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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

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Published on: January 4, 2018
Concomitant C-ring Expansion and D-ring formation in lanosterol biosynthesis from squalene without violation of
1Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, USA. hessba@ctrvax.vanderbilt.edu
Abstract:
A mechanism is proposed for the formation of the C and D rings of lanosterol from squalene on the basis of density functional calculations of a model cyclopentylcarbinyl carbocation. The mechanism involves the ring expansion of the cyclopentylcarbinyl carbocation to the six-membered ring C in concert with the formation of the D ring. The mechanism does not involve a violation of Markovnikov's rule as the earlier proposed mechanism does for the formation of rings C and D.
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