Recent Advances in the Total Synthesis of Chlorosulfolipids

First isolated in the late 1960s from microalgae of the Ochromonas species, the chlorosulfolipids were largely considered as intractable synthetic challenges until recently. Indeed, only in the last few years has this class of natural products received intense attention from the synthetic community, motivated by the many interdisciplinary questions these entities raise. As a consequence, the numerous synthetic and spectroscopic studies that have appeared have contributed to a better understanding of the chemistry of chlorosulfolipids. More than forty years after their discovery, their mysteries are being revealed through the implementation of synthetic tactics and strategies. This microreview summarizes the progress in the synthesis and study of these fascinating natural products.