A general strategy for the synthesis of polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols is described in which a scalable, Lewis acid catalyzed epoxide-opening cascade cyclization is used to furnish common intermediate 4. The utility of this approach is exemplified by the total syntheses of both ent-nemorosone and (+)-secohyperforin, which were each accomplished in four steps from this intermediate.

Regioselective formation of vinylogous acyl sulfonates was accomplished via the allylic oxidation of the corresponding vinyl sulfonates. The reaction progressed through the agency of catalytic iron(III) chloride catalysis with tert-Butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) as the stoichiometric oxidant. Tolerance of other functional groups, including some other allylic and benzylic sites, was observed. Letter pubs.acs.org/OrgLett