(+)-4-Deoxygigantecin (1) was totally synthesized from enantiomerically pure (-)-muricatacin (3). Thus, 3 afforded the key intermediate 5 through a five-step reaction sequence, which was then converted to (+)-4-deoxygigantecin (1) via the formation of bis-tetrahydrofuran unit 1 1 and a coupling reaction with iodo lactone synthon 1 6. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.