Total synthesis of atorvastatin via a late-stage, regioselective 1,3-dipolar munchnone cycloaddition

Atorvastatin was prepared in seven steps from commercially available 4-fluorophenylacetic acid. The key 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition was conducted regioselectively using a complex munchnone which was prepared in five steps on decagram scale. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.