The invention provides methods for the synthesis of a halichondrin macrolides through a macrocyclization strategy. The macrocyclization strategy of the present invention involves subjecting a non-macrocyclic intermediate to a carbon-carbon bond-forming reaction (e.g., an olefination reaction (e.g., Homer-Wadsworth-Emmons olefination), catalytic Ring-Closing Olefin Metathesis, or Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi reaction) to afford a macrocyclic macrolide. The invention also provides compounds useful as intermediates in the synthesis of a halichondrin macrolides and methods for preparing the same.