Chemistry of Zerumbone. 2. Regulation of Ring Bond Cleavage and Unique Antibacterial Activities of Zerumbone Derivatives

Further investigation of the chemistry of the elevenmembered cyclic sesquiterpene, zerumbone, the major component of the wild ginger, Zingiber zerumbet Smith, has revealed a new selective epoxidation process, a further example of a novel Favorskii-initiated double ring contraction, and a regiospecific fragmentation of zerumbone dibromide derivatives. Several zerumbone derivatives were found to be selective inhibitors of the growth of Gram-positive bacteria.