Biomimetic Total Synthesis of Rhodonoids C and D, and Murrayakonine D

A divergent, three-step total synthesis of rhodonoids C and D has been achieved using a biosynthetically inspired, acid-catalyzed cascade cyclization of an epoxy-chromene that involves the presumed intermediacy of o-quinone methides. Application of a similar strategy also allowed synthesis of the alkaloid murrayakonine D.