Lewis Acid Catalyzed Formal Intramolecular [3+2] Cross-Cycloaddition of Cyclopropane 1,1-Diesters with Alkenes: General and Efficient Strategy for Construction of Bridged [ n.2.1] Carbocyclic Skeletons.

Carbon bridges: The title reaction has been successfully developed, and applied to the total synthesis of the tetracyclic diterpenoids phyllocladanol and phyllocladene. The method provides an efficient, general, and conceptually new strategy for the construction of structurally complex and diverse [n.2.1] carbocyclic skeletons (see scheme). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]