Total synthesis of rapamycin

Abstract

Details of the total synthesis of rapamycin (1) are reported. The synthesis required the preparation of intermediates 4 - 9 in nonracemic form; key coupling reactions included a chromium-mediated addition of vinyl iodide 8 to aldehyde 7 and an Evans aldol reaction to couple fragments 62 and 9. Intermediates 4 and 6 were joined through an amide bond formation to afford advanced intermediate 71. Swern oxidation of the diol in 71 was followed by a selective removal of the TES groups and a second Swern oxidation. Finally, removal of the remaining silyl protecting groups provided fully deprotected, penultimate intermediate 2 in which all carbons were in their proper oxidation state. Macrocyclization was achieved through a tandem inter/intramolecular palladium-mediated Stille coupling reaction between distannylethene 3 and bis(vinyl iodide) 2. This latter process accomplished in one step the installation of the remaining two carbons of the natural product and the completion of its total synthesis.