Synthetic studies toward macrocidins: an RCM approach for the construction of the central cyclic core

The central macrocyclic core of the macrocidins was constructed using RCM as the key reaction. A preliminary investigation dealing with the key reactions, that is, the Dieckmann cyclization and the RCM, revealed that RCM of the β-ketoamide is better than RCM of the corresponding acyltetramic acid.