Enantiomerically pure 15-deoxoclerocidin (14), 15-dihydro-12-O-formylclerocidin (19) and 12-O-formyl-15,20-tetrahydroclerocidin (18) were synthesized from a methyl-substituted Wieland Miescher ketone (3). (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd, All rights reserved.