Synthetic studies on macrolactin A by using a (diene)Fe(CO)3 complex

The stereoselective synthesis of the two segments and of macrolactin A is described. Macrolactin A is a 24-membered polyene macrolide antibiotic, which is of interest due to a strong activity against B16–F10 murine tumor cell and HIV-1 virus. The key step of the synthesis is the 1,2-migration reaction of a (diene)Fe(CO)3 complex with a introduction of the thiol group to construct the unstable (E,Z)-conjugated dienic moiety (C8–C11).