Synthesis of (+)-pancratistatin

A method for the asymmetric synthesis of (+)-pancratistatin, the method comprising:

• a) providing an aziridine of the formula:
• ##STR11## wherein:
• X is H or halogen;
• and
• R.sub.1 is CBZ or tosyl;
• b) adding to the aziridine (8) an amide of the formula:
• ##STR12## wherein:
• R.sub.2 is methyl, ethyl or alkyl of C1-C5;
• under appropriate conditions to yield an amide of the formula:
• ##STR13## c) acylating the amide product of Step b) with (BOC).sub.2 O to yield a compound of the formula:
• ##STR14## d) detosylating (10b) to yield a dimethylamide of the formula:
• ##STR15## e) reducing the dimethylamide (11b) to yield an aldehyde which can be further converted to a methyl ester of the formula:
• ##STR16## f) deprotecting the methyl ester and subjecting the deprotected compound to epoxidation to yield an epoxide of the formula:
• ##STR17## and g) opening the epoxide of Step f) with an appropriate nucleophile to yield pancratistatin (1).