A highly convergent cascade cyclization to cis-hydrindanes with all-carbon quaternary centers and its application in the synthesis of the aglycon of dendronobiloside A.

An efficient and versatile ZnBr(2)-catalyzed Diels-Alder/carbocyclization cascade reaction has been developed for construction of highly functionalized cis-hydrindanes (70-96% yields with high diastereoselectivity), and it has been successfully utilized in the synthesis of the aglycon of dendronobiloside A.