Stereocontrolled Total Synthesis of Sphingofungin E

We describe herein the asymmetric total synthesis of sphingofungin E, which has potent immunosuppressive activity. Key steps include asymmetric desymmetrization by bromolactonization, stereocontrolled construction of four contiguous stereogenic centers through allylic C-H oxidation and epoxide ring opening, regioselective elongation of a dialdehyde, and Hofmann rearrangement by using PhI(OCOCF3)(2).