The first enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-atlanticone C is described. The complex tricyclic protoilludane core was rapidly assembled by a photochemical reaction cascade starting from an easily accessible indanone precursor (3 steps). Optimization of an enantioselective Corey–Bakshi–Shibata reduction permitted a catalytic chiral resolution of the racemic photoproduct (45% over two steps; up to 98% ee). The enantiomerically enriched photoproduct was efficiently transformed into the (+)-enantiomer of atlanticone C (10 steps; 18% yield), and the absolute configuration of naturally occurring (–)-atlanticone C was thereby determined.
Key words
asymmetric synthesis - total synthesis - photocycloaddition - chiral resolution - protoilludanes - atlanticone C
