A Diels-Alder approach to (-)-ovalicin

Tiefenbacher, Konrad; Arion, Vladimir B.; Mulzer, Johann.   

Angewandte Chemie, International Edition  (2007),  46(15),  2690-2693.

A round at the Oval: The antiangiogenic activity of the natural product ovalicin has sparked significant interest. A highly efficient enantio- and diastereoselective total synthesis of ovalicin proved successful in which the key step involved an endo selective Diels-Alder reaction (see scheme, PG=protecting group).