The catalytic effect of the NH₃ base on the chemical events in the caryolene‐forming carbocation cascade

Abstract

Caryolene formation occur asynchronously in a concerted way through carbocationic rearrangements involving the generation of a secondary or a tertiary carbocation whether the reaction proceeds in the absence or in the presence of NH3 , respectively. Both caryolene formation mechanisms are analyzed within the general framework of the reaction force; the reaction force constant is used to gain insights into the synchronicity of the mechanisms and the reaction electronic flux helps to characterize the electronic activity taking place during the reaction. DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level show a clear difference in the mechanisms of the base promoted or base free caryolene formation reactions.

Unraveling the role of prenyl side-chain interactions in stabilizing the secondary carbocation in the biosynthesis of variexenol B

“…A terpene with an exomethylene group as a starting material is rare. Several terpene cyclizations with an exomethylene group are known, such as with caryolene and crotinsulidane diterpenoids, and the reaction mechanisms have been analyzed [27][28][29][30]. It would be interesting to see how the exomethylene group reacts in the cyclization of variexenol B.…”