An eleven-step reaction sequence starting from enantiomerically pure (
-)-muricatacin (6) afforded the key intermediate 12, which was then co
nverted to (15S, 16R, 19S, 20R, 34S)-diepomuricanin (1) via introducti
on of an acetylene unit and a coupling reaction with iodo lactone synt
hon 15. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd