The development of two efficient strategies for the synthesis of AZD4407 is reported, both of which are considered suitable for large-scale manufacture. In the first approach, 3-bromothiophene is coupled with (2S)-2-methyltetrahydropyran-4-one using Grignard chemistry. Following hydroxyl protection and lithiation at thiophene C-2, reaction with a protected 5-mercapto-1-methyl-1,3-dihydro-indol-2-one derivative bearing a leaving group on sulphur provides AZD4407 after acid-catalysed deprotection and epimerisation. The second approach starts from 2,4-dibromothiophene, which undergoes a selective Grignard exchange reaction at C-2 followed by reaction with similar protected mercapto-oxindole derivatives. Reprotection of the oxindole ring, followed by a second Grignard exchange, and reaction with (2S)-2-methyltetrahydropyran-4-one provides AZD4407 after acid-catalysed deprotection and epimerisation.

A convergent total synthesis of phorboxazole A (1a), from the C(3-19), C(20-27) and C(33-46) fragments 5, 4 and 91, respectively, concentrating on stereocontrolled formation of the bonds at C(2-3), C(19-20) and C(27-28), is described. Although a coupling reaction between a macrolide ketone and the side chain substituted sulfone, at C(27-28) was not successful, a Wadsworth-Emmons olefination involving the oxane methyl ketone 4 and an oxazole produced the oxane 90 which was next coupled to 91 leading to the C(20-46) unit 100. A further coupling of 100 to 71c at C(19-20) then led to 105, ultimately, and the synthesis was completed by a macrocyclisation reaction from 105, at the C(2-3) alkene bond, followed by deprotection of 106.

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Routes to (2S)-2-methyltetrahydropyran-4-one of high optical purity starting from readily available chiral pool precursors and suitable for large-scale manufacture are described. In one approach, the key step is cyclisation of (S)-5-hydroxyhex-1-en-3-one, derived either from an alkyl (S)-3-hydroxybutyrate or (S)-propylene oxide. Formation of the tetrahydropyran ring directly via an intramolecular oxy-Michael reaction under acid-catalysed conditions resulted in loss of optical purity, whereas proceeding through the intermediate (2S)-2-methyl-2,3-dihydropyran-4-one, via an oxidative Pd-catalysed ring closure, followed by hydrogenation of the alkenyl bond, preserved the optical purity. An alternative approach to (2S)-2-methyl-2,3-dihydropyran-4-one is also reported, again starting from an alkyl (S)-3-hydroxybutyrate by elaboration to a carbonyl-protected (6S)-6-methyl-5,6-dihydropyran-2,4-dione derivative, followed by partial reduction and dehydration. Alternatively, the carbonyl group can be reduced out completely in one step to furnish (2S)-2-methyltetrahydropyran-4-one directly after deprotection.