Our recent progress on the total synthesis of marine anti-cancer sesquiterpene quinone/hydroquinone dysideanone B and dysiherbol A was briefly highlighted. This success relied on some key transformations. The union of the terpene and quinone/hydroquinone moieties was realized through a site and stereoselective α-position alkylation of Wieland–Miescher ketone derivative with a bulky benzyl bromide. The 6/6/6/6-tetracycle of dysideanone B was constructed using an intramolecular radical cyclization and the 6/6/5/6-fused core structure of dysiherbol A was forged by an intramolecular Heck reaction, respectively. The possible origin of ethoxy group in dysideanone B was revealed by mimicking the isolation conditions at a late-stage. The structure of dysiherbol A was revised through the total synthesis of this natural product. Schmalz’s synthesis of dysiherbol A was also included.
Approaches to the Cephalotaxine Skeleton Using an Intramolecular Heck Reaction.