Leucascandrolide a: synthesis and related studies.

The total synthesis of the biologically active marine natural product leucascandrolide A is reported. A convergent strategy is employed, allowing for the rapid assembly of the macrolide moiety. Key steps of our approach include the diastereoselective addition of a zinc alkynilide to (R)-isopropylidene glyceraldehyde, the enantioselective copper(I) fluoride catalyzed aldol addition of a TMS-dienolate to crotonaldehyde, and the formation of a 2,6-trans-substituted tetrahydropyran by selenium-mediated intramolecular cyclization. Moreover, dramatic solvent effects observed in the macrolactonization reaction suggest that hydrogen-bonding effects play a critical role. An improved route to a key intermediate of our synthesis is documented.