<p>In the search of chemical species with potential therapeutic biological activity, synthetic chemists have looked to nature for inspiration. Molecules built by biological machinery often have structures predisposed for biological interaction. (-)-TAN-2483B and the related compounds (-)-TAN-2483A, and waol A are fungal metabolites that display biological activity in kinase inhibition and parathyroid-induced bone resorption. Though total syntheses of (-)-TAN-2483A and waol A have been achieved, the established methodology does not afford access to (-)-TAN-2483B owing to the unique relative configuration about the ring system. Derivatives of D-galactal have been synthesised, and functionalised at the C-1 and C-2 positions, laying the groundwork for a route to (-)-TAN-2483B and analogues. Using D-galactal derivatives is advantageous as it circumvents some difficult transformations in the existing method for analogue synthesis. The functionalities installed were halide and formyl groups at the C-2 position, and acetylenes at the C-1 position. The synthesis of 2-haloglycals from tri-O-acetyl-D-galactal using N-halosuccinimides was achieved in 32% and <37% for the bromo- and iodo- variants respectively. Vilsmeier-Haack formylation was explored using per-benzylated and per-acetylated galactals as substrates. Formylation of the per-benzylated species was achieved in 78% yield in accordance with literature values. Vilsmeier-Haack formylation on the per-acetylated galactal has not been reported and the glycal was found to be a poor substrate for the formylation. Theories regarding the incompatibility of the per-acetylated species with Vilsmeier-Haack conditions were developed. Ferrier-type alkynylation of the 2-halo/formylglycals was explored, with yields up to 17% and 13% for the bromo- and iodo- species (unoptimised), and 7% for 2-formylglycal (after optimisation studies). The resulting 1-ethynyl-2-formyl/halo-2,3-unsaturated pyrans could be potential intermediates en route to the furanone ring of the target compound.</p>
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