A concise synthesis of the molecular framework of pleuromutilin.

Two syntheses of the tricyclic carbon skeleton of pleuromutilin are reported. Diastereoselective 1,4-conjugate additions were used to elaborate bicyclic precursors at an early stage of each route, while ring-forming olefin metatheses were executed to complete the pleuromutilin carbon framework. The congeners prepared are appropriately functionalized to enable access to diverse pleuromutilin analogues.