A short total synthesis, guided by biosynthetic considerations, of racemic merochlorin B is presented. The formation of its isomer, merochlorin A, was not observed under the conditions. Key steps include a directed ortho-metalation (D o M), a selective demethylation, an ortho-allylation, and an oxidative [3+ 2]-cycloaddition mediated by an iodine (III) reagent.
