The present invention provides methods and reagents relating to the PKS gene cluster for the polyketide antibiotics known as narbomycin and picromycin. Narbomycin is produced in Streptomyces narbonensis and both narbomycin and picromycin are produced in S. venezuelae. We have completed the formal synthesis of Narbonolide by using Yamaguchi esterification protocol. Muamvatin represents the first example of a naturally occurring 2,4,6-trioxaadamantane...