Mupirocin F: structure elucidation, synthesis and rearrangements

The structures of two novel metabolites, mupirocins F and F2, from extracts of the mupF mutant of Pseudomonas fluorescens were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Methyl mupirocin F was synthesised from the triol methyl pseudomonate A by selective oxidation of the 7-hydroxyl group thus firmly establishing the structure of the natural product. Rearrangement of the densely functionalised skeleton led to unusual bicyclic and tricyclic products.