An efficient oxidative dearomatization–radical cyclization approach to symmetrically substituted bicyclic guttiferone natural products

Abstract

Detailed in this communication is an efficient synthetic approach towards the guttiferone family of natural products. Oxidatively unraveling a para-quinone monoketal followed by consecutive 5-exo radical cyclizations provides the bicyclic core. An additional strength of this approach is a late stage asymmetric desymmetrization of an advanced symmetric intermediate.