Divergent Total Synthesis of Fornicin A,Fornicin D,and Ganodercin D,Meroterpenoids from Ganoderma Mushrooms

The meroterpenoids fornicin A, fornicin D, and ganodercin D, found in mushrooms of the Ganoderma genus, have been prepared in a concise and divergent synthesis route. The characteristic unsaturated γ-ketoacid moiety was obtained via an optimized step-wise aldol condensation between two readily accessible building blocks. THP-protection of a phenolic hydroxyl group under basic conditions was developed, a protocol that adds to the versatility of this protecting group.     

Learning from mother nature: exploiting a biological antioxidant for the melt stabilisation of polymers

An overview of the antioxidant role of the biologically active form of vitamin E, α‐tocopherol, in polyolefins is discussed. The effect of the vitamin antioxidant on the melt and colour stability of polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) is highlighted. It is shown that tocopherol is a highly effective antioxidant that results in superior melt stabilisation of polyolefins particularly when used at much lower concentration than that needed for conventional synthetic hindered phenol processing stabilisers. As with other hindered phenols, α‐tocopherol‐imparts also some colour to the polymer but this is shown to be reduced drastically in the presence of other antioxidants, such as phosphites, or other additives, such as polyhydric alcohols.