Total Synthesis of Aquatolide: Wolff Ring Contraction and Late-Stage Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi Medium-Ring Formation

A total synthesis of the highly strained natural product aquatolide has been achieved. The synthesis featured a photoinduced Wolff ring contraction reaction for the construction of bicyclo[2.1.1]hexane from diazo compound with a bicydo[2.2.1]heptane skeleton. The eight-membered enone was built by a late-stage intramolecular Nozaki-Hiyama-Kishi vinylation reaction of steric bulky vinyl iodide and aldehyde.