Macrolactones exhibit distinct conformational and configurational properties and are widely found in natural products but catalysts to govern both macrolactone formation and stereochemical control remain largely unexplored. Here, the authors disclose an N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC)-catalyzed enantioselective synthesis of chiral macrolactones varying in ring size from sixteen to twenty members that feature distinct configurationally stable planar stereogenicity.
- Xiaokang Lv
- Fen Su
- Yonggui Robin Chi
