Total synthesis of murraol, (E)-Suberenol and toward the collective total synthesis of exotines A, cnidimonins A-Cetc

Simple and efficient syntheses of murraol and (E)-suberenol were accomplished in just three simple steps from cheap and readily available 4-methoxysalicylaldehyde implementing a protecting-group-free and redox-neutral strategy. In the adopted approach, a practical regioselective bromination reaction and a high yield Mizoroki-Heck reaction from previously inactive bromocoumarin were conducted. This newly established high yield, gram scale synthetic method was further furnished the formal synthesis of a series of novel dimeric natural products. [Display omitted] •A simple and efficient total synthesis of Murraol and (E)-Suberenol were achieved, or one step from the known starting material in almost quantitative yield.•A protecting-group-free and redox-neutral strategy has been used.•These synthetic strategies and methodologies are further utilized in the formal synthesis of a series of novel dimeric natural products.