Synthesis of Cryptophycins via an N-Acyl-β-lactam Macrolactonization

An efficient and concise approach to the synthesis of the macrolide core of the cryptophycins has been developed. A novel macrolactonization utilizing a reactive acyl-β-lactam intermediate incorporates the β-amino acid moiety within the 16-membered macrolide core. This modular approach, involving a cyanide-initiated acyl-β-lactam ring opening followed by cyclization, was successfully applied to the total synthesis of cryptophycin-24. The strategy was also used in an efficient synthesis of the 6, 6-dimethyl-substituted dechlorocryptophycin-52. In this case, the cyanide-initiated ring opening of the bis-substituted 2-azetidinone followed by macrolactonization was achieved through a catalytic process.