2008 Eighth Annual Beckman Scholars Symposium
Thursday Poster Session - July 27, 2006

Various polyacetylenic compounds, in addition to possessing fascinating chemical properties, have also been shown to be active in a wide range of biological systems. Here, the synthesis of 1,3R,8R-trihydroxydec-9-en-4,6-yne, a Polyacetylenic 12-lipoxygenase inhibitor from Artemisia monosperma, as well as an outline for the synthesis of its glucoside, are presented. Furthermore, an attempt of the total synthesis of trideca-3,5,7,9,11-pentayne-1,2-diol, a naturally occurring pentayne from Microglossa pyrifolia is detailed. Experimental procedures and spectroscopic data were recorded for each novel compound synthesized. Although the true configuration of naturally occurring 1,3R,8R-trihydroxydec-9-en-4,6-yne was not established, all possible stereoisomers were synthesized and their optical activities were measured.