Decaturin C synthesis

Hirosato Takikawa and co-workers at Kobe University have reported in Tetrahedron on the synthesis of decaturin C, a compound with insecticidal properties. I was curious about the hemiketal formation – whether or not the hemiketal is formed completely or it is in equilibrium with the ketone.

Tetrahedron paper

Abiestetranes A and B

Wei-Dong Zhang and co-workers from have reported in Tetrahedron on the isolation of some spirocyclic tetraterpenes, abiestetranes A and B.

Tetrahedron paper

Manoalide vs. HCV

Nobuyoshi Akimitsu and co-workers from the University of Tokyo have reported on the identification of manoalide A as an inhibitor for heptatitis C virus NS3 helicase.

JNP paper

Anisatin synthesis

Tohru Fukuyama  and co-workers have reported in Organic Letters on the synthesis of anisatin via a Diels-Alder.

OL paper

Saudin synthesis

Robert Boeckman and co-workers at the University of Rochester have reported in Tetrahedron on the synthesis of saudin.

Tetrahedron paper

A new C35-terpene cyclase

Tsutomu Sato and co-workers from Niigata University have reported in JACS on the identification of a terpene cyclase enzyme that cyclized a C35 terpene (sesquarterpene).

JACS paper

Epi-cochlioquinone A Synthesis

Kuniaki Tatsuta and co-workers from Waseda University have published in Tetrahedron Letters on a total synthesis of epicochlioquinone A featuring a vinylogous Michael reaction and many more.

TL paper

A Ring Contraction Approach for Taiwaniaquinone

Karl Gademann and co-workers at the University of Basel in Switzerland have published in a ring contraction approach – an intramolecular benzilic acid rearrangement – to access the taiwaniaquinone carbon skeleton.

Chemistry – a European Journal paper