A stereoselective and efficient total synthesis of optically active tetrodotoxin (TTX) is described. Apolyfunctionalized key cyclitol compound containing branched-chains for the synthesis of TTX wasprepared from
D-glucose employing the Henry reaction (Nitro aldol reaction) as the key transformation.Stereoselective construction of the
-azido-aldehyde branched-chain was achieved via the key spiro
-chloroepoxide intermediate.