Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026

Synthesis of an Intein-mediated Artificial Protein Hydrogel
Published on: January 27, 2014
Total Synthesis of Conulothiazole A
Antoine Nitelet1, Phidéline Gérard1, Jimmy Bouche1
1Laboratoire de Chimie Organique, Service de Chimie et PhysicoChimie Organiques , Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) , Avenue F. D. Roosevelt 50 , CP160/06, 1050 Brussels , Belgium.
Researchers report an efficient total synthesis of conulothiazole A, a chlorinated natural product. Key steps included a novel rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation and a versatile vinylic Finkelstein reaction for installing the chlorinated alkene.
Area of Science:
- Organic Chemistry
- Natural Product Synthesis
Background:
- Conulothiazole A is a complex chlorinated thiazole-containing natural product.
- Efficient synthetic routes are crucial for accessing and studying such molecules.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an efficient total synthesis of conulothiazole A.
- To establish key methodologies applicable to the synthesis of chlorinated alkenes.
Main Methods:
- Rhodium-catalyzed enantioselective hydrogenation of a 2-enamido-thiazole intermediate.
- Vinylic Finkelstein reaction for installing the chlorinated alkene moiety.
Main Results:
- Successful and efficient total synthesis of conulothiazole A.
- Demonstration of a novel rhodium-catalyzed hydrogenation for thiazole derivatives.
- Versatile application of the vinylic Finkelstein reaction at multiple synthetic stages.
Conclusions:
- The developed synthetic strategy provides an efficient route to conulothiazole A.
- The key reactions are valuable tools for constructing chlorinated alkenes in natural product synthesis.
Related Concept Videos
Dehydration Synthesis
Dehydration synthesis (also called a condensation reaction) is the chemical process in which two molecules covalently link together to form a new molecule, along with the release of a water molecule. Many physiologically important compounds form by dehydration synthesis reactions, such as complex carbohydrates, proteins, DNA, and RNA.
Synthesis of carbohydrates
Sugar molecules are covalently linked together by dehydration synthesis. During the reaction, the hydroxyl (-OH) group from...
Synthesis and Decomposition Reactions
Lagging Strand Synthesis
There are several major differences between synthesis of the leading strand and synthesis of the lagging strand. 1) Leading strand synthesis happens in the direction of replication fork opening, whereas lagging strand synthesis happens in the...
Transfer RNA Synthesis
Each of these chemical modifications is carried by a specific enzyme, post-transcription. All of these enzymes have unique base and site-specificity. Methylation, the most common chemical modification, is carried by at least nine different enzymes, with...
Total Voids in Concrete
Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence Microscopy

