“…Initially, advanced intermediate 46a was subjected to sequential cleavage of the TES (TBAF, AcOH) and PMB (DDQ, CH 2 Cl 2 /MeOH) protecting groups, which subsequently led to spontaneous ring closures, respectively, to form rings BCDE as depicted in structure 47 (39% overall yield from 46a , 1:3 dr at C16 with the desired product being the minor component). The absolute configuration of the two isomers ( 47 and C16- epi - 47 ) were confirmed by NOE spectroscopic studies (cf. regions A, B, and C, see details in Table ).…”