Bicyclol9.3.1]pentadecatriene derivative 4 which corresponds to a prec
ursor of taxol in a biomimetic entry was constructed by means of TiCl4
-Zn promoted McMurry cyclization and Mitsunobu inversion. Treatment of
4 with mercuric triflate afforded an unexpected rearrangement-transan
nular cyclization product 5. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights
reserved.