A new pathway to (+)-inthomycin C is reported that exploits an O-directed free radical hydrostannation reaction on (-)-12 and a Stille cross-coupling as key steps. Significantly, the latter process was effected on 19 where a gauche-pentane repulsive interaction could interfere. Our stereochemical studies on the alkynol (-)-12 and the enyne (+)-7 confirm that Ryu and Hatakeyama's (3S)-stereochemical revision of (+)-inthomycin C is invalid and that Zeeck and Taylor's original (3R)-stereostructure for (+)-inthomycin C is correct.

Stereochemical evidence is presented to demonstrate that (-)-inthomycin C has (3R)- and not (3S)-stereochemistry. Careful reappraisal of the previously published work2-5 now indicates that the Hatakeyama, Hale, Ryu, and Taylor teams all have synthesized (-)-(3R)-inthomycin C. The newly measured [α]D of pure (-)-(3R)-inthomycin C (98% ee) is -7.9 (c 0.33, CHCl3) and not -41.5 (c 0.1, CHCl3) as was previously reported in 2012.

Herein a new double O-directed free radical hydrostannation reaction is reported on the structurally complex dialkyldiyne 11. Through our use of a conformation-restraining acetal to help prevent stereocenter-compromising 1,5-H-atom abstraction reactions by vinyl radical intermediates, the two vinylstannanes of 10 were concurrently constructed with high stereocontrol using Ph3SnH/Et3B/O2. Distannane 10 was thereafter elaborated into the bis-vinyl iodide 9 via O-silylation and double I-Sn exchange; double Stille coupling of 9, O-desilylation, and oxidation thereafter furnished 8.

A new method for ketone enolate C-acylation is described which utilizes alkyl pentafluorophenylcarbonates, thiocarbonates, and thionocarbonates as the reactive acylating agents, and MgBr(2)·Et(2)O, DMAP, and i-Pr(2)NEt as the reagents for enolization. A wide range of ketones have been observed to undergo clean C-acylation via this protocol.

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