Formal total synthesis of (-)-saliniketals

A highly stereoselective formal total synthesis of the ornithine decarboxylase inhibitors (-)-saliniketals A and B is described. The salient features in the synthesis involved desymmetrization technique to create six contiguous chiral centers from a single bicyclic precursor as well as substrate-controlled Grignard reaction, intramolecular Wacker-type oxidation, and antialdol reaction following Pirrung-Heathcock conditions.