Total Synthesis of Four Stereoisomers of Acaterin through a Te/Li Exchange Protocol

Acaterin 1 (1) is an inhibitor of Acylcoenzyme A cholesterol acyl transferase (ACAT). It was first isolated from a culture of Pseudomonas sp. This type of inhibitor has a promising role in the treatment of atherosclerosis. The butenolide skeleton with an α-alkyl chain, can be obtained from γ-butyl-telluro-allylic alcohols by Te/Li exchange reaction and capture with CO2 according to a methodology recently established in our group. 2