A new NMR approach for structure determination of thermally unstable biflavanones and application to phytochemicals from Garcinia buchananii

Previous activity‐guided phytochemical studies on Garcinia buchananii stem bark, which is traditionally used in Africa to treat various gastrointestinal and metabolic illnesses, revealed xanthones, polyisoprenylated benzophenones, flavanone‐C‐glycosides, biflavonoids, and/or biflavanones as bioactive key molecules. Unequivocal structure elucidation of biflavonoids and biflavanones by means of NMR spectroscopy is often complicated by the hindered rotation of the monomers around the C‐C axis (atropisomerism), resulting in a high spectral complexity. In order to facilitate an unrestricted rotation, NMR spectra are usually recorded at elevated temperatures, commonly over 80 °C, which effects in a single set of resonance signals. However, under these conditions, one of the target compounds of this investigation, (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)‐manniflavanone ( 1 ), undergoes degradation. Therefore, we demonstrated in the present study that the 1,1‐ADEQUATE could be successfully used as a powerful alternative approach to confirm the C‐C connectivities in 1 , avoiding detrimental conditions. However, a moderate increase in temperature up to 50 °C was sufficient to deliver sharp signals in the proton NMR experiment of (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)‐isomanniflavanone ( 2 ) and (2″R,3″R)‐preussianone ( 3 ). In addition, two new compounds could be isolated, namely (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)‐GB‐2 7″‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ) and (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)‐manniflavanone‐7″‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ), and whose structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry methods. The absolute configurations were determined by a combination of NMR and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy. The aforementioned compounds exhibited high anti‐oxidative capacity in the H₂O₂ scavenging, hydrophilic Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (H‐TEAC) and hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H‐ORAC) assays. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Total Synthesis of 4′′‐O‐Acetylmananthoside B Part II: Synthesis of the Disaccharide Fragment

A disaccharide compound, p‐methoxyphenyl 2,3,4‐tri‐O‐benzyl‐β‐L‐arabinopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐2‐O‐benzyl‐3,4‐di‐O‐acetyl‐β‐D‐galactopyranoside ( 17 ), was successfully synthesized from two monosaccharides L‐arabinose and D‐galactose and fully characterized. This compound can be used to build a natural product 4″‐O‐acetylmanan thoside B, which was isolated from the leaves and stems of a kind of Vietnamese Acanthaceae Justicia patentiflora.     

New Lignans from the Roots of Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata

The five new lignans designated 3′,4′‐de‐O‐methylenehinokinin ( 1 ), taiwaninolide ( 2 ), 8′‐hydroxysavinin ( 3 ), isoguamarol ( 4 ), and 4′‐O‐methylsalicifolin ( 5 ), as well as the new 4‐(3,4‐dimethoxybenzyl)dihydro‐3‐(4‐hydroxybenzyl)furan‐2(3H)‐one ( 6 ) were isolated from the roots of Taiwania cryptomerioides, besides the three known compounds hinokinin ( 8 ), savinin ( 9 ), and 3,4‐de‐O‐methylenehinokinin ( 7 ). The structures of the new constituents were elucidated through chemical and spectral studies. A compound previously isolated from the heartwood of Chamaecyparis obtusa var. formosana was assigned structure 1 ; however, this structure has now been revised to be 3,4‐de‐O‐methylenehinokinin ( 7 ).     

New Bisabolane Sesquiterpenes from the Rhizomes of Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb. and Their Inhibitory Effects on UVB‐Induced MMP‐1 Expression in Human Keratinocytes

Two new bisabolane sesquiterpenoids, 1 and 2 , along with five known ones, 13‐hydroxyxanthorrhizol ( 3 ), 12,13‐epoxyxanthorrhizol ( 4 ), xanthorrhizol ( 5 ), β‐curcumene ( 6 ), and β‐bisabolol ( 7 ), were isolated from the rhizomes of Curcuma xanthorrhiza Roxb . The chemical structures of the new compounds were determined to be (7R,10R)‐10,11‐dihydro‐10,11‐dihydroxyxanthorrhizol 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ) and (?)‐curcuhydroquinone 2,5‐di‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ) on the basis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic analyses and optical‐rotation characteristics. Compounds 2 and 3 decreased MMP‐1 expression in UVB‐treated human keratinocytes by ca. 8.9‐ and 7.6‐fold at the mRNA level, and by ca. 9.2‐ and 6.6‐fold at the protein level, respectively. The results indicate that the isolated compounds may have anti‐aging effects through inhibition of MMP‐1 expression in skin cells.     

Three New C19‐Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Aconitum forrestii

A further study of the alkaloid constituents of Aconitum forrestii led to the isolation of three new C₁₉‐diterpenoid alkaloids, named 14‐acetoxy‐8‐O‐methylsachaconitine ( 1 ), 14‐acetoxyscaconine ( 2 ), and 8‐O‐ethylcammaconine ( 3 ). Their structures were determined by UV, IR, and MS, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses.     

Four New Lariciresinol‐Based Lignan Glycosides from the Roots of Rhus javanica var. roxburghiana

The four new lariciresinol‐based lignan glycosides, (?)‐lariciresinol 4′‐(6″‐O‐feruloyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 1 ), (?)‐lariciresinol 4′‐(4″,6″‐di‐O‐feruloyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 2 ), 5,5′‐dimethoxylariciresinol 4′‐(4″,6″‐di‐O‐feruloyl)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 3 ), and 4‐O‐[α‐(1,2‐dihydroxyethyl)syringyl]‐5,5′‐dimethoxylariciresinol 4′‐(4″,6″‐di‐O‐feruloyl‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 4 ), together with two known ones, lariciresinol 4′‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 5 ) and tortoside B ( 6 ), were isolated from the BuOH extract of Rhus javanica var. roxburghiana roots, and their structures were established by means of various spectroscopic techniques.     

Three New Triterpenoid Saponins from Ardisia crenata

Three new triterpenoid saponins, ardisicrenoside I ( 1 ), ardisicrenoside J ( 2 ), and ardisicrenoside M ( 3 ), along with eight known compounds, were isolated from the roots of Ardisia crenata Sims . Their structures were elucidated as 16α‐hydroxy‐30,30‐dimethoxy‐3β‐O‐{β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl}‐13β,28‐epoxyoleanane ( 1 ), 16α‐hydroxy‐30,30‐dimethoxy‐3β‐O‐{α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl}‐13β,28‐epoxyoleanane ( 2 ), 30,30‐dimethoxy‐16‐oxo‐3β‐O‐{β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl}‐13β,28‐epoxyoleanane ( 3 ), ardisiacrispin A ( 4 ), ardisiacrispin B ( 5 ), ardisicrenoside B ( 6 ), ardisicrenoside A ( 7 ), ardisicrenoside H ( 8 ), ardisicrenoside G ( 9 ), cyclamiretin A‐3β‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside ( 10 ), and cyclamiretin A‐3β‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranoside ( 11 ) by means of chemical and spectral analysis, and their cytotoxicities were evaluated in vitro.     

Flavonol Glycosides with α‐Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities and New Flavone C‐Diosides from the Leaves of Machilus konishii

Seventeen flavonoids, five of which are flavone C‐diosides, 1 – 5 , were isolated from the BuOH‐ and AcOEt‐soluble fractions of the leaf extract of Machilus konishii. Among 1 – 5 , apigenin 6‐C‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), apigenin 8‐C‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ), and apigenin 8‐C‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ) are new. Both 4 and 5 are present as rotamer pairs. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of NMR‐spectroscopic analyses and MS data. In addition, the ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR data of apigenin 6‐C‐α‐L ‐arabinopyranosyl‐2″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ) were assigned for the first time. The isolated compounds were assayed against α‐glucosidase (type IV from Bacillus stearothermophilus). Kaempferol 3‐O‐(2‐β‐D ‐apiofuranosyl)‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 12 ) was found to possess the best inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 29.3 μM .     

Analogues of α‐Campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐Trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde) as Building Blocks for (+)‐β‐Necrodol (= (1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐Trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol) and Sandalwood‐like Alcohols

To complete our panorama in structure–activity relationships (SARs) of sandalwood‐like alcohols derived from analogues of α‐campholenal (= (1R)‐2,2,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐3‐ene‐1‐acetaldehyde), we isomerized the epoxy‐isopropyl‐apopinene (?)‐ 2d to the corresponding unreported α‐campholenal analogue (+)‐ 4d (Scheme 1). Derived from the known 3‐demethyl‐α‐campholenal (+)‐ 4a , we prepared the saturated analogue (+)‐ 5a by hydrogenation, while the heterocyclic aldehyde (+)‐ 5b was obtained via a Bayer‐Villiger reaction from the known methyl ketone (+)‐ 6 . Oxidative hydroboration of the known α‐campholenal acetal (?)‐ 8b allowed, after subsequent oxidation of alcohol (+)‐ 9b to ketone (+)‐ 10 , and appropriate alkyl Grignard reaction, access to the 3,4‐disubstituted analogues (+)‐ 4f,g following dehydration and deprotection. (Scheme 2). Epoxidation of either (+)‐ 4b or its methyl ketone (+)‐ 4h , afforded stereoselectively the trans‐epoxy derivatives 11a,b , while the minor cis‐stereoisomer (+)‐ 12a was isolated by chromatography (trans/cis of the epoxy moiety relative to the C₂ or C₃ side chain). Alternatively, the corresponding trans‐epoxy alcohol or acetate 13a,b was obtained either by reduction/esterification from trans‐epoxy aldehyde (+)‐ 11a or by stereoselective epoxidation of the α‐campholenol (+)‐ 15a or of its acetate (?)‐ 15b , respectively. Their cis‐analogues were prepared starting from (+)‐ 12a . Either (+)‐ 4h or (?)‐ 11b , was submitted to a Bayer‐Villiger oxidation to afford acetate (?)‐ 16a . Since isomerizations of (?)‐ 16 lead preferentially to β‐campholene isomers, we followed a known procedure for the isomerization of (?)‐epoxyverbenone (?)‐ 2e to the norcampholenal analogue (+)‐ 19a . Reduction and subsequent protection afforded the silyl ether (?)‐ 19c , which was stereoselectively hydroborated under oxidative condition to afford the secondary alcohol (+)‐ 20c . Further oxidation and epimerization furnished the trans‐ketone (?)‐ 17a , a known intermediate of either (+)‐β‐necrodol (= (+)‐(1S,3S)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐methylenecyclopentanemethanol; 17c ) or (+)‐(Z)‐lancifolol (= (1S,3R,4Z)‐2,2,3‐trimethyl‐4‐(4‐methylpent‐3‐enylidene)cyclopentanemethanol). Finally, hydrogenation of (+)‐ 4b gave the saturated cis‐aldehyde (+)‐ 21 , readily reduced to its corresponding alcohol (+)‐ 22a . Similarly, hydrogenation of β‐campholenol (= 2,3,3‐trimethylcyclopent‐1‐ene‐1‐ethanol) gave access via the cis‐alcohol rac‐ 23a , to the cis‐aldehyde rac‐ 24 .     

Steroidal Alkaloids from Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz.) Loes. f. with Genotoxicity on Brain Cell DNA in Mice

Two new steroidal alkaloids, 2β‐hydroxyverdine ( 1 ) and tomatillidine 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), were isolated from the root and rhizome of Veratrum dahuricum (Turcz .) Loes . f., together with four known compounds, i.e., 16‐O‐(2‐methylbutyroyl)germine ( 3 ), veramitaline ( 4 ), jervine ( 5 ), and veratroylzygadenine ( 6 ). Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic analysis, as well as by comparison with data in literature. Compounds 1 – 6 exhibited genotoxicity on brain cell DNA of the cerebellum and cerebral cortex in mice, evaluated by using single‐cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay).     

Dapholidins A – C,New Isomeric Biisoflavonoids From Daphne oleoides

Three new isomeric biisoflavonoids, dapholidins A–C ( 1 – 3 , resp.), have been isolated from the AcOEt‐soluble fraction of the MeOH‐soluble extract of the roots of Daphne oleoides, along with the known compounds daphwazirin ( 4 ), daphnetin 8‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ), daphnin ( 6 ), daphneticin 4″‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 7 ), and 6,7‐dihydroxy‐3‐methoxy‐8‐[2‐oxo‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐7‐(O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl)‐8‐yl]‐2H‐1‐benzopyran‐2‐one ( 8 ). The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR.     

Five New β‐Carboline‐Type Alkaloids from Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata

Five new β‐carboline‐type alkaloids, dichotomines F–J ( 1 – 5 , resp.), along with nine known compounds, dichotomides I, III, V, and VII ( 6 – 9 , resp.), stellarines A and C ( 10 – 11 , resp.), dichotomine B ( 12 ), glucodichotomine B ( 13 ), and 1‐acetyl‐3‐carboxy‐β‐carboline ( 14 ), were isolated from the roots of Chinese medicinal plant Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata. Their structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic means. Compounds 12 and 13 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity.     

Flavone Glycosides from Strobilanthes Formosanus

Two new flavone glycosides, 3′‐hydroxy‐5,7‐dimethoxyflavone 4′‐O‐β‐D‐apiofuranoside ( 1 ), and 5,7‐dimethoxyflavone 4′‐O‐[β‐D‐apiofuranosyl(1→5)‐ β‐D‐glucopyranoside] ( 2 ) along with four known compounds, 4′‐hydroxy‐5,7‐dimethoxyflavone ( 3 ), 2,6‐dimethoxy‐1,4‐benzoquinone ( 4 ), lupeol ( 5 ) and betulin ( 6 ) were isolated from the stem and roots of Strobilanthes formosanus. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their spectroscopic evidence.     

Crown ether functionalized magnetic hydroxyapatite as eco‐friendly microvessel inorganic‐organic hybrid nanocatalyst in nucleophilic substitution reactions: an approach to benzyl thiocyanate,cyanide, azide and acetate derivatives

In this paper, high catalytic activity of 4′,4″‐diformyl dibenzo‐18‐crown‐6 anchored onto the functionalized magnetite hydroxyapatite (γ‐Fe₂O₃@HAp–Crown) as a new, versatile and magnetically recoverable catalyst, was prepared. It evaluated as phase‐transfer catalyst and molecular host system for nucleophilic substitution reactions of benzyl halides with thiocyanate, cyanide, azide and acetate anions in water. No evidence for the formation of by‐products was observed and the products obtained in pure form without further purification. The nanocomposite was easily removed from solution via application of a magnetic field, allowing straightforward recovery and reuse. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized by several techniques such as FT‐IR, TGA‐DTG, EDX, XRD, BET, FE‐SEM, TEM and VSM.     

Five New C19‐Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Aconitum hemsleyanum

Five new C₁₉‐diterpenoid alkaloids, named hemsleyaconitines A–E ( 1 – 5 , resp.), were isolated from Aconitum hemsleyanum Pritz. By UV, IR, MS, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses, their structures were elucidated as 18‐dehydroxygeniculatine D ( 1 ), 6‐hydroxy‐14‐O‐veratroylneoline ( 2 ), 14‐O‐acetyl‐8‐ethoxysachaconitine ( 3 ), 18‐veratroylkaracoline ( 4 ) and 8‐O‐ethylaustroconitine B ( 5 ).     

Phenolic Compounds from Elsholtzia Bodinieri Van't

Seven phenolic compounds, including one new compound trans‐3,4,3′,5′‐tetrahydroxy‐4′‐methylstilbene 4‐O‐β‐D‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→6)‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), together with six known compounds (+)‐hinokiol ( 2 ), 6‐hydroxy‐5,7‐dimethoxycoumarin ( 3 ), caffeic acid ( 4 ), vanillic acid ( 5 ), 4‐hydroxy‐2,6‐dimethoxyphenol‐1‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside ( 6 ) and 4‐allyl‐2,6‐dimethoxyphenol‐1‐O‐β‐D‐glucopyranoside ( 7 ), were isolated from the root bark of Elsholtzia bodinieri Van't. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence.     

New and Bioactive Sesquiterpenes from Schisandra sphenanthera

Three new sesquiterpenes, schisansphenins A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ) and (?)‐γ‐cuparenol ( 3 ), were isolated from an acetone extract of the fruits of Schisandra sphenanthera. The known compound 4 was isolated for the frist time from a natural source. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analyses, particularly 2D‐NMR experiments (¹H,¹H‐COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY). A plausible biogenetic pathway for schisansphenin B ( 2 ) is proposed. Compounds 2 and 3 significantly reduced activation of NF‐AT and NF‐κB in the luciferase‐reporter assay.     

Perchloric Acid–Silica (HClO4⋅SiO2)‐Catalyzed Synthesis of 14‐Alkyl‐ or 14‐Aryl‐14H‐dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes and N‐[(2‐Hydroxynaphthalen‐1‐yl)methyl]amides

The synthesis of 14‐aryl‐ or 14‐alkyl‐14H‐dibenzo[a,j]xanthenes 3 involving the treatment of naphthalen‐2‐ol ( 1 ) with arenecarboxaldehydes or alkanals 2 in the presence of HClO₄?SiO₂ as a heterogeneous catalyst was achieved (Table 1), and this reaction was extended to the preparation of N‐[(2‐hydroxynaphthalen‐1‐yl)methyl]amides 5 by a three‐component reaction with urea ( 4a ) or an amide 4b – d as a third reactant (Table 2).     

Fabrication of β″‐alumina films as a thermoelectric material by thermal plasma processing

The fabrication of β″‐alumina films as thermoelectric materials was investigated by thermal plasma processing based on the forced constrictive‐type reactor. Under both atmospheric and low pressures, β″‐alumina films were synthesized successfully from a mixed powder of α‐Al₂O₃, Na₂CO₃ and MgO. The jet powder and substrate position strongly affect the properties of plasma‐processed β″‐alumina, which were found to be correlated with jet temperature. For both pressures, the films show good thermoelectric properties. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Building Functionality into 4′‐Hydrazone Derivatives of 2,2′: 6′,2″‐Terpyridine

The syntheses of the five 2,2′: 6′,2″‐terpyridine (tpy) ligands 5 – 9 functionalized in the 4′‐position with a hydrazone substituent RR′C?N? NH (R=R′=Me; R=H, R′=4‐BrC₆H₄, 4‐O₂NC₆H₄, 4‐MeOC₆H₄, or 3,5‐(MeO)₂C₆H₃) are described. Protonation of the tpy domain of the ligands is facile. Solution behaviour has been studied by NMR and electronic spectroscopies. Representative structural data are presented for neutral and monoprotonated ligands, and illustrate that H‐bonding involving the formal amine NH unit is a dominant structural motif in all cases.