Total synthesis of 10-norparvulenone and of O-methylasparvenone using a xanthate-mediated free radical addition-cyclization sequence.

[reaction: see text] A short synthesis of (+/-)-10-norparvulenone and (+/-)-O-methylasparvenone was developed starting from commercially available m-methoxyphenol, hinging on a xanthate-mediated addition-cyclization sequence for the construction of the alpha-tetralone subunit.