Toward the total synthesis of haliclonin A: construction of a tricyclic substructure.

Three keys to success: A concise method for the construction of a tricyclic substructure (2) of haliclonin A (1) in racemic form is described (see figure). This synthesis features a new Pd-mediated chemoselective carbonyl-enone coupling reaction, an organocatalytic reaction, and a ring-closing metathesis reaction for the construction of the macrocyclic ring as key steps.