Total synthesis of coronafacic acid through 6-endo-trig mode intramolecular cyclization of an enone-aldehyde to a hydrindanone using samarium(II) iodide

Coronafacic acid has been synthesized from a hydrindanone prepared by a 6-endo-trig mode cyclization reaction of the enone-aldehyde with samarium(II) iodide. The stereochemistry of the hydrindanone was controlled by the coordinated samarium species resulting in cis in respect of the hydroxyl group at C-4 and the juncture proton at C-3a.