Synthesis and determination of the relative structure of akaterpin, a potent inhibitor of PI-PLC

We describe the first total synthesis and structural determination of akaterpin, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC). The key features of the synthetic strategy include a regio- and stereoselective C-alkylation at the angular C1' position and an exo-selective intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction. The relative stereochemistry was determined by a comparison of the NMR spectra of synthetic akaterpin with those of natural akaterpin. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.