Studies with plant cell cultures of <i>Catharanthus</i><i>roseus</i>. Oxidative coupling of dibenzylbutanolides catalyzed by plant cell culture extracts

Abstract

Utilizing appropriate dibenzylbutanolides, for example 7, obtained via an efficient synthetic route from readily available aldehydes, and cell-free extracts obtained from Catharanthusroseus cell cultures, it was possible to achieve enzyme-catalyzed oxidative coupling of 7 to picropodophyllotoxin analogues. Studies are presently underway to convert such compounds to intermediates employed in the synthesis of the commercially important anti-cancer drug, etoposide.