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Synfacts 2006(9): 0873-0873  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-942048
Synthesis of Natural Products and Potential Drugs
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis of Hipposudoric Acid

Contributor(s): Philip Kocienski
Y. Saikawa, K. Moriya, K. Hashimoto*, M. Nakata*
Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
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Publication History

Publication Date:
23 August 2006 (online)

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Significance

Hippopotamuses produce a viscous red sweat on their face and back that turns brown. The red color, which arises from Hipposudoric and Norhipposudoric Acids, may protect the animal from sunlight and infection. A key step in the synthesis is the Pschorr reaction leading to formation of the fluorenone C.