Chemoenzymatic asymmetric total syntheses of antitumor agents (3R,9R,10R)- and (3S,9R,10R)-Panaxytriol and (R)- and (S)-Falcarinol from Panax ginseng using an enantioconvergent enzyme-triggered cascade reaction.

Total asymmetric synthesis of two components of Panax ginseng showing antitumor activity, i.e., (3R,9R,10R)- and (3S,9R,10R)-Panaxytriol and of both enantiomers of Falcarinol was accomplished. Due to the fact that the synthetic strategy was based on enantioconvergent biotransformations, the occurrence of any undesired stereoisomer was entirely avoided. The absolute configuration of naturally occurring Panaxytriol was confirmed to be (3R,9R,10R) on the basis of optical rotation values. It was shown that enzyme-triggered cascade reactions represent a valuable tool for the synthesis of natural products.