Basic limonoids carrying a 4,4,8-trimethyl-17-furanylsteroid skeleton are a class of triterpenoids and well-known for their insecticidal as well as a vast array of pharmacological activities. Rare and synthetically challenging 12β- and 17β-hydroxylation was achieved on the basic limonoid skeleton to produce a novel series of hydroxylated limonoids using fungi-mediated biocatalysis. The fungal system belonging to the genera of Mucor efficiently converted azadiradione, epoxyazadiradione, gedunin and their derivatives into corresponding 12β- and/or 17β-hydroxy derivatives. The position and stereochemistry of hydroxylation was determined by rigorous spectroscopic and crystallographic studies. This fungi-mediated stereo- and regio-selective hydroxylation process was highly efficient and mild enough to sustain chemically sensitive functional groups around the basic limonoid skeleton. Modifications of specific functional groups and variation in biocatalyst were shown to bring selectivity among 12β- or 17β-hydroxylation.
具有4,4,8-三甲基-17-
呋喃基类
固醇骨架的基本柠檬素是一类三
萜类化合物,以其杀虫性和广泛的药理活性而闻名。在基本柠檬素骨架上实现了罕见的、合成上极具挑战性的12β-和17β-羟基化反应,利用真菌介导的
生物催化作用生产了一系列新型羟基化柠檬素。属于毛霉属的真菌系统能够有效地将
印楝素、环氧
印楝素、
根皮苷及其衍
生物转化为相应的12β-和/或17β-羟基衍
生物。羟基化的位置和立体
化学结构通过严格的光谱和晶体学研究确定。这种真菌介导的立体和区域选择性羟基化过程非常高效且温和,能够保护基本柠檬素骨架周围的
化学敏感官能团。研究表明,特定官能团的修饰和
生物催化剂的变化能够带来12β-或17β-羟基化的选择性。