Studies towards the Synthesis of the Antibiotic Tetrodecamycin

A study towards the natural product tetrodecamycin is reported. A modified Schlosser–Wittig reaction was utilized to prepare the precursor for the subsequent intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction, which delivered the trans -decalin ring of the natural product. The tetronic­ acid moiety of the molecule was prepared by a Dieckmann cyclization­. The cyclization of the tetronic acid to the trans -decalin double­ bond to form a seven-membered ring was examined.