The biosynthesis of corvol ethers A and B, two sesquiterpenes from Kitasatospora setae, proceeds with involvement of either one 1,3- or two sequential 1,2-hydride shifts. Quantum chemical calculations revealed that the sequence of two 1,2-hydride shifts is energetically favoured. Labelling experiments were in agreement with this finding. In addition, the stereochemical course of a reprotonation step was investigated by incubation of (13)C-labelled isotopomers of farnesyl diphosphate in water and in deuterium oxide.
Keywords: NMR spectroscopy; isotopic labeling; quantum chemical calculations; reaction mechanisms; terpene biosynthesis.
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