title: Synthesis of the tetracyclic core of Illicium sesquiterpenes using an organocatalyzed asymmetric Robinson annulation.
abstract: An enantioselective synthesis of the core framework of neurotrophic Illicium majucin-type sesquiterpenes is described here. This strategy is based on an organocatalyzed asymmetric Robinson annulation and provides an efficient approach for a diversity-oriented synthesis of Illicium natural products that holds remarkable therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0358, USA.
authors.forename: Lynnie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trzoss
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Michelle H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lacoske
authors.forename: Emmanuel A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Theodorakis
keywords: natural products; neurodegenerative diseases; neurotrophic small molecule; organocatalysis; total synthesis