Total Synthesis of (−)‐Apratoxin A, 34‐Epimer, and Its Oxazoline Analogue

A concise and convergent total synthesis of the highly cytotoxic marine natural product apratoxin A is accomplished by an 18‐step linear sequence. The high sensitivity of the thiazoline, bearing an adjacent β‐hydroxyl group at the C35‐position, results in the assembly process requiring the inclusion of appropriate protecting groups and the careful optimization of all individual transformations. In the synthesis of 3,7‐dihydroxy‐2,5,8,8‐tetramethylnonanoic acid (Dtena), the three reagent‐controlled asymmetric reactions enables us to introduce four chiral carbon centers in a dihydroxylated fatty acid moiety. Formation of the hindered ester and sterically‐unfavorable N‐methylamide bonds were successfully demonstrated. The thiazoline in apratoxin A was constructed by Tf2O and Ph3PO‐mediated dehydrative cyclization, and final macrocyclization was achieved between N‐methylisoleucine and proline residues. Moreover, an oxazoline analogue and a C34 epimer of apratoxin A have also been elaborated in a similar approach. This synthetic route would enable assembly of other analogues differing in stereocenters of Dtena and their amino acids.