Abstract A new total synthesis of the marine macrolide (−)-zampanolide (1) and the structurally and stereochemically related non-natural levorotatory enantiomer of (+)- dactylolide (2), that is, ent-2, has been developed. The synthesis features a high-yielding, selective intramolecular Horner–Wadsworth–Emmons (HWE) reaction to close the 20- membered macrolactone ring of 1 and ent-2. The β-keto phosphonate/aldehyde precursor ...