The title compound is constructed via Lythgoe's procedure. The crucial
steps towards the ''A-ring'' phosphine oxide precursor 5 involve (i)e
laboration of the 1,3-trans diol configuration, via stereoselective ep
oxidation of 8 and (ii) the introduction of the Z-substituted double b
ond via a highly selective selenation-oxidation-elimination procedure
on ester 14.