The total synthesis of the polyhalogenated antitumour agent halomon (1) was accomplished with two novel transformations as key steps: a Johnson-Claisen rearrangement of a dichlorinated alkene for the preparation of the tertiary chlorinated C3 and a new rearrangement of bromohydrins for the regiospecific introduction of the bromine and chlorine atoms on C6 and C7, respectively.
Keywords: Antitumour agents; Halomon; Natural products; Rearrangements; Total synthesis.
© 1998 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH, Weinheim, Fed. Rep. of Germany.