Total Synthesis of (±)-Anigorootin

Abstract

An 11-step synthesis of the octacyclic-fused dimeric phenylphenalenone anigorootin (phytoalexin in banana plants) is reported. The synthetic strategy uses an electrochemical dimerization as the key step, which stereospecifically installs the four asymmetric centers. Mechanistic aspects of the dimerization process are discussed.