Enantio-selective reduction of the flowering related compound KODA and its analogues in Pharbitis nil cv. Violet

Plant oxylipins are an important class of signaling molecules in plants. The cyclic adducts of epinephrine or norepinephrine with the naturally occurring oxylipin (12Z,15Z)-9-hydroxy-10-oxo-octadeca-12,15-dienoic acid (KODA, 1) or its synthetic analogues (2–6) have been reported to possess flower-inducing activity toward Lemna paucicostata. By in vivo and in vitro experiments with seedlings of Pharbitis nil cv. Violet carbonyl groups of the α-ketols (1 and 3) and the ketones (7 and 9) were enantio-selectively reduced to give their corresponding vicinal diols (2 and 4) and alcohols (8 and 10). The stereo-chemistry at the oxymethine carbon was determined based on the long range C–H coupling constants and the modified Mosherʹs method. Orientation of the adjacent hydroxyl group in (1 and 3) did not affect the enantio-selectivity, whereas the conversion was slightly affected and higher yields were obtained with the R-enantiomers of the α-ketols.