Annulation–retro-Claisen cascade of bifunctional peroxides for the synthesis of lactone natural products

A new and highly efficient annulation-retro-Claisen cascade, which involves the [4 + 1] or [5 + 1] annulation of α-benzoylacetates with bielectrophilic peroxides and a subsequent debenzoylation process under mild basic conditions, has been developed for the rapid construction of valuable tetrahydrofuran- and dihydropyran-2-carboxylates in good yields. By employing the new reaction, the unified total synthesis of γ- and δ-lactone natural products such as (±)-tanikolide, (±)-goniothalamins, (±)-7-epi-goniodiol, and (±)-plakolide A has been accomplished in 4-7 steps.