Synthesis of Zaragozic Acid C

Significance

The zaragozic acids are picomolar inhibitors of squalene synthase, an enzyme that catalyzes the first step in cholesterol biosynthesis. They also enhance radiochemotheraphy of acute myeloid leukemia cell lines. This formal synthesis features the use of silyl glyoxylate A as a geminal dipolar glyoxylate synthon in the diastereoselective synthesis of C.