Iron(III) catalyzed direct synthesis of cis -2,7-disubstituted oxepanes. the shortest total synthesis of (+)-isolaurepan

Prins cyclization of bis-homoallylic alcohols with aldehydes catalyzed by iron(III) salts shows excellent cis selectivity and yields to form 2,7-disubstituted oxepanes. The iron(III) is able to catalyze this process with unactivated olefins. This cyclization was used as the key step in the shortest total synthesis of (+)-isolaurepan.This research was supported by the Spanish MINECO, cofinanced by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (CTQ2011-28417-C02-01/BQU)