First enantioselective total synthesis and configurational assignments of suberosenone and suberosanone as potential antitumor agentsElectronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4cc10041g

The first enantioselective total syntheses of two marine sesquiterpenes (1 R )-suberosenone and (1 R )-suberosanone are achieved leading to revision of the AC of natural (1 S )-suberosanone. Key elements of the synthesis include hyperbaric asymmetric Michael addition and highly efficient silver trifluoroacetate mediated α-alkylation for the formation of ring A. The first enantioselective syntheses of (1 R )-suberosenone and (1 R )-suberosanone are achieved, leading to revision of the AC of a natural (1 S )-suberosanone.