Progress in synthesis of clarithromycin

Clarithromycin (6-methylerythromycin A, 1) is one of the most important macrolide antibiotics. As the second generation of erythromycin, it is a broad-spectnnn antibiotic with strong antibacterial activity and more favorable phannacokinetic behavior. It has been attracted much attention and shows a bright future in the application and development. The present review describes its synthesis and development, including its discovery, the arts of selective 6-OH-methylation synthesis, various techniques of introduction and elimination of the protective group, diverse routes of clarithromycin preparation and latest synthetic techniques.