Efficient Asymmetric Synthesis of Radicicol Dimethyl Ether:  A Novel Application of Ring-Forming Olefin Metathesis

A concise, stereospecific synthesis of radicicol dimethyl ether is presented. The strategy relies on a convergent three-stage assembly of the 14-membered lactone which has, as a key transformation, a novel ring-forming metathesis reaction utilizing a vinyl epoxide.