First total synthesis of 4(R),17(R)-Resolvin D6 stereoisomer, a potent neuroprotective docosanoid

The first total synthesis of a novel neuroprotective Resolvin D6 enantiomer, 4(R),17(R)-Resolvin D6, is described. Resolvin D6 is a lipid mediator derived from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6, ω-3) with anti-inflammatory properties. Key synthetic features include the use of a MacMillan enantioselective organocatalytic α-oxidation of aldehydes in conjunction with a chiral pool-based approach to generate chiral synthons, a 1,4‑enyne unit as a linchpin, as well as a (Z)-selective Wittig coupling to assemble the Resolvin D6 core carbon skeleton.