Antioxidant oligomeric proanthocyanidins from Cistus salvifolius

The purified proanthocyanidin oligomers of Cistus salvifolius herb extract accounted for 78% of the total proanthocyanidins and 73% of the total antioxidant activity of this extract. To elucidate the structure of the oligomer, it was depolymerized by acid catalysis in the presence of phloroglucinol. The structures of the resulting flavan-3-ols and phloroglucinol adducts were determined on the basis of 1D- and reverse 2D-NMR (HSQC, HMBC) experiments of their peracetylated derivatives, MALDI-TOF-MS and CD spectroscopy. These observations resulting from the degradation with phloroglucinol were confirmed by 13C NMR spectroscopy of the oligomer. The mean molecular weight of the higher oligomeric fraction was estimated to be 5-6 flavan-3-ol-units.     

A palladium iodide-catalyzed carbonylative approach to functionalized pyrrole derivatives

A novel and convenient approach to functionalized pyrroles is presented, based on Pd-catalyzed oxidative heterocyclization-alkoxycarbonylation of readily available N-Boc-1-amino-3-yn-2-ols. Reactions were carried out in alcoholic solvents at 80-100 °C and under 20 atm (at 25 °C) of a 4:1 mixture of CO-air, in the presence of the PdI(2)-KI catalytic system (2-5 mol % of PdI(2), KI/PdI(2) molar ratio = 10). In the case of N-Boc-1-amino-3-yn-2-ols 3, bearing alkyl or aryl substituents, the carbonylation reaction led to a mixture of Boc-protected and N-unsubstituted pyrrole-3-carboxylic esters 4 and 5, respectively. This mixture could be conveniently and quantitatively converted into deprotected pyrrole-3-carboxylic esters 5 by a simple basic treatment. In the case of diastereomeric (3RS,4RS)- and (3RS,4SR)-N-Boc-3-amino-2-methyldec-5-yn-4-ol (syn-3f and anti-3f, respectively, whose relative configuration was determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis), no particular difference was observed in the reactivity of the two diastereomers between them and with respect to the diastereomeric mixture (3S,4S) + (3S,4R). Interestingly, N-Boc-2-alkynyl-1-amino-3-yn-2-ols 6, bearing an additional alkynyl substituent α to the hydroxyl group, spontaneously underwent N-deprotection under the reaction conditions and regioselective water addition to the alkynyl group at C-3 of the corresponding pyrrole-3-carboxylic ester derivative, thus directly affording highly functionalized pyrrole derivatives 7 in one step. In a similar manner, a novel functionalized dihydropyrrolizine derivative 9 was directly synthesized starting from (S)-7-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)trideca-5,8-diyn-7-ol 8.     

Synthesis of enantiopure (alphaS,betaS)- or (alphaR,betaS)-beta-amino alcohols by complete regioselective opening of aminoepoxides by organolithium reagents LiAlH4 or LiAlD4

The reaction of chiral (2R,1'S)- or (2S,1'S)-2-(1-aminoalkyl)epoxides, 1 or 2 with a variety of organolithium compounds to obtain the corresponding (alphaS,betaS)- or (alphaR,betaS)- beta-amino alcohols in enantiopure form is reported. In both cases, the opening of the oxirane ring at C-3 proceeded with total regioselectivity. Moreover, the ring opening of aminoepoxides 1 or 2 by hydride (utilizing LiAlH4) to obtain the corresponding (2S,3S)- or (2R,3S)-3-aminoalkan-2-ols is also described. The reaction of 1 or 2 with LiAlD4 in place of LiAlH4 gave the corresponding (2S,3S)- or (2R,3S)-3-amino-1-deuterioalkan-2-ols.     

Changes of flavan-3-ols with different degrees of polymerization in seeds of 'Shiraz', 'Cabernet Sauvignon' and 'Marselan' grapes after veraison

Flavan-3-ols consist of flavan-3-ol monomers and polymers with different degrees of polymerization (DP). In this study, flavan-3-ol extracts from grape seeds were well separated into three fractions including monomers, oligomers (2 < DP < 10) and polymers (DP > 10), by means of normal-phase HPLC-MS. The different patterns of these three fractions were analyzed in three Vitis vinifera cultivars ('Shiraz', 'Cabernet Sauvignon' and 'Marselan') seeds from veraison to harvest. The results showed: (1) polymers were the main form of flavan-3-ols in grape seeds and monomers accounted for only a small proportion; (2) the contents of flavan-3-ol monomers in the seeds of three grape cultivars all exhibited a gradually decreasing trend with a little fluctuation, whereas the patterns of the change of contents of oligomers and polymers were extremely different among grape cultivars; the contents of flavan-3-ol oligomers were enhanced in the seeds of 'Cabernet Sauvignon', but were reduced in the other two cultivars; (3) with regard to the proportion of flavan-3-ols with a certain DP to total flavan-3-ols, both flavan-3-ol monomers and flavan-3-ols with low DP fell in proportion, while the flavan-3-ols with high DP increased correspondingly. These findings indicate that flavan-3-ol polymerization in developing seeds is variety-dependent and may be genetically regulated.     

Synthesis of optically active forms of a-factor the inducer of streptomycin biosynthesis in inactive mutants of streptomyces griseus

The absolute configuration at C-3 of A-factor, 2-(6-methylheptanoyl)-3-hydroxymethyl - 4 - butanolide 1a, was determined to be S by synthesizing both enantiomers of it from paraconic acid. (3S)-A-factor was 2.5 times more active than the (3R)-isomer as the inducer of streptomycin biosynthesis in inactive mutants of Streptomyces griseus.     

非对映消旋体2-氨基-3-氰基-1-苯基-4-(3,4-亚甲二氧苯基)-2-环戊烯-1-醇的合成和晶体结构

用低价钛试剂(Ticl₄-Zn)与3-氧代-1-(3',4'-亚甲二氧苯基)-3-苯基丙基-1-丙二腈反应合成了非对映消旋体(1S,4R;1R,4S)和(1S,4S;1R,4R)2-氨基-3-氰基-1-苯基-4-(3,4-亚甲二氧苯基)-2-环戊烯-1-醇,用X射线衍射分析确定了这两个异构体的相对构型.     

Ring-opening Sn2'' reactions of 7-oxanorbornenes by organolithium reagents. Regio- and stereospecific synthesis of substituted cyclohexenediols

The nucleophilic Sn2' bridge opening of 7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1] hept-5-en-2-ols with organolithium reagents occurs in a regio- and stereospecific fashion to produce 6-substituted-cyclohex-4-en-1,3-diols, regardless of the stereochemistry at C-2. A free alcohol functionality is necessary to attain complete regiocontrol of the process. The methodology is utilized to prepare an optically pure cyclohexene derivative, (+)-(1S,3S,6R)-6-n-butyl-3-methyl-cyclohex-4-en-1,3-diol (5b), as a model system.     

Optimization of a high-performance liquid chromatography method for the analysis of complex polyphenol mixtures and application for sainfoin extracts (Onobrychis viciifolia)

A pentafluorophenylpropyl (PFP) stationary phase was tested for the simultaneous determination of several classes of phenolic compounds. The chromatographic results were compared with those obtained by using a bifunctional phase constituted of octadecyl and phenylpropyl bonded silica and three conventional C18 columns. The elution gradient was optimized with 5% formic acid and sodium acetate in combination with acetic acid as additives and methanol as solvents. For these evaluations, a complex phenolic extract of Onobrychis viciifolia (sainfoin) and test mixtures containing 54 standard substances including 2 simple phenolic compounds, 1 amino acid, 4 hydroxybenzoic acids (HBA), 6 hydroxycinnamic acids (HCA), 3 flavan-3-ols, 9 anthocyanins, 2 dihydroflavonols, 1 chalcone, 4 flavones, 1 isoflavone and 21 flavonols have been assayed. The perfluorinated column showed good resolution for the studied phenolic compounds which have the following elution order: HBA, HCA, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins, dihydroflavonols, flavones, flavonols and isoflavones. Compared with other columns, it provides longer elution ranges for HBA, HCA and flavan-3-ols and increased retention times for all compound classes except anthocyanins which were similarly retained on a C18 column. Its selectivity is different from C18 and bifunctional phases. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method with diode array detection (DAD) and post-column derivatization with p-dimethyl-aminocinnamic aldehyde (DMACA) has been validated for the analysis of individual phenolic compounds from a sainfoin plant extract (O. viciifolia).     

Synthesis of optically active 2-fluoroalk-1-en-3-yl esters and chirality transfer in their Claisen-type rearrangements

A series of enantioenriched long chain 2-fluoroalk-1-en-3-ols 1 has been prepared by lipase-catalyzed resolution of the racemic compounds synthesized from terminal alkenes. The lipase of Candida antarctica was shown to be the most efficient one in terms of enantioselectivity. Transesterification of the fluorinated allylic alcohols 1 was superior over the hydrolysis in a phosphate buffer of the corresponding acetates 2. Lipase-catalyzed acetylation of allylic alcohols 1 in organic medium gave (S)-(−)-3-acetoxy-2-fluoroalk-1-enes of chain lengths C₁₀, C₁₆ and C₁₈ with 68-89% yield and 92-96% ee, while the remaining (R)-(+)-2-fluoroalk-1-en-3-ols were isolated with 54-96% yield and 72-86% ee. The absolute configuration was assigned by comparison of measured and calculated CD-spectra, and unambiguously by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy using a modified Mosher's method. From the optically active fluorinated allylic alcohols 1 corresponding esters 2 such as propionates, 3,3,3-trifluoropropionates and Boc-glycinates were synthesized. These compounds were rearranged to 2-substituted 4-fluoroalk-4-enecarboxylic acids 3 applying modified conditions of the [3,3]-sigmatropic Ireland-Claisen rearrangement. While a complete chirality transfer from C-3 of the allylic esters to C-2 of the carboxylic acids or 2-amino acids, respectively, occurred in rearrangements of the propionates and Boc-glycinates, racemic 2-(trifluoromethyl)alk-4-enecarboxylic acids were formed from the allylic trifluoropropionates. The configurational lability of the latter products is caused by the strongly acidic proton in α-position to the trifluoromethyl and the carboxyl groups under the basic rearrangement conditions.     

Stereochemical and mechanistic aspects of dioxygenase-catalysed benzylic hydroxylation of indene and chromane substrates

Toluene dioxygenase (TDO)-catalysed benzylic hydroxylation of indene substrates (8, 16 and 17), using whole cell cultures of Pseudomonas putida UV4, was found to yield inden-1-ol (14 and 22) and indan-1-one bioproducts (15 and 23). The formation of these bioproducts is consistent with the involvement of carbon-centred radical intermediates. TDO-catalysed oxidation of indenes 8 and 16 also gave cis-diols 13 and 18 respectively. TDO and naphthalene dioxygenase (NDO), used as both whole-cell preparations and as purified enzymes, were found to catalyse the benzylic hydroxylation of chromane 30, deuteriated (+/-)-chromane 30D and enantiomers (4S)-30D and (4R)-30D to yield (4R)- and (4S)-chroman-4-ols 31/31D respectively. The mechanism of benzylic hydroxylation of chromane 30/30D involves the stereoselective abstraction of a pro-R (with TDO) or a pro-S (with NDO) hydrogen atom at C-4 and a marked preference for retention of configuration.     

Electrochemical approach for discriminating and measuring predominant flavonoids and phenolic acids using differential pulse voltammetry: towards an electrochemical index of natural antioxidants

This paper deals with possibilities of employing differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) at a glassy carbon electrode in the analytical characterization of natural phenolic antioxidants in samples containing phenolic classes such as cinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, and flavonols. A selective electrochemical oxidation of predominant flavonoids at pH 7.5 and an electrochemical oxidation of the total phenolic acids and flavonoids at pH 2.0 was carried out. Our electrochemical approach, based on DPV, has proved to be an easy, fast, and reliable method for discriminating flavonoids and phenolic acids. It has also helped establish the relationship between their voltammetric behavior and their in vitro “antioxidant power”. The analytical possibilities of the proposed method have been explored using both, representative standards and real samples where the predominant flavonoid and phenolic acid classes are present in different concentrations. The new approach has also proved satisfactory for the study of apple and pear juices as well as fresh apples and pears in different matrices such as peels and pulps. In general terms, “high antioxidant power” was always related to predominant phenolic classes (acids and flavan-3-ols) while the “low antioxidant power” was a result of a contribution of predominant phenolics (flavan-3-ols) and fingerprint phenolics: phlorizdin and arbutin. Likewise, the proposed electrochemical strategy showed a satisfactory analytical performance. A reproducibility of oxidation potential (less 5%) as well as in the height of peaks and calibration slopes (with R.S.D.s ranging between 0.3 and 8.3%) were also obtained. Concomitantly, the newly proposed voltammetric method showed recoveries between 83.5 and 108.6%.     

The heterocyclic ring fission and dehydroxylation of catechins and related compounds by Eubacterium sp. strain SDG-2, a human intestinal bacterium.

A human intestinal bacterium, Eubacterium (E.) sp. strain SDG-2, was tested for its ability to metabolize various (3R)- and (3S)-flavan-3-ols and their 3-O-gallates. This bacterium cleaved the C-ring of (3R)- and (3S)-flavan-3-ols to give 1,3-diphenylpropan-2-ol derivatives, but not their 3-O-gallates. Furthermore, E. sp. strain SDG-2 had the ability of p-dehydroxylation in the B-ring of (3R)-flavan-3-ols, such as (-)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, (-)-gallocatechin and (-)-epigallocatechin, but not of (3S)-flavan-3-ols, such as (+)-catechin and (+)-epicatechin.     

Synthesis of [4,5-Bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-2-yl]nucleosides as Potential Inhibitors of HIV via Stereospecific Base-Induced Rearrangement of a 2,3-Epoxy Thioacetate(1)

The synthesis of [4,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-oxathiolan-2-yl]nucleosides is described. 2,3-Epoxy alcohol 10 was converted in one pot into thioacetate 11. Treatment of 11 under mild alkaline conditions gave thiirane 12 with inversion of configuration at C-2. We also found that thioacetate 11 rearranges into thiirane 14 under mild acidic conditions. This rearrangement reaction was shown by independent synthesis to proceed with net retention of configuration at C-2. We have proposed a tentative mechanism which may explain the results obtained. Opening of thiiranes 12 and 14 followed by deprotection gave (2R,3R)-2-thiothreitol (23) and (2S,3R)-2-thioerythritol (25), respectively. Regioselective silylation of the primary hydroxyl groups of 23 followed by treatment with trimethyl orthoformate gave 2-methoxy-1,3-oxathiolanes 26 and 27. Condensation with silylated bases followed by deprotection and separation of the anomers gave the oxathiolanylnucleosides. Compounds 29-31, 34, and 35 were found to be inactive when tested for inhibition of HIV-1 activity in vitro.     

Synthesis and separation of diastereoisomeric 1-aryl-3-piperidino(morpholino)-2-phenylpropan-1-ols and their hydrochlorides

1-Aryl-3-piperidino(morpholino)-2-phenylpropan-1-ols were synthesized by reduction of the corresponding 1-aryl-3-piperidino(morpholino)-2-phenylpropan-1-ones with lithium tetrahydridoaluminate, and the products were separated into erythro and threo isomers by fractional crystallization. Their relative configuration and diastereoisomeric purity was determined by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Cal-B-catalyzed alkoxycarbonylation of a-ring stereoisomeric synthons of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and 1alpha,25-dihydroxy-19-nor-previtamin D3: a comparative study. first regioselective chemoenzymatic synthesis of 19-nor-A-ring carbonates

A comparative study of alkoxycarbonylation processes of both 19-nor-A-ring and A-ring stereoisomers of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogues catalyzed by Candida antarctica lipase B (CAL-B) has been described. The presence of the methyl group in the A-ring at C-2, as in 3-6, has a determining role in the regioselectivity of the biocatalysis, mainly allowing the hydroxyl group at C-5 position to react. For the 19-nor-A-ring stereoisomers 7-10, which lack the C-2 methyl group, the configurations at C-3 and C-5 have a high influence in the selectivity exhibited by CAL-B. Thus, each couple of enantiomers showed opposing regioselectivities depending on the C-3 configuration. When C-3 possesses an (S)-configuration, enzymatic alkoxycarbonylations took place at the C-5-(R) or C-5-(S) hydroxyl groups. However, if the chiral centers at C-3 are (R), CAL-B alkoxycarbonylated the C-3-(R) hydroxyl group independently of the configuration at C-5. The corresponding carbonates are useful A-ring precursors of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 analogues, selectively modified at the C-1 or C-3 positions. In addition, an improved synthesis of cis A-ring synthons 5 and 6 is described using a Mitsunobu methodology.     

Synthesis and absolute configurations of the cytotoxic polyacetylenes isolated from the callus of Panax ginseng

Panaxacol (1) and dihydropanaxacol (2), cytotoxic polyacetylenes isolated from the callus of Panax ginseng, were synthesized starting from D-(-)-diethyl tartrate. The absolute configuration of 1 was determined to be 9R, 10R and the absolute configuration at C-3 of 2 was tentatively assigned as 3S by the application of the R(+)-alpha-methoxy-alpha-(trifluoro methyl)phenylacetyl (MTPA) method.     

Studies on panax acetylenes: absolute structure of a new panax acetylene, and inhibitory effects of related acetylenes on the growth of L-1210 cells

A new Panax acetylene, 3-oxo-PQ-1 (1), was isolated from Panax quinquefolium. The absolute configurations of 3-oxo-PQ-1 (1) and PQ-1 (2) were determined to be (9R,10R) and (3R,9R,10R), respectively, by synthesizing 1 and 2 starting from D-(-)-diethyl tartrate, and by synthesizing their stereoisomers from L-(+)-diethyl tartrate. The growth inhibitory effects of Panax acetylenes (1-8) and their stereoisomers against leukemia cells were tested. Unnatural acetylenes having the (3S)-configuration (2, 5, 6, 7, 8; IC(50)=0.01-0.1 microg/ml) were found to be approximately ten times more potent than natural acetylenes (IC(50)=0.1-1.0 microg/ml) with the (3R)-configuration. Potency differences due to the configuration at C-9 and C-10 were unrelated to this stereochemistry. The C(14)-polyacetylenes, PQ-8 (4) and its isomer (IC(50)=1.0-10.0 microg/ml), were found to exhibit weaker cytotoxicity than the C(17)-polyacetylenes.     

Analytical performance of commercially available and unavailable phenolic compounds using real samples by high-performance liquid chromatography-diode-array detection

This work examines a novel approach of coupling high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection as applied to the study of the analytical performance of the main phenolic classes contained in real samples. The chromatographic behavior of the main phenolic classes (benzoic and cinnamic acids and flavan-3-ols, flavonols and flavones as subclass of flavonoids) is carefully examined using real legume samples. Extracts from lentils proved to be excellent “real sample” because they contained the most important classes of phenolics that were subjected to current analysis. Benzoic and cinnamic acids, flavan-3-ols, flavonol and flavones were definitely or provisionally identified. Robustness, extraction efficiencies and accuracy were thoroughly scrutinized to reach quality results. Extracts showed an excellent stability according to their retention times in relative standard deviation (R.S.D.≤3%) and high reproducibility in peak area (R.S.D.≤5%). High reproducibility was also observed in calibration slopes (R.S.D.≤7%). Detection limits ranged between 0.09 and 0.64 μg/ml and, thus, showed full capacity for the determination of these compounds. Accuracy was carefully evaluated by studying extraction efficiencies and recoveries from well-known phenolic standards. The high recoveries (≥95%) obtained from the well-known phenolic structures of all representative phenolic classes allowed us to evaluate the accuracy of poorly known and commercially unavailable phenolic structures. The satisfactory analytical performance of currently employed methods had justified their recruitment for the quantification of phenolics in the study samples.     

Regioselective ring opening of amino epoxides with nitriles: an easy synthesis of (2R,3S)- and (2S,3S)-1,3-diaminoalkan-2-ols with differently protected amine functions

[reaction: see text] Transformation of enantiopure (2R,1'S)- or (2S,1'S)-2-(1-aminoalkyl)epoxides 1 or 2 into the corresponding (2R,3S)- and (2S,3S)-1,3-diaminoalkan-2-ols 3 or 4 is described. The opening of the epoxide ring with different nitriles (Ritter reaction) takes place with total selectivity and in high yields in the presence of BF3.Et2O. Interestingly, the two amine groups are differently protected. A mechanism to explain this transformation is proposed.     

Procyanidins from Myrothamnus flabellifolia

From the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of an acetone-water extract of the twig tips of Myrothamnus flabellifolia Welw. (Myrothamnaceae), a variety of flavan-3-ols (epicatechin, epigallocatechin and their 3-O-galloylated analogues) and procyanidins (DP 8)-catechin], B4 [catechin-(4alpha --> 8)-epicatechin], B6 [catechin-(4alpha --> 6)-catechin] and catechin-(4alpha --> 8)-epigallocatechin along with the galloylated analogues B4-3'-O-gallate, procyanidin B2-3'-O-gallate [epicatechin-(4beta --> 8)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate], B2-3,3'-di-O-gallate, procyanidin B5-3,3'-O-gallate [epicatechin-3-O-gallate-(4beta --> 6)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate], catechin-(4alpha --> 8)-epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate, the trimer procyanidin C1-3'-O-gallate[epicatechin-(4beta --> 8)-epicatechin-(4beta --> 8)-epicatechin-3-O-gallate] and the new epicatechin-3-O-gallate-(4beta --> 6)-epicatechin-3-O-p-hydroxybenzoate. The structures were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments of their peracetylated derivatives, partial acid-catalysed degradation with phloroglucinol, ESI-MS and CD spectra.