Synthesis of Kempene-2

Significance

Kempene-2 is a tetracyclic diterpene isolated from the defense secretion of two species of termite soldiers, and synthetic analogues have been shown to have antibiotic activity. These molecules are challenging synthetic targets due to the seven contiguous stereocenters including two quaternary centers. This is the first enantioselective synthesis and also gave access to kempene-1 and 3-epi-kempene-1 from N in three steps.