A new strategy for the synthesis of himbacine

Article abstract of DOI:10.1055/s-0030-1259918

A new strategy for the assembly of himbacine and analogues, which display potent biological activity, is described. A four-step route to a key intermediate has been developed, in which the key step is a highly diastereoselective Michael-Dieckmann domino reaction. Use of an enantioenriched Michael acceptor, readily obtained by an asymmetric dihydroxylation reaction, allowed kinetic resolution of the Michael donor, which was itself prepared by a domino reaction. Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart.