Elimination Reactions of Esters in the Biosynthesis of Polyketides and Ribosomal Peptides†
H.S.O. acknowledges the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation for a Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award. This work was supported by the cluster of excellence UniCat (granted by the German research council-DFG).
Graphical Abstract
Enoyl intermediates are normally obtained through β-elimination of β-hydroxy carbonyl compounds. The OH group is eliminated either directly or is first activated through phosphorylation. Alternative strategies have now been identified: Glutamination or acetylation of a β-hydroxycarbonyl compound followed by β-elimination of an ester was proven to be a key step in the biosynthesis of class I lantipeptide and tetronate antibiotics.