Mimicking Oxidative Radical Cyclizations of Lignan Biosynthesis Using Redox-Neutral Photocatalysis
Jean-Philip Lumb gives insight to chemistry and biochemistry of Stage 3 DBCODs.
Dibenzocyclooctadiene (DBCOD) lignans are complex natural products isolated from medicinal plants of the Schisandraceae family. For many years, extracts of these plants have been used throughout Eastern Europe and Asia for their wide-ranging health benefits, which have included anti-viral and anti-oxidant activities and perhaps most importantly, hepatoprotection. With the increased use of pharmaceuticals throughout much of Asia, interest has grown in small molecules that can alleviate drug-induced liver toxicity, and in this regard, preliminary clinical trials using extracts from Schisandra chinensis and Schisandra sphenanthera have shown promising results. The group of Professor Jean-Philip Lumb at McGill University (Montreal, Canada) has been interested in these natural products.
In order to explore the chemistry and biochemistry of Stage 3 DBCODs, the group designed a strategy to mimic their characteristic non-canonical biosynthesis that hinged on late-stage radical cyclizations.
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