A stereoselective oxidative polycyclization process mediated by a hypervalent iodine reagent.

Activation of phenol derivatives with a hypervalent iodine reagent promotes the formation of bicyclic and tricyclic products via a cationic cyclization process. The method allows efficient one-step syntheses of scaffolds present in several natural products and occurs with total stereocontrol, governed by 1,3 allylic strain interactions and by the configuration of the side chain double bonds.