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Updated: Feb 9, 2026

Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs
Published on: January 17, 2020
Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Anthecularin
Yusuke Ogura1, Shoko Okada1, Naoki Mori1
1Department of Applied Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences , The University of Tokyo , 1-1-1 Yayoi , Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8657 , Japan.
Abstract:
An enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-anthecularin, an antiplasmodial and antitrypanosomal sesquiterpene lactone, has been achieved in 3.9% overall yield through 18 steps from a known dibromo alcohol. The key features of the synthesis include an intramolecular Claisen-type cyclization of a formyl-protected hydroxyl lactone to construct a bicyclic intermediate with a quaternary stereogenic center and a stereocontrolled 1,2-addition of vinyllithium to a methoxyethyl-protected spirocyclic hydroxyl enone to install a tetrasubstituted asymmetric center with excellent diastereoselection. This first enantioselective synthesis of anthecularin enabled the determination of its absolute configuration as 2 R, 3 R, 4 S, 8 R.
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