ENANTIOSELECTIVE SYNTHESIS OF REPORTED HIPPOSPONGIC ACID-A

Total synthesis of hippospongic acid A, an inhibitor of gastrulation o f starfish embryos, has been studied. A compound having the structure assigned to hippospongic acid A was synthesized enantioselectively. Th e spectral data of the synthetic compound were slightly different from those of the natural product and an alternative structure was propose d for the natural product.