The total synthesis of (R)-kavain and of the C1-C6 fragment of jerangolid D has been achieved in nine and seven steps, respectively, from commercially available dimethyl D-Malate. A metathesis reaction of vinyl ethers and a sulfoxide-modified Julia olefination have been employed as the key steps. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Pospisil, J., & Marko, I. (2008). Metathesis-based synthesis of 3-methoxy alpha,beta-unsaturated lactones: total synthesis of (R)-kavain and of the C1-C6 fragment of jerangolid D. Tetrahedron Letters, 49(9), 1523-1526. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tetlet.2007.12.113 (Original work published 2008)