Versatile synthesis of (Z)-1-alkylidene-1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans and 1H-isochromenes by palladium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 2-alkynylbenzyl alcohols

An easy synthesis of (Z)-1-alkylidene-1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans and 1H-isochromenes by palladium-catalyzed cycloisomerization of readily available 2-alkynylbenzyl alcohols under neutral conditions is reported. Reactions were carried out at 70-100°C in the presence of catalytic amounts (1-2%) of PdI₂ in conjunction with 2 equiv. of KI for 1.5-24 h. The preference towards the 5-exo-dig cyclization mode (leading to 1,3-dihydroisobenzofurans) or the 6-endo-dig cyclization mode (leading to isochromenes) turned out to be dependent on the substitution pattern of the substrate as well as reaction conditions. In several cases, by properly adjusting the reaction conditions, the same substrate could be selectively converted into either the dihydroisobenzofuran or the 1H-isochromene derivative.     

A photo-induced fluorogenic reaction for the detection of catecholamine-O-sulfates

Catecholamine-O-sulfates react with 1,2-diaminoethane to give fluorescent products if exposed to u.v. irradiation (312 nm) in the presence of oxygen. The fluoresence spectra of the reaction mixtures are similar to those obtained form the fress catecholamines and diaminoethane, indicating that the reaction proceeds by photo-cleavage of the O-sulfate bond, followed by reaction of the free catecholamine withdiaminoethane and oxygen. The factors that affect the reaction are described. After a 40-min irradiation of the catecholamine-O-sulfates in 0.71 M diaminoethane solution at 7°C, the intensities compared to those generated from free catecholamines were 46% for dopamine-3-O-sulfate, 84% for dopamine-4-O-sulfate, 42% for norepinephrine-3-O-suflate, 50% for nonrepinephrine-4-O-sulfate, 64% for epinephrine-3-O-sulfate and 136% for epinephrine-4-O-sulfate.     

Solid-phase synthesis of O-sulfated glycopeptide by the benzyl-protected glycan strategy

To expand the repertoire of our benzyl-protection strategy for solid-phase glycopeptide synthesis, an O-sulfated glycopeptide was chosen as the synthetic target. Trisaccharyl serine derivatives (Galβ1-4-GlcNAcβ1-2-Manα1-3-Ser) carrying (4-methoxyphenyl)methyl (MPM) groups at either 3-O or 6-O of the Gal residue were prepared through three stereoselective glycosylations. Cleavage of MPM followed by reaction with Me₃N·SO₃ efficiently afforded 3-O- and 6-O-sulfo-glycoserines, respectively. A preliminary debenzylation study using the sulfated glycoserines revealed that the sulfate groups persisted under ‘low-acidity TfOH’ conditions, when using a limited amount of TfOH and extending the reaction period. The 3-O-sulfo-glycoserine was then introduced into an icosapeptide modeled after an α-dystroglycan fragment by a combination of automated and manual solid-phase peptide synthesis procedures. The synthesized glycopeptide was successfully debenzylated by the low-acidity TfOH cocktail with slight damage to the sulfate functionality.     

Semisynthetic 4-O-Methyl-ß-Rhodomycins: Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships

ABSTRACT

The synthesis of 7-O-α-L-daunosaminyl-4-O-methyl-β-rhodomycinone (3) and the determination of its cytotoxic potency compared to that of the natural 7-O-α-L-dau-nosaminyl-β-rhodomycinone (4) are described. Starting with natural β-rhodomycinone (7), trimethylsilyl protecting groups were attached to the hydroxy groups at position 7 and 10, and the 4-OH group was subsequently methylated (MeI/Cs₂CO₃), thus providing the 4-O-methyl-7, 10-bis-O-trimethylsilyl-β-rhodomycinone (10). The two TMS groups were then deblocked to give 4-O-methyl-β-rhodomycinone (12). In a 3-stage synthesis 12 was converted into 4-O-methyl-10-O-trifiuoroacetyl-ß-rhodomycinone (15) to which l, 4-bis-O-p-nitrobenzoyl-3-N-trifluoroacetyl-L-daunosamine 16 was selectively linked to afford the 7-O-α-glycoside 17. The acyl protective groups are removed by treatment with 1N NaOH to give 3.     

Self-sacrificing acetylation observed during attempted desilylation of 1-[4-benzenesulfonyl-3-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2-deoxy-5-O-methanesulfonyl-α-l-threo-pentofuranosyl]thymine

Desilylation of 1-[4-benzenesulfonyl-3-O-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-2-deoxy-5-O-methanesulfonyl-α-l-threo-pentofuranosyl]thymine (4) with Bu₄NF/THF, when carried out at room temperature, gave four products. Among these, there were 1-[3-O-acetyl-4-benzenesulfonyl-2-deoxy-5-O-methanesulfonyl-α-l-threo-pentofuranosyl]thymine (7) and thymine. A possible reaction mechanism is proposed, which suggests the origin of 3′-O-acetyl group of 7 and thymine as well as structures of the other two products (9a and 9b).     

Structure of tecophilin,a tri-caffeoylanthocyanin from the blue petals of Tecophilaea cyanocrocus, and the mechanism of blue color development

The pigment, tecophilin, in blue flowers of Tecophilaea cyanocrocus was isolated and the structure was determined to be 3-O-(6-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-7-O-(6-O-(4-O-(2-O-(4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(E)-caffeoyl)-6-O-(4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(E)-caffeoyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(E)-caffeoyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl)delphinidin. The reproduction experiment of the same color as petals according to the results of chemical analysis and measurement of vacuolar pH of blue cells clarified that the blue color solely develops by tecophilin without interaction of metal ions nor co-pigments. ¹H NMR analysis and CD spectrum indicate the co-existence of clockwise intermolecular self-association of the delphinidin nuclei and intramolecular π–π stacking between the chromophore and caffeoyl residues to derive bathochromic shift of the absorption spectrum and stabilize the color by preventing hydration reaction.     

Novel goniofufurone and 7-epi-goniofufurone mimics from an unexpected titanium-mediated displacement process

Treatment of 7-O-benzoyl-5-O-benzyl derivatives of (+)-goniofufurone or 7-epi-(+)-goniofufurone with titanium(IV) chloride or titanium(IV) bromide gave 7-chloro and 7-bromo-7-deoxy-goniofufurone mimics as the main reaction products along with minor amounts of the corresponding C-7 epimers. An unexpected cyclized product, benzoxepane 8 was isolated in some cases.     

Towards cyclic,conformationally constrained,fluorine-containing β-amino acid derivatives from d-glucose

Novel, potentially bioactive, fluorinated branched-chain monosaccharides were obtained by reaction of diethylaminosulphur trifluoride (DAST) with a series of methyl 3-C-cyano-3-ethoxycarbonyl-β-d-glucopyranoside derivatives, including the 4,6-O-benzylidene derivative and their 3-C-(N-protected aminomethyl) reduction products, as well as the phenyl 3-C-cyano-3-ethoxycarbonyl-1-thio-α-d-(and β-d-)glucopyranosides. The absolute configuration at C(3) was unambiguously assigned for all compounds on the basis of X-ray crystallographic analysis of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-3-C-cyano-3-deoxy-3-ethoxycarbonyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, corroborating the previous tentative assignment by other authors for the 4,6-unprotected compound. The course of the fluorination depended on the reaction temperature and the substitution pattern of the substrate. Thus, for methyl 3-C-cyano-3-ethoxycarbonyl-β-d-glucopyranoside, fluorination occurred exclusively at C(6), but for the phenylthio analogue, a 2-deoxy-2-phenylthio-α-d-manno-configured glycosyl fluoride and its 6-fluoro derivative were obtained, resulting from the expected rearrangement reaction, whilst starting from the phenylthio α anomer, only the unrearranged 6-fluoro compound was formed. Rearrangement was also observed in the fluorination of methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-3-C-(N-protected aminomethyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside, which led to the 2-O-methyl-α-d-mannopyranosyl fluoride derivative as the sole product. This methodology may constitute a simple route to enantiopure conformationally constrained cyclic fluorinated β-amino acids having the α carbon atom shared with a pyranose ring, although only moderate yields were achieved, particularly in the fluorination step.     

Simultaneous quantification of three isoflavonoid glycosides in rabbit plasma after oral administration of Astragalus mongholicus extract by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

A selective and sensitive liquid chromatography coupled with triple stage quadruple tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC/TSQ-MS/MS) was developed and validated for simultaneous quantification of calycosin-7-O-β-d-glycoside (CCSG), formononetin-7-O-β-d-glycoside (Ononin) and (6R,10R)-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan-3-O-β-d-glycoside (DPG) in rabbit plasma. Plasma samples were extracted with solid-phase extraction (SPE), separated on an Inertsil ODS-3 column and detected by tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) interface in positive selective reaction monitoring (SRM) mode. 3,7,8-Trimethoxy-xanthone-1-O-primaverose was used as internal standard (IS) for quantitative measurement. For each analyte, one major product ion was chosen and used for screening of it. Calibration curves were generated over the range of 2-1000 ng mL⁻¹ with the correlation coefficients greater than 0.99 by using a weighted (1/χ) least squares linear regression. The method had the lower limit quantification of 0.15, 0.21 and 0.19 for CCSG, Ononin and DPG, respectively, with precision less than 20%. The intra- and inter-day precisions ranged from 2.48 to 6.38% and 4.81 to 11.78% (R.S.D.%), respectively. This assay is suitable for determining the above three trace glycosides in rabbit plasma simultaneously and thus investigating the pharmacokinetics of glycosides from Astragalus mongholicus extract in rabbits.     

A nitro sugar mediated synthesis of 6-amino-1,5,6-trideoxy-1,5-imino-d-glucitol (6-amino-1,6-dideoxynojirimycin)

6-Benzoylamino-3-O-benzyl-1,5,6-trideoxy-N-(1,1-diphenylmethyl)-1,5-imino-d-glucitol 12a and its epimer 6-benzoylamino-3-O-benzyl-1,5,6-trideoxy-N-(1,1-diphenylmethyl)-1,5-imino-l-iditol 12b, the protected forms of 6-amino-1,6-dideoxynojirimycin 4 and its C-5 epimer 5, respectively, were easily prepared from diacetone-d-glucose via 6-O-benzoyl-3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-C-nitromethyl-α-d-glucofuranose 7a or 6-O-benzoyl-3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-C-nitromethyl-β-l-idofuranose 7b. 6-Amino-1,6-dideoxynojirimycin 4 (an important precursor of a wide range of glycosidase inhibitors) was easily prepared from 1,5-imino-d-glucitol 12a.     

Organofluorine compounds and fluorinating agents

Starting with 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-β-d-glucose (1), mixed alkyl-perfluoroalkyl substituted sugar derivatives with an anomeric perfluoroalkylthio group and an O-alkyl group in the 3 position were synthesized via 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-1-thio-β-d-glucose (4). The latter was S-perfluorohexylated with 1-iodoperfluorohexane in a dithionite initiated reaction yielding perfluorohexyl 2,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside (5). Experiments with the aim compound 5 completely to deacetylate ended in surprising results. Thus, methanolic methanolate solution produced the orthoester 7 as the result of α-fluoride replacement by methoxy groups as well as the methyl glucoside 8 as the result of a transglycosylation reaction. Alumina supported cesium fluoride cleaved regioselectively the two acetyl groups in the 4- and 6-position yielding perfluorohexyl 2-O-acetyl-3-O-dodecyl-1-thio-β-d-glucopyranoside (10). A complete deacetylation of 5 to amphiphile 11 succeeded only with methanolic tert-butanolate. However, the products 8 and 10 were likewise formed.     

Dianionic complexes with hexacoordinate silicon(IV) or germanium(IV) and three bidentate ligands of the salicylato(2–) type: Syntheses and structural characterization in the solid state and in solution

Reaction of tetramethoxysilane or tetramethoxygermane with salicylic acid and morpholine (molar ratio 1:3:2) in tetrahydrofuran yielded morpholiniummer-tris[salicylato(2–)-O¹,O³]silicate(mer -5) and morpholiniummer-tris[salicylato(2–)-O¹,O³]germanate (mer-8), respectively. Treatment of tetramethoxysilane with 5-chlorosalicylic acid and piperidine (molar ratio 1:3:2) in tetrahydrofuran afforded piperidinium mer-tris[5-chlorosalicylato(2–)-O¹,O³]silicate–ditetrahydrofuran (mer-6·2THF). Triethylammonium mer-tris[3-methylsalicylato(2–)-O¹,O³]silicate (mer-7) was obtained analogously by reaction of tetramethoxysilane with three molar equivalents of 3-methylsalicylic acid and two molar equivalents of triethylamine in dichloromethane/diethyl ether. The racemic compounds mer-5, mer-6· 2THF,mer-7, and mer-8 were characterized by elemental analyses (C, H, N), single-crystal X-ray diffraction, as well as solid-state (²⁹Si) and solution(¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si) NMR studies. The structural characterizationwas complemented by computational studies (HF studies, TZVP level) of thefac- and mer-tris[salicylato(2–)-O¹,O³]silicatedianion. In addition, the behavior of mer-7 in solution was studied by VT ¹HNMR experiments.     

Total synthesis of cannabisin F

A practical eight-step synthesis of lignanamide cannabisin F starting from vanillin is reported for the first time. This synthetic strategy applies the aldol reaction followed by the Wittig reaction to afford the key 8-O-4′-neolignan intermediate diacid. The diacid was condensed with N,O-protected tyramine giving, after deprotection, cannabisin F.     

Study of plant coumarins: X. Peurutenicin triflate in cross-coupling reactions

By Suzuki cross-coupling reaction of peurutenicin triflate with arylboric, furanylboric, pyridinylboric, and indolylboric acids the corresponding 7-aryl(hetaryl)coumarins were synthesized. The high activity of hetaryl-substituted boric acids in the Suzuki reaction was observed. Heck reaction of 7-O-trifluoromethylsulfonylpeur utenicin with terminal olefins (styrene, vinylpyridines, vinylpyrazine, vinyltriazole) was used to prepare (E)-7-[aryl(hetaryl)vinyl]coumarins. The dependence of reaction products yield on the nature of the catalytic system was found.     

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.     

Reactivity of sarcosine and 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid towards salicylaldehyde-derived alkynes and allenes

The reaction of sarcosine and 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid with salicylaldehyde-derived alkynes and allenes opened the way to new chromeno[4,3-b]pyrrole and chromeno[2,3-b]pyrrole derivatives. Tetrahydro-chromeno[4,3-b]pyrroles were obtained from the reaction of these secondary amino acids with O-propargylsalicylaldehyde. Interestingly, sarcosine reacted with ethyl 4-(2-formylphenoxy)but-2-ynoate to give a monocyclic pyrrole resulting from rearrangement of the initially formed 1,3-dipolar cycloadduct. Decarboxylative condensation of ethyl 4-(2-formylphenoxy)but-2-ynoate with 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid afforded in a stereoselective fashion the expected chromeno-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazole, which structure was unambiguously established by X-ray crystallography. However, the 1H,3H-pyrrolo[1,2-c]thiazole resulting from the opening of the pyran ring was also isolated. The reaction with O-buta-2,3-dienyl salicylaldehyde afforded 3-methylene-hexahydrochromeno[4,3-b]pyrrole. O-Allenyl salicylaldehyde reacted with sarcosine and 1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid to give a new type of chromeno-pyrroles. A mechanism proposal for the synthesis of these chromeno[2,3-b]pyrroles has been presented.     

Analysis and purification of O-decanoyl sucrose regio-isomers by reversed phase high pressure liquid chromatography with evaporative light scattering detection

Purification of seven regio-isomers of O-decanoyl sucrose, 2-O-, 3-O-, 4-O-, 6-O-, 3′-O-, 4′-O- and 6′-O-decanoyl sucrose, were performed by LC followed by preparative RP-HPLC with ELSD. Using an optimized gradient of acetonitrile in water 2-O-, 3-O-, 6-O- and 3′-O-decanoyl sucrose were purified in yields (w/w) of 52.5%, 34.7%, 45.0% and 36.9%, respectively. In the purified preparations of the 2-O- and 3′-O-decanoyl sucrose respectively, acyl migration was observed as a result of the drying process. Lyophilization resulted in the highest purities (w/w) of 96% and 100% for the 2-O- and the 3′-O-decanoyl sucrose, respectively.     

Quantitative Analysis of Caffeoylquinic Acids and Styrylpyrones in Sweetia panamensis Bark by UPLC

Six secondary metabolites from the methanolic extract of Sweetia panamensis (Fabaceae) bark were isolated and characterised. Along with the pyrones desmethylangonine β-d-O-glucopyranoside and desmethylangonine β-d-O-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, already reported in this species, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid), 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid and the isoflavonoid 5-O-methylgenistein 7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside were isolated for the first time from S. panamensis. Additionally, an LC-ESI-MS qualitative analysis was performed and an ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) method was developed and validated for the determination of these compounds. The UPLC method was applied to the quantitative analysis of plant samples. Pyrones and caffeoylquinic acids resulted to be the main compounds in the extract; in particular desmethylangonine β-d-O-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-d-glucopyranoside was the most abundant compound.     

Four new constituents from Taraxacum mongolicum

Two new flavone glycosides,isoetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-2′-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside (1) and isoetin-7-O-β-D-glucopyr- anosyl-2′-O-α-D-glucopyranoside (2),a new lignan,mongolicumin A (3),and a new guaianolide,mongolicumin B (4) were isolated from the aerial part of Taraxacum mongolicum.Their structures were elucidated mainly by spectral analyses.