Synthetic studies towards the novel neurotrophic diterpenoids neovibsanins A and B: construction of the ABC core

A concise, general approach to the tricyclic furo-furan-based core structure present in the bioactive natural products neovibsanins A and B, from readily available Baylis-Hillman adducts, is delineated. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.