Synthesis of novel 11-desmethyl analogues of laulimalide by Nozaki-Kishi coupling.

As a first entry into structurally simplified analogues of the anticancer agent laulimalide, 11-desmethyl compounds 2 and 3 were selected by molecular modeling. The unfavorable diastereoselectivity in the key synthetic step, a Nozaki-Kishi coupling between macrocyclic aldehyde 4 and vinyl iodide 5, was overcome either by use of catalytic amounts of DIANANE-type ligands or L-Selectride reduction of the derived enone. This methodology should allow modular introduction of other, unnatural, side chains. [reaction: see text]