As part of our recent search for new semisynthetic analogs of maytansinoids having a better therapeutic ratio than maytansine, we synthesized 3-epimaytansinoids (VIIIaMC) starting from ansamitocin P-3, a fermentation product of Nocardia sp., via maytansinol (I). A key intermediate, 3-epimaytansinol (VI), was synthesized by oxidation of I with pyridinium chlorochromate to 3-maytansinone (IV), followed by stereoselective reduction with NaBH4 ...