A biomimetically inspired, efficient synthesis of the South 7 hemisphere of cephalostatin 7

Synthesis of the South 7 hemisphere of cephalostatin 7 is described applying a second-generation synthetic strategy, which retains all the existing carbons in hecogenin acetate 1. TFAT (trifluoroacetyl trifluoromethanesulfonate)-assisted E-ring opening yields the key D-ring cyclopentadiene. A facially selective [4 + 2] cycloaddition between a series of steroidal D-ring dienes and singlet oxygen was conformationally directed by the C21-Me stereochemistry of the side chain. Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation of the terminal olefin provides (S)-C25-OH. An acid-catalyzed SN2' intramolecular alkylation of an acetal oxygen was followed by a one-pot sequence of beta-elimination and spiroketalization. The new route provides a practical 16-operation synthesis of the South 7 hemisphere (20% overall), as well as a model for construction of the crucial North 1 hemisphere.