Synthesis of isomeric 2-oxazolidinones from (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-and (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols

A synthesis is reported for (4R,5R)-and (4S,5S)-4-hydroxymethyl-5-(4-nitrophenyl)oxazolidin-2-ones and (1′R,4R)-and (1′S,4S)-4-[hydroxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]oxazolidin-2-ones from (1R,2R)-and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols. The effect of the experimental conditions on the formation of these compounds was studied. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1562–1570, October, 2007.     

Two new isomeric lignans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eusideroxylon zwageri</Emphasis>

Two new lignans were isolated with two other known compounds, eusiderin A and eusiderin I, from Eusideroxylon zwageri (billian). The two new lignans have isomeric structure. The structures of the new lignans were determined to be (2R,3R,4S)-2,3-dimethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethoxy (3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzene)-1,5-dihydroxytetralin and (2R,3S,4S)-2,3-dimethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethoxy(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzene)-1,5-dihydroxytetralin. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 303–305, May–June, 2009.     

Brugnanin,a new syn-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran neolignan dioate from the mangrove <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bruguiera gymnorrhiza</Emphasis>

Brugnanin (1), a neolignan dioate, was isolated from a mangrove plant Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. Based on spectroscopic interpretation of MS, IR, and NMR data, 1 was elucidated as (7R*,8S*,E)-3-hydroxy-5,5′-dimethoxy-7-O-4′,8-3′-neolignan-7′-ene-9,9′-dioic acid dioctadecyl ester. MTT assay showed that 1 had weak inhibitory activity against growth of CNE-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 147–149, March–April, 2008.     

New glycosidic and other constituents from hulls of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis>

Three new compounds, 4-hydroxymethylene-7-(9,9,13-trimethylcyclohexyl)-heptanyl-3′,7′,7′-trimethylcyclohexa-2′,4′-dien-1′-oate (1), 1-(n-hexadec-7-enoxy)-6-(n-octadecanoxy)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), and (Z)-12-hydroxy-9-octadecenoic acid-12-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), along with the known compound hexacosanoic acid (4), were isolated and identified from the rice hulls of Oryza sativa. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques (¹H-¹H COSY, ¹H-¹³C HETCOR, DEPT) aided by EIMS, FABMS, HRFABMS, and IR spectra. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 344–347, July–August, 2007.     

A new stilbene glycoside from the <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-butanol fraction of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Veratrum dahuricum</Emphasis>

A new stilbene glycoside, 5-methylresveratrol-3,4′-O-β-D-diglucopyranoside (1), was isolated from the n-butanol fraction of the rhizomes of Veratrum dahuricum, together with five known stilbenoids: resveratrol-3-O-β-D-glycoside (2), 4′-methylresveratrol-3-O-β-D-glycoside (3), oxyresveratrol-4′-O-β-D-glycoside (4), oxyresveratrol-3-O-β-D-glycoside (5), and oxyresveratrol-3,4′-O-β-D-diglycoside (6), and found for the first time in the investigated plant. The structures of six isolates were identified on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR data. Compounds 1–6 showed platelet aggregation inhibition, and compound 1 had an IC₅₀ value of 383.6 μM against platelet aggregation induced by AA. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 279–282, May–June, 2009.     

New alkaloids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Casimiroa edulis</Emphasis> fruits and their pharmacological activity

The extract of Casimiroa edulis was investigated for antihypertensive activity. The ethanol and total alkaloids (in chloroform) extracts were found to have antihypertensive properties at doses of 500 and 200 mg/kg, respectively. Four quinolinone alkaloids were isolated and identified as: 2-(2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyphenyl)-5,8-dimethoxy-3-propyl-1H-quinolin-4-one (1), 5,8-dimethoxy-2-(3′-methoxyphenyl)-3-propyl-1H-quinolin-4-one (2), 5,8-dimethoxy-2-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-propyl-1H-quinolin-4-one (3), and 5,6-dimethoxy-2-(2′,5′,6′-trimethoxyphenyl)-1H-quinolin-4-one (4). Interestingly, compounds 1, 2, and 3 were found to be new alkaloids. The four isolated alkaloids showed antihypertensive activity at doses of 50, 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg, respectively. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 473–476, September–October, 2007.     

Two novel phenolic compounds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stenoloma chusanum</Emphasis> and their antifungal activity

Two new phenolic compounds, 4-O-β-D-(6-O-gentisoylglucopyranosyl) vanillic acid (1), 2-O-β-D-(6-O-gentisoylglucopyranosyl) gentisic acid (2), together with three known compounds, vanillic acid (3), syringic acid (4), and gentisic acid (5), were isolated from the whole part of Stenoloma chusanum (L.) Ching. Structures of the two new compounds 1, 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including twodimensional NMR techniques and HR ESI-MS analysis. The compounds′ activities against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Aspergillus niger were determined, and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were 25–100 μg/mL. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 161–164, March–April, 2009.     

Another two novel ceramides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zephyranthes candida</Emphasis>

From the the bulbs of Zephyranthes candida (Amaryllidaceae), another two novel ceramides have been isolated and identified. The structures of the two novel compounds were established as (2S,3S,4R,21E,2′R)2-[N-(2′-hydroxynonadecanoyl)-N-(1′′,2′′-dihydroxyethyl)amino]-21-hexacosene-1,3,4-triol, named zephyranamide C (1), and 1,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxy-2-(2′-hydroxyhexacosanoyl-amino)-18-(E)-tetracosene, named zephyranamide D (2). Their structures and stereochemistries were elucidated by spectral techniques including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, as well as HSQC, HMBC, DEPT, and COSY.     

Glutinane triterpenes from the stem bark of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euonymus hamiltonianus</Emphasis>

Three new glutinane-type triterpenes, 19α-glutin-5-en-19-ol (1), 2β,15α,21β-glutin-11-ene-2,15,21-triol (2), and 2β,19α-glutin-7,21-diene-2,19-diol (3), were isolated from the stem bark of Euonymus hamiltonianus. Their structures were determined by 1D and 2D NMR along with MS and IR. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 321–323, May–June, 2009.     

Iridoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Symphoricarpos albus</Emphasis>

Twelve compounds including secologanin, loganin, the aglycon of loganin, and a new iridoid called glucologanin were isolated from fruit of common snowberry Symphoricarpos albus (L.) Blake. The structure of glucologanin was confirmed using PMR and mass spectroscopy and chemical transformations. 2′,3′,4′,6′,7-Penta-O-acetylloganin and 2′,3′,4′,6′-tetra-O-acetylloganin were synthesized. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 37–40, January–February, 2009.     

Isoflavone glycosides from the bark of Amorpha fruticosa

Four known isoflavone glucosides have been isolated from the bark of Amorpha fruticosa, which is a traditional remedy plant, for the first time. They were elucidated as 3′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), 4′,6-dimethoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), 4′-methoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), and 3′,5-dihydroxy-4′-methoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), based on the UV, FT-IR, EIMS, FABMS, HREIMS, and NMR (¹H and ¹³C, DEPT, COSY, NOESY, HMQC, and HMBC) data. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 336–338, July–August, 2006.     

Ellagic acid derivatives from the stem bark of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dipentodon sinicus</Emphasis>

Ellagic acid derivatives were isolated from Dipentodon sinicus and their structures were identified as 3,3′,4′-tri-O-methylellagic acid (1), 3,3′-di-O-methylellagic acid (2), 4,4′-di-O-methylellagic acid (3), 3,3′-di-O-methylellagic acid-4′-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), 3,3′,4′-tri-O-methylellagic acid-4′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), 3,3′-di-O-methylellagic acid-4′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), and ellagic acid (7). All the compounds were isolated for the first time from the title plant. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 106–107, March–April, 2007.     

Asymmetric aldol condensation in an ionic liquid-water system catalyzed by (<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-prolinamide derivatives.

Asymmetric aldol reaction of unmodified aldehydes with ketones catalyzed by 1(R),2(R)-bis((S)-prolinamido)cyclohexane (1) or (Rax)-2,2′-bis((S)-prolinamido)-1,1′-binaphtyl (2) proceeds with high yield (68–99%) and diastereoselectivity (dr ≥ 75/25) in the system (1-butyl-3-methylimida-zolium) tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF₄])-water. The dependence of ee of the dominating anti-diastereomer of aldol on the percentage of water has a maximum at 50 vol.%. Catalyst 1 can be recycled 5 times without losses in the aldol yield, dr and ee. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 578–581, March, 2008.     

New chiral spiro[2.5]octanones as products of methylenation of (3<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>, 6<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-2-arylidene-6-isopropyl-3-methylcyclohexanones with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide. Synthesis,stereochemistry, and behavior in liquid-crystalline systems

Methylenation of (3R,6R)-2-(4-X-benzylidene)-6-isopropyl-3-methylcyclohexanones (X = F, Cl, Ph) with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide occurs stereoselectively to give 1(S)-(4-X-phenyl)-5(R)-isopropyl-8(R)-methyl-3(R)-spiro[2.5]octanones, whose stereochemistry was established by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The configuration of the chiral centers in the cyclohexanone fragment and its preferred conformation (methyl is axial and isopropyl is equatorial) in the products do not change with respect to the starting enones. The mutual trans-arrangement of the carbonyl and aryl groups at the newly formed three-membered ring was established; the aryl group also occupies the trans-position with respect to the axial methyl group of the cyclohexanone fragment. Using methylenation of the compound with X = Ph as an example, a mixture of by-products resulting from oxidative hydroxylation at the α-position relative to the carbonyl group was isolated. The resulting chiral spiro[2.5]octanones induce a helical supramolecular ordering in the nematic mesophase of 4-pentyl-4′-cyanobiphenyl and exhibit a twisting power only somewhat (by 20–30%) lower than the starting enones. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 2331–2341, October, 2005.     

Antioxidant flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamus communis</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cretica</Emphasis>

A new flavonoid, kaempferol-3,4′-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), and three known flavonoids (2–4) were isolated from the aerial parts of T. communis L. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ 187.151 ± 0.821 μM, and 92.079±0.513 μM, respectively), whereas compounds 3 and 4 showed moderate activity in DPPH free radical scavenging assays. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 295–297, May–June, 2009.     

Syntheses, crystal structures and spectral properties of three chiral complexes [M((R, R)-et-pybox)Cl2] (M=Zn and Mn) and [Ni((R, R)-et-pybox)(H2O)2Cl]Cl

Three chiral complexes: [M((R, R)-et-pybox)Cl₂] (M=Zn, 1, and Mn, 2) and [Ni((R, R)-et-pybox)(H₂O)₂Cl]Cl (3) ((R, R)-et-pybox is C₂-symmetric 2,6-bis[4′-(R)-ethoxyoxazolin-2′-yl]pyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV, TG and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses show that 1 is isostructural to 2, the obtained complexes are of isolated mononuclear and the metal atoms of 1 and 2 have distorted trigonal bipyramidal coordination environment. A feature of interest is noted in the unit cell of 3, there exist two types of molecules, which similarly have a distorted octahedral geometry but only slightly differ in the orientation of the coordinated atoms to the central Ni atom. These two types of molecules interact with each other by O–H···Cl hydrogen bonds, giving rise to one-dimensional ribbon structure.     

Synthesis of 1,11,11-trimethyl-3,6-diazotricyclo [6.2.1.0<Superscript>2,7</Superscript>]undeca-2,6-diene and 1,15,15-trimethyl-3,10-diazotetracyclo[10.2.1.0<Superscript>2,11</Superscript>.0<Superscript>4,9</Superscript>]pentadeca-2,4(9),5,7,10-pentaene from camphoroquinone enantiomers

Optically active camphordihydro-2,3-pyrazine and camphorquinoxaline were prepared from camphoroquinone enantiomers. It was shown that (1S,4R)-(+)-camphoroquinone was formed by oxidation of (1S,3R, 4R)-(−)-3-bromocamphor and (1R,4S)-(−)-camphoroquinone from (1R,3S, 4S)-(+)-3-bromocamphor, respectively. Camphor anhydride was a side product (6–10%) of the reaction. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 50–52, January–February, 2007.     

Synthesis of 20S-protopanaxadiol 20-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, a metabolite of Panax ginseng glycosides, and compounds related to it

A preparative semi-synthetic method was developed to prepare 20S-protopanaxadiol 20-O-β-Dglucopyranoside (1), a metabolite of Panax ginseng glycosides. The 20-O-•-D-glucopyranosides of 20S-hydroxydammar-24-en-3,12-dione, 3β,20S-dihydroxydammar-24-en-12-one, and 3β,12α, 20S-trihydroxydammar-24-ene were synthesized for the first time. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 364–369, July–August, 2006.     

Triterpenoids from plants of the genus Tamarix

The taraxeran-14-ene-type triterpenoids methyl 3-β-al-D-fridoolean-14-en-28-oate (1), 3-α-[3″,4′-dihydroxytrans-cinnamoyl]-oxy-D-fridoolean-14-en-28-oic acid (2), and β-sitosterol (3) were isolated from the aerial part of plants from the genus Tamarix (T. laxa, T. elongata) (Tamaricaceae). The structures of the triterpenoids were proved using spectral data (IR, UV, PMR, ¹³C NMR, 2D NMR ¹H-¹H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, mass). Compound 1 is new and not previously described in the literature. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 271–273, May–June, 2006.     

Phenolic constituents from the stems of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acanthopanax senticosus</Emphasis>

A new phenolic glycoside was isolated from the stems of Acanthopanax senticosus together with sixteen known compounds. The structure of the new compound was determined to be 2,6-dimethoxy-4-[(1E)-3,3-dimethoxy-1-propenyl]phenyl β-D-glucopyranoside (1) by means of physical, chemical, and spectroscopic methods. Of the known compounds, salvadoraside (7), (7R,8S)-dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 4,9′-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), 3-(4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylferuloyl)quinic acid (15), rel-5-(1R,5S-dimethyl-3R,4R,8S-trihydroxy-7-oxa-6-oxobicyclo[3,2,1]oct-8-yl)-3-methyl-2Z,4E-pentadienoic acid (16), and lycoperodine-l (17) were first reported from the title plant. The inhibitory activities of the isolated compounds against α-glucosidase from rat intestine were also reported.