Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Havellockate

The first total synthesis of the furanobutenolide-derived cembranoid diterpenoid havellockate is disclosed. Our convergent strategy employs a Julia–Kocienski olefination to join two enantioenriched fragments to produce a diene that is subsequently used in a propiolic acid esterification/Diels–Alder cascade. This sequence generates the fused carbocyclic core of the natural product in short order. A challenging Zn-mediated Barbier allylation then forges the final C–C bond and also establishes two vicinal stereogenic centers. Finally, a Cu-catalyzed aerobic oxidation facilitates the formation of the β-hydroxybutanolide to complete the total synthesis.