Exceedingly Efficient Synthesis of (±)-Grandifloracin and Acylated Analogues.

A highly efficient regio- and stereoselective total synthesis of (±)-grandifloracin via a tandem dearomative epoxidation/spontaneous Diels-Alder cyclodimerization from salicylic acid in only four steps is reported. The synthetic route allows for late-stage diversification of the core structure to give ready access to analogues of this promising agent against pancreatic cancer.