Stereoselective Olefination with Sterically Demanding Julia-Kocienski Reagents: Total Synthesis of Oxo-prothracarcin, Oxo-tomaymycin, and Boseongazepine B.

Total syntheses of three pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepine anticancer antibiotic family members oxo-prothracarcin, oxo-tomaymycin, and boseongazepine B are described. The total syntheses feature late-stage stereoselective olefination employing modified Julia-Kocienski reagents that can be conveniently prepared in only two steps and allows for a significant reduction in the number of linear steps. Detailed density functional theory (DFT) studies explain the stereochemical outcome of the key step.