Synthesis of the bis-spiroacetal core of the antimitotic agent spirastrellolide B

The spirastrellolides are a family of potent antimitotic agents isolated from the marine sponge Spirastrella coccinea . Synthetic studies toward the DEF bis-spiroacetal core of spirastrellolide B are reported. A modular approach was pursued by the use of two dithiane disconnections to enable a highly convergent synthesis. The ease of lithiation and nucleophilicity of these 2-substituted-1,3-dithianes were investigated during the course of the synthesis, and the alkylations were found to proceed most efficiently at elevated temperatures. Formation of the [5,6,6]-bis-spiroacetal ring system was achieved via a double dithiane deprotection/spiroacetalization strategy.