Asymmetric Synthesis of Natural cis-Dihydroarenediols Using Tetrahydroxynaphthalene Reductase and Its Biosynthetic Implications.

Asymmetric reduction of hydroxynaphthoquinones to secondary metabolites, (3 S,4 R)-3,4,8- and (2 S,4 R)-2,4,8-trihydroxy-1-tetralone, a putative biosynthetic diketo intermediate and a probable natural analogue, (3 S,4 R)-7-acetyl-3,4,8-trihydroxy-6-methyl-3,4-dihydronaphthalene-1(2 H)-one, using NADPH-dependent tetrahydroxynaphthalene reductase (T4HNR) of Magnaporthe grisea is described. This work implies the involvement of T4HNR or related enzymes during the (bio)synthesis of other dihydroarenediols by reduction of the hydroxynaphthoquinone scaffold containing substrates.