title: Characterization of an abeo-taxane: brevifoliol and derivatives.
abstract: Brevifoliol is a natural diterpene isolated from Taxus baccata Nutt. A series of brevifoliol 1 derivatives, 2-8 and 10, were prepared for characterization and semisynthesis purposes and included the introduction of acetyl, Troc, and TES groups at C-5 and C-13. Derivatives 16-20 of 5-acetylbrevifoliol 2 were obtained via esterification with cinnamic acid, with both 2S-(-)- and 2R-(+)-3-phenyllactic acid, and with N-benzoyl-(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserine at C-13. Brevifoliol compounds 12, 13, and 15 with either 2S-(-)-phenyllactate moieties at C-5 and C-13 or an N-benzoyl-(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserinyl at C-13 were also prepared. An abeo-taxane structure for 1 was clearly defined from the (13)C NMR analysis of the 5-acetyl-13-oxo derivative 8 and from the conversion of 1 into 10, a conformationally restrained compound having a C-13, C-15 oxygen bridge. The biological activity of each of these derivatives is being studied.
authors.affiliation: Département de Chimie, Université du Québec à Montréal, C.P. 8888 Succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal (PQ), Canada, H3C 3P8.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tremblay
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soucy
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Towers
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gunning
authors.forename: Livain
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Breau
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D004951:Esterification; D015394:Molecular Structure; D019906:Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D043823:Taxoids / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D020946:Taxus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; C487077:brevifoliol