Ernest W. Colvin

Total synthesis of (±)-trichodermin

The first total synthesis of a member of the antibiotic trichothecane group of sesquiterpenes, trichodermin (12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-en-4β-yl acetate)(3), is described.

Total synthesis of the macrocyclic antibiotic (±)-pyrenophorin

The total synthesis of the macrocyclic antibiotic pyrenophorin (8,16-dimethyl-1,9-dioxacyclohexadeca-3,11-diene-2,5,10,13-tetraone)(16) is described, involving the use of the 2-(p-tolylsulphonyl)ethyl ester as a selectively removable protecting group for the carboxy-function, and di-imidazol-1-yl ketone as a lactonising reagent.