Total synthesis of 10-isocyano-4-cadinene and determination of its absolute configuration.

The first enantioselective total synthesis of 10-isocyano-4-cadinene, a marine sesquiterpene isolated from nudibranchs of the family Phyllidiidae, was achieved. The cadinene is expected to be a novel nontoxic antifouling agent. In the synthesis, an intermolecular Diels-Alder reaction and a SmI(2)-induced Barbier-type reaction were employed as key steps. The absolute configuration of 10-isocyano-4-cadinene was determined to be (1S, 6S, 7R, 10S) on the basis of the total synthesis. Antifouling activities against Balanus amphitrite with both enantiomers of 10-isocyano-4-cadinene were also evaluated.