Total synthesis of natural enantiomers of heliespirones A and C via the diastereoselective intramolecular Hosomi-Sakurai reaction.

A full account of the development of a novel type of the intramolecular Hosomi-Sakurai reactions of the substrates with a p-benzoquinone and an allylsilane moieties connected by an ether linkage is described. This transformation proceeds via an addition-elimination sequence and provides the products with two stereogenic centers through a 1,3(or 1,4)-asymmetric induction in good to excellent diastereoselectivities. A reasonable mechanistic possibility for the reaction, determination of the stereochemistry for the product, and scope and limitation of the transformation are also discussed.