The stabilization of the transition state through a favorable interaction between the double bond of 1 and the carbonyl group of 2 appears to be responsible for the high diastereoface selectivity of the aldol reaction. This key step in the highly concise total synthesis of epothilone B is followed by a Suzuki coupling to introduce the thiazole domain, a Noyori reduction to control the stereochemistry at C3, and a final macrolactonization (see reaction scheme). X=protecting group.
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Balog et al. (1998) studied this question.