Synthesis and confirmation of the absolute stereochemistry of the (-)-aflastatin A C9-C27 degradation polyol.

[reaction: see text]. The C(8)-C(18) ethyl ketone and C(19)-C(28) aldehyde aflastatin A fragments were synthesized and coupled using a diastereoselective anti aldol reaction. This adduct was successfully converted into the C(9)-C(27) polyol degradation product of (-)-aflastatin A to confirm the relative and absolute stereochemistry of this region of the natural product.