An eventful synthetic approach towards the biologically potent natural product ottelione A: Enantio-, regio- and stereoselective construction of the bicyclic core

A novel synthetic approach towards the recently reported anti-tumor and ant i-tuberculor natural product ottelione A from the readily available Diels-A lder adduct of cyclopentadiene and p-benzoquinone is delineated. Our short strategy, besides being enantio-, regio- and stereoselective, charts an eve ntful course and is inherently well-suited for adaptation towards diverse s ynthetic analogues of this biologically potent natural product.