Applications of asymmetric allylation reactions towards natural product synthesis

A short asymmetric synthesis of (R)-(+)-Goniothalamin oxide was developed and synthesized using a Leighton asymmetric allylation reaction and Grubbs ring-closing metathesis. (R)-(+)-Goniothalamin oxide is a styryl lactone that exhibits anti-cancer activity against a variety of cancer cell lines including MCF-7, T47D, and MDA-MB-231. The methododology of asymmetric allylation is also demonstrated on intermediates of RK-397, which is a 32-membered oxopolyene macrolide with anti-cancer activity