Abstract Recently isolated 4-benzyl-3-phenylfuran-2, 5-dione and antifungal gymnoascolide A have been synthesized using the chemoselective SN 2′ coupling of phenylmagnesium bromide with dimethyl 2-(bromomethyl) fumarate, chemoselective allylic substitution of bromide in 3-(bromomethyl)-4-phenylfuran-2, 5-dione with phenylmagnesium bromide and regioselective N-Selectride-induced reduction of 3-benzyl-4-phenylfuran-2, 5-dione as the ...