Red algae are a prolific source of squalene-derived polyethers [1] that show moderate to high levels of cytotoxicity [2] and very selective protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) inhibition.[3] These unique structures (see Figure 1 for examples) have inspired total syntheses of the family members venusatriol,[4] thyrsiferol and its esters,[4b, 5] pseudodehydrothyrsiferol,[6] and dioxepanedehydrothyrsiferol,[7] in addition to subunit and analogue syntheses.[8] Our ...
