Exploiting the Synthetic Potential of Sesquiterpene Cyclases for Generating Unnatural Terpenoids.

The substrate flexibility of eight purified sesquiterpene cyclases was evaluated using six new heteroatom-modified farnesyl pyrophosphates, and the formation of six new heteroatom-modified macrocyclic and tricyclic sesquiterpenoids is described. GC-O analysis revealed that tricyclic tetrahydrofuran exhibits an ethereal, peppery, and camphor-like olfactoric scent.