Total Synthesis of Anticancer Agent EBC-23

Total synthesis of spiroketal EBC-23 has been described by two divergent approaches from three simple building blocks. Gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of alkynol and acid-mediated spirocyclization of diketalketone were successfully utilized to effect spiroketal formation. A Cu­(I)–P­(Cy)3-catalyzed protocol for the highly regio- and stereocontrolled hydroboration of internal propargylic alcohol was effectively applied toward the β-hydroxy ketone via vinylboronates.