The total synthesis of the epidermal growth factor inhibitor reveromycin B (2) is described. A novel, convergent, and stereoselective reaction sequence was utilized to construct the 5,6-spiroketal system 10 which was converted into the natural product 2 by a 16-step sequence.
Full details of a study leading to a synthesis of the optically active C13-C26 lower subunit of rhizoxin including the side-chain chromophore characteristic of the full class of antimitotic agents are described. A key element of the synthesis is the stereoselective introduction of the C18-C19 trisubstituted olefin through use of a Wadsworth-Horner-Emmons condensation of 3 with beta-keto phosphonate 38 bearing resident functionality suitable for the diastereoselective introduction of C15-C17 employing a hydroxyl-directed reduction of the resultant beta-hydroxy ketone.