| abstract |
A method of preparing (+)-calanolide A, 1, a potent HIV reverse transcriptase inhibitor, from chromene 4 is provided. According to the disclosed method, chromene 4 intermediate was subjected to a chlorotitanium-mediated aldol reaction with acetaldehyde to selectively produce (+/-)-8a. Separation and enzyme-mediated resolution of (+/-)-8a produced (+)-8a. Cyclization of (+)-8a under neutral Mitsunobu conditions followed by Luche reduction of (+)-7 produced (+)-calanolide A in high yield and enantiomeric purity. The method of the invention has been extended to produce potent antiviral calanolide A analogues. |