Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Salimabromide Reveals Almost Racemic Nature of Natural Salimabromide

The enantioselective total synthesis of (+)-salimabromide was accomplished by a concise two-step conversion of the fully functionalized dibromo-tetraline core, involving a one-pot Baeyer-Villiger/allylic oxidation by an innovative radical reagent combination. This route unequivocally resolves the stereochemistry and reveals the highly unusual, almost racemic nature of natural salimabromide.