Novel strategies to construct the gamma-hydroxy lactone moiety of the CP molecules. Synthesis of the CP-225,917 core skeleton

The array of challenging structural lineaments embodied in the CP molecules (1 and 2, Figure 1) offers synthetic chemists uncharted realms of explorat ion and discovery. In this communication, we focus on the chemical hurdles posed by the gamma-hydroxy lactone moiety of these exciting targets. Thus, the examination of the general reactivity of these systems, the development of a novel tandem oxidation sequence to construct the gamma-hydroxy lacton e moiety, and the successful construction of the complete polycyclic core o f 2 (compound 28, Scheme 5) is enumerated within.