Two novel indole alkaloids, Kopsiyunnanines A and B, from a Yunnan Kopsia

Two novel indole alkaloids having unusual skeletons were isolated from the aerial part of Yunnan Kopsia arborea. Kopsiyunnanine A (1) is a new class of bisindole alkaloid composed of vallesiachotamine (modified Corynanthe-type) and Aspidospermatan-type alkaloids. Kopsiyunnanine B (2) is a new Corynanthe-type oxindole alkaloid rearranged by D ring rotation.     

Plakoridine C, a novel piperidine alkaloid from an Okinawan marine sponge Plakortis sp.

A new piperidine alkaloid plakoridine C (1) has been isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Plakortis species, and the structure was elucidated from spectroscopic data. Plakoridine C (1) is a new alkaloid possessing a piperidine ring connected to a β-keto-γ-lactone through a double bond.     

Spectroscopic analyses and chemical transformation for structure elucidation of two novel indole alkaloids from Gelsemium elegans

Two new monoterpenoid oxindole alkaloids, gelsevanillidine (1) having an additional vanillin residue on gelsenicine-type alkaloid and gelseoxazolidinine (2) possessing an unusual oxazolidine ring, were isolated from Gelsemium elegans. To confirm their structures, the chemical transformation of a humantenine-type alkaloid into gelsevanillidine (1) and the deacetoxy derivative of gelseoxazolidinine was performed.     

Isolation,characterization, and NMR spectroscopic data of indole and oxindole alkaloids from Mitragyna speciosa

A new indole alkaloid, 7β-hydroxy-7H-mitraciliatine (1) and a new oxindole alkaloid, isospeciofoleine (2) together with nine known alkaloids were isolated from Mitragyna speciosa and characterized by NMR, CD, and MS spectroscopic data analyses. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopic data of isospeciofoline (3), isorotundifoline (4), paynantheine (5), and 3-isopaynantheine (6) were also reported for the first time.     

New humantenine-type indole alkaloids with iridoid unit from Gelsemium species

Two new oxindole alkaloids, rankiniridine (1) and humanteniridine (2), having a nitrogen-carbon linkage between a humantenine-type monoterpenoid indole alkaloid and a monoterpene unit with an iridoid skeleton, were isolated from Gelsemium rankinii and Gelsemium elegans, respectively.     

Palladium-mediated C-N, C-C, and C-O functionalization of azolopyrimidines: a new total synthesis of variolin B

A new total synthesis of the alkaloid variolin B is achieved by a selective and sequential palladium-mediated functionalization of a trihalo-substituted pyrido[3′,2′:4,5]pyrrolo[1,2-c]pyrimidine. This intermediate is obtained by a new heterocyclization reaction between an appropriate bromomethyl azaindole and N-tosylmethyl dichloroformimide. The methodology may be effective for the synthesis of some analogs by substitution on the relatively unexplored C4 and C9 positions of the alkaloid.     

Daphcalycinosidines A and B, new iridoid-alkaloids from Daphniphyllum calycinum

Three new alkaloids, daphcalycinosidines A (1) and B (2) and daphcalycic acid (3) have been isolated from the seeds of Daphniphyllum calycinum. The structures and relative stereochemistries were determined on the basis of spectral studies including 2D NMR, mass spectrometry and chemical transformations. Structures 1 and 2 are characterized by an iridoid glucoside moiety linked to new Daphniphyllum alkaloid moieties.     

New oxindole and indole alkaloids from Gelsemium rankinii

Six new humantenine-type (1-6) and two new gelsemine-type (7, 8) oxindole alkaloids and one new indole alkaloid (9) were isolated from the leaves and branches of Gelsemium rankinii. The structures of the new alkaloids were determined by spectroscopic analyses. Among them, 6-hydroxyhumantenine (5) is the first example of a Gelsemium alkaloid with an oxygen function at C-6 position, and is a plausible biogenetic precursor of gelsemine-type alkaloids.     

Ophiuroidine, the first indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline alkaloid from the Caribbean brittle star Ophiocoma riisei

A new indoloquinazoline alkaloid, ophiuroidine 1, having an indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-dione skeleton, was isolated from the Caribbean ophiuroid, Ophiocoma riisei. The structure of 1 was determined as 4,8,9-trihydroxyindolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-dione from spectroscopic data. Ophiuroidine 1 is the first example of an indoloquinazoline alkaloid found in a marine invertebrate.     

A new method for the synthesis of the marine alkaloid fascaplysin

A new method for the synthesis of the marine alkaloid fascaplysin has been developed via a simple and practical approach to pyrido[1,2-a:3,4-b′]diindole ring system formation. Conversion of the marine alkaloid homofascaplysin C into fascaplysin is also described.     

Kingamide A, a new indole alkaloid from the ascidian Leptoclinides kingi

Chemical investigation of the CH₂Cl₂/MeOH extract from the Australian ascidian Leptoclinideskingi led to the isolation of a new brominated indole alkaloid, kingamide A (1). The planar structure of kingamide A was elucidated following the interpretation of 1D/2D NMR and MS data, and the absolute configuration was determined using Marfey’s method. This is the first report of a natural product from L. kingi.     

Lycopladines F and G, new C16N2-type alkaloids with an additional C4N unit from Lycopodium complanatum

Two new Lycopodium alkaloids, lycopladines F (1) and G (2), have been isolated from the club moss Lycopodium complanatum, and the structures and relative stereochemistries of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Lycopladine F (1) is a rare C₁₆N₂-type Lycopodium alkaloid possessing an amino acid residue (C₄N).     

Mekongenines A and B, two new alkaloids from Bousigonia mekongensis

Mekongenine A (1) possessing an unprecedented structure constituted from the union of a rare 2,7-seco eburnamine half and an aspidospermine alkaloid, together with a new bisindole alkaloid, mekongenine B (2), consisting of an eburnamine-aspidospermine type skeleton, was isolated from Bousigonia mekongensis. Their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods and those of 2 were further confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by comparison of quantum chemical TDDFT calculated and experimental ECD spectra. Mekongenines A (1) and B (2) exhibited cell growth inhibitory activities against various human cancer cell lines.     

Alkaloids and citrinins from marine-derived fungus Nigrospora oryzae SCSGAF 0111

A new pyrrolidinone, nigrospine (1), a new indole alkaloid, nigrospin A (2) and two new citrinins, nigrospins B and C (3-4) were isolated from a culture broth of the marine-derived fungal strain Nigrospora oryzae SCSGAF 0111. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by the Mosher ester technique. Compound 1 contains a rare 2,3-dihydro-benzofuran[2,3-c]2-pyrrolidone skeleton.     

Sarusubine A, a new dimeric Lythraceae alkaloid from Lagerstroemia subcostata

A new dimeric Lythraceae alkaloid with a cyclobutane ring, sarusubine A (1), has been isolated from the leaves of Lagerstroemia subcostata, and the structure and stereochemistry were elucidated by spectroscopic data.     

Marine bacterial inhibitors from the sponge-derived fungus Aspergillus sp.

Chromatographic separation of a crude extract obtained from the fungus Aspergillus sp., isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Tethya aurantium, yielded a new tryptophan derived alkaloid, 3-((1-hydroxy-3-(2-methylbut-3-en-2-yl)-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)methyl)-1-methyl-3,4-dihydrobenzo[e][1,4]diazepine-2,5-dione (1), and a new meroterpenoid, austalide R (2), together with three known compounds (3–5). The structures of the new compounds were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of extensive one and two-dimensional NMR (¹H, ¹³C, COSY, HMBC, and ROESY) and mass spectral analysis. Interestingly, the compounds exhibited antibacterial activity when tested against a panel of marine bacteria, with 1 selectively inhibiting Vibrio species and 2 showing a broad spectrum of activity. In contrast, no significant activity was observed against terrestrial bacterial strains and the murine cancer cell line L5178Y.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydroxylation of oxindoles by molecular oxygen using a phase-transfer catalyst

The highly enantioselective catalytic hydroxylation of 3-substituted oxindoles was achieved by using a phase-transfer catalyst with molecular oxygen as an oxidant. The product then was converted to an optically active compound 8, which was a synthetic precursor of alkaloid CPC-1.     

Lobozoanthamine, a new zoanthamine-type alkaloid from the Indonesian soft coral Lobophytum sp.

A new member of the family of zoanthamine-type alkaloids, lobozoanthamine (1), has been isolated from the Indonesian soft coral Lobophytum sp. This represents the first report of a zoanthamine-type alkaloid from a marine invertebrate different from zoanthids. The densely functionalized heptacyclic stereostructure of lobozoanthamine (1) has been established through the interpretation of 2D NMR data and application of the modified Mosher method.     

Suffruticosine, a novel octacyclic alkaloid with an unprecedented skeleton from Securinegasuffruticosa (Pall.) Rehd.

A novel securinega alkaloid, suffruticosine (1), was isolated from the leaves and barks of Securinegasuffruticosa. The structure of 1, characterized by a fused complex octacyclic system, was elucidated by combined spectroscopic techniques, especially 2D NMR and CD spectral analyses.     

Speradine A, a new pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid from a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus tamarii

A new pentacyclic oxindole alkaloid, speradine A (1), was isolated from the cultured broth of a fungus Aspergillus tamarii, which was separated from driftwood at a seashore in Okinawa. The structure and relative stereochemistry were determined by spectroscopic data and a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.