The total synthesis of erythronolide B (l), the biosynthetic progenitor of all of the erythromycins, has previously been reported.',* Herein we describe the first total synthesis of erythronolide A (2), the aglycone corresponding to the medically important antibiotic erythromycin A. The general strategy used for the synthesis of 2 is similar to that which led earlier to synthetic 1, although there are major differences between the two syntheses with ...
