A new stereocontrolled synthetic route to (-)-echinosporin from D-glucose via Padwa allenylsulfone [3 + 2]-anionic cycloadditive elimination.

A new formal total synthesis of (-)-echinosporin has been developed based upon the Padwa [3 + 2]-cycloadditive elimination reaction of allenylsulfone 4 with the D-glucose-derived enone 14 which provides cycloadduct 12.