Efforts toward the total synthesis of (-)-kendomycin.

[structure: see text] The synthesis of an advanced component leading to (-)-kendomycin is described. The synthetic scheme features the application of asymmetric conjugate addition methodology for the early generation of the C13-C14 (E)-trisubstituted olefin, providing an efficient assembly of the ansa chain. Condensation reactions probe two strategies for attachment of the aromatic system.