Total Synthesis of (±)-Spiroaxillarone A.

Spiroaxillarone A, a novel and unique spirocyclic dinaphthalene natural product with significant antimalarial activity, was regioselectively synthesized from tetrahydrocurcumin in five steps with an overall 10% yield. Key features of the synthesis involved an oxidized free radical cycloaddition to build the spiro ring central skeleton and an oxidized dehydrogenation to introduce two double bonds via enol silicon ether from diketones.