The macrolactonization-based strategy for the total synthesis of epothilones has been streamlined and improved to a high level of efficiency and stereoselectivity. This strategy has been applied to the construction of vinyl iodide 19 which served as a common intermediate for the synthesis of a series of natural and designed epothilones including an epothilone B10 (3), epothilone F (5), 16-desmethylepothilone B (14), pyridine epothilones 57 a–57 g, dimeric epothilones 59 and 61, and benzenoid epothilones 63 a–63 g.