Total synthesis and revision of C6 stereochemistry of (+)-amphidinolide W

An enantioselective first total synthesis and structural revision of the cytotoxic natural product amphidinolide W is described. We initially investigated a ring-closing metathesis based synthetic strategy to form the 12-membered macrocycle. This strategy was unsuccessful as it led to formation of a 17-membered macrocycle. Subsequently, we explored an alternative strategy that involved cross-metathesis followed by a Yamaguchi macrolactonization reaction sequence utilizing the same key intermediates. This strategy led to the synthesis of amphidinolide W. The synthesis was carried out in a convergent manner, and four of the five stereogenic centers in amphidinolide W were set by asymmetric synthesis. The synthesis features Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation, diastereoselective alkylation, efficient cross-metathesis of functionalized substrates, and novel functional group transformations using selective lipase-catalyzed hydrolysis of the primary acetate group. Of particular note, the C6 absolute stereochemistry of amphidinolide W has now been revised through our synthesis.