Stereocontrolled synthesis of substituted bicyclic ethers through oxy-Favorskii rearrangement: Total synthesis of communiol E

A convenient, stereocontrolled route to branched cis-fused bicyclic ethers through halolactonization, α-bromination, and oxy-Favorskii rearrangement is developed. The total synthesis of communiol E, a bicyclic polyketide isolated from Podospora communis, was achieved based on this method.