The stereoselective total synthesis of okeaniamide A, a marine lipopeptide with therapeutic potential against diabetes mellitus and obesity, has been disclosed for the first time. The salient synthetic features include Negishi reaction, Kumada coupling, Julia-Kocienski olefination, and Crimmins acetate aldol reaction. Extension of the polyketide segment to the full molecular framework was achieved through consecutive peptide coupling, followed by late-stage oxidation at position C2. Okeaniamide A was found to be sensitive to C3 epimerization, particularly under oxidative and mildly acidic conditions.
Bhaskar et al. (Fri,) studied this question.