Total Synthesis of Diterpenoid Quinone Methide Tumor Inhibitor, (+)-Taxodione.

An asymmetric polyene cyclization (92% ee ) strategy has been successfully applied for the first asymmetric total synthesis of oxidized abietane, anticancer agent, taxodione ( 1 ) sharing a trans -decalin system. Additionally, the total syntheses of pomiferin B ( 2 ) and gaultheric acid ( 3 ) (a nor -abietane) were achieved utilizing this unified approach.