A new route to podolactones functionalized in the A ring has been achieved. Two key steps were employed in this synthesis, the construction of the bicyclic skeleton via a Mn (III)- mediated radical cyclization and the transformation of this bicyclic intermediate into the tetracyclic podolactone skeleton through a Pd (II)-mediated bislactonization of the corresponding conjugate diene. The reported synthesis of 3β-hydroxy-13, 14, 15, 16- ...
