Traversing Biosynthetic Carbocation Landscapes in the Total Synthesis of Andrastin and Terretonin Meroterpenes

Abstract Meroterpenes derived from dimethylorsellinic acid (DMOA) and farnesyl pyrophosphate have attracted much biosynthetic attention, yet only recently have synthetic solutions to any family members appeared. A key point of divergence in DMOA‐derived meroterpene biosynthesis is the protoaustinoid A carbocation, which can be diverted to either the berkeleyone, andrastin, or terretonin structural classes by cyclase‐controlled rearrangement pathways. Shown herein is that the protoaustinoid bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane nucleus can be reverted to either andrastin or terretonin ring systems under abiotic reaction conditions. The first total syntheses of members of these natural product families are reported as their racemates.