A de novo Diels–Alder strategy toward the novel pentacyclic natural product fluostatin C: a concise synthesis of 6-deoxyfluostatin C

A conceptually new Diels–Alder approach, involving a diene moiety grafted on a preformed epoxyquinone platform and a 4-hydroxy-indenone as the dienophile, delivers the pentacyclic framework of fluostatin C in one key step.