Biomimetic synthetic studies on meroterpenoids from the marine sponge Aka coralliphaga: Divergent total syntheses of siphonodictyal B, liphagal and corallidictyals A-D.

The marine sponge Aka coralliphaga is a rich source of biologically active and structurally interesting meroterpenoids. Inspired by these natural products, we have used biosynthetic speculation to devise biomimetic syntheses of siphonodictyal B, liphagal and corallidictyals A–D from sclareolide. This work resulted in the development of new cascade reactions in the synthesis of liphagal, the reassignment of the structure of siphonodictyal B, and the realisation that corallidictyals A and B are possibly isolation artefacts.