Total synthesis, biological evaluation of dendrodolides A–D and their analogues

Abstract

A concise total synthesis of dendrodolides A–D (1–4) has been accomplished in 10 steps from commercially available (R)-propylene oxide and 3-buten-1-ol as starting materials. The key steps involved in the synthesis are Jacobsen hydrolytic kinetic resolution, epoxide ring opening with 2-allyl-1, 3-dithiane, Yamaguchi esterification and ring-closing metathesis (RCM). In addition, a series of ester derivatives were prepared utilizing Yamaguchi esterification at the C-3 position of the dendrodolide core and screened for their efficacy against cancer cell lines.