Highly glycosylated flavonoids from the pods of Bobgunnia madagascariensis

Methanolic extracts of the pods of Bobgunnia madagascariensis (Leguminosae) yielded four pentaglycosylated flavonoids, including the 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosides of 3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-benzopyran-4-one (kaempferol) and 3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-4H-benzopyran-4-one (quercetin), which were characterized by a novel O-linked branched tetrasaccharide. Spectroscopic and chemical methods were used to determine the structures of the latter, which co-occurred with the corresponding β-d-galactopyranosyl isomers, and two saponins. Conformational isomerism of quercetin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→3)-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranoside-7-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside was detected in solution by NMR, a phenomenon previously associated only with C-glycosylflavonoids.     

Stereoisomerism in the series of isoindole-based quaternary salts

Steric structure of quaternary ammonium salts of the 3-[alkyl(aryl)amino]-1-[alkyl(aryl)iminio]-1H-isoindole series was studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. The examined salts are characterized by E,E configuration of substituents with respect to the exocyclic C-N bonds, and the presence of ortho- and meta-substituents in the benzene rings on the nitrogen atoms gives rise to atropisomers. Sterically hindered N-(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl) derivative was found to exist as Z,Z isomer which undergoes irreversible thermal isomerization into the more stable E,E isomer through intermediate Z,E structure. The reactions of 1,1,3-trichloro-1H-isoindole with secondary aromatic amines having an electron-withdrawing substituent in the ortho position in the presence of organic bases (triethylamine, N,N-dimethylbenzylamine) are accompanied by decomposition of the latter and formation of unsymmetrically substituted salts of the 3-[alkyl(aryl)amino]-1-(dialkyliminio)-1H-isoindole series, which contain both arylamine residue and dialkylamino group and are also characterized by atropisomerism.     

Bioinspired manganese complexes catalyzed epoxidation for the synthesis of the epoxyketone fragment of carfilzomib

We report herein an efficient catalytic epoxidation reaction for the synthesis of epoxyketone (tert-butyl ((S)-4-methyl-1-((R)-2-methyloxiran-2-yl)-1-oxopentan-2-yl)carbamate), which is an important synthetic intermediate of carfilzomib.     

An investigation into the diastereoselective palladation of oxazoline appended cobalt metallocenes

The diastereoselective reactions of palladium acetate with (η⁵-(S)-2-(4-methylethyl)oxzazolinylcyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt, which gives a planar chiral palladacycle with (_pR) configuration, and (η⁵-(S)-2-(4-dimethylethyl)oxzazolinylcyclopentadienyl)(η⁴-tetraphenylcyclobutadiene)cobalt, which results in the opposite (_pS) configuration, are shown to be a consequence of these reactions displaying thermodynamic and kinetic control, respectively.     

Application of the asymmetric hydrogenation of enamines to the preparation of a beta-amino acid pharmacophore

(3R)-3-[N-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)amino]-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butanoic acid 7a has been synthesized by an asymmetric hydrogenation of enamine ester 3 using chiral ferrocenyl ligands I and II in conjunction with [Rh(COD)Cl]₂. The direct reduction of 3 provides amino ester 1b in 93% ee, which was isolated as an (S)-camphorsulfonic acid salt to upgrade the enantiomeric excess to >99%. A more concise approach was developed involving the in situ protection of 1b using di-tert-butyldicarbonate. This approach provided the desired N-Boc amino ester 7b directly from the hydrogenation with 97% ee, which was upgraded to >99% ee upon crystallization.     

Jasmonate Compounds and Their Derivatives in the Regulation of the Neoplastic Processes

Cancer is a serious problem in modern medicine, mainly due to the insufficient effectiveness of currently available therapies. There is a particular interest in compounds of natural origin, which can be used in the prophylaxis, as well as in the treatment and support of cancer treatment. One such compound is jasmonic acid (3-oxo-2-(pent-2’-enyl)cyclopentane acetic acid; isolated active form: trans-(-)-(3R,7R)- and cis-(+)-(3R,7S)-jasmonic acid) and its derivatives, which, due to their wide range of biological activities, are also proposed as potential therapeutic agents. Therefore, a review of literature data on the biological activity of jasmonates was prepared, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms of jasmonate action in neoplastic diseases. The anti-tumor activity of jasmonate compounds is based on altered cellular ATP levels; induction of re-differentiation through the action of Mitogen Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs); the induction of the apoptosis by reactive oxygen species. Jasmonates can be used in anti-cancer therapy in combination with other known drugs, such as cisplatin, paclitaxel or doxorubicin, showing a synergistic effect. The structure–activity relationship of novel jasmonate derivatives with anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and anti-aging effects is also shown.     

Comparison of chiral NMR solvating agents for the enantiodifferentiation of amines

Chiral, enantiomerically pure organic-soluble acids are often used as NMR chiral solvating agents (CSAs) for analyzing the enantiopurity of amines. However, the reports that describe CSAs for amines provide limited comparisons to other previously reported reagents. As such, it is difficult to know which among the many CSAs to pick when studying a new amine. We report a comparison of thirteen commercially available CSAs for the analysis of primary, secondary and tertiary amines in chloroform-d. (R)-α-methoxyphenylacetic acid, (R)-(-)-O-acetylmandelic acid, (R)-2-methoxy-2-(1-naphthyl)propionic acid and (R)-(-)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diylhydrogenphosphate are identified as the best four to use as a starting point for the analysis of a new amine.     

An efficient and general enantioselective synthesis of some isoxazole-containing analogues of the neuroexcitant glutamic acid

Isoxazole amino acids are an important class of neuroexcitant which are difficult to prepare in enantiopure form. Diastereoselective alkylation of the enantiomerically pure glycine derivative, tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-(tert-butyl)-3-methyl-4-oxo-1-imidazolidinecarboxylate (Boc-BMI) with 4-bromomethyl-2-methoxymethyl-5-methylisoxazolin-5-one 5 or 5-bromomethyl-4-bromo-3-methoxyisoxazole, gives intermediates which under mild hydrolysis conditions produce the amino acids (S)- and (R)-bromohomoibotenic acid and (S)- and (R)-2-amino-3-(3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazol-4-yl) propionic acid with e.e. >99%.     

An enantioselective total synthesis of the stilbenolignan (−)-aiphanol and the determination of its absolute stereochemistry

The title natural product (−)-aiphanol has been prepared by total synthesis. A key step involved the asymmetric dihydroxylation of (E)-3,5-dimethoxy-4-(methoxymethoxy)cinnamyl alcohol with the AD-mix-β to give triol (1R,2R)-1-(3′,5′-dimethoxy-4′-methoxymethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydroxypropanol, the absolute stereochemistry of which was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis of a readily available bromo-derivative. These studies have established that the naturally occurring enantiomer of aiphanol possesses the (S)-configuration at each of C-2′ and C-3′.     

Double nucleophilic reaction of amines to the imidazole nucleus and selective synthesis of 5-aminoimidazoles

Reaction of 2-(1-chloro-2,2-dimethylpropyl)-1-methyl-1H-imidazole with an excess of N,N-dimethylamine at room temperature gave an abnormal adduct, trans-4,5-bis(dimethylamino)-1-methyl-2,2-dimethylpropyl-2-imidazoline, which was derived from a serial, double nucleophilic addition into the imidazole nucleus in 74% yield together with a normal S_N product, 1-methyl-2-(1-dimethylamino-2,2-dimethylpropyl)-1H-imidazole in 15% yield. The former was easily converted to 1-methyl-5-(dimethylamino)-2-(2,2-dimethylpropyl)-1H-imidazole by only reflux in toluene in 90% yield. The scope, mechanism and limitation of these reactions are discussed.     

Arthrobacter sp.: a lipase of choice for the kinetic resolution of racemic arylazetidinone precursors of taxanoid side chains

The native strain of Arthrobacter sp. (MTCC 5125) bearing a lipase has been found to be the most effective in the kinetic resolution of racemic arylazetidinones for producing cis-(3R,4S)-3-acetoxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-phenyl-2-azetidinone, cis-(3R,4S)-3-acetoxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-(2-furanyl)-2-azetidinone, cis-(3R,4S)-3-acetoxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-4-(2-thienyl)-2-azetidinone, and cis-3-acetoxy-4-(t-butyl)-2-azetidinone products. The resolved compounds, which were obtained in high enantiopurity are important intermediates of amino acid side chains of paclitaxel as well as a new generation of taxanoids. The use of co-solvents dramatically improved the resolution efficacy of the lipase.     

Synthesis of the spiroacetal fragment of broussonetine H

(2S,6S)-2-(3-Bromopropyl)-1,7-dioxaspiro[5.5]undecane 3 was prepared by the addition of the acetylide derived from (4S)-4-benzyloxy-7-tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxyhep-1-yne 8 to δ-valerolactone 6 followed by treatment with hydrogen and palladium on charcoal which effected hydrogenation of the alkyne, hydrogenolysis of the benzyl ether and subsequent spiroacetal formation. The (4S)-stereochemistry in acetylene 8 was established by addition of trimethylsilylacetylene 10 to (2S)-epoxide 9, which in turn is derived from l-glutamic acid 11.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of the isomuscarines

Four diastereomers of 2-[(trimethylammonium)-methyl]-5-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-ol, trivially named isomuscarine, allo-isomuscarine, epi-isomuscarine, and epiallo-isomuscarine, were prepared as bromide salts from 2,4-like and 2,4-unlike diastereomers of 3-(4-hydroxyhex-5-en-2-oxy)-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thione. The strategy for constructing the tetrahydrofuran nucleus of the isomuscarines uses alkenoxyl radical 5-exo-bromocyclization, occurring 2,3-cis-selectively for the 2,4-like-4-hydroxyhex-5-en-2-oxyl radical, and 2,3-trans-selectively for the 2,4-unlike diastereomer. A fraction of 4-hydroxyhex-5-en-2-oxyl radicals cyclizes 6-endo-selectively providing 5-bromo-2-methyltetrahydropyran-4-ols in yields between 3 and 15%. Substituting trimethylamine for bromide in 5-exo-bromocyclized products furnishes isomuscarine bromides, which were structurally characterized by X-ray diffraction and NMR-spectroscopy.     

Stereochemical aspects of the chemistry of 2-[trialkyl(aryl)silyloxy]alkyl-4-alkoxyalk-2-enylstannanes

2-tert-Butyldimethylsilyloxymethyl-4-(methoxymethoxy)pent-2-enyl(tributyl)stannane, prepared predominantly as the (Z)-isomer, is transmetallated by tin(IV) chloride to generate an allyltin trichloride which reacts with aldehydes with excellent stereocontrol in favour of (E)-1,5-syn-3-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxymethyl-5-(methoxymethoxy)alk-3-en-1-ols. These were taken through to 3-[(E)-2-(methoxymethoxy)-propylidenyl]-5-alkyl(aryl)tetrahydrofurans and used to prepare more complex 4-(methoxymethoxy)-pent-2-enylstannanes.     

Platinum-promoted cyclization reactions of amino olefins : II. Regio- and stereoselectivity in the cyclization reactions of C-methyl substituted pent-4-enylamines

The compounds 1-, 2- and 3-methylpent-4 enylamine cyclize, in a reaction medium containing [PtCl₄]^2-, to the corresponding cis- and trans-dimethylpyrrolidines showing marked regio and stereoselectivity effects. The following cyclization reactions are also reported: a) that of hex-4-enylamine which gives a mixture of 2-ethylpyrrolidine and 2-methylpiperidine, b) that of 2,2-dimethylpent-4-enylamine which produces 2,4,4-trimethylpyrrolidine and c) that of 2,2-dimethylhex-4-enylamine which results in the formation of 2-ethyl-4,4-dimethylpyrrolidine and 2-methyl-5,5-dimethylpiperidine.The X-ray crystal structures of trans-[PtCl₂(amine)(Et₃P)] (amine = cis-2, 4-dimethylpyrrolidine and cis-2,3-dimethylpyrrolidine) are reported.     

The formylation of the upper-rims of thiacalixarenes: synthesis of the first tetra-formylated and the first meta-substituted thiacalix[4]arenes

The conventional Gross reaction for the formylation of the tetrapropoxythiacalix[4]arene using TiCl₄ affords the 18-(chloromethyl)-28-hydroxy-25,26,27-tripropoxythiacalix[4]arene substituted in the meta-position of the macrocycle. The p-tetraformyl-tetrapropoxythiacalix[4]arene, which is an interesting intermediate to the upper-rims functionalization of thiacalixarenes, was prepared with a very good yield using BuLi and N-formylpiperidine.     

Studies of reactions of dimethylphosphoramidic difluoride withtrans-2-(N,N-dialkylamino)cycloalkanols in the presence of various sulfur-containing nucleophiles

The reactions of dimethylphosphoramidic difluoride (1) withtrans-2-(N,N-dialkylamino)cycloalkanols were studied in the presence of various sulfur-containing nucleophiles and Et₃N. WhenO,O-diisopropyl thiophosphoric acid was used as a nucleophile, the correspondingO,O-diisopropylS-[2-(N,N-dialkylamino)cycloalkyl] thiophosphates were obtained in satisfactory yields. The direction of this reaction in the presence ofO-isopropyl toluenephosphonothioic acid depends on the pK _a of aminoalcohol, namely, the amount ofO-isopropyl tolylphosphonofluoridate that was formed along withO-isopropylS-[2-(N,N-dialkylamino)cycloalkyl] tolylphosphonothioates was increased as the pK _a increased. The reactions of compound1 withtrans-2-(N,N-dialkylamino)cycloalkanols and thioacetic acid afforded 2-(N,N-dialkylamino)cycloalkanethiols, certain of which were readily oxidized to the corresponding disulfides. In the case of potassium ethyl xanthate, the composition of the reaction products depends on the nature of aminoalcohol. X-ray diffraction analysis ofS-(2-piperidinocyclohexyl)N,N-dimethyldithiocarbamate demonstrated that this compound exists as thetrans isomer. This fact supports the reaction mechanism, which we have suggested previously and which involves the formation of aziridinium cations followed by their opening under the action of nucleophilic agents.     

Simplified syntheses of the water-soluble chiral shift reagents Sm-(R)-pdta and Sm-(S)-pdta

The chiral shift reagents Sm-(R)-pdta and Sm-(S)-pdta, which are based on (R)- or (S)-1,2-diaminopropane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid were synthesized from easily accessible compounds in three simple steps, which makes the method suitable for laboratory-scale production. In addition, a new and efficient method for the preparation of pure anhydrous (R)- or (S)-1,2-diaminopropane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid was developed.     

Confirmation of the stereochemistry of two naturally occurring epimeric phenylpropanoids via synthesis: Elucidation of hitherto unknown full stereostructures

Herein we report our efforts toward unequivocal assignment of the hitherto unknown absolute configurations of two naturally occurring phenylpropanoids from Abies delavayi and Abies fabri via a combination of chiral pool synthesis and single crystal X-ray analysis which also confirmed their previously reported gross structures with relative stereochemistry. Toward this end we have achieved the first stereodivergent syntheses of threo-(1R,2R)-(−)- and erythro-(1S,2R)-(+)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methoxy-2,3-propanediol. The synthetic threo-isomer was found to be identical to the naturally occurring threo-isomer, while the natural erythro-isomer was postulated to be the enantiomer of the synthetic erythro-isomer.     

Synthesis of the enantiomers of (3Z,9Z)-cis-6,7-epoxy-3,9-octadecadiene,one of the major components of the sex pheromone of Ectropis oblique Prout

Both enantiomers of (3Z,9Z)-cis-6,7-epoxy-3,9-octadecadiene, one of which is the major component of the sex pheromone of Ectropis oblique Prout, were synthesized in 23% overall yield for the (?)-(6S,7R)-enantiomer and 18% yield for the (+)-(6R,7S)-isomer. This protocol uses a sequential regioselective ring-opening strategy and provides a convenient and reliable access to other structurally related insect sex pheromones. Preliminary biological studies revealed that (?)-(6S,7R)-2a was roughly as active as the natural pheromone, while racemic (±)-2 was less bioactive and (+)-2b was much less bioactive.