10.1021/ol047877d
The article details the development of a highly stereoselective and efficient total synthesis of the natural product (+)-laurencin from the known oxazolidinone 5 in 15 steps. Key steps in the synthesis include an efficient internal alkylation to form oxocene 3 from 4 and a novel use of acetonitrile anion as a two-carbon acetaldehyde equivalent for direct synthesis of ketone 2 from r-alkoxy amide 3. The synthesis also involves the use of various chemicals such as allylic iodide A, methanol, DMAP, Dibal-H, N,N-dimethyl bromoacetamide, Hooz protocol reagents, KHMDS, lithium anion of acetonitrile, L-Selectride, Wittig reagent phosphorane B, acetic anhydride, DDQ, TBAF, and bromination reagents. These chemicals play crucial roles in the alkylation, reduction, nucleophilic addition, and other transformations necessary to achieve the final product (+)-laurencin, whose spectral characteristics and optical rotation match those of the natural product.