Treasures old and new: what we can learn regarding the macrocyclic problem from past and present efforts in natural product total synthesis.

In this review the strategies leading to successful macrocyclization, in the context of total synthesis are discussed. These synthetic endeavors will be discussed paying particular attention to the methods employed, and including the type of reactive intermediates that could play a key role in key cyclization steps. In many cases "simple" macrocyclization methods were found to be inadequate, and alternative creative approaches were required.

The synthesis of some novel stilbene dimers incorporating diamide tethers: studies in single electron transfer oxidation (FeCl).

The FeCl oxidative cascade reaction of the acetamido stilbene 1 which we reported some years ago produced the first atropodiastereomeric indolostilbene hybrid 3. By contrast, recent investigation of the oxidation of the stilbene succinamide dimer 72 (FeCl/CHCl) appears, on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, to have produced the bridged macrocyclic indoline 73.