Formal total synthesis of neopeltolide

A concise synthesis of the core structure of the macrolide neopeltolide was developed featuring a Prins cyclization to fashion the pyran ring. Key steps in the synthesis of aldehyde 16 were a Leighton allylation and a Feringa-Minnaard asymmetric methyl cuprate addition to an unsaturated thioester. For lactonization, a classical Yamaguchi macrolactonization was used. The longest linear sequence consists of 17 steps providing lactone 26 with an overall yield of 23%.