A convenient synthesis of a-ring-functionalized podolactones. Revision of the structure of wentilactone B.

A new route to podolactones functionalized in the A ring has been achieved. Two key steps were employed in this synthesis, the construction of the bicyclic skeleton via a Mn(III)-mediated radical cyclization and the transformation of this bicyclic intermediate into the tetracyclic podolactone skeleton through a Pd (II)-mediated bislactonization of the corresponding conjugate diene. The reported synthesis of 3beta-hydroxy-13,14,15,16-tetranorlabda-7,9(11)-dien-(19,6beta),(12,17)-diolide (1) let us reassign the structure of wentilactone B, for which structure 1 was wrongly reported. [reaction: see text]