A divergent approach to the synthesis of simplexides and congeners via a late-stage olefin cross-metathesis reaction.

Simplexides constitute a unique group of immunosuppressive glycolipids that demonstrate antiproliferative activities against activated T-cell lymphocytes via a unique non-cytotoxic inhibition. To investigate the structure-activity relationship of the varied long-chain secondary alcohols on simplexides, we developed an efficient and divergent route to the synthesis of simplexides and congeners, taking advantage of a late-stage olefin cross-metathesis reaction.