Process for synthesizing paclitaxel by treating baccatin III with a strong base in a solvent, adding an electrophile to the solution to form a 7-O-protected baccatin III derivative, reacting the 7-O-protected baccatin III derivative with a protected paclitaxel sidechain in a solvent such that the protected paclitaxel sidechain is coupled to the 13-hydroxyl of the 7-O-protected baccatin III, and subsequently deprotecting the protected paclitaxel sidechain and the 7-O protecting group to form paclitaxel, and intermediates used therein.