A Reactive Eremophilane and Its Antibacterial 2(1H)-Naphthalenone Rearrangement Product, Witnesses of a Microbial Chemical Warfare

Org Lett. 2017 Aug 4;19(15):4038-4041. doi: 10.1021/acs.orglett.7b01788. Epub 2017 Jul 24.

Abstract

Two sesquiterpenes, 4-epi-microsphaeropsisin (1) and a dihydrofurano-2(1H)-naphthalenone (variabilone, 2) which represents a new skeleton, were isolated from endophytic fungus Paraconiothyrium variabile. Reactivity studies showed that eremophilane 1 is a precursor of 2 through acid-promoted methyl 1,2-migration and aromatization. An electrophilic intermediate of this transformation was intercepted by N-acetylcysteamine, a biomimetic nucleophile. Only compound 2 was antibacterial against endophytic bacterium Bacillus subtilis (coisolated with P. variabile), suggesting a role in the microbial competition in plants.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / isolation & purification
  • Ascomycota / chemistry
  • Bacillus subtilis / drug effects
  • Furans / chemistry*
  • Furans / isolation & purification
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Structure
  • Naphthalenes / chemistry*
  • Naphthalenes / isolation & purification
  • Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes
  • Sesquiterpenes / chemistry*
  • Sesquiterpenes / isolation & purification
  • Soil Microbiology

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Furans
  • Naphthalenes
  • Polycyclic Sesquiterpenes
  • Sesquiterpenes
  • eremophilane compounds