Total Synthesis and Cytotoxicity of (+)- and (−)-Goniodiol and 6-<i>epi</i>-Goniodiol. Construction of α,β-Unsaturated Lactones by Ring-Closing Metathesis

Abstract

Abstract (+)-Goniodiol, a potent and selective cytotoxin, and (−)-6-epi-goniodiol, as well as their enantiomers, have been synthesized starting from cinnamyl alcohol. The key steps of the synthesis were Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and cyclization of an acrylate derivative using ring-closing metathesis reaction. The cytotoxicity of both enantiomers of goniodiol and 6-epi-goniodiol against HL-60 cells was examined.