Intramolecular hetero-DA reaction and unexpected retro-aldol like ring opening reaction were performed. As a result, six derivatives with different skeletons of vibsane-type diterpenoids were synthesized from vibsanin B within three steps. Moreover, compounds 2, 3, and 6 enhanced the neurite outgrowth of NGF-mediated PC12 cells. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.