Stereocontrolled synthesis of the C8-C22 fragment of rhizopodin

A convergent synthesis of the central C8-C22 core of the potent macrolide antibiotic rhizopodin is reported. Notable features of the stereocontrolled approach include an asymmetric reverse prenylation of an alcohol using a method of Krische, a thiazolium catalyzed transformation of an epoxyaldehyde as described by Bode, and a late-stage oxazole formation from advanced intermediates. This route demonstrates the applicability of these methodologies in complex natural product synthesis.