Toward the Synthesis of Phormidolides

[Image: see text] A convergent and stereoselective approach for the synthesis of marine natural product (MNP) phormidolide D (PM D) is proposed. Two main disconnections divided PM D in three molecular fragments: the macrocyclic core 4, the stapling iodoalkene 9 corresponding to the central part of PMs, and the east fragment 5 that includes the unusual bromo-methoxy-diene moiety and a tetradecanoic acid ended with a (E)-dichloro-ene functionality. Procedures for the preparation of compounds 5, 9, and the never-reported fatty acids 7 and 8, present in PMs C and D, respectively, have been afforded with good yields and high degree of stereoselectivity. The absolute configuration of all of the generated stereocenters has been established. The reaction to link iodoalkene 9 and formylmacrolactone 4, using the Nozaki–Hiyama–Takai–Kishi coupling, gave an advanced synthetic intermediate with total stereocontrol. Finally, a deeper study of protecting groups and reaction conditions for the last step of the synthesis is needed. All the information gathered in this publication will be of great value to continue performing synthetic studies for the preparation of these NPs. The versatility and the presence of a common polyol chain in oscillariolide and PMs A–C would allow applying the same retrosynthesis for the synthesis of the mentioned MNP.