Michellamines A-C have been prepared by total synthesis in 7 and 16 li
near steps from known and commercial materials, respectively. Key step
s include i) palladium(0)-mediated biaryl coupling, ii) silver oxide p
romoted oxidative 1-naphthol coupling to an atropisomeric mixture of c
ross-ring quinones (indigoids), and iii) simultaneous per-debenzylatio
n/reductive bleaching to the central 2,2'-binaphthol.