An enantioselectivesynthesis of the C(17)-C(29) portion of the iejimalides has been accomplished through use of a Heck palladium-catalyzed olefination reaction and asymmetric aldolcondensations of dienals.
A concise and convergent totalsynthesis of the highly cytotoxic marine natural products iejimalide A-D (1-4) is reported, which relies on an effective ring-closingmetathesis (RCM) reaction of a cyclization precursor containing no less than 10 double bonds. Because of the exceptional sensitivity of this polyunsaturated intermediate and its immediate precursors toward acid, base, and even gentle warming