Efficient, Enantioselective Organocatalytic Synthesis of Trichostatin A

An efficient, highly stereocontrolled total synthesis of trichostatin A (1) has been achieved in 9 steps with 17.4 % overall yield and >99 % optical purity from readily available achiral starting materials. The key features of this synthesis include the L‐proline‐promoted, highly enantioselective cross‐aldol reaction as a crucial step for the construction of the C‐6 chiral center and the minimization of racemization by final step oxidation of the OH group to a ketone at position 7.