Synthesis of the aglycones of altromycins and kidamycin from a common intermediate

The aglycone structures 1 and 2, respectively corresponding to the antitumor antibiotic natural products altromycin and kidamycin, have been efficiently synthesized from a common advanced intermediate 3. A series of Claisen condensations and aromatizations affords the anthracene section of 3, followed by annulation of the pyrone ring. The functional groups of 3 can be manipulated for enantioselective introduction of the epoxide side-chain of altromycin aglycone 1, as well as synthesis of the kidamycin aglycone 2. [reaction: see text]