On the biosynthesis of moenocinol, the lipid part of the moenomycin antibiotics

The lipid part of the moenomycins is completely isoprenoid and is constructed via the non-mevalonate pathway. The central C10 part originates from a precursor like geranyl or linalyl diphosphate and is formed by a route involving ring formation between C-2 and C-6 of the monoterpene unit, two successive rearrangements to give a seven-membered ring intermediate and cleavage of the ring at the C-5 and C-11 bond (moenocinol numbering).