Total Syntheses of Periconiasins A-E.

The first and collective total syntheses of periconiasins A-E, a group of naturally occurring cytochalasans, were achieved by a series of rationally designed or bioinspired transformations. Salient features of the syntheses include a tandem aldol condensation/Grob fragmentation to assemble the linear polyketide-amino acid hybrid precursor, a Diels-Alder macrocylization to construct the 9/6/5 tricyclic core of periconiasins A-C, and a transannular carbonyl-ene reaction to forge the polycyclic framework of periconiasins D and E.