Total Synthesis of (±)‐Merrilactone A

An efficient total synthesis of (±)-merrilactone A has been accomplished, featuring: 1) a Johnson–Claisen rearrangement and the subsequent deprotection–lactonization to generate the A ring, 2) an intramolecular hetero-Pauson–Khand reaction to construct the B and D rings, and 3) a vinylogous Mukaiyama–Michael reaction and reductive carbonyl–alkene coupling to assemble the C ring.