Short route to platencin.

The synthesis of the complex tricyclic core of the terpenoid antibiotic platencin is achieved in a concise, protecting group-free and stereoselective manner. A flexible approach that highlights the intramolecular aldol reaction as the key step toward the construction of the bicyclo[2,2,2]octane ring from an angular allyl decalone in both the trans-fused and the cis-fused forms is demonstrated.