The first synthesis of (±)-anchinopeptolide D (4) has been accomplished in seven steps in 10%
overall yield from octopamine hydrochloride (17), N-(Boc)glycine (16), and 5-amino-2-hydroxypentanoic acid (22). The key step is the aldol dimerization and hemiaminal formation of α-keto amide
26, which gives primarily protected anchinopeptolide D 27 under kinetically controlled conditions.
Cycloanchinopeptolide D (31) has been prepared by the unprecedented head-to-head photodimerization of the two hydroxystyrylamides of 4 using the hydrophobic effect in water to force the two
side chains into close proximity so that [2 + 2] cycloaddition is faster than trans to cis double bond
isomerization. Coupling of amine 21 with pyroglutamic acid affords the naturally occurring
tripeptide 35, which had been assigned glutamic acid structure 34