Enantioselective total synthesis of epothilones A and B using multifunctional asymmetric catalysis

An enantioselective total synthesis of epothilones A (1) and B (2) using multifunctional asymmetric catalysis such as a cyanosilylation of an aldehyde, an aldol reaction of an unmodified ketone with an aldehyde, and a protonation in the conjugate addition of a thiol to an alpha,beta -unsaturated thioester has been achieved. We divided 1 and 2 into fragment A, fragment B, and fragment C. A catalytic asymmetric synthesis of fragments A and B was accomplished using a catalytic asymmetric cyanosilylation as a key step. An enantiocontrolled synthesis of fragment C was achieved in two ways. One is the use of a direct catalytic asymmetric aldol reaction of an unmodified ketone with an aldehyde as a key step, and the other utilizes a catalytic asymmetric protonation in the conjugate addition of a thiol to an alpha,beta -unsaturated thioester as a key step. Suzuki cross-coupling of fragment A with fragment C followed by Yamaguchi lactonization as key steps led to an enantiocontrolled synthesis of epothilone A (1). On the other hand, Suzuki cross-coupling of fragment B with fragment C followed by Yamaguchi lactonization accomplished an enantiocontrolled synthesis of epothilone B (2).