Enantioselective total synthesis of the polyketide natural product (−)-EI-1941-2: a novel interleukin-1β converting enzyme (ICE) inhibitor

An enantioselective total synthesis of the novel bioactive epoxyquinone natural product (−)-EI-1941-2, exhibiting promising ICE inhibiting activity, has been accomplished from a readily available chiron derived from the Diels-Alder adduct of cyclopentadiene and p-benzoquinone.