Synthetic studies toward neovibsanins A and B: construction of the neovibsanin core utilizing palladium(0)-catalyzed carbonylative cyclization with carbon monoxide

The core A-ring of neovibsanins A (1) and B (2), which are potent neurotrophic agents isolated from the leaves of Viburnum awabuki, have been effectively constructed by the intramolecular palladium(0)-catalyzed carbonylative cyclization of alkenyl iodide with carbon monoxide.