Novel cembranolides (Coralloidolide D and E) and a 3,7-Cyclized cembranolide (Coralloidolide C) from the mediterranean coral Alcyonium coralloides

The Mediterranean alcyonacean Alcyonium (= Parerytkropodium) coralhides (PALLAS, 1766) is shown to contain three novel diterpenes which are of biogenetic significance: the 3,7-cyclized cembranoid Coralloidolide C ( = (+)-(6R*, 7R*, 11S*, 12aS* 3aE)-7,8-epoxy-3,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,12a-decahydro-12a-hydroxy-11-isopropenyl-1,4-dimethyl-3-oxocyciopentacydoundecene-8,6-carbolactone; (?)- 3 ), the O-bridged diketonic cembranolide Coralloidolide D (= (+)-(1R*, 2S*, 3R*, 5R*, 12S*, 8Z)-2,5-epoxy-1-hydroxy-12-isopropenyl-5,9-dimethyl-7,10-dioxocyclotetradeca-8-ene-1,3-carbolactone; (+)- 4 ), and the diketonic epoxycembranolide coralloidolide E (=(+)-(1R*, 2R*, 3R*, 12S*, 5Z, 8Z)-1,2-epoxy-12-isopropenyl-5,9-dimethyl-7,10-dioxocyclotetra-deca-5,8-diene-1,3-carbolactone; (+)- 5 ), The latter in pyridine at r. t. undergoes a double bond shift from C(4) = C(5) to C(4) = C(18) to give the isomer (?)- 7 . Structural assignments are mainly based on ID and 2D NMR and MS spectral data. Either corailoidolide A ((?)- 1 ) or the hypothetic unsaturated 1,4-diketone 9 can be envisaged as the precursors of all coralloidolides.     

Studies on ketene and its derivatives. CXI . Photoreaction of diketene with 2(1H)-quinolone derivatives

Photoreaction of diketene with 4-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone and 1,4-dimethyl-2(1H)-quinolone gave 2R*,2aR*,SbR*- and 2R*,2aS*8bS*-8b-methyl-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]quinoline-2-spiro-2′-(oxetan)-4′-one ( 6a and 6b ), and their 4-methyl derivatives 7a and 7b , respectively. Thermolysis of compounds 6 and 7 afforded 2aR*,8bS*-8b-methyl-2-methylene-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]quinoline ( 8 ) and its 4-methyl derivatives 9 , respectively. Similarly, photolysis of diketene and 4-acetoxy-2(1H)-quinolone gave 1R*,2aS*,8bS*- and 1R*,2aR*,8bR*-8b-acetoxy-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]-quinoline ( 11a and 11b ). Alcoholysis of compounds 11a and 11b with hydrogen chloride in methanol gave 1-hydroxy-1-(methoxycarbonyl)methylcyclobuta[c]quinoline derivative 12 and 13 which were transformed to 4-acetyl-3-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone ( 15 ) by further alcoholysis. Photoreaction of diketene with 2(1H)-quinolone derivatives gave the corresponding cyclobuta[c]quinoline spirooxetanone derivatives 18 and 23 , which, by thermolysis, were transformed to 2-methylenecyclobuta[c]quinoline 23 and 25 , respectively.     

A novel glyceryl ester (glyceryl dendryphiellate A), a trinor-eremophilane (dendryphiellin A1), and eremophilanes (dendryphiellin E1 and E2) from the marine deuteromycete Dendryphiella salina (SUTHERLAND) PUGH et NICOT

Continuing studies of the global extracts from cultures of the marine deuteromycete Dendryphiella salina have led to the isolation of novel compounds that add to the scarce list of marine fungal metabolites. Besides (22E)-ergosta-4.6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one which, though known from basidiomycetes, was unknown in the sea, they are an unusual glyceryl ester, i.e. glycer-1-yl dendryphiellale A (= (+)-(2R)-2,3-dihydroxyprop-l-yl (6S,2E,4E)6-methylocta-2,4-dienoate; (+)- 1 ), a trinor-eremophilane, i.e. dendryphiellin A1 ( = (+)-(3R*,4E,6E)-7-{[(1R*,2S*,7R*,8aR*)-1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-7-hydroxy-1,8a-dimethyl-6-oxonaphthalen-2yl]oxycarbonyl}-3-methylhepta-4,6-dienoic acid; (+)- 11 ), and two eremophilanes, i.e. dendryphiellin El ( = (+)-(1R*, 2S*, 7S*,8aR*)-1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-1,8a-dimethyl-7-(1-methylethenyl)-6-oxonaphthalen-2-yl(6S,2E,4E)-6-methyl-octa-2,4-dienoate; (+)- 13 ) and dendryphiellin E2 ( = (+)-(1R*, 2S*, 8aR*)-1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-7-isopropyl-idene-1,8a-dimethyl-6-oxonaphthalen-2-yl (6S,2E,4E)-6-Methylocta-2,4-dienoate; (+)- 14 ). Absolute configurations have been established for (+)- 1 via total synthesis and for the acid portion of (+)- 13 and (+)- 14 via transesterification in NaOMe/MeOH which gave in both cases melhyl dendryphiellate A ((+)- 16 ) of known configuration and the free alcoholic moiety of (+)- 14 , i.e. (+)- 17 .     

Coralloidin C,D, and E: Novel Eudesmane Sesquiterpenoids from the Mediterranean Alcyonacean Alcyonium coralloides

The Mediterranean alcyonacean Alcyonium (=Parerythropodium) coralloides (Pallas, 1766) is shown to contain the novel eudesmane sesquiterpenoids coralloidin C (=(–)?(4R,10S)-eudesma-5,7(11)-dien-15-yl acetate; (–)? 4 ), coralloidin D (=(–)?(10R*)-eudesma-4,7(11)-diene-12,13-diyl diacetate; (–)? 7 ), and coralloidin E (=(+)?(4R*,10R*)-eudesma-5,7-dien-11-ol;(+)? 8 ). The absolute configuration of (–)? 4 is derived by the exciton-coupling method, applied to deacetylcoralloidin C_p-anisate ((–)? 6 ). Coralloidin E((+)? 8 ), being also obtained on treatment of deacetylcoralloidin A (=(+)?(4R*, 8R*, 10R*)-eudesma-5,7(11)-dien-8-ol; (+)? 2 ) with (COCl)₂ in DMSO, is configurationally correlated to coralloidin A (=(+)?(4R*, 8R*, 10R*)-eudesma-5,7(11)-dien-8-yl acetate; (+)? 1 ). Under acidic conditions, (+)? 2 undergoes a complex rearrangement giving (+)-(3R*, 4S*, 5R*, 6R*, 7S*)-arist-10-(1)-en -3-ol ((+)? 9 ), which is also obtained, together with (+)? 8 , on attempts to mesylate (+)? 2 .     

Coralloidolide A and Coralloidolide B,the First Cembranoids from a Mediterranean Organism,the Alcyonacean Alcyonium coralloides

The alcyonacean Alcyonium ( = Parerythropodium) coralloides (PALLAS 1766) is the first Mediterranean organism shown to contain cembranoids. These are of unusual type like coralloidolide A ( = (?)-(1R*, 2R*, 3R*, 12S*, 5Z, 7Z, 9Z)-1, 2:7, 10-diepoxy-12-isopropenyl-5, 9-dimethylcyclotetradeca-5, 7, 9-triene-1, 3-carbolactone; (?)-6) and coralloidolide B ( =(?)-(1R*,2S*,3R*,7S*,10S*,12S*,5Z,8Z,)-2, 7:7, 10-diepoxy-1, 10-dihydroxy-12-isopropenyl-5, 9-dimethylcyclotetradeca-5,8-diene-1,3-carbolactone; (?)-8). Structural assignments are mainly based on 1D- and 2D-NMR data and on chemical transformations.     

Novel Trinor-eremophilanes (Dendryphiellin B,C, and D), Eremophilanes (Dendryphiellin E,F, and G), and Branched C9-Carboxylic Acids (Dendryphiellic Acid A and B) from the Marine Deuteromycete Dendryphiella salina (SUTHERLAND) PUGHet NICOT

Further investigation of global extracts from cultures of the marine deuteromycete Dendryphiella salina leads to the isolation of three novel trinor-eremophilanes esterified by branched C₉-carboxylic acids, dendryphiellin B (= (+)-(1R*,2S*,7R*,8aR*)-1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-7-hydroxy-1,8a-dimethyl-6-oxonaphthalen-2-yl (6R*, 2E, 4E)-6-hydroxy-6-methylocta-2,4-dienoate; (+)- 2 ), dendryphiellin C (=(+)-(1R*, 2S*, 7R*, 8aR*)-1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexa-hydro-7-hydroxy-1,8a-dimethyl-6-oxonaphthalen-2-yl (6S, 2E, 4E)-6-methylocta-2,4-dienoate; (+)- 3 )), and dendryphiellin D (=(+)-(1R*, 2S*, 7R*, 8aR*)-1,2,6,7(8,8a-hexahydro-7-hydroxy-1,8a-dimethyl-6-oxonaphthalen-2-yl (6R*,2E,4E)-6-(hydroxymethyl)octa-2,4-dienoate; (+)- 4 ). An intact eremophilane, dendryphiellin E ( 5 ), and its ethanolysis product dendryphiellin F whose absolute configuration is represented by structural formula (+)- 6 are also isolated from the above extracts. Dendryphiellin E exists as an open form 5a in equilibrium with a closed form 5b . A similar equilibrium exists between the open form 8a and the closed form 8b of a non-esterified eremophilane, dendryphiellin G ( 8 ), which is isolated too from the above extracts and proves structurally related to the cyclic portion of 5 . Finally, the free, branched C₉-carboxylic acids dendryphiellic acid A ((+)- 9 ) and B ((+)- 10 ) which correspond to side chains of the above esterified terpenes are also isolated from the above extracts.     

Highly Oxygenated Triterpenoids and Diterpenoids from Fructus Rubi (Rubus chingii Hu) and Their NF-kappa B Inhibitory Effects

During a phytochemical investigation of the unripe fruits of Rubus chingii Hu (i.e., Fructus Rubi, a traditional Chinese medicine named “Fu-Pen-Zi”), a number of highly oxygenated terpenoids were isolated and characterized. These included nine ursane-type (1, 2, and 4–10), five oleanane-type (3, 11–14), and six cucurbitane-type (15–20) triterpenoids, together with five ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids (21–25). Among them, (4R,5R,8R,9R,10R,14S,17S,18S,19R,20R)-2,19α,23-trihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-1,12-dien-28-oic acid (rubusacid A, 1), (2R*,4S*,5R*,8R*,9R*,10R*,14S*,17S*, 18S*,19R*,20R*)-2α,19α,24-trihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (rubusacid B, 2), (5R,8R,9R,10R, 14S,17R,18S,19S)-2,19α-dihydroxy-olean-1,12-dien-28-oic acid (rubusacid C, 3), and (3S,5S,8S,9R, 10S,13R,16R)-3α,16α,17-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-2-one (rubusone, 21) were previously undescribed. Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses. Compounds 1 and 3 are rare naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoids featuring a special α,β-unsaturated keto-enol (diosphenol) unit in ring A. Cucurbitacin B (15), cucurbitacin D (16), and 3α,16α,20(R),25-tetrahydroxy-cucurbita-5,23- dien-2,11,22-trione (17) were found to have remarkable inhibitory effects against NF-κB, with IC₅₀ values of 0.08, 0.61, and 1.60 μM, respectively.     

Leucascandrolide B,a New 16-Membered,Extensively Methyl-Branched Polyoxygenated Macrolide from the Calcareous Sponge Leucascandra caveolata from Northeastern Waters of New Caledonia

We report a novel, extensively methyl-branched and polyoxygenated 16-membered macrolide, leucascandrolide B (=(1R*,5S*,7R*,9S*,13R*,14R*,15R*,11Z)-5-[(E)-1,4-dimethylhept-5-enyl]-1,7,9-trihydroxy-11,14-dimethyl-3-oxo-4,17-dioxabicyclo[11.3.1]heptadec-11-en-15-yl] carbamate; 2 ), isolated from the calcareous sponge Leucascandra caveolata Borojevic and Klautau from the northeastern coast of New Caledonia. The NMR structural assignments were corroborated by semisynthetic derivatives of 2 , the functional groups and atom connectivity by derivatives 4 – 6 (obtained by acetylation, oxidation, and elimination-solvation, resp.), and the relative configurations by derivative 7 (obtained by carbonation). The preferred conformation of 2 , centered on a chair-like tetrahydro-2H-pyran ring formed by intramolecular acetalization, was derived from molecular mechanics and semiempirical calculations which were in agreement with all NMR data. A dilactone `dimeric' structure 3 , indistinguishable from 2 on the basis of all above data, was ruled out by tandem MS-MS experiments.     

(all-E)-12′-Apozeaxanthinol,Persicaxanthine und Persicachrome

( all-E)-12′-Apozeanthinol, Persicaxanthine, and Persicachromes Reexamination of the so-called ‘persicaxanthins’ and ‘persicachromes’, the fluorescent and polar C₂₅-apocarotenols from the flesh of cling peaches, led to the identification of the following components: (3R)-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 3 ), (3S,5R,8R, all-E)- and (3S,5R,8S,all-E)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diols (4 and 5, resp.), (3S,5R,6S,all-E)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-l2′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol =persicaxanthin; ( 6 ), (3S,5R,6S,9Z,13′Z)-5,6-dihydro-12′apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 7 ; probable structure), (3S,5R,6S,15Z)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 8 ), and (3S,5R,6S,13Z)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 9 ). The (Z)-isomers 7 – 9 are very labile and, after HPLC separation, isomerized predominantly to the (all-E)-isomer 6 .     

Sesquiterpenoids of the Sponge Dysidea fragilis of the North-Brittany Sea

The title sponge is shown to contain eight new sesquiterpenoids for which a common, unusual biogenetic origin is postulated. The compounds are shown to be: (–)-(1R*,4R*)-3-(3′-furyl)methyl-2-p-menthen-7-yl acetate ((–)- 8b ); two diols separated as the monoacetates (–)-(1S*,4R*)-3-(3′-furyl)methyl-l-hydroxy-2-p-menthen-7-yl acetate ((–)- 13a ) and the (–)-(1R*,4R*)-epimer (–)- 13b , the two C(4)-epimeric 4-ethoxy-3-(1′(7′),2′-p-menthadien-3′-yl)methyl-2-buten-4-olides ((+)- 14a and (–)- 14b ), (–)-3-(3′-furyl)methyl-7-nor-2-p-menthen-l-one ((–)- 11 ), (–)-(3Z)-1-(3′-furyl)-4,8-dimethylnona-3, 7-dien-2-yl acetate ((–)- 17 ), and (+)-3-(5′,7′-seco-2′(10′)-pinen-7′-yl)methylfuran ((+)- 15 ).     

Diels–Alder adducts of medium-ring carbocyclic dienes prepared by rearrangement of catalytically generated cyclic oxonium ylides

The novel bicyclic and tricyclic systems di­methyl (4aS*,6S*)-6-methoxy-7-oxo-4a,5,6,7,8,9-hexa­hydro-2H-benzo­cyclo­hept­ene-3,4-di­carboxyl­ate, C₁₆H₂₀O₆, (I), di­methyl (4aS*,6R*)-6-methoxy-7-oxo-4a,5,6,7,8,9-hexa­hydro-2H-benzo­cyclo­hept­ene-3,4-di­carboxyl­ate, C₁₆H₂₀O₆, (II), (3aS*,9R*,10aS*,10bR*)-9-methoxy-2-oxa-1,3a,4,6,7,8,9,10,10a,10b-deca­hydro-3H-cyclo­hepta­[e]­indene-1,3,8-trione, C₁₄H₁₆O₅, (III), and (1S*,2R*,9S*,10aR*)-9-methoxy-8-oxo-1,2,3,5,6,7,8,9,10,10a-deca­hydrobenzo­cyclo­octene-1,2-di­carboxyl­ic acid, C₁₅H₂₀O₆, (IV), have been crystallographically characterized, allowing the determination of the relative configuration of the stereogenic centres. The poor quality of the di­carboxyl­ic acid crystals necessitated the use of synchrotron radiation.     

Aromastoffe der roten Passionsfrucht. Zwei neue Edulanderivate

Aroma Constituents of the Purple Passion Fruit. Two New Edulan Derivatives The isolation of (2R*, 4S*, 4aS*, 8aS*)-4,4a-epoxy-4,4a-dihydroedulan ( 1 ), and (2R*, 3S*, 8aS*)-3-hydroxyedulan ( 2 ), two new constituents of the purple passion-fruit (Passiflora edulis SIMS ), is reported. Racemic epoxide 1 was synthesized by oxidation of edulan 6 with peracidic acid, and racemate of alcohol 2 was obtained by reduction of ketone 7 , one of the chromic acid oxidation-products of edulan 6 .     

Furopyridines. XVIII. Photocycloaddition of furo[2,3-c]pyridin-7(6H)-one with acrylonitrile

The photocycloaddition of furo[2,3-c]pyridin-7(6H)-one ( 1 ) and its N-mefhyl derivative ( 1-Me ) to acrylonitrile has been studied. The structures of the photoadducts isolated by colum chromatography were determined by the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray analysis. The cyclo-addition of 1 afforded an adduct 2 at the carbonyl oxygen and 8-cyano-8,9-dihydrofuro[d]azocin-7(6H)-one ( 3 ), and the addition of 1-Me the N-methyl derivative 3-Me of 3 , (9S*)-9-cyano-6-methyl-3a,7a-dihydro-3a,7a-ethanofuro[2,3-c]pyridin-7(6H)-one ( 4 ), (2S*, 2aR*, 7bR*)- ( 5 ) and (1R*, 2aS*, 7bS*)-2-cyano-3-methyl-4-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,7b-hexahydrocyclobuta[e]furo[2,3-c]pyridine ( 6 ).     

New Monoterpene-Substituted Dihydrochalcones from Piper aduncum

Five New unusual monoterpene-substituted dihydrochalcones, the adunctins A–E (1″S)-1-{2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-6′-[4″-methyl-1″-(1?-methylethyl)cyclohex-3″ -en-1″ -yloxy]phenyl}-3-phenylpropan-1-one ( 1 ), (5aR*,8R*,9aR*)-3-phenyl-1-[5′,8′,9′,9′a-tetrahydro-3′-hydroxy-1′-methoxy-8′-(1″-methylethyl)-5′-a-methyldibenzo-[b,d]furan-4′-yl]propan-1-one ( 2 ), (2′R*,4″S*)-1-{6′-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-4″-(1?-methylethyl)spiro[benzo[b]-furan-2′(3′H),1″ -cyclohex-2″ -en]-7′-yl}-3-phenylpropan-1-one ( 3 ), (2′R*,4″R*)-1-{6′-hydroxy-4′-methylethyl-4″-(1?-methylethyl)spiro[benzo[b]furan-2′(3′H),1″-cyclohex-2″-en]-7′-yl}-3-phenypropan-1-one ( 4 ), and (5′aR*,6′S*, 9′R*,9′aS*)-1-[5′a,6′,7′,8′,9′a-hexahydro-3′,6′-methoxy-6′-methyl-9′-(1″-methylethyl)dibenzo[b,d]-furan-4′-yl]-3-phenylpropan-1-one ( 5 ) were isolated from the leaves of Piper aduncum (Piperaceae) by preparative liquid chromatography. In addition, (?)-methyllindaretin ( 6 ), trans-phytol, and α-tocopherol ( = vitamin E) were also isolated and identified. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The antibacterial and cytotoxic potentials of the isolates were also investigated.     

Four new chamigrane sesquiterpenoids from the opistobranch mollusk <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aplysia dactylomela</Emphasis>

Four new chamigrane sesquiterpenoids, (6S,10S)-10-bromo-3,11,11-trimethyl-7-methylidenespiro[5.5]undec-2-ene-4-one, (4S,6S,10S)-10-bromo-3,11,11-trimethyl-7-methylidenespiro[5.5]undec-2-ene-4-ol, (3R,4S,6S,10R)-10-bromo-3,11,11-trimethyl-7-methylidenespiro[5.5]undecane-3,4-diol, and (6S,7S,11R)-2-chloro-3,7,11-trimethyl-10-methylidenespiro[5.5]undec-2-ene-7-ol, were isolated from the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela. The chemical structures of new compounds were established by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The cytotoxic activity of some of the obtained compounds against promyelocytic HL-60 and monocytic THP-1 leukemia cells was demonstrated.     

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.     

Coralloidolide F,the First Example of a 2,6-Cyclized Cembranolide: Isolation from the Mediterranean Alcyonacean Coral Alcyonium coralloides

The Mediterranean alcyonacean Alcyonium ( = Parerythropodium) coralloides (Pallas, 1766) is shown here to contain coralloidolide F ( = (+)-(3a-R*, 7R*, 8R*, 9R*, 12R*, 12aS*)-8,9-epoxy-1,3a,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,12a-decahydro-3a-hydroxy-12-isopropenyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-oxocyclopfintacycloundecene-9,7-carbolactone; (+)- 2 ), the first example of a 2,6-cyclized cembranolide. Structural assignments are mainly based on ID and 2D NMR and MS data.     

Packing in three cyclooctitol acetates

Three cyclooctitol derivatives, in the form of a tetraacetate, (1S*,2R*,3S*,4S*)‐2,3,4‐triacetoxycyclooctan‐1‐ylmethyl acetate, C₁₇H₂₆O₈, and two regioisomeric acetonide triacetates, (3aS*,4R*,8S*,9S*,9aS*)‐8,9‐diacetoxy‐2,2‐dimethylcyclooctano[d][1,3]dioxan‐4‐ymethyl acetate and (3aS,4R,7S,9R,9aS)‐7,9‐diacetoxy‐2,2‐dimethylcyclooctano[d][1,3]dioxan‐4‐ylmethyl acetate, both C₁₈H₂₈O₈, have been studied. The conformation of the cyclooctane ring in the three compounds is quite close to the boat–chair form of the parent hydrocarbon. Packing is effected through weak C—H...O and van der Waals contacts.     

Slowly Interconverting Conformers of The Briarane Diterpenoids Verecynarmin B,C, and D,Isolated from the nudibranch mollusc Armina maculata and the pennatulacean octocoral Veretillum cynomorium of East Pyrenean waters

The novel briarane diterpenoids verecynarmin B(=(?)-(1R*, 10S*, 11R*, 4E, 12Z)-briara-4,7,12,17,-tetraen-14-one; (?)- 4 ); verecynarmin C (=(?)-(1R*, 10R*, 11S*, 4E, 12Z)?11-hydroxybriara-4,7,12,17-tetraen-14-one; (?)- 5 ); and verecynarmin D (=(?)-(1R*, 10R*, 11R*, 4E, 12E)-13-chloro-11-hydroxybriara-4,7,12,17,-tetraen-14-one; (?)- 6 ) are reported here as constituents of both the Mediterranean nudibranch mollusc Armina maculata (Rafinesque) and its prey, the pennatulacean octocoral Veretillum cynomorium (PALLAS ). The structural assignments rest mainly on (i) establishing that these briaranes occur in solution as two stable conformers which interconvert slowly (ca. 10 time per second at r.t. according to dynamic NMR) by 180° flipping of the C(4)?C(5) group in the ten-membered ring (Scheme 1), (ii) deriving, for both conformers, ¹H, ¹H coupling constants from 1D spectra, as well as ¹H, ¹H, ¹³C, ¹H, and ¹³C, ¹H, and ¹³C, ¹³C, correlations from 2D experiments; (iii) subjecting the briaranes to SeO₂ oxidation at the C(16) methyl group with isomerization at the C(4)=C(5) bond to give, in each case, only one observable molecular species as shown by NMR spectroscopy (Scheme 2).     

The Diastereoselective Formation of 1,2,4-Trioxanes and 1,3-Dioxolanes by the reaction of endoperoxides with chiral cyclohexanones

1,4-Diphenyl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene ( 2 ), on treatment with a catalytic amount of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (Me₃SiOTf) in CH₂Cl₂ at ?78°, reacts with excess (?)-menthone ( 10 ) to give (1S,2S,4′aS,5R,7′aS)-4′a,7′a-dihydro-2-isopropyl-5-methyl-6′,7′-diphenylspiro[cyclohexane-1,3′-[7′H]cyclopenta-[1,2,4]trioxine] ( 11 ) and its (1R,2S,4′aR,5R,7′aR)-diastereoisomer 12 in a 1:1 ratio and in 21% yield. Repeating the reaction with 1.1 equiv. of Me₃SiOTf with respect to 2 affords 11 , 12 , and (1S,2S,3′a.R,5R,6′aS)-3′a,6′a-dihydro-2-isopropyl-5-methyl-3′a-phenoxy-5′-phenylspiro[cyclohexane-l,2′-[4′H]cyclopenta[1,3]dioxole] ( 13 ) together with its(1R,2S,3′aS,5R,6′aR)-diastereoisomer 14 in a ratio of 3:3:3:1 and in 56% yield. (+)-Nopinone( 15 ) in excess reacts with 2 in the presence of 1.1 equiv. of Me₃SiOTf to give a pair of 1,2,4-trioxanes ( 16 and 17 ) analogous to 11 and 12 , and a pair of 1,3-dioxolanes ( 18 and 19 ) analogous to 13 and 14 , in a ratio of 8:2:3:3 and in 85% yield. (?)-Carvone and racemic 2-(tert-butyl)cyclohexanone under the same conditions behave like 15 and deliver pairs of diastereoisomeric trioxanes and dioxolanes. In general, catalytic amounts of Me₃SiOTf give rise to trioxanes, whereas 1.5 equiv. overwhelmingly engender dioxolanes. Adamantan-2-one combines with 2 giving only (4′aRS,7′aRS)-4′a,7′a-dihydro-6′.7′a-diphenylspiro[adamantane-2,3′-[7′H]cyclopenta[1,2,4]trioxine] in 98% yield regardless of the amount of Me3SiOTf used. The reaction of 1,4-dipheny 1-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene ( 32 ) with 10 and 1.1 equiv. of Me3SiOTf produces only the pair of trioxanes 33 and 34 homologous to 11 and 12 . Treatment of the (S,S)-diastereoisomer 33 with Zn and AcOH furnishes (1S,2S)-1,4-diphenylcyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol. The crystal structures of 11 – 13 and 16 are obtained by X-ray analysis. The reaction courses of 10 and the other chiral cyclohexanones with prochiral endoperoxides 2 and 32 to give trioxanes are rationalized in terms of the respective enantiomeric silylperoxy cations which are completely differentiated by the si and re faces of the ketone function. The origin of the 1,3-dioxolanes is ascribed to 1,2 rearrangement of the corresponding trioxanes, which occurs with retention of configuration of the angular substituent.