Five-Step Synthesis of Yaequinolones J1 and J2

A concise synthesis of yaequinolones J1 and J2 is reported. The route is based on the aryne insertion into the sigma-C-N bond of an unsymmetric imide followed by a diastereoselective aldol cyclization of the resulting N-acylated aminobenzophenone. The chromene motif is generated in the first step by an organocatalytic tandem Knoevenagel electrocyclization of citral and 2-bromoresorcinol. The approach adheres to the ideality principle, using almost exclusively strategic bond-forming reactions.