Abstract The enantioselective synthesis of cytostatic and antibiotic xanthatin (1 a) is reported. As a key intermediate, a bicyclic compound 2 was identified, which can be readily synthesized from methyl-2-furoic acid in diastereo-and enantiomerically pure form. Compound 2 can be functionalized regio-and stereoselectively at C-6 and C-7, allowing the facile introduction of the functionalities found in xanthatin, as well as the synthesis of ...
