Total synthesis of merrilactone A

A composition comprising a racemate of a compound having the structure

• wherein Z is O or >N—X, where X is H, straight or branched substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, or acyl, carbamoyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, amino, alkyl amino, or dialkyl amino;
• wherein each of R1 and R2 is H or R1 and R2 together are ═O;
• wherein each of R3 and R4 is H or R3 and R4 together are ═O;
• wherein each of R5 and R6 is, independently, H, alkyl, aralkyl, or aryl;
• wherein each of R7 and R8 is, independently, H, OH or OR14,
• where R14 is alkyl or —C(O)—R15,
• where R15 is H, —CH2R16, —CHR16R16, —CR16R17R16, —OR16, alkenyl or alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, amino, alkyl amino, or dialkyl amino,
• wherein each R16 is straight or branched, substituted or unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl or
• alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, or amino;
• and
• wherein R17 is straight or branched, unsubstituted alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl, cycloalkyl, aryl, heterocycloalkyl, heteroaryl, aralkyl, or amino,
• or wherein R7 and R9 together are >O;
• wherein each of R9 and R10 is, independently, H, alkyl, OH, or OR13, where R13 is an alkyl, an acyl, or an amide, or R9 and R10 together are ═CH2,
• or wherein R8 and R10 together are >O;
• wherein if one of R7 or R8 and one of R9 or R10 is absent, a double bond is formed as indicated by the broken line;
• and
• wherein each of R11 and R12 is, independently, H, OH, or OR13, where R13 is an alkyl, an acyl, or an amide, or R11 and R12 together are ═O,
• or wherein R12 and R10 together are >O.