Total synthesis of lobatoside E, a potent antitumor cyclic triterpene saponin.

Lobatoside E, a novel and complex cyclic triterpene saponin showing potent antitumor activities, has been synthesized for the first time, employing a highly modular approach. The synthesis, starting with oleanolic acid, D-glucose, D-galactose, L-arabinose, and L-rhamnose, requires a total of 73 steps, with the longest linear sequence of 31 steps and in 1.2% overall yield.