5.
The natural product monensin belongs to a family of compounds known as ionophores.
These compounds can serve to complex with and transport cations, a property which
often results in biological activity. Monensin is a compound used in the poultry business
to treat coccidial infections, a serious problem in this multi-billion dollar industry. A
total synthesis has been described by Kishi at Harvard. A portion of the synthesis is
detailed below: