Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Cephanolide A

The first asymmetric total synthesis of cephanolide A, a complex hexacyclic C₁₈ dinorditerpenoid from cephalotaxus sinensis, was achieved. The synthesis features a convergent strategy, which provides a flexible approach to prepare the biogenetically cephalotaxus diterpenoids and structurally related derivatives for biological studies. A mild intramolecular Prins cyclization was developed to construct the central hexahydrofluorenol skeleton (A-B-C ring), which relies on the originally proposed hydroacylation strategy. A remote hydroxy group directed hydrogenation was applied to stereospecifically reduce the tetra-substituted enone unit. A sequence of ring forming steps, including lactonization, cation mediated etherification and Friedel-Crafts cyclization, was efficiently utilized to forge the cage-like skeleton.