Efficient Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)‐Epipodophyllotoxin

Abstract

In only twelve steps the total synthesis of (−)-epipodophyllotoxin (2) has been completed starting from commercially available piperonal (1). The first stereocenter was formed under auxilary control, while the following epoxidation and radical cyclization proceeded with outstanding diastereoselectivity, which enabled the target molecule to be isolated in an overall yield of 30 % and with 97 % ee.