Biomimetic syntheses of the polyketide fungal metabolites alternariol and rubrofusarin: models for cyclisation reactions catalysed by polyketide synthase enzymes

Abstract

Various phenolic polyketone derivatives containing thioester groups, closely analogous in structure to proposed thioester intermediates bound to polyketide synthase enzymes, undergo highly regioselective biomimetic cyclisations to form one or the other of the heptaketide metabolites, rubrofusarin and alternariol methyl ether.