Chemical Transformations of Phyllocladane (=13β‐Kaurane) Diterpenoids

Earlier phytochemical work on Plectranthus ambiguus (Lamiaceae) afforded a series of tetracyclic phyllocladane‐type (=13β‐kaurane) diterpenoids (see 1a – f ). In the course of investigations concerning the reaction behavior of this rare natural‐products, a new constituent of P. ambiguus was isolated, (2S,3R,16R)‐phyllocladane‐2,3,16,17‐tetrol 2,3‐diacetate ( 1g ), and another eighteen new phyllocladanes were prepared by chemical transformations and characterized. The main constituent 1b of P. ambiguus was chemically transformed to the known natural diterpenoid calliterpenone (=(16R)‐16,17‐dihydroxyphyllocladan‐3‐one; 2 ) thus unambiguously establishing its structure (Scheme 1). Epimerization at C(16) via the epoxy derivative 20 yielded 16‐epicalliterpenone ( 21 ), 17‐hydroxyphylloclad‐15‐ene‐3‐one ( 22 ), and (16R)‐3‐oxophyllocladan‐17‐al ( 23 ) (Scheme 6). Comparing this reaction sequence with the corresponding one starting from diastereoisomeric (16R)‐16,17‐dihydroxy‐ent‐kauran‐3‐one (=abbeokutone; 27 ) showed basically the same outcome (Scheme 7). Furthermore, three new C(16)‐substituted ent‐kauran‐3‐ones were characterized. Reliable spectroscopic arguments for the determination of the configuration at C(16) in phyllocladanes and kauranes as well as for the differentiation of the diastereoisomeric skeletons are presented.     

Vinmajorines C – E,Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids from Vinca major

Three new monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, vinmajorines C–E ( 1 – 3 ), along with 18 known analogues ( 4 – 21 ), were isolated from the whole plants of Vinca major. The new structures were elucidated as (5α,15β,16R,17α,19β,20α,21β)‐10,17‐dimethoxy‐21‐methyl‐18‐oxa‐5,16‐cycloyohimban‐19‐ol ( 1 ), (5α,15β,16R,17α,20α,21β)‐10‐methoxy‐21‐methyl‐18‐oxa‐5,16‐cycloyohimban‐17‐ol ( 2 ), and (5α,15β,16R,17α,20α,21β)‐10‐methoxy‐21‐methyl‐18‐oxa‐5,16‐cycloyohimban‐17‐yl acetate ( 3 ), respectively, by extensive NMR and MS analysis and comparison with known compounds. Compounds 1 – 3 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines, compounds 1 and 3 showing moderate cytotoxic activities.     

New Steryl Esters of Fatty Acids from the Mangrove Fungus Aspergillus awamori

The polyhydroxylated ergostane‐type sterol 9 , its derivatives 10 – 15 , and the fatty acid esters 1 – 8 were isolated from a fungus strain which was collected from mangrove areas at Wenchang, Hainan Province, P. R. China, exhibited potent cytotoxic activity, and was identified as Aspergillus awamori. The structures of 1 – 15 were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. Among them, the six steryl esters 1 – 6 of fatty acids were new compounds, i.e., (3β,5α,6α,22E)‐ergosta‐7,22‐diene‐3,5,6‐triol 6‐palmitate ( 1 ), (3β,5α,6α,22E)‐ergosta‐7,22‐diene‐3,5,6‐triol 6‐stearate ( 2 ), (3β,5α,6α,22E)‐ergosta‐7,22‐diene‐3,5,6‐triol 6‐oleate ( 3 ), (3β,5α,6α,22E)‐ergosta‐7,22‐diene‐3,5,6‐triol 6‐linoleate ( 4 ), (3β,5α,6β,22E)‐ergosta‐7,22‐diene‐3,5,6‐triol 6‐palmitate ( 5 ), and (3β,5α,6β,22E)‐ergosta‐7,22‐diene‐3,5,6‐triol 6‐stearate ( 6 ). The related known fatty acids stearic acid (=octadecanoic acid) and palmitic acid (=octadecanoic acid) were also obtained. A speculative biogenetic relationship of the metabolites is proposed. The known polyhydroxylated sterols and derivatives showed cytotoxic activities, in agreement with earlier reports. The cytotoxic activities against B16 and SMMC‐7721 cell lines of the new steryl esters 1 – 6 by the MTT method were weak.     

Chemical Constituents of Ailanthus triphysa

Two new compounds,8(14),15-isopimaradiene-2α，３α，19-triol(1),and 6α，７β－dihydroxy-17(20)-cis-5α－pregna-16-one(2),together with four known copounds,a oxygenated rare phyllocladane,phyllocladan-16α，19-diol(3),kaempferol-3-0-β－Ｄ-galactopyranosied,kaempferol-3-0-α－Ｌ－rhamnopyranoside and scopoletin, were isolated from the leaves of Ailanthus tripysa.Structures of 1-3 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data as compared with related compounds.     

Three New Abietane‐type Diterpenes from the Bark of Cryptomeria japonica

Three new abietane‐type diterpenoids, 7β‐acetoxy‐12‐methoxyabieta‐8,11,13‐triene‐6α,11‐diol ( 1 ), 7α‐acetoxy‐12‐methoxyabieta‐8,11,13‐triene‐6α,11‐diol ( 2 ), and 6α‐acetoxy‐12‐methoxyabieta‐8,11,13‐triene‐7α,11‐diol ( 3 ), as well as two known abietane‐type diterpenoids, 12‐methoxyabieta‐8,11,13‐triene‐6α,7β,11‐triol ( 4 ) and 6α‐acetoxy‐12‐methoxyabieta‐8,11,13‐triene‐7β,11‐diol ( 5 ), were isolated from the MeOH extract of the bark of Cryptomeria japonica. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectroscopic data and comparison of NMR data with those of related metabolites.     

The Chemical Constituents from the Callus Culture of Trewia nudiflora

Five ent‐atisane diterpenoids, including three new ones, i.e., (16α)‐17‐hydroxy‐ent‐atisan‐19‐oic acid methyl ester ( 1 ), (16α)‐17‐dihydroxy‐ent‐atisan‐19‐oic acid methyl ester ( 2 ), (16α)‐ent‐atisan‐16,17,19‐triol ( 3 ), and two known compounds, i.e., 17‐hydroxy‐ent‐atisan‐19‐oic acid ( 4 ), (16α)‐16,17‐dihydroxy‐ent‐atisan‐19‐al ( 5 ), together with one known diterpene glycoside, i.e., sumogaside, two known triterpenes, i.e., germanicone and (3β)‐β‐amyrin, three known phenolic compounds, i.e., (+)‐gallocatechin, (+)‐catechin, and gallic acid, and two known sterols, i.e., β‐sitosterol and daucosterol, were isolated from the callus cultures of Trewia nudiflora. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments. No maytansinoids were isolated or detected by LC‐ESI‐MS in the extracts of the calli, which suggests that the callus cultures can not produce maytansinoids under these conditions.     

Cytotoxic Diterpenoids from the Stem Bark of Annona squamosa L.

Three new ent‐kaurane diterpenoids, (4α)‐19‐nor‐ent‐kaurane‐4,16,17‐triol ( 1 ), (4α,16α)‐17‐(acetyloxy)‐19‐nor‐ent‐kaurane‐4,16‐diol ( 2 ), and 17‐hydroxy‐ent‐kaur‐15‐en‐19‐al ( 3 ), together with 11 known compounds, were isolated from the stem bark of Annona squamosa L. The structures of 1 – 3 were identified by analysis of their spectroscopic data. All compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against human lung cancer (95‐D) and ovarian cancer (A2780) cell lines, and compounds 3, 5, 7, 11 – 14 exhibited promising antiproliferative activities with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.38 to 34.66 μM .     

Two New Diterpenoids and Other Constituents from Isodon japonicus

Two new ent‐kaurene diterpenoids, 15α,20‐dihydroxy‐6,7‐seco‐entkaur‐16‐ene‐7,1α(6,11α)‐diolide ( 1 ), 6β‐butyroxy‐3β‐hydroxy‐6,7‐seco‐6,20‐epoxy‐7,1α‐olide‐entkaur‐16‐en‐15‐one ( 2 ), together with 25 known compounds, 3 – 27 , were isolated from the leaves of Isodon japonicus. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods, including 2D‐NMR techniques.     

Novel ent‐Abietane Diterpenoids from Isodon eriocalyx var. laxiflora

Two novel ent‐abietane diterpenoids, 3α,20‐epoxy‐6β‐hydroxy‐1,7‐dioxo‐ent‐abiet‐15(17)‐en‐16‐oic acid ( 1 ) and ent‐abieta‐7,15(17)‐diene‐3β,16,18‐triol ( 2 ) were isolated from Isodon eriocalyx var. laxiflora. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis and confirmed by X‐ray crystallography. Compound 1 is an unprecedented example that establishes that a naturally occurring ent‐abietane diterpenoid can have an oxygenation pattern almost identical to those of 3α,20‐epoxy‐ent‐kaurane diterpenoids.     

Three New Triterpenoids from Dracocephalum forrestii

From the whole plant of Dracocephalum forrestii (Labiatae), three new and nine known triterpenoids were isolated. The new compounds were identified as (3β,18β)‐20,28‐epoxy‐3‐hydroxyurs‐21‐en‐28‐one ( 1 ), (3β,18β)‐urs‐21‐ene‐3,20,28‐triol ( 2 ), and (3β,18α,19α)‐ursane‐3,20,28‐triol ( 3 ) by means of in‐depth spectroscopic analysis.     

Microbial Transformation of Sesquiterpenes, (−)‐Ambrox® and (+)‐Sclareolide

The microbial transformation of (?)‐Ambrox^® ( 1 ), a perfumery sesquiterpene, by a number of fungi, by means of standard two‐stage‐fermentation technique, afforded ambrox‐1α‐ol ( 2 ), ambrox‐1α,11α‐diol ( 3 ), ambrox‐1α,6α‐diol ( 4 ), ambrox‐1α,6α,11α‐triol ( 5 ), ambrox‐3‐one ( 6 ), ambrox‐3β‐ol ( 7 ), ambrox‐3β,6β‐diol ( 8 ), 13,14,15,16‐tetranorlabdane‐3,8,12‐triol ( 9 ), and sclareolide ( 10 ) (Schemes 1 and 2). Further incubation of compound 10 with Cunninghamella elegans afforded 3‐oxosclareolide ( 11 ), 3β‐hydroxysclareolide ( 12 ), 2α‐hydroxysclareolide ( 13 ), 2α,3β‐dihydroxysclareolide ( 14 ), 1α,3β‐dihydroxysclareolide ( 15 ), and 3β‐hydroxy‐8‐episclareolide ( 16 ) (Scheme 3). Metabolites 2 – 5, 12, 13 , and 16 were found to be new compounds. The major transformations include a reaction path involving hydroxylation, ether‐bond cleavage and inversion of configuration. Metabolites 11 – 16 of sclareolide showed significant phytotoxicity (Table 1). The structures of the metabolites were characterized on the basis of spectroscopic techniques.     

Three New Atisane Diterpenoids from Spiraea japonica

Three new atisane diterpenoids, spiratisanins A – C ( 1  –  3 , resp.), featuring a phenylacryloxyl substituted ent‐atisane skeleton, were isolated from Spiraea japonica together with two known atisine diterpene alkaloids, spiramine A ( 4 ) and spiradine F ( 5 ). The structures of these new compounds were elucidated as (5β,7α,8α,9β,10α,12α,16β)‐16‐hydroxyatisan‐7‐yl (2E)‐3‐phenylprop‐2‐enoate ( 1 ), (5β,7α,8α,9β,10α,12α,16α)‐16‐hydroxyatisan‐7‐yl (2E)‐3‐phenylprop‐2‐enoate ( 2 ), and (5β,8α,9β,10α,12α,16β)‐16‐hydroxyatisan‐20‐yl (2E)‐3‐phenylprop‐2‐enoate ( 3 ) on the basis of spectroscopic analysis.     

Four New Pregnane Steroids from Aglaia abbreviata and Their Cytotoxic Activities

Four new pregnane steroids, aglaiasterols A–D ( 1 – 4 ), have been isolated from the EtOH extract of stems of Aglaia abbreviata. They were identified as (3α,5α,17Z)‐3‐hydroxypregn‐17‐en‐16‐one ( 1 ), (3β,5α,17E)‐3‐hydroxypregn‐17‐en‐16‐one ( 2 ), (3β,5α,17Z)‐3‐hydroxypregn‐17‐en‐16‐one ( 3 ), and (3α,5α,20S*)‐3‐hydroxy‐16‐oxopregnan‐20‐yl acetate ( 4 ) on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR techniques. Compounds 1 – 4 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities against K562 (human leukemia), MCF‐7 (human breast cancer), and KB (human oral epithelium cancer) cells, and drug‐resistant cells of K562/A02, MCF‐7/ADM, and KB/VCR. These isolates showed weak to moderate inhibitory effects on the growth of the tested cell lines.     

Ergostane Steroids from Dysoxylum lukii

Phytochemical investigation of the 70% EtOH extract from the stem bark of Dysoxylum lukii led to the isolation of three new ergostane steroids, (3β)‐3,20‐dihydroxyergosta‐5,24(28)‐dien‐7‐one ( 1 ), (3β,4β,7α)‐ergosta‐5,24(28)‐diene‐3,4,7‐triol ( 2 ), and (3β,7α)‐3,20‐dihydroxyergosta‐5,24(28)‐dien‐7‐yl acetate ( 3 ), together with the known compound (3β,4β)‐ergosta‐5,24(28)‐diene‐3,4,20‐triol ( 4 ). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR (COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY) analyses.     

Two New C(20)‐Oxygenated ent‐Kaurene Diterpenoids from Isodon henryi

Two new C(20)‐oxygenated ent‐kaurene diterpenoids, taibaihenryiins A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ), along with five known compounds, shikokianin ( 3 ), longikaurin D, 2α‐hydroxyursolic acid, longikaurin F, and lasiodin, were isolated from the EtOH extract of the leaves and tender branches of Isodon henryi (Hemsl .) Kudo . The structures of the new compounds were determined as 11α‐acetoxy‐7,20‐epoxy‐1α,6β,7β‐trihydroxy‐ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐15‐one ( 1 ) and 7,20‐epoxy‐3β,6β,7β,11α‐tetrahydroxy‐ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐15‐one ( 2 ) on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses.     

Nine New Sesquiterpenes from Dendrobium nobile

Nine new sesquiterpenes, i.e., dendronobilins A–I ( 1 – 9 ), with copacamphane‐type ( 1 ), picrotoxane‐type ( 2 – 6 ), muurolene‐type ( 7 ), alloaromadendrane‐type ( 8 ), and cyclocopacamphane‐type ( 9 ) skeletons, were isolated from the 60% EtOH extract of the stems of Dendrobium nobile. Their structures were established as (1R,2R,4S,5S,6S,8S,9R)‐2,8‐dihydroxycopacamphan‐15‐one ( 1 ), (2β,3β,4β,5β)‐2,4,11‐trihydroxypicrotoxano‐3(15)‐lactone ( 2 ), (2β,3β,5β,9α,11β)‐2,11‐epoxy‐9,11,13‐trihydroxypicrotoxano‐3(15)‐lactone ( 3 ), (2β,3β,5β,12R*)‐2,11,13‐trihydroxypicrotoxano‐3(15)‐lactone ( 4 ), (2β,3β,5β,12S*)‐2,11,13‐trihydroxypicrotoxano‐3(15)‐lactone ( 5 ), (2β,3β,5β,9α)‐9,10‐cyclo‐2,11,13‐trihydroxypicrotoxano‐3(15)‐lactone ( 6 ), (9β,10α)‐muurol‐4‐ene‐9,10,11‐triol ( 7 ), (10α)‐alloaromadendrane‐10,12,14‐triol ( 8 ), and (5β)‐cyclocopacamphane‐5,12,15‐triol ( 9 ) on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was tentatively assigned as (1R,2R,4S,5S,6S,8S,9R) according to its CD spectrum and the octant rule. Compounds 1 and 4 – 9 were inactive in our preliminary in vitro immunomodulatory bioassay.     

Three New Highly Oxygenated Diterpenoids from Excoecaria cochinchinensis Lour.

Chemical examination of the AcOEt extract of the leaves and twigs of Excoecaria cochinchinensis Lour . collected from Xishuangbanna resulted in the isolation of the three new highly oxygenated diterpenoids 1 – 3 . The structures of the new diterpenoids were elucidated by a study of their physical and spectra data as (2β,3β,5α,6α)‐2,3‐bis(acetyloxy)‐8,13‐epoxy‐6,9‐dihydroxylabd‐14‐en‐11‐one (=excolabdone A; 1 ), (1α,5α,6β,7β)‐1,6‐bis(acetyloxy)‐8,13‐epoxy‐7,9‐dihydroxylabd‐14‐en‐11‐one (=excolabdone B; 2 ), and (1α,5α,6β,7β)‐6‐(acetyloxy)‐8,13‐epoxy‐1,7,9‐trihydroxylabd‐14‐en‐11‐one (=excolabdone C; 3 ).     

A New ent‐Kaurane Diterpene from Stems of Alibertia macrophylla K. Schum. (Rubiaceae)

Phytochemical investigations of the stems of a specimen of Alibertia macrophylla led to the isolation and characterization of the new diterpene ent‐kaurane‐2β,3α,16α‐triol ( 1 ), along with triterpenes 2 – 8 , iridoids 9 – 12 , and phenolic acids 13 – 15 . The structure of 1 was established based on spectroscopic studies (¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, IR, and HR‐ESI‐MS). This is the first report of the isolation of a diterpene from the Alibertia genus in Rubiaceae.     

Triterpenoid Saponins from the Spikes of Prunella vulgaris

Three new oleanane‐skeleton triterpenoid saponins, 3β,4β,16α‐17‐carboxy‐16,24‐dihydroxy‐28‐norolean‐12‐en‐3‐yl 4‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosiduronic acid ( 1 ), (3β,4β,16α)‐17‐carboxy‐16,24‐dihydroxy‐28‐norolean‐12‐en‐3‐yl β‐D ‐glucopyranosiduronic acid methyl ester ( 2 ), and (3β,4β)‐24‐hydroxy‐16‐oxo‐28‐norolean‐12‐en‐3‐yl 4‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosiduronic acid ( 3 ), together with eight known constituents, i.e., the oleanane‐type triterpenoids 4 – 6 , and the ursane‐type triterpenoids 7 – 11 , were isolated from the spikes of Prunella vulgaris. The new structures were established by means of detailed spectroscopic analysis (IR, HR‐ESI‐MS, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments). Compounds 1 – 3 were tested for their inhibition activity against the growth of tumor cell lines; only compound 3 displayed marginal inhibition activity.     

Diterpenes from Xylopia langsdorffiana

The phytochemical investigation of Xylopia langsdorffiana A.St.‐Hil. & Tul . led to the isolation of eight diterpenes, i.e., of the four new compounds (5β,7β,8α,9β,10α,12α)‐atisane‐7,16‐diol 7‐acetate ( 1 ), named xylodiol 7‐acetate, (5β,8α,9β,10α,12α)‐16‐hydroxyatisan‐7‐one ( 2 ), named xylopinone, (3α,12Z)‐3‐hydroxy‐ent‐labda‐8(20),12,14‐trien‐18‐oic acid ( 3 ), named labdorffianic acid A, and 8,20‐epoxy‐13‐hydroxy‐ent‐labd‐14‐en‐18‐oic acid ( 4 ), named labdorffianic acid B, and of the four known compounds 5 – 8 , i.e., ent‐kauran‐16‐ol, ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐19‐oic acid, ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐19‐ol, and ent‐trachyloban‐18‐oic acid. The structures were established by IR, HR‐ESI‐MS, and NMR data analysis with the aid of 2D techniques.