Stereoselective synthesis of the dolastatin units by organotrifluoroborates additions to α-amino aldehydes

Dolastatin units were synthesized from the 1,2-addition reactions of potassium allyl or crotyltrifluoroborate salts to aldehyde derivatives from natural amino acids. The reactions were carried out in presence of a phase-transfer catalyst in a biphasic medium at room temperature and excellent yields (>89–93%) and stereoselective (>90:10 to 98:2) were obtained. The dolastatin units 8 and 14a–b were obtained after three steps in good overall yields (50–62%).