Utilization of Lipase‐Catalyzed Acetylation and Deacetylation in the Synthesis of a Natural Product with a Hydroquinone Skeleton

Abstract Elaborated conditions for lipase‐catalyzed preferential monoacetylation enabled the large‐scale preparation of hydroquinone monoacetate. This product was then applied to the synthesis of tournefolin B, a highly oxygenated prenylated hydroquinone of plant origin ( Tournefortia sarmentosa Lam.). During the course of the synthetic transformations, lipase‐catalyzed deacetylation under mild conditions was demonstrated.