A Simple but Remarkably Effective Device for Forming the C8−C14 Polycyclic Ring System of Halichondrin B

Abstract

A simple device consisting of two ion-exchange columns, two alumina-based filters, and a pump (Figure 1) was assembled to form the C8-C14 polycyclic ring system present in the halichondrin B class of marine natural products. The effectiveness of this device was tested for three substrates. In each case, the desired polycyclic ketal 3, 5, or 7 was obtained almost quantitatively in a single operation.