Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Fredericamycin A: An Intramolecular Cycloaddition Pathway

The asymmetric total synthesis of the potent antitumor antibiotic fredericamycin A ((S)‐1) was achieved by the intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition of the silylene‐protected styrene derivative (S)‐7 followed by the aromatic Pummerer‐type reaction of the sulfoxide (S)‐5. Although we had already succeeded in the total synthesis of racemic 1 by the same approach, synthesis of its asymmetric version was more complicated than we had expected due to the difficulties involved in constructing the quaternary carbon center and the tendency of this center to undergo facile racemization. Racemization of this center during the installation of the acetylene moiety on the dione (R)‐8 was the most serious aspect. Systematic studies of its DE‐ring analogue (R)‐25 revealed that racemization of the quaternary carbon center proceeded by a retro‐aldol–aldol reaction of the initial adduct, (1R)‐39 a‐Li, and that the degree of racemization was dependent on the reaction temperature. The racemization process could be completely depressed by keeping the reaction temperature at −78 °C. The construction of the stereogenic quaternary carbon center was achieved by the lipase‐catalyzed desymmetrization of the prochiral 1,3‐diol 9 a bearing the DEF‐ring moiety. These studies enabled us to attain the asymmetric total synthesis of (S)‐1 while completely retaining the chiral integrity created by the enzymatic reactions. Take a natural approach to synthesis! Asymmetric total synthesis of antitumor antibiotic fredericamycin A has been achieved. Key steps in this synthesis involved an enzymatic desymmetrization reaction, an intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition, and an aromatic Pummerer‐type reaction (see scheme).