Improvements of the total synthesis of monocillin I and radicicol via Miyaura–Suzuki couplings

The palladium-catalyzed coupling of the vinyldisiamylborane, formed in situ, affords the isocoumarins which can be used further for the synthesis of radicicol and related macrolides, in 72% global overall yield from the alkyne. Advantages over related vinylboronates or vinyltin couplings are discussed in the case of the present examples.