Facile and efficient synthesis of naturally occurring carbasugars (+)-pericosines A and C.

An efficient synthesis of antitumor marine natural product (+)-pericosine A was achieved from (−)-quinic acid in 11.7% overall yield, which is 20 times better than our previously reported synthesis. The crucial steps of this synthesis include the regio- and stereoselective bromohydrination of an unstable diene and the ring opening of an epoxide. This synthetic route was applicable to a synthesis of (+)-pericosine C and also to a synthesis of (−)-pericosine C.