Application of the Intramolecular Yamamoto Vinylogous Aldol Reaction to the Synthesis of Macrolides

An intramolecular version of the Yamamoto vinylogous aldol reaction, a method that employs the bulky Lewis acid ATPH to control the site
of aldolization, is described. This macrocyclization process is effective for the construction of 10-, 12-, and 14-membered macrolides. The
yields are high (70−90%), and the reaction can proceed with excellent remote stereocontrol (dr ≥ 20:1) with chiral substrates.