Formal Total Synthesis of (−)-Jiadifenolide and Synthetic Studies toward seco-Prezizaane-Type Sesquiterpenes

Synthetic studies toward highly oxygenated seco-prezizaane sesquiterpenes are reported, which culminated in a formal total synthesis of the neurotrophic agent (−)-jiadifenolide. For the construction of the tricyclic core structure, an unusual intramolecular and diastereoselective Nozaki–Hiyama–Kishi reaction involving a ketone as electrophilic coupling partner was developed. In addition, synthetic approaches toward the related natural product (2R)-hydroxy-norneomajucin, featuring a Mn-mediated radical cyclization for the tricycle assembly and a regioselective OH-directed C–H activation are presented.