First total syntheses and configurational assignments of cytotoxic trichodenones A-C

Total syntheses of cytotoxic trichodenones A-C, produced by a strain of Trichoderma harzianum from the sponge Halichondria okadai, have been achieved, and the natural trichodenones B and C have been established to have (4R,1'R)- and(1'R)-configurations, respectively. From this synthesis and chiral HPLC analysis, it was deduced that the major molecule with R-configuration coexists with its enantiomer in natural trichodenone A. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.