A convergent strategy was elaborated to synthesize maytansine 1 and maytansinoids modified on the carbon skeleton, especially 4-demethylmaytansine 2, 6- demethylmaytansine 3, 4, 6-bisdemethylmaytansine 4. In this paper, the feasibility of the project was verified by the preparation of key intermediates for the synthesis of 4, 6- bisdemethylmaytansine and 6-demethylmaytansine. The C-1-N open chain compound 18 ...