A lipase-mediated route to (+)-juvabione and (+)-epijuvabione from racemic norcamphor

Abstract

(+)-Juvabione and (+)-epijuvabione, natural sesquiterpenes exhibiting insect juvenile hormone activity, have been synthesized from (±)-norcamphor via the both enantiomeric intermediates having bicyclo[3.2.1]octane framework by employing a lipase-mediated kinetic ester-hydrolysis reaction and cyclopropane ring-expansion reaction as the key steps.