Total Synthesis and Configurational Assignment of Chondramide A

The first total synthesis of the cyclodepsipeptide chondramide A ( 2 b ) is described. This depsipeptide is composed of four subunits, namely L ‐alanine, N‐Me‐D ‐tryptophan, 3‐amino‐2‐methoxy‐propionic acid (β‐tyrosine derivative), and a 7‐hydroxy‐alkenoic acid. While the configuration of the stereogenic centers in the 7‐hydroxy‐alkenoic acid were known, the configuration of the tyrosine derivative required clarification and turned out to be (2S,3R) or (2L ,3L ), respectively. The synthesis of the 3‐amino‐2‐methoxy‐3‐arylpropanoic ester 20 b relied on an asymmetric dihydroxylation yielding diol ent‐ 15 a followed by a regioselective Mitsunobu substitution leading to 3‐azido‐2‐hydroxypropanoate 18 b . We could also show that the ester bond in the seco compound 26 b can be fashioned by a Mitsunobu esterification by using hydroxy ester (7S)‐ 7 and the tripeptide acid 25 b . This synthesis should allow for the preparation of various analogues.