An efficient method for the asymmetric Diels-Alder cycloaddition of 2'-hydroxychalcones with acyclic or cyclic dienes has been successfully developed. The Diels-Alder cycloaddition is mediated by a chiral boron complex with VANOL, affording the corresponding products in high yields and with excellent diastereo- and enantioselectivities. This reaction enabled the enantioselective construction of cyclohexene skeletons crucial for the total synthesis of a number of Diels-Alder-type natural products (-)-nicolaioidesin C, (-)-panduratine A, (-)-kuwanon I, (+)-kuwanon J, and (-)-brosimones A and B.

The first enantioselective total syntheses of prenylflavonoid Diels-Alder natural products (-)-kuwanon I, (+)-kuwanon J, (-)-brosimone A, and (-)-brosimone B have been accomplished from a common intermediate based on a concise synthetic strategy. Key elements of the synthesis include a biosynthesis-inspired asymmetric Diels-Alder cycloaddition mediated by a chiral ligand/boron Lewis acid, as well as a process involving regioselective Schenck ene reaction, reduction, and dehydration to realize a biomimetic dehydrogenation for generation of the required diene precursor. Furthermore, a remarkable tandem inter-/intramolecular asymmetric Diels-Alder cycloaddition process was applied for the synthesis of (-)-brosimone A.

The first enantioselective total syntheses of (-)-kuwanon X, (+)-kuwanon Y, and (+)-kuwanol A have been accomplished by using asymmetric Diels-Alder cycloaddition promoted by chiral VANOL or VAPOL/boron Lewis acid. The biosynthesis-inspired asymmetric Diels-Alder cycloaddition shows high exo selectivity (exo/endo = 13/1), which was unprecedented in the previous total syntheses of related prenylflavonoid Diels-Alder natural products. An acid catalyzed intramolecular ketalization process enabled a biomimetic transformation to construct the polycyclic skeleton of kuwanol A efficiently.

MeO OH O panduratin A HO OH OH OH OH HO kuwanon I (Hα) kuwanon J (Hβ) OH OH O O H OH OH O OH MeO nicolaioidesin C O O HO OH OH HO OH HO OH OH brosimone AAbstract This review summarizes the application of different strategies for the key Diels-Alder cycloaddition in prenylflavonoid and related Diels-Alder natural products synthesis, highlighting the application of novel methodologies and innovative strategies in the synthesis of these natural products and their analogues.