Ring A of taxol was synthesized from the bromodiene 5 and acryloyl chloride to give 6, which was resolved by separation of diastereomers 7. Allylic oxidation of 7 gave 8, which on deprotection, esterification and reduction gave 11. Heating 11 followed by reduction and protection gave 13. The C-ring component was made using asymmetric Birch reduction methodology combined with standard functional group