A tandem enyne/ring closing metathesis approach to 4-methylene-2-cyclohexenols: an efficient entry to otteliones and loloanolides.

A short and efficient approach to a 4-methylene-2-cyclohexenone substructure present in otteliones and loloanolides is described. This strategy involves a tandem enyne/ring closing metathesis as the key reaction to construct this labile core unit.