The first total synthesis of the ristocetin aglycon is described employing a modular and highlyconvergent strategy. An effective 12-step (12% overall) synthesis of the ABCD ring system
3 from its aminoacid subunits sequentially features an intramolecular aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction for formationof the diaryl ether and closure of the 16-membered CD ring system (65%), a respectively diastereoselective(3:1, 86%) Suzuki coupling for installation of the AB biaryl linkage on which the atropisomer stereochemistrycan be further thermally adjusted, and an effective macrolactamization (51%) for closure of the 12-memberedAB ring system. A similarly effective 13-step (14% overall) synthesis of the 14-membered EFG ring system
4 was implemented employing a room-temperature intermolecular S
NAr reaction of an
o-fluoronitroaromaticfor formation of the FG diaryl ether (69%) and a key macrolactamization (92%) with formation of the amidelinking residues 1 and 2. The two key fragments
3 and
4 were coupled, and the remaining 16-memberedDE ring system was closed via diaryl ether formation to provide the ristocetin tetracyclic ring system (15steps, 8% overall) enlisting an unusually facile (25
C, 8 h, DMF,
95%) and diastereoselective (
15:1)aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction that benefits from substrate preorganization.