A Concise and Efficient Total Synthesis of Militarinone D

A highly stereoselective, concise (14 steps longest linear sequence and 20 steps overall), and efficient (15% overall yield) synthesis of militarinone D has been accomplished. The key reactions utilized in the sequence are enzymatic desymmetrization, cis/trans isomerization, Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination, and addition of an organolithium species to a highly conjugated chiral aldehyde. The simplicity of the strategy may enable its utilization in the large-scale production of this target. Moreover, the strategy utilized to design the route should be applicable to the preparation of analogs that bear a variety of substituted pyridinone core structures.