Formal Synthesis of (+)-Brefeldin A

Significance

Brefeldin A, isolated from a variety of fungal sources, possesses an array of biological activities including antiviral, cytostatic, anticancer, and antibiotic activities. It also inhibits the protein transport to post-Golgi compartments in the cell. A key feature of the synthesis is a zinc-mediated ring expansion-oxidation-elimination cascade reaction to form α,β-unsaturated γ-keto macrolide J.