The first enantioselective total synthesis of lantalucratin C and determination of its absolute configuration

Described here is the first enantioselective total synthesis of lantalucratin C, which was isolated from the rainforest plant Lantana involucrata, and which possesses anti-tumor activity. The OH group on the aromatic ring was systematically introduced by an appropriate management of the OH protecting groups. The alkyl side chain connected to a chiral carbon center was incorporated by directed ortho-lithiation of naphthalenes followed by asymmetric epoxidation. The furano-1,2-naphthoquinone skeleton was constructed from 3-hydroxyalkylnaphthalene by CAN-mediated oxidative cyclization. The absolute stereochemistry at the C2 carbon was assigned the R-configuration by the Kusumi-Mosher method.