Enantio- and stereoselective route to the phoslactomycin family of antibiotics: formal synthesis of (+)-fostriecin and (+)-phoslactomycin B.

A general methodology applicable for the synthesis of the phoslactomycin family of antibiotics, potent and selective protein phosphatase inhibitors, has been developed starting from a beta-isocupreidine-catalyzed asymmetric Baylis-Hillman reaction of 3-(4-methoxybenzyloxy)propanal with hexafluoroisopropyl acrylate, and thereby formal syntheses of (+)-fostriecin and (+)-phoslactomycin B have been accomplished.