While no synthases specific to Artemisia absinthium have been sufficiently isolated to recreate this particular sesquiterpene formation in vitro, the general reaction scheme presented here portrays a likely scenario for Absinthin biosynthesis through the use of terpene intermediates utilized in the biosynthesis of Germacrene A, another sesquiterpene lactone.
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Absinthin is a naturally produced sesquiterpene lactone from the plant Artemisia absinthium (Wormwood).
Vernolepin, a sesquiterpene lactone found in Vernonia amygdalina
Helenalin, a sesquiterpene lactone with potent anti-inflammatory and antitumor effects
His areas of expertise were keto bases, alcohol bases, derivatives of piperidine, papaverine, lactones and also Digitalis-glycosides.
It was synthesized from santonin by base-mediated hydrolysis of a lactone followed by a multistep rearrangement process by R. B. Woodward.