The biogenesis and stereochemical origin of many natural products remain unknown. Now the biosynthetic pathway of brevianamide A is elucidated. An isomerase is discovered that can catalyse pinacol rearrangement without a cofactor and determine the stereochemistry of the bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane ring.
- Ying Ye
- Lei Du
- Shengying Li