Efficient, enantioselective organocatalytic synthesis of trichostatin A

An efficient, highly stereocontrolled total synthesis of trichostatin A (1) has been achieved in 9 steps with 17.4% overall yield and >99% optical purity from readily available achiral starting materials. The key features of this synthesis include the L-proline-promoted, highly enantioselective cross-aldol reaction as a crucial step for the construction of the C-6 chiral center and the minimization of racemization by final step oxidation of the OH group to a ketone at position 7.