Diastereoselective addition of monoorganocuprates to a chiral fumarate: reaction development and synthesis of (−)-dihydroprotolichesterinic acid

Recent studies of diastereoselective conjugate additions of monoorganocuprates, Li[RCuI], to chiral γ-alkoxycrotonates and fumarates are disclosed. This methodology was applied to the shortest total synthesis of (−)-dihydroprotolichesterinic acid to date, but several attempts to prepare other succinate-derived natural products, such as pilocarpine and antrodin E, were unsuccessful.

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