Total synthesis of the HDAC inhibitor (+)-(<i>R</i>)-trichostatin A <i>via O</i>-directed dialkylacetylene free radical hydrostannation with Ph₃SnH/Et₃B. The unusual inhibitory effect of a proximal α-OPv group on the course of a

In this paper, a new asymmetric total synthesis of optically pure (+)-trichostatin A (1a) is described via a route that utilises a Marshall chiral allenylzinc addition between 9 and 4-dimethylaminobenzaldehyde (10) and an <i>O</i>-depivaloylation at its early stages. <i>O</i>-Directed free radical hydrostannation of the resulting propargylic alcohol 15 with Ph₃SnH/cat. Et₃B/O₂ in PhMe at rt thereafter provided the (<i>Z</i>)-α-triphenylstannylvinyltin 16 in 80-89% yield, with complete stereocontrol and very high α : β regioselectivity (25 : 1). A stereoretentive I-Sn exchange reaction between 16 and I₂ (1.4 equiv.) in CH₂Cl₂ (-78 °C to rt, 1 h) subsequently secured the vinyl iodide 18 in 84-96% yield. The latter was transformed into the enal 4 by successive TPAP/NMO (Ley-Griffith) oxidation and a high yielding (80%) Stille reaction between the α-iodo enal 20 and Me₄Sn, catalysed by Pd(PPh₃)₄ in DMF at 60 °C, under the Baldwin-Lee conditions, which use CsF and CuI as promoters. A Wittig reaction between 4 and Ph₃PCHCO₂Et (5), saponification, and DDQ oxidation next afforded (+)-trichostatic acid (22). Helquist's ethyl chloroformate mixed-anhydride/TBSONH₂ coupling procedure (ref. 17e) thereafter secured (+)-trichostatin A (1a) in good yield. This new total synthesis of 1a is the first-ever successful application of the <i>O</i>-directed dialkylacetylene free radical hydrostannation with Ph₃SnH/cat. Et₃B/O₂ in a dialkylaniline <i>N</i>-containing disubstituted alkynol system, and it now provides a convenient means of accessing many novel trichostatin analogues for future biological screening.