Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Wortmannin

Abstract

A concise and enantioselective total synthesis of the potent PI3K inhibitor (+)-wortmannin is described. A Pd-catalyzed cascade reaction was first developed to connect a synthon derived from Hajos-Parrish ketone to a furan moiety. The subsequent Friedel-Crafts alkylation of the β-position of a furan ring to an epoxide was optimized to establish the C10 quaternary center. (+)-Wortmannin was eventually accomplished by transformations following a late-stage oxidation of the furan allylic position. Kinome profiling and in vitro enzymatic assays were performed on 17-β-hydroxy-wortmannin and an epoxide analogue.