Synthesis of Plakortolides E and I Enabled by Base Metal Catalysis

A protecting-group-free synthesis of two endoperoxide natural products, plakortolide E and plakortolide I, is reported. Key steps are a vanadium-mediated epoxidation, an iron-catalyzed allylic substitution, and a cobalt-induced endoperoxide formation. Our approach combines chemoselective bond-forming reactions and one-pot operations to forge an overall efficient synthesis.

Automated summary

A protecting-group-free synthesis of two endoperoxide natural products, plakortolide E and plakortolide I, was achieved by combining chemoselective bond-forming reactions and one-pot operations. Key steps included vanadium-mediated epoxidation, iron-catalyzed allylic substitution, and cobalt-induced endoperoxide formation, resulting in an overall efficient synthesis.