Recent Advances in the Total Synthesis of Chlorosulfolipids

First isolated in the late 1960s from microalgae of theOchromonas species, the chlorosulfolipids were largely considered as intractable synthetic challenges until recently. Indeed, only in the last few years has this class of natural products received intense attention from the synthetic community, motivated by the many interdisciplinary questions these entities raise. As a consequence, the numerous synthetic and spectroscopic studies that have appeared have contributed to a better understanding of the chemistry of chlorosulfolipids. More than forty years after their discovery, their mysteries are being revealed through the implementation of synthetic tactics and strategies. This microreview summarizes the progress in the synthesis and study of these fascinating natural products. Chlorosulfolipids, natural products that are produced by sea‐ and freshwater microalgae, were first discovered in the late 1960s. Uncertainties concerning their biological function and their toxicology sparked off an enormous interest in the last years. The results of these efforts, leading to the successful total synthesis and biological evaluation of several chlorosulfolipids, are summarized in this microreview.