A second-generation total synthesis of spirastrellolide A methyl ester.

Marine macrolides: an improved second-generation total synthesis of the anticancer macrolide spirastrellolide A methyl ester has been achieved. The synthesis features a uniformly high level of stereocontrol combined with more expedient fragment assembly, and demonstrates a critical dependence of the crucial macrolactonization step on the substitution pattern of the C22-C24 linker region