Studies on the synthesis of quartromicins a(3) and d(3): synthesis of the vertical and horizontal bis-spirotetronate fragments.
Syntheses of the vertical (3) and horizontal (4) bis-spirotetronate units of quartromicins A3 and D3 are described, along with an efficient synthesis of alpha-hydroxy aldehyde exo-8b, a precursor to the exo-spirotetronate fragments 19 and 21.