Setbacks and hopes: en route to the synthesis of uncialamycin

We herein report a new approach toward the synthesis of uncialamycin, an enediyne natural product isolated from the Streptomyces uncialis, bacteria present on the surface of the lichen Cladonia uncialis. A model for the preparation of uncialamycin has been achieved through a reaction cascade, an acetylide addition to the activated quinoline moiety, and a ring closure reaction as key steps.