Studies toward the synthesis of three biologically active [5,6]-benzannulated spiroketal natural products are described. The first total synthesis of paecilospirone is reported, employing a late-stage, pH-neutral spiroketalization. A formal synthesis of γ-rubromycin is described, where the spiroketal moiety is formed by delicate manipulation of the electronic properties of the spirocyclization precursor. Finally, model work toward the total synthesis of berkelic acid is summarized, introducing a novel Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons/oxa-Michael (HWE/oxa-M) cascade to access the spiroketal precursor.Sonogashira reaction of 25 and 26 afforded propargylic alchohol 24 (Scheme 8). We found that the use of a non-amine base (cesium carbonate) and degassed solvents were required to minimize the formation of homocoupled product. Reduction of the triple bond by hydrogenation over 10 % Pd/C buffered with sodium bicarbonate, followed by oxidation of the secondary alcohol with o-iodosoxybenzoic acid (IBX) provided ketone 23. The key spiroketalization step was then attempted using the mild procedure previously developed by our group [23]. Pleasingly, treatment of 23 with silica-supported sodium hydrogen sulfate in dichloromethane afforded spiroketal 35 in 80 % yield. Finally, selective saponification of the aliphatic ester and adjustment of the naphthalene moiety oxidation state M. C. MCLEOD et al. Scheme 7 Synthesis of iodide 26. Scheme 8 Completion of formal synthesis. Brought to you by | Scheme 11 Synthesis of bromide 38 and completion of total synthesis. Brought to you by |