Synthesis of a functionalised bis-spiroacetal

Abstract The synthesis of bis-spiroacetal (15) bearing an hydroxymethyl group at C-2 is described establishing a methodology for preparation of the polyether antibiotics salinomycin and narasin. Formation of an important iodohydrin intermediate has been accomplished by a highly efficient reaction of an epoxide with LiI catalysed by BF 3 .Et 2 O in THF. Displacement of the resulting neopentyl iodide was achieved in high yield by reaction of the iodide with potassium superoxide in dimethylsulphoxide/tetrahydrofuran in the presence of 18-crown-6.