Trans-Communic acid methyl ester

The second synthetic approach to oidiolactone C (61) is summarized in Scheme 20. This route also commences with the ozonolysis of trans-communic acid 180. Now, when this compound was exposed to ozone in excess, keto aldehyde 187 was obtained in 76% yield. The key step in this approach was the y-lactone closure via chemoselective reduction of the lactone moiety on compound 189 through a SN2 mechanism. Compound 189 could be prepared by saponification of the corresponding methyl ester with sodium propanethiolate. Once the primary alcohol is oxidized, the completion of the synthesis of key lactone 103 only requires the allylic oxidation of the C-17 methyl with concomitant closure of the 8-lactone. This conversion was achieved with Se02 in refluxing acetic acid to give 103 in 51% yield. 

Epimandol has been detected in the neutral extracts of Larix europaea and in the bark of the Sitka spruce. Cupressus resins have been examined by g.l.c. and imbricatolic acid (5) identified in all but Cupressus sempervirens. This acid co-occurs with the cis- and trans-communic acids and with sandaracopimaric acid. A -Communic acid has been isolated as its methyl ester from Callitris columellaris. During this work the thermal isomerisation of the conjugated diene of communic acid was noted. The structures and stereochemistry of some... 

Fang X, Jin F, Jin H, von Sonntag C (1998) Reaction of the superoxide radical with the A/-centered radical derived from N-acetyltryptophan methyl ester. J Chem Soc Perkin Trans 2 259-263 Ferreri C, Costantino C, Landi L, Mulazzani QG, Chatgilialoglu C (1999) The thiyl radical-mediated isomerisation of c/s-monounsaturated fatty acid residues in phospholipids a novel path of membrane damage Chem Commun 407-408... 

Insects communicate through the use of a great variety of volatile pheromones. As mentioned in Chapter 8, Section A,l, some moths utilize acetate esters of various isomers of A7 and A11 unsaturated C14 fatty acids as sex pheromones. Some other moths convert the trans-l 1 -tetradecenyl acetate into the corresponding C14 aldehyde or alcohol, while others use similar compounds of shorter (Cn - C12) chain length.143 Some ants use ketones, such as 4-methyl-3-heptanone, as well as various isoprenoid compounds and pyrazines as volatile signaling compounds.144 Other insects also utilize isoprenoids,145 alkaloids,146 and aromatic substances as pheromones. 

---