First Total Synthesis of (±)-13-Hydroxyneocembrene

First total synthesis of (±)-13-hydroxyneocembrene ( 1 ), starting from 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one ( 6 ) and geraniol ( 7 ), is described. The key steps are (i) the addition of sulfur-stabilized carbanion 12 to aldehyde 9 , (ii) the synthesis of 18 by using phase-transfer catalyzed coupling reaction, and (iii) low-valent titanium-induced intramolecular coupling of oxo aldehyde 3 to afford the target molecule after the final deprotection.