Short Route to Platencin

The synthesis of the complex tricyclic core of the terpenoid antibiotic platencin is achieved in a concise, protecting group-free and stereoselective manner. A flexible approach that highlights the intramolecular aldol reaction as the key step toward the construction of the bicyclo[2,2,2]octane ring from an angular allyl decalone in both the <i>trans</i>-fused and the <i>cis</i>-fused forms is demonstrated