C. C. Li, Z. X. Xie, Y. D. Zhang,  J.H.Chen*, Z. Yang*

J. Org. Chem. 2003, 68, 8500.

The total synthesis of wedelolactone, a naturally occurring direct inhibitor of IKK complex that can suppress LPS-induced caspase-11 expression, using a convergent synthetic approach, is described. The key steps involved in this synthesis include the palladium-catalyzed Sonogashira reaction and the palladium-catalyzed carbonylative annulation reaction. This approach allows access to diversified analogues of wedelolactone.