Examination of the olefin-olefin ring closing metathesis to prepare Latrunculin B

Three subunits of the potent actin polymerization inhibitor Latrunculin B were synthesized and assembled using olefin-olefin ring closing metathesis chemistry to close the 14-membered macrocycle. Metathesis reactions of substrates with various remote protecting group patterns were examined and gave 6,7-E-lactones as the preferred products.