Concise synthesis of the neo-clerodane skeleton of teucrolivin A using a pericyclic reaction cascade

Herein, we describe the synthesis of advanced intermediate 39 on the path towards the total synthesis of teucrolivin A (3) in 16 steps from commercially available 1,3-cyclohexadiene. We have constructed the trans-decalin core of the natural product 3 as a single diastereomer using a tandem oxy-Cope/Claisen/ene cascade and in doing so have incorporated sufficient functionality to allow completion of the total synthesis.