A Concise Total Synthesis of (±)‐Mamanuthaquinone by Using an <i>exo</i>‐Diels–Alder Reaction

Abstract

Only eight steps are required to synthesize the cytotoxic title compound 1 thanks to the unexpectedly high exo selectivity in the key step. This selectivity can most likely be attributed to steric factors; the diene contains a geminal dimethyl group, the dienophile a bulky aryl group.