Synthesis of (+)-Vigulariol

Significance

(+)-Vigulariol is a cytotoxic marine diterpene isolated from the sea pen Vigularia juncea and shows cytotoxicity against A549 (human lung adenocarcinoma) cell culture. The key step in the short synthesis involved (1) asymmetric homoaldol reaction of chiral carbamate A with enal B and (2) ring-closing metathesis to form the tricyclic skeleton in H. This type of cyclization was reported unsuccessful earlier.