Concise total synthesis of (±)-palominol and (±)-dolabellatrienone via a dianion-accelerated oxy-cope rearrangement

A short synthesis of (±)-palominol (1) and (±)-dolabellatrienone (2) starting from farnesol is reported. Noteworthy steps include an intramolecular pinacol coupling to form a 15-membered carbocyclic diol and subsequent dianion-accelerated oxy-Cope rearrangement to form the 11,5-trans-fused ring system of the dolabellanes.