Abstract:
The dissertation consists of three parts. The first part deals with the total synthesis of macrolide queenslandon. Key steps in the synthesis were a cross metathesis reaction to construct the aliphatic fragment and a Mitsunobu macrolactonization to give a macrolactone. All chiral centers were established from D-(+)-ribose. The proposed structure of the macrolide queenslandon has been reached and it was proved that the postulated structure was proposed incorrectly.
The second part describes a study on the total synthesis of marine natural product leiodermatolide. This macrolide is highly cytotoxic against various cancer cell lines. Biological studies on this molecule, however, were difficult because of the small amount material available so far. Based on a retrosynthetic analysis the molecule was split into two fragments. The key step in the synthesis of the first fragment is a Marshall-Tamaru anti-selective addition of an allenylzinc species to a chiral aldehyde to construct the stereotetrad. The Marshall-Tamaru reaction has been used effectively for a second fragment also. Further Sonogashira coupling was used to couple the two building blocks. Unfortunately, the key step - the ring-closing metathesis reaction to was not effective.
The third part on the thesis describes a study on the total synthesis of the terpene (-)-englerin A. The molecule proved to be highly selective and potent against various cell types involved in renal cancer. In the study, the core structure of the sesquiterpene was resolved efficiently by Oxy-Cope-rearrangement/Transannular epoxide-opening sequence. A study on carbonyl ylid cycloaddition approach allowed to establish a general strategy to guaianolides with an oxygen bridge.