Tandem Decarboxylative Cyclization/Alkenylation Strategy for Total Syntheses of (+)-Longirabdiol, (−)-Longirabdolactone, and (−)-Effusin

Structurally complex and bioactive ent-kaurane diterpenoids have well-characterized biological functions and have drawn widespread attention from chemists for many decades. However, construction of highly oxidized forms of such diterpenoids still presents considerable challenges to synthetic chemists. Herein, we report the first total syntheses of C19 oxygenated spiro-lactone ent-kauranoids, including longirabdiol, longirabdolactone, and effusin. A concise synthesis of the common intermediate used for all three syntheses was enabled via three free-radical-based reactions: (1) a newly devised tandem decarboxylative cyclization/alkenylation sequence that forges the cis-19, 6-lactone concomitantly with vicinal alkenylation, (2) a Ni-catalyzed decarboxylative Giese reaction that constructs C10 quaternary center stereoselectively, and (3) a vinyl radical cyclization that generates a rigid bicyclo[3.2.1]­octane. A series of late-stage oxidations from the common intermediate then provided each of the natural products in turn. Further biological evaluation of these synthetic natural products reveals broad anticancer activities.