Towards the synthesis of amphidinolide B. An intramolecular Stille coupling approach

A synthetic approach towards the cytotoxic polyene polyol macrolide amphidinolide B (1), based on elaboration of the C1C13 carboxylic acid 4 and the C14C25 alcohol 3 units, their esterification to the iodostannyl ester 2, and an intramolecular Stille sp2–sp2 coupling reaction, is described. In spite of adequate precedent and model experiments, circumstances conspired and the aforementioned coupling reaction was not realised in this case.