Total synthesis of brazilin

Described herein is a highly efficient total synthesis of brazilin from commercially available starting materials in 9 steps with 70% overall yield. Mitsunobu coupling followed by In(III)-catalyzed alkyne-aldehyde metathesis allowed for rapid construction of brazilin core skeleton in quantitative yield. Subsequent modulation of oxidation levels and acid-catalyzed cyclization led to the trimethyl ether of brazilin. Asymmetric dihydroxylation of the key intermediate was also demonstrated, which would permit asymmetric access to (+)-brazilin.