A formal total synthesis of dysidiolide.

[structure] A formal total synthesis of the natural product dysidiolide is described. Starting from a Diels-Alder reaction between an enoate and a Rawal diene, the cyclohexenone 4 was synthesized. A subsequent stereospecific methyl cuprate addition established the desired trans configuration in the cyclohexane 3. Wacker oxidation of the pentenyl side chain to the diketone 17 followed by an intramolecular aldol condensation led to the bicyclic enone 2, a key intermediate in a recently reported synthesis of dysidiolide.