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alkyne metathesis; antitumor agents; natural products; structure eludication; total synthesis
Abstract:
Subtle but distinctive: The stereostructure of the biologically highly promising antimitotic agent leiodermatolide was uncertain. A short, efficient, and flexible total synthesis based on ring-closing alkyne metathesis as the key step has now solved the puzzle. Subtle differences in the 1H NMR spectra of the structure shown and the conceivable isomer proved invaluable for the assignment.