(2R)-Catalponone,a biosynthetic intermediate for prenylnaphthoquinone congeners of the wood of Catalpa ovata

In accord with the results of experiments using callus tissues of Catalpa ovata, the simultaneous administration of (2R)- 1-¹⁴C]catalponone and (2S)- 8-³H]catalponone to the wood of the same plant demonstrated that the main pathway for the biosynthesis of naphthoquinone congeners, including catalpalactone, catalponol and 4,9-dihydroxy-α-lapachone, proceeds through the 2R-enantiomer of catalponone.