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Three (nor)illudalane sesquiterpenes were synthesized from a common intermediate in racemic and enantioenriched forms using Pd0-catalyzed C(sp3)–H arylation as a key step. The configuration of the isolated, highly symmetric quaternary stereocenter of the target molecules was controlled through a matched combination of chiral substrate and catalyst. Moreover, the recently developed Ir-catalyzed C–H borylation/Cu-catalyzed methylation method was employed to install the methyl group on the benzene ring. This strategy allowed the efficient synthesis of both racemic and (S)-configured puraquinonic acid, deliquinone, and russujaponol F.

A divergent enantioselective synthesis of (nor)illudalane sesquiterpenes was designed by using a Pd0-catalyzed asymmetric C(sp3)–H arylation as a key step to control the isolated, highly symmetric quaternary stereocenter of the target molecules. A matched combination of chiral substrate and catalyst proved optimal to reach good levels of stereoselectivity. This approach enabled the synthesis of three (nor)illudalanes, including (S)-deliquinone and (S)-russujaponol F, which are synthesized for the first time in enantioenriched form.