A Synthetic Precursor of Verrucarin A

Abstract

The trichothecane antibiotics, produced by the fungi Trichothecium, Trichoderma, Myrothecium and Fusarium constitute an important class of antifungal, cytotoxic and phytotoxic sesquiterpenes. These compounds are all oxygenated derivatives of the tetracyclic 12,13-epoxytrichothec-9-ene (1) skeleton. Verrucarin A (2), a potent cytotoxin with significant anti-tumor activity, gives the trichothecane verrucarol on hydrolysis. In addition to verrucarin A, several other macrolides also contain a verrucarol moiety.