Total synthesis of (±)-rocaglamide and some aryl analogues

The insecticidal activity found for rocaglamide and its congeners, prompted us to establish a short and efficient synthesis of the natural product and some synthetic ‘halo-aryl’ analogues. Pd-catalysed cross-coupling reactions of the bromo analogue were then explored in order to gain a suitable access to a broad range of unnatural analogues. The key step of our approach is a keto-aldehyde acyloin ring-closure followed by a Stiles carboxylation.