Asymmetric total synthesis of nigerone.

[reaction: see text] An enantioselective synthesis of the chiral bisnaphthopyrone natural product nigerone is reported. The key step was an eight-step isomerization process to form the final natural product. The isomerization precursor was constructed via asymmetric oxidative biaryl coupling of an advanced intermediate with a 1,5-diaza-cis-decalin copper catalyst.