Synthetic studies toward potent cytostatic macrolide rhizopodin: stereoselective synthesis of the C16–C28 fragment

A stereoselective synthesis of the C16–C28 fragment of cytostatic C2-symmetric macrolide rhizopodin is described. Enantioselective addition of a chiral thiazolidinethione derived titanium enolate to acetal, Evans’ aldol reaction, Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons reaction, and Mukaiyama aldol reaction were applied as key steps.