Catalytic enantioselective intramolecular Tishchenko reaction of meso-dialdehyde: synthesis of (S)-cedarmycins

The first successful example of a catalytic enantioselective intramolecular Tishchenko reaction of a meso-dialdehyde in the presence of a chiral iridium complex is described. Chiral lactones were obtained in good yields with up to 91% ee. The obtained enantioenriched lactones were utilized for the first synthesis of (S)-cedarmycins A and B.