Total Synthesis of Brevetoxin A

A total synthesis of brevetoxin A is reported. Two tetracyclic coupling partners, prepared from previously reported advanced fragments, were effectively united via a Horner-Wittig olefination. The resulting octacycle was progressed to substrates that were explored for reductive etherification, the success of which led to a penultimate tetraol intermediate. The tetraol was converted to the natural product through an expeditious selective oxidative process followed by methylenation.