A Concise and Efficient Stereoselective Synthesis of the C1-C11 Fragment of Macrolactin A

A stereoselective synthesis of the C1–C11 fragment of macrolactin A, using original approaches for the introduction of the Z,E-diene stereochemistry and the C-7 stereogenic center, is reported. The adopted strategy has allowed us to build up the fragment by the assembly of three key intermediates via cross-metathesis, Still–Gennari, and Wittig olefinations. Opening of the commercially available chiral benzyl glycidol epoxide to the corresponding homoallylic alcohol introduced the C-7 chiral center. A cross-metathesis reaction was used to create the C5–C4 E double bond. The Still–Gennari reaction introduced the 2Z,4E-diene moiety and finally the Wittig reaction with a propargylic triphenylphosphorane introduced directly the 1,3-enyne unit in a highly efficient stereoselective fashion.