Total synthesis of zincophorin and its methyl ester.

A total synthesis of the naturally occurring ionophore zincophorin has been realized. The route features an intramolecular oxymercuration of a cyclopropanemethanol and a Carroll-Claisen rearrangement for the respective elaboration of the C1-C12 and C13-C25 subunits, which have been assembled by using a highly diastereoselective titanium-mediated aldol condensation.