A p-quinone analog having the komaroviquinone pharmacophore fused with a more conformationally flexible cycloheptane ring, was semisynthesized from natural demethlsalvicanol isolated from Perovskia abrotanoides via four steps in 26% overall yield. The IC50 for the antitrypanosomal activity of the analog was 0.55 µM.
Keywords: Perovskia abrotanoides; antitrypanosomal activity; demethylsalvicanol; komaroviquinone analog; semisynthesis.