Asymmetric total syntheses of xanthatin and 11,13-dihydroxanthatin using a stereocontrolled conjugate allylation to γ-butenolide

The stereocontrolled conjugate allylation to an optically pure γ-butenolide provided direct and reliable access to a trans-fused series of xanthanolide sesquiterpenoids and allowed for the enantioselective total syntheses of xanthatin and 11,13-dihydroxanthatin to be efficiently achieved.