Synfacts 2009(1): 0003-0003  
DOI: 10.1055/s-0028-1087237
Synthesis of Natural Products and Potential Drugs
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ˙ New York

Synthesis of Rubioncolin B

Contributor(s):Philip Kocienski
J.-P. Lumb, K. C. Choong, D. Trauner*
University of California at Berkeley, USA
ortho-Quinone Methides from para-Quinones: Total Synthesis of Rubioncolin B
J. Am. Chem. Soc.  2008,  130:  9230-9231  
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 December 2008 (online)


Significance

Rubioncolin B is isolated from the roots of Rubia species which are administered in Chinese medicine. The short synthesis depicted features the tautomerization of the p-quinone I to the o-quinone methide J which then undergoes an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction to give the complex ring system of the target.

Comment

Natural rubioncolin B is racemic and the authors postulate that the tautomerization of p-quinone I to the o-quinone methide J and a subsequent Diels-Alder reaction may explain its biogenesis.