A solution of (−)-Corey lactone 5-(4-phenylbenzoate) (17.6 g, 50.0 mmol) and TEMPO (0.16 g, 1.0 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (100 mL) was added to a solution of NaBr (0.5 g, 5.0 mmol), NaHCO3 (12.6 g, 150.0 mmol) and IPA (6.0 g, 100.0 mmol) in water (100 mL). 5% aq. NaOCl (about 150 mL) was added dropwise to the stirred mixture at −5 to 0° C. until disappearance of Corey lactone (TLC monitoring). The obtained mixture was stirred for 0.5 h at the same temperature. The aqueous layer was separated and extracted with CH2Cl2 (50 mL). The combined organic layers was added dropwise over 1 h to a stirred mixture of a solution of PhCH2CH2COCH2PO(OMe)2 (15.4 g, 60.0 mmol) in CH2Cl2 (20 mL) and 30% NaOH (8.0 g, 60.0 mmol) at 0–5° C. The mixture was stirred 0.5 h at the same temperature and treated with 10% aq. citric acid (100 mL). The aqueous layer was separated and extracted with CH2Cl2 (50 mL). The combined organic layers were dried over Na2SO4, filtered through short silica gel column and concentrated in vacuo. The oily residue (24.2 g) was dissolved in refluxed EtOH (150 mL) and cooled in ice bath. The precipitate was filtered off, washed with cold EtOH and dried in vacuo to give 20.1 g (84%) of (3aR,4R,5R,6aS)-4-(3-oxo-5-phenyl-1E-pentenyl)-5-(4-phenylbenzoyloxy)-hexahydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-2-one with 99.4% purity by HPLC: mp 129–130° C., [α]20D −142° (c 1.0, CHCl3); 1H NMR spectrum confirms the structure.
