Two New Citrinin Dimers from a Volcano Ash‐Derived Fungus,Penicillium citrinum HGY1‐5

Two new citrinin dimers, penidicitrinin A ((2R,3S,5aS,9R,10S,12aR,12bR)‐2,3,5a,6,9,10,12a,12b‐octahydro‐7,12a‐dihydroxy‐12b‐methoxy‐2,3,4,9,10,11‐hexamethyl‐5H‐difuro[2,3‐b : 2′,3′‐h]xanthen‐5‐one; 1 ) and penidicitrinin B ((1S,3R,4S)‐1‐{2,6‐dihydroxy‐4‐[(1S,2R)‐2‐hydroxy‐1‐methylpropyl]‐3‐methylphenyl}‐3,4‐dihydro‐3,4,5‐trimethyl‐1H‐2‐benzopyran‐6,8‐diol; 2 ), together with three known citrinin monomers were isolated from a volcano ash‐derived fungus, Penicillium citrinum HGY1‐5. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, and they showed no cytotoxicity against two tumor cell lines.     

Neoclerodane Diterpenes from Amoora stellato‐squamosa

From the twigs of Amoora stellato‐squamosa, five new neoclerodane diterpenes have been isolated and characterized, methyl (13E)‐2‐oxoneocleroda‐3,13‐dien‐15‐oate (=methyl (2E)‐3‐methyl‐5‐[(1S,2R,4aR,8aR)‐1,2,3,4,4a,7,8,8a‐octahydro‐1,2,4a,5‐tetramethyl‐7‐oxo‐naphthalen‐1‐yl]pent‐2‐enoate; 1 ), (13E)‐2‐oxoneocleroda‐3,13‐dien‐15‐ol (=(4aR,7R,8S,8aR)‐1,2,4a,5,6,7,8,8a‐octahydro‐8‐[(E)‐5‐hydroxy‐3‐methylpent‐3‐enyl]‐4,4a,7,8‐tetramethylnaphthalen‐2(1H)‐one; 2 ), (3α,4β,13E)‐neoclerod‐13‐ene‐3,4,15‐triol (=(1R,2R,4aR, 5S,6R,8aR)‐decahydro‐5‐[(E)‐5‐hydroxy‐3‐methylpent‐3‐enyl]‐1,5,6,8a‐tetramethylnaphthalene‐1,2‐diol; 3 ), (3α,4β,13E)‐4‐ethoxyneoclerod‐13‐ene‐3,15‐diol (=(1R,2R,4aR,5S,6R,8aR)‐1‐ethoxydecahydro‐5‐[(E)‐5‐hydroxy‐3‐methylpent‐3‐enyl]‐1,5,6,8a‐tetramethylnaphthalen‐2‐ol; 4 ), and (3α,4β,14RS)‐neoclerod‐13(16)‐ ene‐3,4,14,15‐tetrol (=(1R,2R,4aR,5S,6R,8aR)‐decahydro‐5‐[3‐(1,2‐dihydroxyethyl)but‐3‐enyl]‐1,5,6,8a‐tetramethylnaphthalene‐1,2‐diol; 5 ), together with two known compounds, (13E)‐neocleroda‐3,13‐diene‐15,18‐diol ( 6 ) and (13S)‐2‐oxoneocleroda‐3,14‐dien‐13‐ol ( 7 ).     

Synthesis and Absolute Configuration at C(8) of ‘p‐Menthane‐3,8,9‐triol’ Derived from (–)‐Isopulegol

Two diastereoisomers of the new, potentially insecticidal ‘p‐menthane‐3,8,9‐triol’ (=(2S)‐ and (2R)‐ 2‐[(1R,2R,4R)‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐methylcyclohexyl]propane‐1,2‐diol; (8S)‐ and (8R)‐ 1 ), have been synthesized from (–)‐isopulegol by both conventional dihydroxylation and catalytic Sharpless dihydroxylation (Scheme). The absolute configuration at C(8) of the corresponding orthoformate adduct (8S)‐ 3a was determined by ¹H‐NMR and X‐ray crystallographic analysis (Figure).     

Metabolism of Deuterated threo‐Dihydroxy Fatty Acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Enantioselective Formation and Characterization of Hydroxylactones and γ‐Lactones

Biotransformation of (±)‐threo‐7,8‐dihydroxy(7,8‐²H₂)tetradecanoic acids (threo‐(7,8‐²H₂)‐ 3 ) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae afforded 5,6‐dihydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecanoic acids (threo‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 4 ), which were converted to (5S,6S)‐6‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐5‐lactone ((5S,6S)‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 7 ) with 80% e.e. and (5S,6S)‐5‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐6‐lactone ((5S,6S)‐5,6‐²H₂)‐ 8 ). Further β‐oxidation of threo‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 4 yielded 3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acids (threo‐(3,4‐²H₂)‐ 5 ), which were converted to (3R,4R)‐3‐hydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decano‐4‐lactone ((3R,4R)‐ 9 ) with 44% e.e. and converted to ²H‐labeled decano‐4‐lactones ((4R)‐(3‐²H₁)‐ and (4R)‐(2,3‐²H₂)‐ 6 ) with 96% e.e. These results were confirmed by experiments in which (±)‐threo‐3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acids (threo‐(3,4‐²H₂)‐ 5 ) were incubated with yeast. From incubations of methyl (5S,6S)‐ and (5R,6R)‐5,6‐dihydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecanoates ((5S,6S)‐ and (5R,6R)‐(5,6‐²H₂)‐ 4a ), the (5S,6S)‐enantiomer was identified as the precursor of (4R)‐(3‐²H₁)‐ and (2,3‐²H₂)‐ 6 ). Therefore, (4R)‐ 6 is synthesized from (3S,4S)‐ 5 by an oxidation/keto acid reduction pathway involving hydrogen transfer from C(4) to C(2). In an analogous experiment, methyl (9S,10S)‐9,10‐dihydroxyoctadecanoate ((9S,10S)‐ 10a ) was metabolized to (3S,4S)‐3,4‐dihydroxydodecanoic acid ((3S,4S)‐ 15 ) and converted to (4R)‐dodecano‐4‐lactone ((4R)‐ 18 ).     

Muurolane‐type sesquiterpenes from marine sponge Dysidea cinerea

Seven new muurolane‐type sesquiterpenes, (4R,5R)‐muurol‐1(6),10(14)‐diene‐4,5‐diol (1), (4R,5R)‐muurol‐1(6)‐ene‐4,5‐diol (2), (4R,5R,10R)‐10‐methoxymuurol‐1(6)‐ene‐4,5‐diol (3), (4S)‐4‐hydroxy‐1,10‐seco‐muurol‐5‐ene‐1,10‐dione (4), (4R)‐4‐hydroxy‐1,10‐seco‐muurol‐5‐ene‐1,10‐dione (5), (6S,10S)‐6,10‐dihydroxy‐7,8‐seco‐2,8‐cyclo‐muurol‐4(5),7(11)‐diene‐12‐oic acid (6), and (6R,10S)‐6,10‐dihydroxy‐7,8‐seco‐2,8‐cyclo‐muurol‐4(5),7(11)‐diene‐12‐oic acid (7) were isolated from the marine sponge Dysidea cinerea. Their structures were determined by the combination of spectroscopic and chemical methods, including 1D‐NMR, 2D‐NMR, and CD spectra as well as by comparing the NMR data with those reported in the literature. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metabolism of Deuterated erythro‐Dihydroxy Fatty Acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Enantioselective Formation and Characterization of Hydroxylactones

Epoxides of fatty acids are hydrolyzed by epoxide hydrolases (EHs) into dihydroxy fatty acids which are of particular interest in the mammalian leukotriene pathway. In the present report, the analysis of the configuration of dihydroxy fatty acids via their respective hydroxylactones is described. In addition, the biotransformation of (±)‐erythro‐7,8‐ and ‐3,4‐dihydroxy fatty acids in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was characterized by GC/EI‐MS analysis. Biotransformation of chemically synthesized (±)‐erythro‐7,8‐dihydroxy(7,8‐²H₂)tetradecanoic acid ((±)‐erythro‐ 1 ) in the yeast S. cerevisiae resulted in the formation of 5,6‐dihydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecanoic acid ( 6 ), which was lactonized into (5S,6R)‐6‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐5‐lactone ((5S,6R)‐ 4 ) with 86% ee and into erythro‐5‐hydroxy(5,6‐²H₂)dodecano‐6‐lactone (erythro‐ 8 ). Additionally, the α‐ketols 7‐hydroxy‐8‐oxo(7‐²H₁)tetradecanoic acid ( 9a ) and 8‐hydroxy‐7‐oxo(8‐²H₁)tetradecanoic acid ( 9b ) were detected as intermediates. Further metabolism of 6 led to 3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acid ( 2 ) which was lactonized into 3‐hydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decano‐4‐lactone ( 5 ) with (3R,4S)‐ 5 =88% ee. Chemical synthesis and incubation of (±)‐erythro‐3,4‐dihydroxy(3,4‐²H₂)decanoic acid ((±)‐erythro‐ 2 ) in yeast led to (3S,4R)‐ 5 with 10% ee. No decano‐4‐lactone was formed from the precursors 1 or 2 by yeast. The enantiomers (3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐3,4‐dihydroxy(3‐²H₁)nonanoic acid ((3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐ 3 ) were chemically synthesized and comparably degraded by yeast without formation of nonano‐4‐lactone. The major products of the transformation of (3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐ 3 were (3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐3‐hydroxy(3‐²H₁)nonano‐4‐lactones ((3S,4R)‐ and (3R,4S)‐ 7 ), respectively. The enantiomers of the hydroxylactones 4, 5 , and 7 were chemically synthesized and their GC‐elution sequence on Lipodex^® E chiral phase was determined.     

Synthesis of Enantiomerically Pure Bis‐Sulfinyl Substituted Phenylene Ethynylenes

The stereoselective and efficient monoaddition of transient [(1S,2R,4R)‐2‐hydroxy‐7,7‐dimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐1‐yl]methanesulfenic (=(1S)‐isoborneol‐10‐sulfenic) acid to isomeric diethynylbenzenes affords {1‐[(1S)‐isoborneol‐10‐sulfinyl]ethenyl}ethynylbenzenes. Their enantiomerically pure (R_S)‐epimers are involved in a Cu‐free Sonogashira coupling with 1,4‐diiodo‐2,5‐dimethoxybenzene to give C₂‐symmetric bis‐sulfinyl phenylene ethynylenes, stimulating prototypes of new sulfurated chiral architectures that can find application as chelating agents.     

Stereoselective and Enantioselective Syntheses of the Four Stereoisomers of Muscol from (3RS)‐Muscone

Two trans stereoisomers of 3‐methylcyclopentadecanol (=muscol), (1R,3R)‐ 2 and (1S,3S)‐ 2 , were efficiently synthesized from (3RS)‐3‐methylcyclopentadecanone (=muscone; (3RS)‐ 1 ) by a highly stereoselective reduction (Scheme). L‐Selectride^® (=lithium tri(sec‐butyl)borohydride) was used, followed by the enantiomer resolution by lipase QLG (Alcaligenes sp.). The cis stereoisomers of muscol, (1S,3R)‐ 2 and (1R,3S)‐ 2 , were obtained by the Mitsunobu inversion of (1R,3R)‐ 2 and (1S,3S)‐ 2 , respectively (Scheme). The absolute configuration of (1R,3R)‐ 2 was determined by X‐ray crystal‐structure analysis of its 3‐nitrophthalic acid monoester, 2‐[(1R,3R)‐3‐methylcyclopentadecyl hydrogen benzene‐1,2‐dicarboxylate ((1R,3R)‐ 3b ), and by oxidation of (1R,3R)‐ 2 to (3R)‐muscone.     

Naphthyl Groups in Chiral Recognition: Structures of Salts and Esters of 2‐Methoxy‐2‐naphthylpropanoic Acids

The crystal structures of salt 8 , which was prepared from (R)‐2‐methoxy‐2‐(2‐naphthyl)propanoic acid ((R)‐MβNP acid, (R)‐ 2 ) and (R)‐1‐phenylethylamine ((R)‐PEA, (R)‐ 6 ), and salt 9 , which was prepared from (R)‐2‐methoxy‐2‐(1‐naphthyl)propanoic acid ((R)‐MαNP acid, (R)‐ 1 ) and (R)‐1‐(p‐tolyl)ethylamine ((R)‐TEA, (R)‐ 7 ), were determined by X‐ray crystallography. The MβNP and MαNP anions formed ion‐pairs with the PEA and TEA cations, respectively, through a methoxy‐group‐assisted salt bridge and aromatic CH???π interactions. The networks of salt bridges formed 2₁ columns in both salts. Finally, (S)‐(2E,6E)‐(1‐²H₁)farnesol ((S)‐ 13 ) was prepared from the reaction of (2E,6E)‐farnesal ( 11 ) with deuterated (R)‐BINAL‐H (i.e., (R)‐BINAL‐D). The enantiomeric excess of compound (S)‐ 13 was determined by NMR analysis of (S)‐MαNP ester 14 . The solution‐state structures of MαNP esters that were prepared from primary alcohols were also elucidated.     

Metabolism of Deuterated Isomeric 6,7‐Dihydroxydodecanoic Acids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae – Diastereo‐ and Enantioselective Formation and Characterization of 5‐Hydroxydecano‐4‐lactone (=4,5‐Dihydro‐5‐(1‐hydroxyhexyl)furan‐2(3H)‐one) Isomers

The chemical synthesis of deuterated isomeric 6,7‐dihydroxydodecanoic acid methyl esters 1 and the subsequent metabolism of esters 1 and the corresponding acids 1a in liquid cultures of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated. Incubation experiments with (6R,7R)‐ or (6S,7S)‐6,7‐dihydroxy(6,7‐²H₂)dodecanoic acid methyl ester ((6R,7R)‐ or (6S,7S)‐(6,7‐²H₂)‐ 1 , resp.) and (±)‐threo‐ or (±)‐erythro‐6,7‐dihydroxy(6,7‐²H₂)dodecanoic acid ((±)‐threo‐ or (±)‐erythro‐(6,7‐²H₂)‐ 1a , resp.) elucidated their metabolic pathway in yeast (Tables 1–3). The main products were isomeric ²H‐labeled 5‐hydroxydecano‐4‐lactones 2 . The absolute configuration of the four isomeric lactones 2 was assigned by chemical synthesis via Sharpless asymmetric dihydroxylation and chiral gas chromatography (Lipodex ^® E). The enantiomers of threo‐ 2 were separated without derivatization on Lipodex ^® E; in contrast, the enantiomers of erythro‐ 2 could be separated only after transformation to their 5‐O‐(trifluoroacetyl) derivatives. Biotransformation of the methyl ester (6R,7R)‐(6,7‐²H₂)‐ 1 led to (4R,5R)‐ and (4S,5R)‐(2,5‐²H₂)‐ 2 (ratio ca. 4 : 1; Table 2). Estimation of the label content and position of (4S,5R)‐(2,5‐²H₂)‐ 2 showed 95% label at C(5), 68% label at C(2), and no ²H at C(4) (Table 2). Therefore, oxidation and subsequent reduction with inversion at C(4) of 4,5‐dihydroxydecanoic acid and transfer of ²H from C(4) to C(2) is postulated. The 5‐hydroxydecano‐4‐lactones 2 are of biochemical importance: during the fermentation of Streptomyces griseus, (4S,5R)‐ 2 , known as L‐factor, occurs temporarily before the antibiotic production, and (?)‐muricatacin (=(4R,5R)‐5‐hydroxy‐heptadecano‐4‐lactone), a homologue of (4R,5R)‐ 2 , is an anticancer agent.     

Stereo‐Inversion in the (4R)‐γ‐Decanolactone Synthesis by Saccharomyces cerevisiae: (2E,4S)‐4‐Hydroxydec‐2‐enoic Acid Acts as a Key Intermediate

Methyl (2E,4R)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoate, methyl (2E,4S)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoate, and ethyl (±)‐(2E)‐4‐hydroxy[4‐²H]dec‐2‐enoate were chemically synthesized and incubated in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Initial C‐chain elongation of these substrates to C₁₂ and, to a lesser extent, C₁₄ fatty acids was observed, followed by γ‐decanolactone formation. Metabolic conversion of methyl (2E,4R)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoate and methyl (2E,4S)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoate both led to (4R)‐γ‐decanolactone with >99% ee and 80% ee, respectively. Biotransformation of ethyl (±)‐(2E)‐4‐hydroxy(4‐²H)dec‐2‐enoate yielded (4R)‐γ‐[²H]decanolactone with 61% of the ²H label maintained and in 90% ee indicating a stereoinversion pathway. Electron‐impact mass spectrometry analysis (Fig. 4) of 4‐hydroxydecanoic acid indicated a partial C(4)→C(2) ²H shift. The formation of erythro‐3,4‐dihydroxydecanoic acid and erythro‐3‐hydroxy‐γ‐decanolactone from methyl (2E,4S)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoate supports a net inversion to (4R)‐γ‐decanolactone via 4‐oxodecanoic acid. As postulated in a previous work, (2E,4S)‐4‐hydroxydec‐2‐enoic acid was shown to be a key intermediate during (4R)‐γ‐decanolactone formation via degradation of (3S,4S)‐dihydroxy fatty acids and precursors by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Synthesis,Enantiomeric Conformations,and Stereodynamics of Aromatic ortho‐Substituted Disulfones

Aromatic ortho‐disulfone derivatives are readily accessible from diiodide precursors by Cu^I‐mediated reaction with sodium sulfinate salts (DMF, 110°). The sulfonyl substituents adopt in solution and in the solid state two enantiomeric conformations (λ and δ) as evidenced by ³¹P‐ and ¹H‐NMR data of the chiral D₃‐symmetric tris{4,5‐bis[(4‐methylphenyl)sulfonyl]benzene‐1,2‐diolato(2?)‐κO,κO′}phosphate(v) anion ( 3a ) and 1,2‐bis(camphor‐10‐sulfonyl)‐4,5‐dimethoxybenzene ((=1,2‐bis{{[(1S,4R)‐7,7‐dimethyl‐2‐oxobicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐1‐yl]methyl}sulfonyl}‐4,5‐dimethoxybenzene; 6c ). X‐Ray structure analysis of 1,2‐dimethoxy‐4,5‐bis(methylsulfonyl)benzene ( 6a ) and 1,2‐dimethoxy‐4,5‐bis(4‐methylphenyl)sulfonyl]benzene ( 6b ) confirmed in the solid state the preferred chiral orientation of the sulfonyl groups. Dynamic conformational isomerism was detected for 6c in its ¹H‐NMR in the temperature range of 110°, the corresponding free energy being 19.8 kcal?mol^?1.     

Determination of Absolute Configuration of Decipinone,a Diterpenoid Ester with a Myrsinane‐Type Carbon Skeleton,by NMR Spectroscopy

The absolute configuration of decipinone ( 2 ), a myrsinane‐type diterpene ester previously isolated from Euphorbia decipiens, has been determined by NMR study of its axially chiral derivatives (aR)‐ and (aS)‐N‐hydroxy‐2′‐methoxy‐1,1′‐binaphthalene‐2‐carboximidoyl chloride ((aR)‐MBCC ( 3a ) and (aS)‐MBCC ( 3b )). The absolute configurations at C(7) and C(13) of 2 determined were (R) and (S), respectively. Therefore, considering the relative configuration of 2 , the absolute configuration determined was (2S,3S,4R,5R,6R,7R,11S,12R,13S,15R).     

The diastereoisomers methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(R)/(S)‐methoxycarbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydropyrrol‐1‐ylcarbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydropyrazole‐3‐carboxylate

The title diastereoisomers, methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(S)‐methoxy­carbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetra­hydro­pyrrol‐1‐yl­carbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methyl­phenyl)‐4,5‐di­hydro­pyrazole‐3‐carboxyl­ate and methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(R)‐methoxycarbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydropyrrol‐1‐ylcarbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methyl­phenyl)‐4,5‐di­hydro­pyrazole‐3‐carboxylate, both C₁₉H₂₃N₃O₅, have been studied in two crystalline forms. The first form, methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(S)‐methoxy­carbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydropyrrol‐1‐ylcarbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐4,5‐di­hydro­pyrazole‐3‐carboxyl­ate–methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(R)‐methoxy­carbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetra­hydro­pyrrol‐1‐yl­carbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydropyrazole‐3‐carboxylate (1/1), 2(S),5(S)‐C₁₉H₂₃N₃O₅·2(R),5(S)‐C₁₉H₂₃N₃O₅, contains both S,S and S,R isomers, while the second, methyl 5‐(S)‐[2‐(S)‐methoxycarbonyl)‐2,3,4,5‐tetrahydro­pyrrol‐1‐ylcarbonyl]‐1‐(4‐methyl­phenyl)‐4,5‐di­hydro­pyrazole‐3‐carboxyl­ate, 2(S),5(S)‐C₁₉H₂₃N₃O₅, is the pure S,S isomer. The S,S isomers in the two structures show very similar geometries, the maximum difference being about 15° on one torsion angle. The differences between the S,S and S,R isomers, apart from those due to the inversion of one chiral centre, are more remarkable, and are partially due to a possible rotational disorder of the 2‐­(methoxycarbonyl)tetrahydropyrrole group.     

Three new dihydro‐β‐agarofuran sesquiterpenes from the seeds of Maytenus boaria

As part of a project studying the secondary metabolites extracted from the Chilean flora, we report herein three new β‐agarofuran sesquiterpenes, namely (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,8R,9R,10S)‐6‐acetoxy‐4,9‐dihydroxy‐2,2,5a,9‐tetramethyloctahydro‐2H‐3,9a‐methanobenzo[b]oxepine‐5,10‐diyl bis(furan‐3‐carboxylate), C₂₇H₃₂O₁₁, ( II ), (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S)‐6‐acetoxy‐9‐hydroxy‐2,2,5a,9‐tetramethyloctahydro‐2H‐3,9a‐methanobenzo[b]oxepine‐5,10‐diyl bis(furan‐3‐carboxylate), C₂₇H₃₂O₁₀, ( III ), and (1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S)‐6‐acetoxy‐10‐(benzoyloxy)‐9‐hydroxy‐2,2,5a,9‐tetramethyloctahydro‐2H‐3,9a‐methanobenzo[b]oxepin‐5‐yl furan‐3‐carboxylate, C₂₉H₃₄O₉, ( IV ), obtained from the seeds of Maytenus boaria and closely associated with a recently published relative [Paz et al. (2017). Acta Cryst. C 73 , 451–457]. In the (isomorphic) structures of ( II ) and ( III ), the central decalin system is esterified with an acetate group at site 1 and furoate groups at sites 6 and 9, and differ at site 8, with an OH group in ( II ) and no substituent in ( III ). This position is also unsubstituted in ( IV ), with site 6 being occupied by a benzoate group. The chirality of the skeletons is described as 1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,8R,9R,10S in ( II ) and 1S,4S,5S,6R,7R,9S,10S in ( III ) and ( IV ), matching the chirality suggested by NMR studies. This difference in the chirality sequence among the title structures (in spite of the fact that the three skeletons are absolutely isostructural) is due to the differences in the environment of site 8, i.e. OH in ( II ) and H in ( III ) and ( IV ). This diversity in substitution, in turn, is responsible for the differences in the hydrogen‐bonding schemes, which is discussed.     

Configurational Assignment of ‘Cryptochiral’ 10‐Hydroxystearic Acid Through an Asymmetric Catalytic Synthesis

An asymmetric catalytic total synthesis of (S)‐10‐hydroxystearic acid ( 1 ) for comparison of its absolute configuration to that of samples obtained by fermentative hydration of oleic acid is reported. The synthesis involves two catalytic key‐steps, namely Ru‐catalyzed anti‐Markovnikov hydration of 9‐decynoic acid ( 7 ) to 10‐oxodecanoic acid ( 5 ), followed by titanium‐mediated asymmetric catalytic addition of dioctylzinc ( 25 ) to 5 in presence of the chiral ligand N,N’‐((1R,2R)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐diyl)bis(1,1,1‐trifluoromethanesulfonamide) ( 6 ). The synthesis is short and efficient and avoids use of protecting groups. Ozonolysis of 10‐undecynoic acid ( 9 ) to 5 provides an alternative entry point into the synthetic route. The double dehydrobromination of (ω,ω‐1)‐dibromoalkanoic acids to ω‐alkynoic acids under a variety of conditions was investigated with 10,11‐dibromoundecanoic acid ( 11 ) as model substrate and using qNMR to quantify all reaction products. The synthetic approaches presented here have the potential to be generalized to the asymmetric catalytic synthesis of a variety of n‐hydroxy‐fatty acids.     

A pair of epimeric 13‐hydroxy‐2,3,6,7‐tetra­methoxy‐8b,11,12,12a,13,13a‐hexa­hydro‐9H‐9a‐aza­cyclo­penta­[b]tri­phenyl­ene‐10‐ones

The structures of two compounds which are intermediates in the synthesis of phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids have been determined. (8bS,13aS,14R,14aR)‐8b,9,11,12,13,13a,14,14a‐Octa­hydro‐14‐hydroxy‐2,3,6,7‐tetra­methoxy­dibenzo­[f,h]pyrrolo[1,2‐b]­isoquinolin‐11‐one acetone solvate, C₂₄H₂₇NO₆·C₃H₆O, (II), crystallizes in a chiral space group with one solvent mol­ecule (acetone) present in the asymmetric unit. On the other hand, (8bS,13aS,14S,14aR)‐8b,9,11,12,13,13a,14,14a‐octa­hydro‐14‐hydroxy‐2,3,6,7‐tetra­methoxy­dibenzo­[f,h]pyrrolo[1,2‐b]­isoquinolin‐11‐one, C₂₄H₂₇NO₆, (III), crystallizes in a centrosymmetric space group with two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit and with no solvent present. The two mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit of (III) are structurally the same. Compounds (II) and (III) are epimers at the C atom carrying the OH group; otherwise they are very similar in structure.     

X‐Ray Structure Study of an Unusual 13,14,15,16‐Tetranorlabdane Derivative Obtained in the Synthesis of (7α)‐7,8‐Dihydroxy‐14,15‐dinorlabdane‐11,13‐dione

The unconventional (5S,7R,8S,9R,10S)‐configurated (?)‐7‐(acetyloxy)‐12,12‐dichloro‐8‐hydroxy‐13,14,15,16‐tetranorlabdan‐11‐one ( 2 ) was synthesized via the HCl‐promoted hydrolysis of (7α)‐7,8‐(isopropylidenedioxy)‐14,15‐dinorlabdan‐11,13‐dione ( 5 ). Possible mechanistic pathways of the reaction are considered. Crystal and molecular structures of the isolated compound 2 were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray structure analysis.     

Synthesis of New C2‐Symmetric Chiral Bisamides from (1S,2S)‐Cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxylic Acid

A series of new C₂‐symmetric (1S,2S)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamides was synthesized from (1S,2S)‐cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarbonyl dichloride and N‐benzyl‐substituted aromatic amines, which were prepared from 2‐aminopyridine, 2‐chloroaniline, and 2‐aminophenol via imine formation with benzaldehyde and subsequent reduction with NaBH₄. (1S,2S)‐N,N′‐Dibenzyl‐N,N′‐bis[2‐(benzyloxy)phenyl]cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamide was converted to (1S,2S)‐N,N′‐dibenzyl‐N,N′‐bis(2‐hydroxyphenyl)cyclohexane‐1,2‐dicarboxamide via hydrogenolysis in the presence of Pd(OH)₂ on active carbon powder.     

Cocrystallization and configurations of myo‐inositol‐1,2‐l‐camphor acetals in two crystal structures

The inositol rings in (1S,2R,3R,4S,5S,6R,7S,8S,11S)‐myo‐inositol‐1,2‐camphor acetal {systematic name: (1R,2S,3S,4R,5S,6R)‐5,6‐[(1S,2S,4S)‐1,7,7‐trimethyl­bicyclo­[2.2.1]heptane‐2,2‐diyldi­oxy]cyclohexane‐1,2,3,4‐tetrol}, C₁₆H₂₆O₆, and (1R,2S,3S,4R,5R,6S,7R/S,8S,11S)‐myo‐inositol‐1,2‐camphor acetal trihydrate {systematic name: (1S,2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)‐5,6‐[(1S,4S,6R/S)‐1,7,7‐trimethyl­bicyclo­[2.2.1]heptane‐2,2‐diyldi­oxy]cyclohexane‐1,2,3,4‐tetrol trihydrate}, C₁₆H₂₆O₆·3H₂O, adopt flattened chair conformations with the latter crystal containing two stereoisomers in a 0.684 (2):0.316 (2) ratio, similar to that found both in solution and by calculation. Both mol­ecules pack in the crystals in similar two‐dimensional layers, utilizing strong O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, with the trihydrate cell expanded to incorporate the additional hydrogen‐bonded water mol­ecules.