Structure elucidation and enantioselective total synthesis of the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors FR901512 and FR901516

The enantioselective total synthesis of the potent HMGCoA reductase inhibitors FR901512 (1) and FR901516 (2) is reviewed. FR901512 was prepared in 15 steps from commercially available compound via 2 in 16.3% overall yield (89% average yield). This study validated the applicability and reliability of the catalytic asymmetric Nozaki-Hiyama reactions that were developed by us. These reactions enabled the concise, efficient, and protecting-group-free enantioselective total syntheses of these new statins.