Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 6, 2026

Systematic Approach to Identify Novel Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Molecules from Plants' Extracts and Fractions to Prevent Dental Caries
Published on: March 31, 2021
Total Synthesis and Biofilm Inhibitory Studies of Knightine Cembranoid Diterpenes
Learnmore Jeremia1, Elise L Bezold1, William M Wuest1
1Department of Chemistry, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia30322, United States.
Abstract:
We report the first total synthesis of the cembranoid diterpenes knightol, knightal, and knightol acetate isolated from the Caribbean Sea Whip, Eunicea knighti. Highlights of the synthesis include leveraging farnesol as a feedstock starting material, a late-stage Shi epoxidation, and a penultimate Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons macrocyclization. Biological studies reveal modest biofilm inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus for the most active member, (-)-knightol.
