Total synthesis of (-)-pateamine A, a novel immunosuppressive agent from Mycale sp

A convergent synthesis of the unique thiazole-containing polyene bis-lactone pateamine A (1) isolated from the marine sponge Mycale sp is described. The synthesis features the ubiquitous Stille sp(2)-sp(2) coupling reaction to elaborate the E,Z-diene macrolide core 23 and the all-E polyenamine side chain in the natural product. It also highlights the scope for enantiopure sulfinimine intermediates in the synthesis of chiral beta-amino ester moieties in complex structures.