Approaches towards the total synthesis of carolacton: synthesis of C1–C16 fragment

A stereoselective synthesis of the C1–C16 segment of biofilm inhibitor carolacton has been achieved. The synthetic strategy involves Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, Roush crotylation, Steglich esterification, RCM reaction and selective reduction of a disubstituted olefin in the presence of a trisubstituted olefin using in situ generated diimide.