Satisfyingly, subjection of ketone 30 to KHMDS and Davis' oxaziridine gave the desired α-hydroxyketone (92% yield) as the sole diastereomer which was subsequently protected as a MOM acetal to afford 31 in nearly quantitative yield. Oxidative cleavage of enol ether moiety on 31 with RuO4/NaIO4 led to the formation of lactol 32 and lactone 33 in a 18% and 73% yield respectively. The minor compound 32 was easily converted to lactone 32 with I2 and K2CO3 in 91% yield. The formation of the D-lactone ring was achieved through a one-pot stereoselective reduction with NaBH4, after which, the benzoyl group was cleaved with NaOH (1M), followed by addition of dilute AcOH enabled the lactonization to afford 34 in 83% yield. Although enone 35 was obtained directly by oxidation of alcohol 34 with IBX and MPO in 31% yield, a procedure to obtain a higher overall yield was developed. First, oxidation of the alcohol followed by treatment with anhydrous HCl and PhSeCl to afford the corresponding α-phenylselenide which upon exposure to H2O2 led to 35 in 75% yield over 3 steps. The conversion of the F-ring cyclic acetal in 35 to the enol moiety was initially attempted in PhCl at 135 °C in the presence of PPTS and pyridine. To our dismay, no expected enol product was isolated, only several side products were observed resulting from the deprotection of MOM group. We reasoned that the presence of Ac2O under these conditions, an instantaneous acetylation could occur upon deprotection of the MOM group favoring the formation of the desired enol 36 and thus avoiding side reactions. To our delight, enol 36 was isolated in 66% yield. The latter was subjected to trityl hydroperoxide and DBU to give the epoxide 6 in 57% yield.