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Updated: Feb 7, 2026

Development of Heterogeneous Enantioselective Catalysts using Chiral Metal-Organic Frameworks MOFs
Published on: January 17, 2020
Scalable Synthesis of (-)-Rasfonin Enabled by a Convergent Enantioselective α-Hydroxymethylation Strategy
Robert K Boeckman1, Justin M Niziol1, Kyle F Biegasiewicz1
1Department of Chemistry , University of Rochester , Rochester , New York 14627 , United States.
Abstract:
A scalable synthesis of the potent antitumor agent, (-)-rasfonin, has been achieved. The synthetic strategy features a highly convergent approach based on a single protocol construction of both major fragments via catalytic enantioselective α-hydroxymethylation of simple aliphatic aldehydes. The route described has been successful in the generation of gram quantities of the natural product and serves as the first synthetic strategy to provide sufficient material to continue studies related to its mechanism of action and potential as a cancer therapeutic.
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