Convergent syntheses of the WXYZ ring of maitotoxin and the HIJK ring of brevisulcenal-F

A convergent method to construct the 6/7/6/6-tetracyclic ether system possessing contiguous angular methyl groups was developed. The key steps of the synthesis involve coupling of a lithium acetylide and an aldehyde, cyclodehydration of a hydroxy ketone to form a dihydropyran, ring expansion of a six-membered ring ketone into a seven-membered one, and methylation of a mixed-thioacetal. Based on this strategy, syntheses of the WXYZ ring of maitotoxin and the HIJK ring of brevisulcenal-F were achieved, and the stereochemistry of the HIJK ring of brevisulcenal-F was confirmed.