Formal Total Synthesis of (+)-Citrafungin A

Abstract

The formal total synthesis of the fungal GGTase I inhibitor (+)-citrafungin A 1 is described. The key steps include a selective vinyl anion addition of the anion derived from iodide 10 to the lactone 9 and lactonization/selective deprotection of the allylic alcohols 8 and 23 to afford the citrafungin lactone. Esterification with the isocitrate 6 afforded citrafungin A tetra-t-butyl ester 5 which completed the formal total synthesis.