Synthesis of the landomycinone skeleton.

The synthesis of the highly functionalized tetracyclic skeleton of landomycinone (2), the aglycon of landomycins, was performed using two pivotal steps relying on metal-catalyzed reactions. They are (1) a [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition of alkynes promoted by Wilkinson's catalyst to build rings B and C concomitantly and (2) a ring-closing metathesis followed by aromatization to build ring D.