Antifungal pseudolaric acid

Chiu s group [193] used this domino process for an entry to pseudolaric acid 6/2-27, starting from 6/2-28, to yield 6/2-29 and 6/2-30 as an almost l l-mixture of di-astereomers (Scheme 6/2.5). Attempts to improve the stereoselectivity by using chiral rhodium complexes did not change the picture very much. The pseudolaric acids A, B and C are diterpenoids, which were isolated from the root bark of Pseudo-larix kaempferi Gordon (Pinaceae), and are components of the traditional Chinese medicine called tujinpi. They reveal antifungal activity and cytotoxicities at submicromolar levels [194]. 

---