Total Synthesis of (–)‐Epothilone B: An Extension of the Suzuki Coupling Method and Insights into Structure–Activity Relationships of the Epothilones

The highest biological activities displayed by epothilone-related compounds have been found for epothilone B (1) and a derivative that was prepared en route to the natural product. Key steps in the total synthesis were a Suzuki coupling providing a trisubstituted double bond in the macrocycle and its subsequent stereoselective epoxidation with dimethyldioxirane.