Exploring Diversity through Dimerization in Natural Products by a Rational Tandem Mass-Based Molecular Network Strategy

The step- and atom-efficient dimerization strategy is frequently used in nature to build structural complexity and diversity. We propose the rationale and structural features of the versatile monomers that are responsible for "diversity through dimerization". Using 5-FAM-maleimide combined with a UHPLC-MS/MS-FBMN workflow, we successfully identified a diverse set of dimeric natural products from fungus F01315, in which all four complex 4'5-ring scaffolds are derived from one monomeric epoxyquinol and endowed with functional diversity.