A total synthesis of (+)-papulacandin D has been achieved in 31 steps, in a 9.2% overall yield from commercially available materials. The synthetic strategy divided the molecule into two nearly equal sized subunits, the spirocyclic C-arylglycopyranoside and the polyunsaturated fatty acid side-chain. The C-arylglycopyranoside was prepared in 11 steps in a 30% overall yield from triacetoxyglucal. The fatty acid side-chain was also prepared in 11 steps in a 30% overall yield from geraniol. The key strategic transformations in the synthesis are: (1) a palladium-catalyzed, organosilanolate-based cross-coupling reaction of a dimethylglucal-silanol with an electron-rich and sterically hindered aromatic iodide and (2) a Lewis-base catalyzed, enantioselective allylation reaction of a dienal and allyltrichlorosilane. A critical element in the successful execution of the synthesis was the development of a suitable protecting group strategy that satisfied a number of stringent criteria. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
A total synthesis of the antifungal agent papulacandin D is reported. The molecule is representative of a large class of C-aryl glycosides that exhibit significant antifungal activity. The synthetic strategy bifurcates the molecule into two nearly equal subunits, the arylglycoside and 18-carbon fatty acid side chain. The key strategic transformations are (1) the palladium catalyzed, organosilanolate-based cross-coupling of a protected glucal silanol and (2) a catalytic enantioselective allylation of a dienal using allyltrichlorosilane. The synthesis was accomplished in 31 steps overall from commercial starting materials to afford over 50 mg of the natural product.