Studies toward the Synthesis of Spirolide C: Exploration into the Formation of the 23-Membered All-Carbon Macrocyclic Framework

The synthesis of two complex subunits en route to spirolide C is described. A key alkyllithium addition to an aldehyde joins the fragments, which are advanced in order to investigate a ring-closing metathesis to form the 23-membered all-carbon macrocyclic framework.