%A P Wipf %A PDG Coish %J Journal of Organic Chemistry %T Total synthesis of (?)-nisamycin %X We have developed a highly convergent synthesis of the manumycin-type m- C7N-antibiotic nisamycin that is applicable to other members of this family of antibiotics. The synthesis features a three-step sequence to the epoxyquinol core that serves as a scaffold for the attachment of the polyene side chains. The eastern polyene side chain was constructed via a novel organozirconocene-mediated synthesis. Zirconocene methodology was also applied to the synthesis of the polyene side chains of asukamycin. The southern side chain of nisamycin was introduced via a Stille reaction that employed a vinyl bromo ketone, derived from an acid-sensitive bromo ketal. Pd-mediated coupling of the vinyl bromide with a stannyl TIPS ester gave TIPS-protected nisamycin that was readily converted to the natural product. %N 14 %P 5053 - 5061 %V 64 %D 1999 %R 10.1021/jo990413m %L pittir25623