A Unified Approach For The Total Synthesis Of Cyclo-Archaeol, Iso-Caldarchaeol, Caldarchaeol, And Mycoketide

Ir-catalyzed asymmetric alkene hydrogenation is presented as the strategy par excellence to prepare saturated isoprenoids and mycoketides. This highly stereoselective synthesis approach is combined with an established C-13-NMR method to determine the enantioselectivity of each methyl-branched stereocenter. It is shown that this analysis is fit for purpose and the combination allows the synthesis of the title compounds with a significant increase in efficiency.