A first total synthesis of acortatarins A, B, and an enantiomer of the proposed structure of acortatarin B is described by using readily available d-sugars. This convergent total synthesis revealed the revision of the absolute configuration of acortatarin A and structural revision of acortatarin B. The key steps involved are regioselective epoxide opening with deprotonated 2,5-disubstituted pyrrole and spiroketalization.

Rhodium(iii)-catalyzed C–H annulation of N-arylpyridinium salts with internal alkynes directly affords substituted cationic 12-azapyrene salts, which exhibit tunable and intense fluorescence.

The first stereoselective total synthesis of gonytolide C, which is a monomeric unit of an innate immune promoter gonytolide A, has been accomplished from the aldol reaction between acetophenone derived from orcinol and butyrolactone containing α-keto ester followed by the excellent diastereoselective intramolecular cyclization. The first total synthesis of gonytolide G has been achieved by the oxidation of benzylic methyl in gonytolide C. Additionally, total synthesis of lachnone C and a formal synthesis of blennolide C and diversonol have been achieved by this synthetic method.

Fluorescent mitochondrial trackers with the dibenzo[a,f ]quinolizinium core are unprecedentedly synthesized by a one-pot protocol starting from commercially available benzaldehydes, anilines, and alkynes through a rhodium(III)-catalyzed cascade C−H Nand C-annulation reaction. Among them, 5g is the most prominent and exhibits high specificity, high efficiency at nanomolar level, superior photostability, and low cytotoxicity.