A model study on installation of (Z)-γ-methylglutaconic acid onto the 3-aminophenol core of divergolide A

Selective Synthesis of Divergolide I

“…Furthermore, the question arises whether they are formed more or less spontaneously and unselectively once the hypothetical precursor 8 is assembled or whether the cyclizations and acyl shifts require enzymatic catalysis, which could result in the selective formation of certain congeners. In combination with their bioactivities, this has promoted us, and others, to investigate the divergolides and hygrocins and explore their origin through biomimetic synthesis …”