Studies Toward the Total Synthesis of Natalamycin A: Stereoselective Synthesis of the C9–C21 Segment

Toward the total synthesis of natalamycin A, we have synthesized the C9-C21 segment corresponding to the northwestern part of the natural product. Key features of this synthesis were an asymmetric α-chlorination of an aldehyde using MacMillan's catalyst and stereoselective assembly of three contiguous stereocenters via a butenolide intermediate.