• The first step of the reaction proceeds by tautomerism.
• A conjugate addition occurs in the second stage of the reaction.
• There is an example of the E1cB mechanism in the final stages of the reaction.
• Ring closure is via. a base catalysed aldol reaction.
• The final step of the reaction features a rare example of OH^- as a leaving group.
  
  
  References:
• Zhong G.; Hoffmann T.; Lerner R.A.; Danishefsky S.; Barbas III C.F.; Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1997, Volume 119, Issue 34, 8131-8132
• Snider B.B.; Shi B.; Tetrahedron Letters, 2001, Volume 42, Issue 52, 9123-9126