A synthesis of (−)hibaene

A total synthesis of (?)hibaene 1 is described. The key steps are a photochemical cycloaddition of vinyl acetate on the α-β unsaturated ketone 2 and a Wagner-Meerwein type rearrangement of the diols 14 and 15, which contain a highly strained cyclobutane ring. A selective esterification of the rearranged diols 22a or 22b leads to intermediates which can conveniently be transformed into (?)hibaene.