Expedient enantioselective synthesis of cermizine D.

An efficient enantioselective synthesis of cermizine D has been developed that exploits the use of a common intermediate to access over 85% of the carbon backbone. Key steps include an organocatalyzed heteroatom Michael addition, a diastereoselective alkylation with α-iodomethyl phenyl sulfide, a conjugate addition to a vinyl sulfone species, and a sulfone coupling/desulfurization sequence to join the two major subunits.