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Updated: May 29, 2026

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
A short synthesis of bisabolane sesquiterpenes
Zhen-Ting Du1, Shuai Zheng, Gang Chen
1College of Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. duzt@nwsuaf.edu.cn
Abstract:
A facile total synthesis of three members of the bisabolane sesquiterpene family, namely (±)-curcumene, (±)-xanthorrhizol and (±)-curcuhydroquinone had been achieved in high overall yield. The synthesis used bromobenzene derivatives as starting materials. The halogen-lithium exchange followed by addition of isoprenylacetone and reduction of the obtained carbinols are the key steps of the synthetic pathway. This synthetic approach provides a new route to the bisabolane sesquiterpenes.
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