We have achieved the first total synthesis of (−)-principinol C, which possesses an intriguing and complex 5/7/6/5 tetracyclic skeleton with eight contiguous stereocenters. The 5/7/6/5 tetracyclic skeleton of principinol C was assembled using an intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction as the key step. This synthetic route represents the first application of the intramolecular Pauson–Khand reaction of enyne to construct the 7,5-bicyclic ring system in natural product synthesis.

A practically useful method for the formation of the highly oxygenated bicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system through Mn(OAc)3‐mediated radical cyclization of alkynyl ketones was developed, which opens up a new avenue for the total synthesis of a number of highly oxidized diterpenoids. Application of this method enabled the first total synthesis of (−)‐glaucocalyxin A. Other salient features of the synthesis include a highly enantioselective conjugate addition/acylation cascade reaction, a Yamamoto aldol reaction, and an intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction to assemble the A/B ring system.

A practically useful method for the formation of the highly oxygenated bicyclo[3.2.1]octane ring system through Mn(OAc)3‐mediated radical cyclization of alkynyl ketones was developed, which opens up a new avenue for the total synthesis of a number of highly oxidized diterpenoids. Application of this method enabled the first total synthesis of (−)‐glaucocalyxin A. Other salient features of the synthesis include a highly enantioselective conjugate addition/acylation cascade reaction, a Yamamoto aldol reaction, and an intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction to assemble the A/B ring system.