Synthesis of macrocyclic insect-derived alkaloids

Macrocyclic lactonic alkaloids round in the pupal secretions of two species of a coccinellid beetle (genus Epilachna) were prepared in enantiomericall y pure form via an efficient synthetic route using enantiomerically pure a- amino acids as chiral-pool starting materials, Macrocycles with rings conta ining up to 98 atoms were synthesized in good yield using Mukaiyama's macro lactonization conditions.