Nature-Inspired Total Synthesis of (−)-Fusarisetin A

A concise, protecting group-free total synthesis of (−)-fusarisetin A (<b>1</b>) was efficiently achieved in nine steps from commercially available (<i>S</i>)-(−)-citronellal. The synthetic approach was inspired by our proposed biosynthesis of <b>1</b>. Key transformations of our strategy include a facile construction of the decalin moiety that is produced via a stereoselective IMDA reaction and a one-pot TEMPO-induced radical cyclization/aminolysis that forms the C ring of <b>1</b>. Our route is amenable to analogue synthesis for biological evaluation