Approaches to the stereoselective total synthesis of biologically active natural products

Total syntheses of epothilone B and pamamycin 607, which feature reactions between functionalized allylstannanes and aldehydes to introduce a (Z)-trisubstituted double-bond and remote stereocenters stereoselectively, are discussed. Recent work concerned with carrying out this chemistry without the use of allylstannanes as starting materials and progress toward a total synthesis of bryostatins are also presented.