10.1016/S0040-4039(00)97726-8
Morio Asaoka, Masahito Sakurai, and Hisashi Takei from the Department of Life Chemistry at the Tokyo Institute of Technology describe the first successful synthesis of (+)-ptilocaulin, a compound isolated from the Caribbean sponge Ptilocaulis aff. P. spiculifer, known for its antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties. The synthesis begins with (S)-(+)-5-trimethylsilyl-2-cyclohexenone (1), undergoing a series of reactions including 1,4-addition of a Grignard reagent, elimination of the trimethylsilyl group with CuCl2, further 1,4-addition with dimethylcuprate, alkylation with crotyl bromide, hydrogenation, and treatment with guanidine and dilute nitric acid. The final product, (+)-ptilocaulin nitrate, is obtained with a melting point of 182.5-184°C and an optical rotation of [a]D +74.1°, closely matching the literature values.