Total Synthesis of ent-Ascospiroketal B.

Ascospiroketal B was isolated from a marine-derived fungus as a structurally unique polyketide possessing a rare tricyclic core including 5,5-spiroketal-γ-lactone. An asymmetric total synthesis of ent-ascospiroketal B was achieved using an original synthetic route. The synthesis included the stereoselective construction of 5,5-spiroketal for ascospiroketal B and stereocontrolled construction of a quaternary asymmetric carbon by rearrangement of a trisubstituted epoxide.