Enantioselective synthesis of (+)-penostatin E.

The first enantioselective total synthesis of penostatin E has been accomplished. Two highly efficient and diastereoselective reactions, a Hosomi-Sakurai allylation and an intramolecular Pauson-Khand reaction, were utilized for the construction of the basic carbon framework of the target molecule as the key steps. A late-stage introduction of the side chain and a successful base-promoted elimination reaction afforded an efficient synthetic route to (+)-penostatin E.

Total synthesis of penostatin B.

The first total synthesis of penostatin B has been accomplished by using a highly diastereoselective Pauson-Khand reaction and an efficient relay ring-closing metathesis for the construction of the basic carbon skeleton of the natural product as the key steps.