromenes A (2), B (3), E (6), F (7), and the methyl ether of siccanochromene C (55). These studies may shed light on the biosynthesis of this novel family of compounds.