Toward a total synthesis of the novel polyketide natural product spiculoic acid A

[chemical reaction: see text]. An enantioselective approach toward the recently isolated marine natural product, spiculoic acid A, conceptualized along the proposed biogenetic hypothesis, involving an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction as the pivotal step, is delineated. Access to a structurally embellished bicyclic core of the natural product has been accomplished.