An approach to the synthesis of the phomoidrides

The phomoidrides are a structurally fascinating family of natural products which possess moderate inhibitory activity against Ras farnesyl transferase and squalene synthase. Since their discovery they have inspired a great deal of attention from synthetic chemists. Our own work, culminating in an efficient synthesis of the fully elaborated tetracyclic core of phomoidrides B and D, is described herein. The synthesis relies on a late stage tandem reaction involving a novel carbonylation reaction that delivers the strained bicyclic pseudoester system, which strain in turn drives a highly efficient silyloxy-Cope rearrangement that delivers the tetracyclic core of phomoidrides B and D. Several examples of this powerful tandem reaction are presented that document its tolerance of significant structural variation. The application of this methodology to the synthesis of a phomoidride D precursor lacking only the maleic anhydride is described, and the prospects for the completion of a total synthesis are discussed.