Total synthesis of ciguatoxin CTX3C

More than 20,000 people suffer annually from ciguatera seafood poisoning in subtropical and tropical regions. The extremely Low content of the causati ve neurotoxins, designated as ciguatoxins, in fish has hampered the isolati on, detailed biological studies, and preparation of anti-ciguatoxin antibod ies for detecting these toxins. The large (3 nanometers long) and complicat ed molecular structure of ciguatoxins has impeded chemists from completing their total synthesis. Our highly convergent strategic approach featuring t he chemoselective ring-closing metathesis reaction as a key tactic has enab led the total synthesis of ciguatoxin CTX3C, which will provide a practical supply for further studies.