Total Synthesis of Wasabidienones B1 and B0 via SIBX-Mediated Hydroxylative Phenol Dearomatization

The first total synthesis of the natural nondimerizing o-quinol (+)-wasabidienone B-1 was achieved from commercially available 1,3,5-trimethoxybenzene. The key dearomatizing transformation was efficiently accomplished via a hydroxylative phenol dearomatization reaction using the stabilized lambda(5)-iodane reagent IBX (SIBX). (+)-Wasabidienone B-1 was then converted into its congener (-)-wasabidienone B-0 via an improved thermally induced ring-contracting isomerization reaction.