An efficient stereoselective synthesis of norcembrenolide B (8) and scabrolide D (9) is reported. The strategy is inspired by biogenetic relationships of related cembrenoids. Central to this approach is the construction of norbipinnatin J which upon selective C2 deoxygenation and C8 oxygenation produces norrubifolide and norcoralloidolide A. A sequence of site-selective oxidations and skeletal reorganizations then yields, in a divergent manner, compounds 8 and 9. The studies allow revision of the proposed structure of scabrolide D (9), which is identical to norcembrenolide C.
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