Total Synthesis of the Labdane Diterpenes Galanal A and B from Geraniol.

The first total synthesis of galanal A and B has been achieved from naturally occurring geraniol. Key steps in this synthesis are the use of a Lewis acid assisted chiral Brønsted acid (chiral LBA) mediated cationic polyene cyclization and a titanocene-mediated radical cyclization for the asymmetric assembly of the "AB" ring and the construction of the all-carbon quaternary center at the junction of the "BC" ring, respectively.