A formal total synthesis of the potent renin inhibitor aliskiren is disclosed exploiting an alternative coupling strategy recently developed by this laboratory for the preparation of the hydroxyethylene isostere-based class of protease inhibitors. The thioester derivative of the amino acid representing the C5-C9 fragment of the aliskiren carbon skeleton underwent a carbon chain extension via a SmI2-promoted radical addition to n-butyl acrylate. ...