The stereocontrolled synthesis of the southern lactone 17 of
boromycin and of the northern segments of both boromycin and aplasmomycin
are described. The syntheses begin with enantioselective
epoxidation of 3-buten-2-ol (42) to provide the optically active
2(S),3(R) epoxy alcohol 43. The absolute configuration was confirmed
by preparing 43 from (-)-2,3-dihydroxybutyric...