“…In the specific context of type I polyketides, which are ubiquitous in human medicine, commercial manufacturing routes rarely exploit de novo chemical synthesis, highlighting the need for more efficient and process-relevant synthetic methods. Inspired by the broad use of hydrogenation and transfer hydrogenation in the production of clinical candidates, we have advanced a suite of catalytic enantioselective carbonyl reductive couplings based on alcohol mediated hydrogen transfer. , Using these methods, an initial (but unsuccessful) campaign toward leiodermatolide A was undertaken . Here, we disclose a more fruitful approach employing catalytic enantioselective transfer hydrogenative allylation, , crotylation, − and propargylation , that has resulted in a 13 step longest linear sequence (LLS) total synthesis of leiodermatolide A, constituting the most concise route to this compound reported, to date.…”