Stereoselective Synthesis of the C31−C40/C43−C52 Unit of Amphidinol 3

A concise synthesis of a tetrahydropyran ring system corresponding to the C31-C40 and C43-C52 units of amphidinol 3 is described. Successive chemoselective reactions, i.e., cross-metathesis to differentiate the iodoolefin from the terminal olefin and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation on the resulting E-olefin, resulted in expeditious synthesis of an intermediate that was then cross-coupled to afford an E,E-diene system. Four contiguous stereogenic centers were installed via construction of the tetrahydropyran ring by means of Katsuki-Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation, 6-endo-tet cyclization, and Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation.