Abstract: Compounds of the formula wherein Ra is H; substituted or unsubstituted alkyl (1-10C); substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl (2-10C); substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl (2-10C); substituted or unsubstituted aryl (4-14C); substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl (5-20C); or ORa is replaced by H; Rb is H or halogen; Rc is H or a protecting group; Rd is methyl, unsubstituted alkyl (3-10C); substituted alkyl (1-10C); substituted or unsubstituted alkynyl (2-10C); substituted or unsubstituted aryl (4-14C); substituted or unsubstituted arylalkyl (5-20C); substituted or unsubstituted arylalkenyl (5-20C); substituted or unsubstituted arylalkynyl (5-20C); substituted or unsubstituted amidoarylalkyl (5-20C); substituted or unsubstituted amidoarylalkenyl (5-20C); or substituted or unsubstituted amidoarylalkynyl (5-20C); Re is H or a protecting group; L is methylene or carbonyl; T is —O—, —N(R)—, —N(OR)—, —N(NHCOR)—, —N(N═CHR)—, or &md

Abstract: Facile methods for preparing diketide and triketide thioesters are disclosed. The resulting thioesters may be used as intermediates in the synthesis of desired polyketides, and may contain functional groups which ultimately reside in side chains on the resulting polyketide and thus can be used further to manipulate the polyketide so as form derivatives. The polyketides produced may also be tailored by glycosylation, hydroxylation and the like. New polyketides and their derivatives and tailored forms are thereby produced.