| Abstract: | The novel tricyclic spiroketal alotane‐type sesterterpenoids showed strikingly different biological activities and potency with subtle structural alterations. Asymmetric total syntheses of the tricyclic sesterterpenoids (−)‐alotaketals A–D and (−)‐phorbaketal A were accomplished 29–31 steps from (−)‐malic acid] in a collective way for the first time. The key features of the strategy included 1) a new cascade cyclization of vinyl epoxy δ‐keto‐alcohols to forge the common tricyclic spiroketal intermediate, 2) a late‐stage allylic C−H oxidation, and 3) olefin cross‐metathesis to install the different side chains. |
