Applications of chiral allenylzinc additions and Noyori asymmetric reductions to an enantioselective synthesis of a C3–C13 precursor of the polyketide phosphatase inhibitor cytostatin

A 12-step synthesis of a C3–C13 precursor of the protein phosphatase inhibitor cytostatin is described. Key stereocenters were introduced by a chiral allenylzinc addition and Noyori asymmetric-transfer hydrogenation.