Total synthesis of the anthelmintic macrolide avermectin B1a

A highly convergent total synthesis of the anthelmintic macrolide avermectin B1a 1 is described. The key features of this synthesis include the introduction of the C(11)–C(15) portion by selective ring opening of a symmetrical 1,4-bis-epoxide 4 followed by reaction with the anion derived from the 3-methyl-2-(1-methylpropyl)-6-phenylsulphonylpyran 3 to afford the ‘northern’ C(11)–C(25) fragment 39. Coupling of the derived C(11)–C(25) aldehyde unit 42 with a C(1)–C(10)‘southern’ fragment 2 was achieved via a novel deconjugative vinyl sulphone anion sequence. Macrolactonisation and subsequent introduction of the 3,4-double bond gave the aglycone portion 51. The oleandrosyloleandrose disaccharide was introduced by a novel silver-mediated coupling between the 5-acetylated aglycone 70 and the thiocarbonylimidazolide 69. Final deacetylation was accomplished using Super-Hydride to give the natural product 1.