An efficient synthesis of the fully elaborated isoindolinone unit of muironolide A

An efficient stereocontrolled construction of the fully substituted isoindolone subunit of muironolide A is described. The approach is centered on the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction between the enol form of the β-keto amide and an α,β,γ,δ-unsaturated ester, followed by the installation of the cyclohexene double bond.