Total Synthesis of Rapamycin

Abstract

Rapamycin synthesis all wrapped up: A new convergent synthesis of rapamycin (1) is reported that involves a macroetherification/catechol tethering strategy for construction of the macrocyclic core of this intriguing natural product. Other studies on this commercialized potent immunosuppressant delineate new cell signaling pathways of relevance to cancer chemotherapy.