Simultaneous preparation of four truncated analogues of discodermolide by fluorous mixture synthesis

Four truncated analogues of the natural product discodermolide were synthesized in a single synthetic sequence. Precursors bearing four different groups at C22, each with a unique fluorous p-methoxybenzyl substituent on the C17 hydroxy group, were mixed and taken through an nine-step sequence. Demixing by fluorous chromatography followed by deprotection and purification provided the individual analogues in 3-7% overall yields and with a savings of 24 synthetic steps. Fluorous mixture synthesis is recommended as a new technique to make multiple natural product analogues in a single multistep synthesis.