Total Synthesis of Altohyrtin A (Spongistatin 1): Part 1

Abstract

The most active compound of the extraordinarily cytotoxic spongipyrans, spongistatin 1, isolated from marine sponges, appeared to be identical to altohyrtin A. The total synthesis of this macrolide has now firmly established the relative and absolute stereochemistry proposed by Kitagawa (see picture below), and has also verified that altohyrtin A and spongistatin 1 are identical.