Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 27, 2026

Production and Testing of Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Mimics
Published on: April 10, 2026
De novo asymmetric synthesis of fridamycin E
Qian Chen1, Michael Mulzer, Pei Shi
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Abstract:
A de novo asymmetric synthesis of (R)- and (S)-fridamycin E has been achieved. The entirely linear route required only nine steps from commercially available starting materials (16% overall yield). Key transformations included a Claisen rearrangement, a Sharpless dihydroxylation and a cobalt-catalyzed epoxide carbonylation to give a β-lactone intermediate. Antibacterial activities were determined for both enantiomers using two strains of E. coli, with the natural (R)-enantiomer showing significant inhibition against a Gram-(+)-like imp strain (MIC = 8 microM).
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Preparation of 1° Amines: Hofmann and Curtius Rearrangement Overview
Preparation of 1° Amines: Hofmann and Curtius Rearrangement Mechanism
Preparation of 1° Amines: Gabriel Synthesis
Strong bases like NaOH or KOH deprotonate the phthalimide to form the corresponding anion, which acts as a nucleophile. Further, the anion attacks an...
Preparation of Amides
The DCC-promoted synthesis of amides begins with the protonation of DCC by carboxylic acid. The protonation makes it a better acceptor. Next, the addition of carboxylate to the protonated carbodiimide gives a reactive acylating agent.
Subsequently, the amine acts as a nucleophile that attacks the acylating agent to form a tetrahedral intermediate. In the...
Alkylation of β-Diester Enolates: Malonic Ester Synthesis
Synthesis of α-Substituted Carbonyl Compounds: The Stork Enamine Reaction

