Enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-gigantecin: exploiting the asymmetric glycolate aldol reaction.

The enantioselective synthesis of the potent, selective, cytotoxic, annonaceous acetogenin, (+)-gigantecin, has been completed. An asymmetric glycolate aldol serves to establish the stereocenters at C13,14 and at C21,22. A Carreira asymmetric acetylide addition is used to establish the C17 stereocenter.