Addition of Dithiols to Bis-Ynones:  Development of a Versatile Platform for the Synthesis of Polyketide Natural Products

The conjugate addition of dithiols to bis-ynones generates a versatile masked 1,3,5-triketone platform. These functional units are useful intermediates for the synthesis of oxygen-containing heterocycles commonly found in polyketide natural products. The tetrahydropyranyl fragments of the marine macrolides Lyngbouilloside and Callipeltoside A have been synthesized with use of this methodology.