Divergent synthesis of complex polyketide-like macrolides from a simple polyol fragment.

[structure: see text] Three stereochemically and structurally complex non-natural polyketide macrolides have been synthesized from the same simple polyol precursor. That this polyol fragment is rapidly available in quantity is key to the practicality of these syntheses and allows the targeting of more highly complex and "natural product-like" macrolides.