13-Oxobaccatin III (4) was oxidized to 7,13-dioxo D-secobaccatin III (5). T
his compound, when treated with base or cyanide ion, underwent rearrangemen
ts involving the rupture of the C-7,C-8 bond, the migration of the benzoyl
and acetyl groups and intramolecular formation of new rings. Four new compo
unds were isolated and fully characterized. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.
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