Synthesis of Nepetoidin B
Synthesis of Nepetoidin B: V. Timokhin, M. Regner, Y. Tsuji, J. Grabber, J. Ralph
Synlett 2018, DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1591556
Nepetoidin B is a natural bis-catechol derivative that can be isolated in generally small amounts from different plants, including Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Due to its bioactivity nepetoidin B has attracted significant interest for potential biomedical applications; however, its limited availability has hitherto hampered further studies on its properties. Recently, the group of Professor John Ralph from the University of Wisconsin, Madison (USA) has published a simple and short synthesis of this compound.
Professor Ralph said: “Nepetoidin B, a natural product initially isolated from Plectranthus caninus in 1975, has shown promise as an anticancer agent and chemotaxonomic marker, but its high commercial price has stymied its use in research studies. We hope that our cost-effective, two-step synthesis will promote further study of this valuable medicinal compound.”
