Abstract A total synthesis of natural bisabolane sesquiterpenes curcuphenol (1) and xanthorrhizol (2) was developed by using the substituted acetophenones 4 and 5, respectively, as starting materials. The acetyl group of the latter was activated through ethoxycarbonylation to carry out the prenylation, which was performed successfully to give their respective precursors 11a and 11b, and 21 that were converted into the ...
