Enantioselective total syntheses of (-)-FR901483 and (+)-8-epi-FR901483.

The enantioselective total syntheses of the potent immunosuppressant FR901483 (1) and its 8-epimer (47) have been accomplished. Our approach features the use of building block 6 as the chiron, the application of the one-pot amide reductive bis-alkylation method to construct the chiral aza-quaternary center (dr = 9:1), regio- and diastereoselective intramolecular aldol reaction to build the bridged ring, and RCM to form the 3-pyrrolin-2-one ring.