2012 Theses Doctoral

Methodological Innovations in Polyketide Synthesis and their Application toward the Scalable Synthesis of Anti-Tumor Agent Spongistatin 1

Reznik, Samuel Kaye

This thesis describes the efforts of the Leighton laboratory to develop a scalable synthetic route to access anti-tumor agent spongistatin 1, or analogs thereof. In an effort to achieve this goal, several new chemical reaction platforms were established. Though these novel chemical transformations were developed specifically for use in the total synthesis of spongistatin 1, their potential application to general polyketide synthesis has been demonstrated. These methodological innovations have allowed our laboratory to take tremendous strides toward the longterm goal of helping to bring a potent chemotherapeutic agent to the global market.