Asymmetric Synthesis of (+)‐Tanikolide and the β‐Methyl‐Substituted Analogues of (+)‐Tanikolide and (–)‐Malyngolide

Abstract The δ‐lactone‐containing natural product (+)‐tanikolide, a brine shrimp toxin and antifungal compound, was synthesized in nine steps with an overall yield of 26.4 % by employing Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and ZrCl 4 ‐catalyzed intramolecular acetalization as the key steps. The novel β‐methyl‐substituted analogues of (+)‐tanikolide and(–)‐malyngolide have also been prepared by using the same asymmetric synthetic approach.