Divergent pathways to furosesquiterpenes: first total syntheses of (+)-zedoarol and (Rac)-gweicurculactone

A non-natural hydroxy-elemane was found amenable to divergent transformations, producing either polyunsaturated guaianes under basic, oxygen-free conditions, or oxidized furogermacranes when anionic oxy-Cope reaction quenched by an oxidant is employed. Based on these findings, the first total syntheses of zedoarol and gweicurculactone are reported.