A new reaction system was devised for decarboxylative radical coupling reactions by heterogeneous semiconductor photoredox catalysis. When an α-alkoxy carboxylic acid and Pt-doped TiO2 in EtOAc were irradiated with a violet light-emitting diode at room temperature, the photogenerated electron hole of TiO2 oxidatively induced the ejection of CO2 via the formation of a carboxyl radical to produce the corresponding α-alkoxy radical. C­(sp3)–C­(sp3) bond formation between the radicals led to dimers with reductive conversion of protons to H2 by the photogenerated electron. Alternatively, in the presence of an electron-deficient olefin, an intermolecular radical addition reaction occurred, resulting in the formation of a 1,4-adduct via single-electron reduction and subsequent protonation. These operationally simple and mild transformations are amenable to the one-step assembly of densely oxygenated linear and branched carbon chains.

Taxol is a clinically used drug for the treatment of various types of cancers. Its 6/8/6/4‐membered ring (ABCD‐ring) system is substituted by eight oxygen functional groups and flanked by four acyl groups, including a β‐amino acid side chain. Here we report a 34‐step total synthesis of this unusually oxygenated and intricately fused structure. Inter‐ and intramolecular radical coupling reactions connected the A‐ and C‐ring fragments and cyclized the B‐ring, respectively. Functional groups of the A‐ and C‐rings were then efficiently decorated by employing newly developed chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselective reactions. Finally, construction of the D‐ring and conjugation with the β‐amino acid delivered taxol. The powerful coupling reactions and functional group manipulations implemented in the present synthesis provide new valuable information for designing multistep target‐oriented syntheses of diverse bioactive natural products.

Taxol is a clinically used drug for the treatment of various types of cancers. Its 6/8/6/4‐membered ring (ABCD‐ring) system is substituted by eight oxygen functional groups and flanked by four acyl groups, including a β‐amino acid side chain. Here we report a 34‐step total synthesis of this unusually oxygenated and intricately fused structure. Inter‐ and intramolecular radical coupling reactions connected the A‐ and C‐ring fragments and cyclized the B‐ring, respectively. Functional groups of the A‐ and C‐rings were then efficiently decorated by employing newly developed chemo‐, regio‐, and stereoselective reactions. Finally, construction of the D‐ring and conjugation with the β‐amino acid delivered taxol. The powerful coupling reactions and functional group manipulations implemented in the present synthesis provide new valuable information for designing multistep target‐oriented syntheses of diverse bioactive natural products.