Starting from citraconic anhydride () a facile four-step synthesis of deoxyellipsoidone has been reported with 37% overall yield. An elegant six-step access to naturally occurring cytotoxic ellipsoidone A () and ellipsoidone B () has been reported with good overall yields, via the conversion of itaconic anhydride () to the acetoxymethylmaleic anhydride (), regioselective sodium borohydride reduction of anhydride to acetoxymethylbutyrolactone, ...
