An Approach to the Synthesis of the Eupomatilones

Abstract
[structure: see text] A concise approach to the eupomatilone family of lignans is presented. The strategy employs an intramolecularly competitive Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of a densely functionalized bis-allylic ester. The rearrangement serves both to construct the A-ring and to establish the stereochemistry at C(3) and C(4).