The biosynthesis of the new tremulane sesquiterpenes isolated from Phellinustremulae

The tremulane sesquiterpenes isolated from the wood-rotting fungus Phellinustremulae are irregular isoprenoids derived from the cyclization and rearrangement of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP). The most interesting feature in the formation of the tremulane skeleton seems to involve the migration of a methyl group from one of the isoprene units. To investigate the biosynthetic origin of this unique sesquiterpene skeleton, labelling experiments were carried out by adding 13 C-labelled sodium acetate to liquid cultures of Phellinustremulae. The labelling pattern was determined by 13 C NMR spectral analysis of labelled tremulenediol A, which was purified as its di-p-bromobenzoate. A possible route to the tremulane skeleton, which accounts for the observed labelling pattern, proceeds from FPP, via humulene. The stereochemical course of the tremulane biosynthesis is discussed. Keywords: fungal metabolites, aspen, perhydroazulene sesquiterpenes, labelling experiments.