Stereoselective synthesis of premisakinolide A, the monomeric counterpart of the marine 40-membered dimeric macrolide misakinolide A.

[structure: see text] The first synthesis of premisakinolide A, the monomeric counterpart of misakinolide A, the marine 40-membered macrolide displaying potent activity against a variety of human carcinoma cell lines, has been reported. The strategy was highlighted by a crucial coupling of a tetrahydropyran fragment and an alkynylaluminum reagent having a polypropionate chain, the highly stereoselective cross aldol reaction of segment A and segment B, and the stereospecific construction of the polypropionate structure based on original acyclic stereocontrol.