Modular total syntheses of thymifodioic/incanic acids

Abstract

The first total synthesis of the bioactive natural product 2,6-(E,E)-thymifodioic acid, also called incanic acid, and its stereoisomers is described. An unified, iterative and modular strategy was envisioned, achieving the synthesis of the goals products after five reaction steps in an overall yield ranging from 8% to 16%. The key step is a non-expensive easy to perform Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons condensation.