Three-component coupling approach toward the synthesis of a resorcylic acid lactone framework

A resorcylic acid lactone (RAL) framework was constructed based on a three-component coupling approach. The key step was the intermolecular alkylation of a protected cyanohydrin with an aromatic scaffold, and the subsequent carbonylative esterification of the aryl iodide with an alcohol. This sequence allowed the rapid assembly of three components without extra protection/deprotection steps. This synthetic strategy enables the ketone at the 2′ position to be masked as a protected cyanohydrin during the ester formation, thus avoiding an undesired isocoumarin formation. This method should be widely applicable to the synthesis of various types of RAL frameworks.