Syntheses of Taiwaniaquinone F and Taiwaniaquinol A via an Unusual Remote C–H Functionalization

A protecting-group-free route to (−)-taiwaniaquinone F based on a ring contraction and subsequent aromatic oxidation of a sugiol derivative is reported. In addition, the first synthesis of (+)-taiwaniaquinol A is reported via short time exposure of (−)-taiwaniaquinone F to sunlight triggering a remote C–H functionalization. The hypothesis that the biogenesis of some methylenedioxy bridged natural products could proceed via similar nonenzymatic mechanisms is presented