Total syntheses of (+/-)-cis-trikentrin A and (+/-)-cis-trikentrin B via electrocyclic ring closures of 2,3-divinylpyrrolines.

[Structure: see text] A convergent and versatile strategy for the diastereoselective syntheses of (+/-)-cis-trikentrin A and B in 10 and 12 steps, respectively, from commercially available N-BOC-2-pyrrolidinone is described. The key step in each of the total syntheses is the construction of the central benzene ring via a facile 6pi-electrocyclic ring closure of an appropriately substituted 2,3-divinylpyrroline, in turn, readily available by a Stille coupling reaction.