Nonactin biosynthesis: on the role of (6R,8R)- and (6S,8S)-2-methyl-6,8-dihydroxynon-2E-enoic acids in the formation of nonactic acid
Abstract
Enantiospecific syntheses of (6R,8R)- and (6S,8S)-2-methyl-6,8-dihydroxynon-2E-enoic acids and their corresponding caprylcysteamine thiol esters are described; these thiol esters are incorporated efficiently and enantiospecifically into nonactin, thereby establishing the direct precursor role of these units in nonactin biosynthesis.