Total Synthesis of Prostratin, a Bioactive Tigliane Diterpenoid: Access to Multi-Stereocenter Cyclohexanes from a Phenol

Tiglianes such as prostratin and related diterpenoids are biologically significant natural molecules and long-standing targets for organic synthesis community. Due to the complex polycyclic scaffolds, high oxygenation level, and dense functional groups and stereocenters, their de novo chemical syntheses still face formidable challenges despite extensive efforts in the past 40 years. This account details the development of a modular and concise synthesis of prostratin, a potent anti-HIV and anticancer agent. The key approach in this synthesis involved a sequence of oxidative dearomatization and sequential stereoselective installation of peripheral groups to rapidly build the contiguously substituted cyclohexane C-ring. Inspired by Wender's work, an acid- A nd solvent-controlled stereodivergent formation of cyclopropane D-ring was developed. Mechanistic investigations by computational methods revealed that the competition between intra- A nd intermolecular hydrogen bonding led to different conformations, thus favoring different protonation processes. The designed and unexpected chemistry along this campaign reflected the uniqueness of the natural structures and should be amenable to future chemical syntheses of related complex polycyclic molecules.