Stereoselective total synthesis of (-)-kumausallene.

A stereoselective total synthesis of (-)-kumausallene was completed in 12 steps from acetylacetone. The hidden symmetry of (-)-kumausallene was recognized, and its skeleton was constructed efficiently from a C(2)-symmetric diol by a palladium-catalyzed cascade reaction. High diastereoselectivity was observed for the DMF-promoted biomimetic 1,4-bromocyclization of a conjugated enyne.