A viable synthetic route to the furaquinocin-class antibiotics is described. The key steps include (1) Co-complex mediated stereospecific 1, 2-shift of an alkynyl group (9→ 6) to establish the C (2)-C (3) stereochemical relationship,(2) efficient construction of furanonaphthalene 20 from the sodium carboxylate derived from ester 19, and (3) stereoselective methylene transfer reaction to aldehyde 21 to establish the three ...