Synthesis of pterocellin A.

The first total synthesis of pterocellin A (1) was achieved in 10 linear steps from commercially available kojic acid (6) and 2-bromo-3-pyridinol (11) in a convergent sequence. The key constructive steps are a directed lithiation to couple two pyridines and an intramolecular nucleophilic aromatic substitution to form 1. [structure: see text]