The yields of epothilone D (I) in the synthesis we developed in the longest linear successions of 23 stages proceeding from diethyl adipate and 24 stages, from (R)-methyl 2,3-О-isopropylidene glycerate (XX) were 2 and 1.6% respectively. It is close to the average number of stages and overall yield (2.3%) in the previously described approaches. The overall number of stages of the synthesis of epothilone D (I) carried out in this study was as expected considerably larger than the average number in the known syntheses.
