The total synthesis of the C19 lipid diols 5 and 6, the enantiomers of the anthelmintic marine natural products 1 and 3, is described. Key steps in the divergent syntheses include a syn selective epoxidation of a homoallylic alcohol, a one-pot alkoxypalladation-carbonylation-lactonisation reaction sequence and a DMEAD promoted Mitsunobu inversion.
