Total syntheses of (+)-macrosphelide A (I, R = α-Me), (18.5% overall yield in 11 steps) and (+)-macrosphelide E (I, R = β-Me), (23.9% overall yield in 11 steps) have been achieved via the chemoenzymic reaction product (4R,5S)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate (II). The enantiomer (-)-A (14.2% overall yield in 11 steps) of (+)-A was also synthesized from the chemoenzymic reaction product (4S,5R)-4-benzyloxy-5-hydroxy-2(E)-hexenoate
(2000), 11(13), 2753-2764