An Enantiodivergent Synthesis of Both Enantiomers of the Macrocyclic Lactone Curvularin

Abstract The macrocyclic lactone (S)‐curvularin (10) and its enantiomer ent‐10 were prepared in an enantiodivergent manner from (S)‐methyl 7‐hydroxyoctanoate (4), which was easily obtained on two different ways. Esterification of 4 under either retention or inversion of the chiral centre gave the enantiomeric diesters 7 and ent‐7. Chemoselective cleavage of the methyl ester groups of these diesters followed by intramolecular acylation and O‐debenzylation gave the two enantiomers of curvularin.