Total synthesis of hibarimicinone, a v-Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor possessing the pseudo-dimer structure of tetracycline.

The total synthesis of hibarimicinone, a potent v-Src tyrosine kinase inhibitor possessing thirteen stereogenic centers and an axial chirality, has been achieved. The key step to constructing the eight-ring skeleton was the double Michael–Dieckmann-type cyclization (Hauser annulation) using a thiolactone pseudo-dimer. These synthetic studies indicated the efficiency of the thiolactone-employed route to synthesize the multiply functionalized polycyclic compounds. The ABCD-ring moiety including the bridging ether was constructed by a strategy including oxidation of the C-ring hydroquinone and the subsequent transfer of the oxidation stage to the neighboring ring. The atropisomer of hibarimicinone was also synthesized to confirm the structure of the natural product.