Strategies for the Total Synthesis of the Furanosteroids: wortmannin and viridin

Furanosteroids are polycyclic natural products isolated from fungus, which consist of wortmannin and viridin containing a [5,6,6,6]-tetracyclic skeleton in addition to a furan ring. They inhibit phosphoinositide 3-kinases, suggesting drug potential. This highlight review describes strategies that have been reported for building the tetracyclic ring skeleton and the all-carbon quaternary center in order to achieve total syntheses of wortmannin and viridin. Furanosteroids are polycyclic natural products isolated from fungus, which consist of wortmannin and viridin containing a [5,6,6,6]-tetracyclic skeleton in addition to a furan ring. They inhibit phosphoinositide 3-kinases, suggesting drug potential. This highlight review describes strategies that have been reported for building the tetracyclic ring skeleton and the all-carbon quaternary center in order to achieve total syntheses of wortmannin and viridin.