Exploiting Pseudo <i>C</i>₂‑Symmetry for an Efficient Synthesis of the F‑Ring of the Spongistatins

A concise and efficient synthesis of the F-ring fragment of the potent antimitotic marine macrolide spongistatin 1 has been developed. The key sequence involves double cross-metathesis/Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation reactions to establish four stereocenters in a pseudo C2-symmetric array, followed by a selective protection reaction that breaks the pseudosymmetry, establishes a fifth stereocenter, and effectively differentiates the ester termini. Overall, the six contiguous stereocenters in the C(37)–C(45) F-ring fragment are established in just seven steps.