Asymmetric Total Synthesis of (+)-Verrubenzospirolactone and (+)-Capillobenzopyranol.

The first asymmetric total synthesis of (+)-verrubenzospirolactone (1), a distinctive highly fused benzosesquiterpenoid, characterized by a pentacyclic skeletal structure, is realized through a concise 10-step synthetic pathway with an impressive 22.8% overall yield. Notable highlights of this synthetic endeavor include (i) the introduction of a Ru-catalyzed ortho C-H activation step, (ii) the application of Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylic alkylation to establish a pivotal stereocenter at C-3 with an excellent enantiomeric excess, (iii) B-alkyl Suzuki-Miyaura coupling to construct a Diels-Alder precursor, and, ultimately, (iv) the successful deployment of an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to complete the synthesis of (+)-verrubenzospirolactone without erosion of the enantiomeric excess.