Total Synthesis of (−)-Nodulisporic Acids D, C, and B: Evolution of a Unified Synthetic Strategy

A unified
synthetic strategy leading to the total synthesis of
(−)-nodulisporic acids D, C, and B is described. Key synthetic
transformations include a nickel–chromium-mediated cyclization,
an aromatic ring functionalization employing a novel copper-promoted
alkylation, a palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling cascade/indole ring
construction, and a palladium-mediated regio- and diastereoselective
allylic substitution/cyclization reaction, the latter to construct
ring D.