Asymmetric synthesis of the polyol subunit of the polyene macrolide antibiotic RK-397

A total asymmetric synthesis of the polyol subunit of the polyene macrolide antibiotic RK-397 was developed through the stereoselective functionalization of (1R,1’S,6S,6’R)-3,3’-methylenebis(cyclohept-3-ene-1,6-diol). The pathway generates a large variety of stereoisomeric intermediates and thus can be applied to the preparation of analogues of the natural antibiotic.