Stereoselective total synthesis of arenastatin A, a spongean cytotoxic depsipeptide

A highly stereoselective total synthesis of arenastatin A, an extremely potent cytotoxic cyclic depsipeptide from marine sponge, was developed. The desired 7,8-β-epoxide in arenastatin A was constructed by asymmetric sulfur ylide-mediated epoxidation in good yield and highly stereoselective manner.