Enantioselective Total Synthesis of the Marine Macrolides Salarins A and C

Here we report the first total synthesis of the marine macrolide salarin C, a potent anticancer agent, and demonstrate the biomimetic oxidation–Wasserman rearrangement to access salarin A. This synthesis relies on L-proline catalysis to install a chlorohydrin function that masks the sensitive C16–C17 epoxide and potentially mimics the biosynthesis of these compounds where a related chlorohydrin may yield both THF- and epoxide-containing salarins. Additional and key features of the synthesis include (i) macrocycle formation via ring-closing metathesis, (ii) macrocyclic substrate-controlled epoxidation of the C12–C13 allylic alcohol, and (iii) a late-stage Julia–Kocienski olefination to install the side chain. Importantly, this work provides a platform for the synthesis of other salarins and analogues of these potentially important anticancer natural products.