Model studies on a diastereoselective synthesis of the C(33)–C(37) fragment of Amphotericin B

A new, short and highly diastereoselective synthetic route aiming at the C(33)–C(37) fragment of Amphotericin B has been developed. Studies with a model aldehyde (benzaldehyde) have given very promising results: the desired stereochemistry of all four stereocenters of the target molecule has been achieved with high diastereoselection. The stereochemistry of three key intermediates and the target segment has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography.