Exploiting the Limits of Divergency Scaffolds in Natural Product Synthesis: The Case Study of Sesquiterpenoids

Divergent synthesis is a powerful but yet underdeveloped method to address the usual drawbacks of poor supply and confined diversity in the total synthesis of natural products. Herein, we describe the rational design behind the selection and the synthesis of a divergency scaffold for sesquiterpenoid lactones synthesis, as a case study, which provides access to a rich collection of carbocycles in different oxidation states within 8,12-sesquiterpenoids through simple, scalable transformations.