For the first time, a number of substances from the mushroom family Ganoderma have been combined in a total synthesis. Read all about it in our article in the European Journal of Organic Chemistry.
The Ganoderma mushrooms have been used in traditional East Asian medicine for over 2000 years and more than 900 substances have been isolated from the mushrooms. The substances fall into three main categories: polysaccharides, triterpenoids and meroterpenoids.
Our group combined with the group of Sahar El Aidy to study the interactions between meroterpenoids and the microbiome. The isolation from the mushrooms produced too little substance for tests, so our PhD student Daan Bunt took up the synthesis. The substances Fornicin A (1), Fornicin D(2) and Gandercin D(3) were synthesized.
The substances however showed instability and fall apart. The high reactivity of the substances due to the two Michael-acceptors present may be the cause of the instability. The compounds can also cyclize and the hydroquinone group is susceptible to oxidation. But despite the instability, a beautiful total synthesis has been achieved.
Our research regarding the synthesis of meroterpenoids fornicin A, fornicin D, and ganodercin D, found in mushrooms of the Ganoderma genus was media-covered by C2W. Read it here.