Synthetic Strategies for Rare Cannabinoids Derived from Cannabis sativa

J Nat Prod. 2022 Jun 24;85(6):1555-1568. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00155. Epub 2022 Jun 1.

Abstract

Efficient syntheses of eight key cannabinoids were established and optimized. Predominant cannabinoids such as cannabigerol (CBG-C5) and cannabidiol (CBD-C5) were prepared from olivetol via regioselective condensation. Further treatments of CBD led to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC-C5), Δ8-iso-tetrahydrocannabinol (iso-THC-C5), and cannabinol (CBN-C5). Alternatively, a [3 + 3] annulation between olivetol and citral yielded the minor cannabinoid cannabichromene (CBC-C5), which was converted into two very rare polycycles, cannabicyclol (CBL-C5) and cannabicitran (CBT-C5), in a one-pot reaction. Finally, all eight syntheses were extended by utilizing resorcinol and two phenolic analogues, achieving a cannabinoid group with more than 30 compounds through a facile synthesis strategy.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cannabidiol*
  • Cannabinoids*
  • Cannabinol
  • Cannabis*
  • Dronabinol

Substances

  • Cannabinoids
  • Cannabidiol
  • Dronabinol
  • Cannabinol