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Synfacts 2007(12): 1225-1225  
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-991305
Synthesis of Natural Products and Potential Drugs
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Synthesis of Salvinorin A

Contributor(s): Philip Kocienski, Stewart Eccles
J. R. Scheerer, J. F. Lawrence, G. C. Wang, D. A. Evans*
Harvard University, Cambridge, USA
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Publication History

Publication Date:
22 November 2007 (online)

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Significance

Salvinorin A is a neoclerodane diterpene isolated from Salvia divinorum. As a potent agonist of the κ opioid receptor, it is the only non-alkaloid psychoactive substance and the most potent naturally occuring hallucinogen. The synthesis of salvinorin exploits a bis-Michael addition of macrocylce E to create the tricyclic core. A rich array of innovative chemistry was used to synthesise fragment B.