Total synthesis and structural confirmation of (±)-cuevaene A

The total synthesis and structural reassignment of cuevaene A have been completed. The key synthetic steps in the total synthesis included a base-promoted double conjugate addition and further elaboration to generate the tricyclic core structure, followed by construction of the trienoic acid side chain. Detailed comparison of proton and carbon NMR data with published values enabled the connectivity of the natural product, which had been debated in earlier publications, to be confirmed. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.