Efficient Polyether Synthesis Based on Apparent and Latent Symmetry

The project will involve the development of a new, highly efficient and general method for the synthesis of structurally complex fused polycyclic ether natural products of marine origin. Natural product sub-units bearing apparent or latent symmetry will identified and the unique properties of centrosymmetric systems will exploited to prepare these systems rapidly. The rapid and efficient synthesis of bicyclic or tetracyclic centrosymmetric systems and their subsequent asymmetric desymmetrisation using chiral reagents will be explored. Synthesis of representative key fragments of marine polyether natural products using bidirectional methods will be attempted thereafter.