Abstract: A stereospecific total synthesis of the racemates of methylenomycin A and its epimer, epimethylenomycin A, has been achieved. These novel cyclopentanoid antibiotics were constructed in eight and ten steps, respectively, utilizing a common intermediate (14) without resort to protecting-group methodology. The key elements of the total synthesis were (i) stereospecific introduction of the epoxide group syn and anti in common intermediate ...