Non-Superimposable Approach for Construction of Two Tetrahydrofuran Rings 15-Carbon Chain A Class Of Natural Products, C, (Paperback)

Five membered ring alicyclic compounds are thermodynamically most stable compounds due to their reduced interior angle strain (bond angle is 108°, ideal tetrahedral bond angle 109.5°). The tetrahydrofuran ring, being a saturated five membered cyclic ether, attracted chemists due to its presence as a main skeleton in several drugs as well as in natural products. For example, Eribulin Mesylate, Darunavir, Azidothymidine etc. are some of the popular drugs bearing a THF unit. Furthermore, such THF containing compounds are also widely used in the formulation of several perfumes and flavours.

Most of the natural products bearing the THF ring as the main skeleton, are derived from plant acetogenins. These acetogenins belong to the Annonaceae family (Custard-apple family) and are considered to be the most potent anti-tumor compounds.