Synthesis of Amphidinolide P

Significance

Amphidinolide P is a cytotoxin isolated from the symbiotic dinoflagellates of the genus Amphidinium sp. found in the Okinawan flatworm Amphiscolops sp. Trost and co-workers use a highly chemo- and regioselctive Ru-catalyzed alkene-alkyne coupling reaction to construct the backbone of the natural product and disclose the first example of the use of a β-lactone as a ‘thermodynamic spring’ in macrolactonization.