Synthesis of (R)-(+)-hippospongic acid A, a triterpene isolated from the marine sponge, Hippospongia sp.

Abstract

Hippospongic acid A (1) is a triterpene metabolite of the marine sponge, Hippospongia sp., with inhibitory activity against the gastrulation of starfish embryos. (R)-(+)-1 was synthesized by employing enzymatic kinetic resolution as the key step.