Convergent synthesis of the E'FGH' ring fragment of ciguatoxin 1B via an acetylene cobalt complex strategy.
[reaction: see text] A convergent synthesis of the E'FGH' ring fragment of ciguatoxin has been accomplished through (i) coupling between the E' ring-acetylide and the H' ring-aldehyde, (ii) stereoselective F ring cyclization via an acetylene cobalt complex, (iii) conversion to a carbonyl function, and (iv) reductive hydroxy-ketone cyclization to construct the G ring.