Synthetic studies toward cytostatin, a natural product inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A

Synthetic approaches toward the natural product cytostatin, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A possessing cytotoxic and antimetastatic activities, have been investigated. A formal synthesis of cytostatin has been achieved according to a strategy relying on the formation of the C8–C9 bond by a nucleophilic addition of a functionalized organolithium (C1–C8 subunit) to an aldehyde (C9–C13 subunit).