Synthesis of the macrocyclic core of leiodermatolide

The macrocyclic core (2) of the marine macrolide leiodermatolide (1) has been synthesized in 19 steps through a convergent strategy exploiting boron aldol methodology to install the requisite stereochemistry and a selective Stille coupling reaction for controlled fragment assembly, followed by a Yamaguchi macrolactonization and carbamate introduction at the C9-OH.