Synthesis of natural products and analogs using multiple Pd-catalyzed transformations

Palladium-catalyzed transformations are of great importance in modern synthetic organic chemistry. The vast number of reactions that can be catalyzed by Pd-0- as well as Pd2+-complexes in combination with the relative stability of the intermediates offers the intriguing opportunity of carrying out multiple consecutive bond-forming processes. They can be even performed in a domino fashion and in the presence of chiral ligands to allow the efficient preparation of almost enantiopure compounds. In this article, the use of double Heck, Tsuji-Trost-Heck, and Wacker-Heck reactions for the total syntheses of estradiol, spinosyn A analogs, cephalotaxine, and vitamin E is described.