Synthesis of acyclic and heterocyclic natural products utilizing cyclitols as novel chiral building blocks

Abstract

The synthesis of biologically important natural products which contain acyclic or heterocyclic structures, starting from cyclitols, is described. Stereoselective functionalization and subsequent regioselective ring cleavage of cyclitol derivatives provides precursors for the synthesis of a wide variety of natural products. The successful synthesis of acyclic and heterocyclic natural products reveals the usefulness and importance of cyclitols as novel chiral building blocks.