Investigation into the Synthesis of Bioactive Butenolides

Previous research done on coprophi lous fungi has revealed the presence of secondary metabolites containing butenol ides sub-structures. These butenol ides show activity against the yeast Candida albicans. In efforts to further these investigations, the synthesis of butenol ide analogs was undertaken. The starting materials, 2-methylacryl ic acid and 1-penten-3-ol, were esterified in the presence of triethyl amine to form an ester, pent-1-en-3-yl-2-methylprop-2-enoate. The formation of ester was confirmed using 13C- NMR. The ester was then subjected to ring-closing metathesis in the presence of Grubb\u27 s catalyst. The formation of the butenol ide was also confirmed using 13C-NMR. The product, 5-ethyl-3-methyl-2-(5H)-furanone obtained from this step has been purified using column chromatography. The butenol ide bioassay was done to test its activity agains