In accordance with the purpose(s) of the present disclosure, as embodied and broadly described herein is versatile
polyene cyclization strategy that exploits conjugated b-ionyl derivatives. Photomediated disruption of the extended p-
system within these chromophores unveils a contra-thermodynamic
polyene that engages in a Heck-type cyclization to afford [4.4.1]-propellanes. The
connectivity of overbred polycycles generated from this process is controlled by the position of the requisite C–
Halide bond. Thus, compared to conventional biomimetic
polyene cyclization, this approach allows for complete control of regiochemistry and facilitates incorporation of both
electron-rich and
electron-deficient (hetero)
aryl groups. This strategy was successfully applied to the
total synthesis of abietanes such as, for example, taxodione and salviasperanol, two isomeric
abietane-type diterpenes that previously could not be prepared along the same synthetic pathway.