Enantiospecific, Biosynthetically Inspired Formal Total Synthesis of ()-Liphagal.

A biosynthetically inspired synthesis of ()-liphagal has been achieved from ()-sclareolide in 13 steps (9% overall yield). The key step is a biomimetic ring expansion of a highly stabilized benzylic carbocation, which generates the seven-membered ring and the benzofuran of the natural product in a single cascade reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]