Abstract (eng)
The octocoral Pseudopterogorgia elisabethae has been a source of numerous biologically active diterpenoid secondary metabolites. Among these natural products are the two nor-diterpenoids (+)-caribenol A and caribenol B. Both compounds feature unprecedented carbon skeletons, and exhibit strong inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, (+)-caribenol A possesses weak antiplasmodial activity. So far, only one total synthesis has been developed for (+)-caribenol A, while caribenol B has not yet been accessed by total synthesis. Therefore, its absolute configuration still awaits confirmation.
In the course of this master thesis, we envisioned the asymmetric total syntheses of both natural products via a common building block. The preparation of this building block on a multigram scale from (-)-β-citronellol was conducted following a route previously developed by Ingrid T. Chen in the group of Prof. Dr. Dirk Trauner, under optimization of the key intramolecular alkoxycarbonylation. This comprises the successful implementation of a novel carbonylation methodology, making use of in situ generated carbon monoxide instead of carbon monoxide from a gas cylinder.
After sufficient amounts of the common building block were synthesized, the focus was put on the syntheses of both natural products. The tetracyclic framework of (+)-caribenol A should be elaborated by a key Pauson-Khand reaction. Two strategies were investigated in the aimed synthesis of a suitable precursor thereof. For the total synthesis of caribenol B, we envisaged the development of a concise, stereoselective route to an advanced building block, which had previously been synthesized by Ingrid T. Chen as an inseparable mixture of diastereomers.