Vivienne Prangenberg

Densely functionalized polycyclic angular xanthones have attracted considerable synthetic interest due to their potent antimicrobial activity and structural complexity (Figure 1).[1] Recent accomplishments include the total synthesis of FD594 (1) and kigamicin A precursor 2 (top).[2-4] However, despite considerable efforts,[5-7] a synthetic route to the most potent class of these polycyclic heterocycles,[1] the CBS family isolated from Streptomyces albus,[8-10] remains elusive (bottom).