Progress in the total synthesis of rocaglamide

The first cyclopenta[b]benzofuran derivative, rocaglamide, from Aglaia elliptifolia, was found to exhibit considerable insecticidal activities and excellent potential as a therapeutic agent candidate in cancer chemotherapy; the genus Aglaia has been subjected to further investigation. Both the structural complexity of rocaglamide and its significant activity make it an attractive synthetic target. Stereoselective synthesis of the dense substitution pattern of these targets is a formidable synthetic challenge: the molecules bear five contiguous stereocenters and cis aryl groups on adjacent carbons. In past years of effort, only a handful of completed total syntheses have been reported, evidence of the difficulties associated with the synthesis of rocaglate natural products. The advance on total synthesis of rocaglamide was mainly reviewed from intramolecular cyclization and biomimetic cycloaddition approach.