Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of a New Germacrene Derivative Named Germacrene F

Abstract

The new farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) derivative with a shifted olefinic double bond from C6-C7 to C7-C8 is accepted and converted by the sesquiterpene cyclases protoilludene synthase (Omp7) as well as viridiflorene synthase (Tps32). In both cases, a so far unknown germacrene derivative was found to be formed, which we name “germacrene F”. Both cases are examples in which a modification around the central olefinic double bond in FPP leads to a change in the mode of initial cyclization (from 1→11 to 1→10). For Omp7 a rationale for this behaviour was found by carrying out molecular docking studies. Temperature-dependent NMR experiments, accompanied by NOE studies, show that germacrene F adopts a preferred mirror-symmetric conformation with both methyl groups oriented in the same directions in the cyclodecane ring.