The commercial macrolide antibiotic fidaxomicin was synthesized in a highly convergent manner. Salient features of this synthesis include a β-selective noviosylation, a β-selective rhamnosylation, a ring-closing metathesis, a Suzuki coupling, and a vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction. Careful choice of protecting groups and fine-tuning of the glycosylation reactions led to the first total synthesis of fidaxomicin. In addition, a relay synthesis of fidaxomicin was established, which gives access to a conveniently protected intermediate from the natural material for derivatization. The first total synthesis of a related congener, tiacumicin A, is presented.

The first enantioselective synthesis of the antihistamine agent clemastine, as its (S,S)-stereoisomer, has been achieved by ether formation between a proline-derived chloroethylpyrrolidine and an enantiomerically enriched tertiary alcohol. The tertiary alcohol was formed from the carbamate derivative of alpha-methyl-p-chlorobenzyl alcohol by invertive aryl migration on lithiation. The (S,S)-stereochemistry of the product confirms the invertive nature of the rearrangement.

Fidaxomicin, also known as tiacumicin B or lipiarmycin A3, is a novel macrocyclic antibiotic that is used in hospitals for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections. This natural product has also been shown to have excellent bactericidal activity against multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In spite of its attractive biological activity, no total synthesis has been reported to date. The enantioselective synthesis of the central 18-membered macrolactone is reported herein. The key reactions include ring-closing metathesis between a terminal olefin and a dienoate moiety for macrocyclization, a vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction, and a Stille coupling reaction of sterically demanding substrates. The retrosynthesis involves three medium-sized fragments, thus leading to a flexible yet convergent synthetic route. COMMUNICATION Total Synthesis of the Protected Aglycon of Fidaxomicin (Tiacumicin B, Lipiarmycin A3)Hideki Miyatake-Ondozabal, Elias Kaufmann and Karl Gademann* Dedication ((optional)) Abstract: Fidaxomicin, also known as tiacumicin B or lipiarmycin A3, is a novel macrocyclic antibiotic used in hospitals for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections. This natural product has also been shown to have an excellent bactericidal activity against multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In spite of its attractive biological activity, no total synthesis has ever been reported to date. Herein, we report the enantioselective synthesis of the central 18-membered macrolactone. The noteworthy reactions include ringclosing metathesis between a terminal olefin and a dienoate moiety for macrocyclization, a vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol reaction, and a Stille coupling reaction of sterically demanding substrates. The retrosynthesis comprises of three medium sized fragments leading to a flexible yet convergent synthetic route.

The first enantioselective total synthesis of fidaxomicin, also known as tiacumicin B or lipiarmycin A3, is reported. This novel glycosylated macrolide antibiotic is used in the clinic for the treatment of Clostridium difficile infections. Key features of the synthesis involve a rapid and high-yielding access to the noviose, rhamnose, and orsellinic acid precursors; the first example of a β-selective noviosylation; an effective Suzuki coupling of highly functionalized substrates; and a ring-closing metathesis reaction of a noviosylated dienoate precursor. Careful selection of protecting groups allowed for a complete deprotection yielding totally synthetic fidaxomicin.

The first enantioselective total syntheses of virosaine A and bubbialidine are described. Key transformations include the formation of a tetracyclic intermediate via an intramolecular aza-Michael addition, generation of a N-hydroxy-pyrrolidine through a Cope elimination and an intramolecular [1,3]-dipolar cycloaddition to generate a complex 7-oxa-1-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system.