Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 27, 2025

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products
Published on: October 4, 2019
Modular Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of Terpenes and their Analogues
Luke A Johnson1, Alice Dunbabin1, Jennifer C R Benton1
1School of Chemistry, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, UK.
Abstract:
Non-natural terpenoids offer potential as pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. However, their chemical syntheses are often long, complex, and not easily amenable to large-scale production. Herein, we report a modular chemoenzymatic approach to synthesize terpene analogues from diphosphorylated precursors produced in quantitative yields. Through the addition of prenyl transferases, farnesyl diphosphates, (2E,6E)-FDP and (2Z,6Z)-FDP, were isolated in greater than 80 % yields. The synthesis of 14,15-dimethyl-FDP, 12-methyl-FDP, 12-hydroxy-FDP, homo-FDP, and 15-methyl-FDP was also achieved. These modified diphosphates were used with terpene synthases to produce the unnatural sesquiterpenoid semiochemicals (S)-14,15-dimethylgermacrene D and (S)-12-methylgermacrene D as well as dihydroartemisinic aldehyde. This approach is applicable to the synthesis of many non-natural terpenoids, offering a scalable route free from repeated chain extensions and capricious chemical phosphorylation reactions.
More Related Videos
09:35Preparation of a Corannulene-functionalized Hexahelicene by CopperI-catalyzed Alkyne-azide Cycloaddition of Nonplanar Polyaromatic Units
Published on: September 18, 2016
09:50Biosynthesis of a Flavonol from a Flavanone by Establishing a One-pot Bienzymatic Cascade
Published on: August 14, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Acyclic Diene Metathesis (ADMET)
Similar to cross-metathesis, ADMET also involves the formation of metallacyclobutane intermediate by [2+2] cycloaddition of one of the double bonds of a terminal diene with...
Diels–Alder Reaction Forming Cyclic Products: Stereochemistry
[4+2] Cycloaddition of Conjugated Dienes: Diels–Alder Reaction
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Oxidation of Alkenes: Syn Dihydroxylation with Osmium Tetraoxide
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...