Synthesis of the C38–C54 spiroketal segment of halichondrin B

Stereoselective synthesis of the C38–C54 segment of a marine metabolite halichondrin B comprising KLM and N rings with a C44 spiroketal including 10 chiral centers is described. The salient features of the synthesis are Carreira’s addition, Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and double alkylation of TosMIC strategy and double vinyl coupling reactions.