Progress in the Total Synthesis of Natural Products Embodying Diverse Furofuranone Motifs: A New Millennium Update

Abstract

AbstractComplex, functionally embellished natural products embodying diverse, oxygen rich furofuranone fragments like furo[3,4‐c]furanone, furo[2,3‐b]furanone, furo[3,4‐b]furan‐2(3H)‐one, furo[3,4‐b]furan‐4(2H)‐one and furo[3,4‐b]furan‐6(4H)‐one as the key motif and displaying wide range of biological activities such as anti‐cancer, anti‐HIV, anti‐microbial activities, etc., continue to draw considerable traction towards targeted synthesis, methodolgical developments as well as medicinal chemistry guided efforts. The challenging and tempting combination of complexity laden architecture and varied bioactivity profile, among the variegated furofuranone natural products has led to intense synthetic activity in the arena in recent years and culminated in the total synthesis of structurally diverse family of bioactive metabolites such as gracilioethers, syringolides, degraded spongianes etc. While comprehensively recounting the attainments in the total syntheses of furofuranone natural products in the past two decades (in the 21st century), this review attempts to identify the key tactics deployed in each synthetic campaign. This topical review aims at drawing and sustaining the interest of synthetic chemistry community in undertaking further creative pursuits towards this rich and enticing family of natural products while concurrently exploring the utility driven diversity space around them.