Asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-Hexachlorosulfolipid, a cytotoxin isolated from adriatic mussels

The enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-hexachlorosulfolipid, a cytotoxin found in the Adriatic mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, is described. The unique chlorinated hydrocarbon motif of the lipid is successfully furnished by a series of dichlorination reactions of chiral epoxides with chlorophosphonium reagent generated in situ from Ph₃P/NCS. The present total synthesis has allowed the confirmation of the absolute configuration of the natural cytotoxic (+)-hexachlorosulfolipid originally proposed by Fattorusso, Ciminiello, and co-workers.