Biomimetic Total Synthesis of (−)-Neroplofurol and (+)-Ekeberin D4 Triggered by Hydrolysis of Terminal Epoxides

To accumulate the chemical basis of epoxide-opening cascade biogenesis, chemical syntheses of sesqui- and triterpenoids were performed. The biomimetic total syntheses of (−)-neroplofurol (1) and (+)-ekeberin D4 (2) were accomplished by protic acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of the terminal epoxide from nerolidol diepoxide 3 and squalene tetraepoxide 4 through single and double 5-exo cyclizations in intermediates 5 and 6, respectively. This chemical reaction mimics the direct hydrolysis mechanism of epoxide hydrolases, enzymes that catalyze an epoxide-opening reaction to finally produce vicinal diols.