Total Synthesis of (-)-Anisatin

A novel synthetic route to (-)-anisatin has been developed. Our synthesis features a rhodium-catalyzed 1,4-addition of an arylboronic acid, an intramolecular Diels Alder reaction of an ortho-quinone monoketal, a stereoselective [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement, and construction of the oxabicyclo [3.3.1] skeleton via cleavage of an epoxide by a primary amide.