Stereoselective Total Synthesis of the Dimeric Naphthoquinonopyrano-γ-lactone (−)-Crisamicin A: Introducing the Dimerization Site by a Late-Stage Hartwig Borylation

The first stereoselective total synthesis of the dimeric naphthoquinonopyrano-γ-lactone (−)-crisamicin A was realized (13 steps, 5% overall yield). 1,4,5-Trimethoxynaphthalene, reached in five known steps, was brominated at C-3 to install a but-3-enoic ester by an ensuing Heck coupling. An asymmetric Sharpless dihydroxylation followed and gave a β-hydroxy-γ-lactone with >99.9% ee. Its OH substituent and acetaldehyde established the dihydropyran ring in a completely diastereoselective oxa-Pictet–Spengler cyclization. The 2,3-fused anisole moiety allowed the C5–H bond under Hartwig’s conditions to be borylated. This set the stage for engaging the resulting C5–B bond in an oxidative dimerization, which led to a binaphthohydroquinon-5-yl. The latter was advanced to synthetic crisamicin A by a double CAN oxidation (→ a binaphthoquinon-5-yl) and a double demethylation.