Synthetic studies on polymaxenolides: model studies for constructing dihydropyran portion and synthesis of lower portion

With a goal of the total synthesis of polymaxenolide, the first hybrid marine natural product, the model studies for constructing the dihydropyran portion based on the originally proposed biosynthesis (C-C bond formation followed by dehydrative cyclization) and the synthesis of the lower portion (the C1-C3, C7-C17 portion) based on an iodide-induced Morita-Baylis-Hillman type reaction (a three-component assembly) followed by Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling are described.