Erythromycin Synthesis—A Never‐ending Story?

The most extensive single project in the history of organic chemistry—the total synthesis of erythromycin A and B—has received new impetus from biosynthetic studies (see related Highlight in the last edition) as well as from a new approach for the final steps of the chemical synthesis. The sequence of first lactonization, then glycosidation has been assumed incontestable; however, the reversed order of reactions recently led to considerable success. The story continues…