Total synthesis of aculeatins A and B from (S)-malic acid

A novel total synthesis of aculeatin A via a stepwise approach

Aculeatin A, isolated from the plant Amomum aculeatum, is a dispirocyclic compound having antimalarial activity. We describe a novel synthetic approach to aculeatin A via a stepwise strategy.

Forming spirocyclohexadienone-oxocarbenium cation species in the biomimetic synthesis of amomols

The oxidation of appropriate 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)ethyl ketones gives direct access to amomols by means of the formation of a transient spirocyclohexadienone-oxocarbenium ion that is intermolecularly intercepted by an alcohol. Furthermore, homochiral amomols and other new analogues were synthesized for the first time and were biologically evaluated on Plasmodium falciparum.