Synthesis of C13-C22 of amphidinolide T2 via nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling of an alkyne and a terminal epoxide

Several stereoselective routes to the synthesis of (1S,3R)-t-butyldimethyl-(1-methyl-3-oxiranyl-propoxy)-silane (13a) were explored, and the use of Jacobsen's hydrolytic kinetic resolution to separate a mixture of diastereomeric epoxides was a key step in the shortest of these. As part of an approach to the total synthesis of amphidinolide T2 (2), this epoxide, corresponding to C17-C22 of the natural product, was successfully joined with an alkyne (C13-C16) by way of a nickel-catalyzed reductive coupling reaction.