The first total synthesis of 1-hydroxydehydroherbarin and ascomycones A and B is reported. The biologically interesting ascomycones A and B were obtained in 18% overall yield starting from 3-chloro-2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde as building block.
pyranonaphthoquinone; 1-hydroxydehydroherbarin; ascomycones A, B; antibiotics; total synthesis