Synthesis of Polygodial

A Simple Enantioselective Synthesis of the Biologically Active Tetracyclic Marine Sesterterpene Scalarenedial

“…The unusual brevity of the synthesis of 1 which is described herein is a tribute to the power of several recently developed methods of synthesis including (1) the position- and enantioselective oxidation of geranylgeranyl acetate, (2) the rapid assembly and coupling reactions involving the acylsilane 6 , (3) the tetracyclization 8 → 9 , and (4) the hydroxy desilylation and catalytic carbonylation which are perfectly suited to the introduction of the ene dial functionality in the D-ring of 1 …”