Spotlights on Recent JACS Publications

摘要

(Z,E)-Dienyl muconate motifs are found in a variety of biologically active natural products, including the cytotoxic agent (+)-superstolide A and the antibiotic (-)-macrolactin A, and have thus become highly pursued intermediates in organic synthesis. While the coupling of two acrylates would appear to be the most straightforward and efficient way to prepare functionalized muconates, problems such as competing homocoupling and weak directing ability have forced chemists to take detours.