In the final stages of the synthesis (Scheme 5), the hydroxyl group in 46 was deprotected to give alcohol 47. Reaction of the lithium alkoxide of 47 with the Ojima lactam 48 adds the tail in 49. Deprotection of the triethylsilyl ether with hydrofluoric acid and removal of the BOM group under reductive conditions gave (−)-Taxol 51 in 46 steps.