The extension of our strategies for the construction of cyclic molecules containing variably substituted bicyclo[5.3.1]undecenones (AB taxane ring systems) for the synthesis of the tricyclo[9.3.1.03,8]pentadecenone (ABC taxane ring system) and bicyclo[2.2.2]octanones are described. These routes employ a multi-component coupling protocol that employs sequential magnesium-mediated carbometallation of allyl-substituted propargyl alcohols followed by diastereoselective Lewis acid catalyzed intramolecular DielsAlder reactions (IMDA). Subsequent ring-closing metathesis (RCM) afforded the ABC taxane core structure. Enone accelerated [3,3] sigmatropic rearrangements (Cope rearrangements) generated the bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone nucleus. In the presence of a Lewis acid, the dienophile precursor underwent a tandem reaction via the adduct directly to the bicyclo[2.2.2]octanones. This is the first example of a novel enone accelerated carbocycle Cope rearrangement and provides direct access to bicyclo[2.2.2]octanones by a new route that compliments the traditional cyclohexadiene cycloaddition approach. Key words: magnesium chelate, Lewis acid, taxanes, DielsAlder, sigmatropic rearrangement, oxy-Cope, ring-closing metathesis, bicyclo[2.2.2]octanone.
