A concise synthesis of castanospermine by the use of a transannular cyclization.

A nine-step synthesis of (+)-castanospermine has been accomplished in 22% overall yield from methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside. The key transformations involve a zinc-mediated fragmentation of benzyl-protected methyl 6-iodoglucopyranoside, ring-closing olefin metathesis, and strain-release transannular cyclization to afford the indolizidine skeleton of the natural product.