Total Synthesis of (−)‐Dictyostatin: Confirmation of Relative and Absolute Configurations

Will the real dictyostatin please stand up? There were five finalists as stereostructures for the potent anticancer agent dictyostatin; ten, if one were to include enantiomers. A total synthesis of (−) -dictyostatin (1) has ended the decade-old masquerade and identified the winner as a structure recently proposed by Paterson and Wright. Supporting information for this article is available on the WWW under http: //www. wiley-vch. de/contents/jc₂002/2004/z460593ₛ. pdf or from the author. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.