Towards the total synthesis of neurotrophically active tashironins: rapid construction of the tetracyclic core through a tandem oxidative dearomatization–IMDA reaction–RCM protocol

An exceptionally short (three step) strategy involving tandem oxidative dearomatization, intramolecular Diels–Alder (IMDA) reaction and RCM has been devised to generate the complete carbon framework present in tashironin-type sesquiterpenoid natural products.