Total control: The antibiotic BE‐43472B with a unique bisanthraquinone structure has been synthesized in a completely stereocontrolled manner. The key steps are 1) a pinacolrearrangement to install the angular naphthyl group, 2) a diastereoselective methylation of a lactol derivative, and 3) the late‐stage installation of the labile hydroxy group through an epoxide.
an angular hydroxy group, and (3) pinacol rearrangement for stereoselective installation of the angular aryl group. Other keys for the success include, (4) diastereoselective methylation of a lactol derivative, and (5) late-stage installation of the C3 hydroxy group through stereoselective oxirane ring formation via halohydrin derivatives. Whereas oxidation of the double bond in the enone with an adjacent