Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (−)-Curcuquinone via Regioselective Chromium-Mediated Benzannulation

A short and efficient, high-yielding enantioselective total synthesis of the marine natural product (−)-curcuquinone <b>1</b> is reported involving a regioselective [3 + 2 + 1]-benzannulation reaction as the key step. Additionally, this strategy allows the isolation of curcuhydroquinone monomethyl ether <b>9</b> as an intermediate of the benzannulation reaction and its subsequent further protection toward diversified hydroquinones.