Cladospolide A

An eleven-step synthesis of the title compound (1) from biocatalytically-derived and enantiomerically pure 'building blocks' alcohol (R)-(-)-9 and ester 13 is described. Attempts to construct the twelve-membered lactone ring of cladospolide A in a direct manner by using a ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction failed. However, a ten-membered lactone 19, could be constructed by such means and this was then subject to a two-carbon homologation sequence involving, inter alia, Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons and Yamaguchi lactonisation reactions in the closing stages of the synthesis. The impact of substituent stereochemistries and protecting groups on the RCM reaction leading to various ten-membered lactones is also described.

A simple, efficient and flexible strategy for the syntheses of cladospolides A-C and iso-cladospolide B is reported here. This strategy involves Julia-Kocienski olefination and Yamaguchi macrolactonization as key steps, starting from either d-ribose or suitable tartaric acid esters. Although our initial efforts towards cladospolide A involving a ring closing metathetic approach were not successful, changing the mode of ring closure and the use of Julia-Kocienski olefination for the construction of the key intermediate solved this issue and paved the way for the completion of total syntheses of this class of natural products.