Synthesis of the CD ring in taxol from (S)-(+)-carvone

The tricycle 16 containing a functionalized CD ring is constructed from (S)-(+)-carvone in 21 steps involving a Baeyer–Villiger oxidation, an Oppenaurer oxidation and Meerwein–Ponndorf–Verley reduction, a stereospecific Grignard addition, and an intramolecular SN2 reaction as the key steps.