Sesquiterpenoids and Their Glycosides from Gynura procumbens

Chemical investigation of the MeOH extract of the leaves of Gynura procumbens (Lour .) Merr . afforded one new sesquiterpenoid, muurol‐4‐ene‐1β,3β,10β‐triol ( 1 ), and two sesquiterpene glycosides, muurol‐4‐ene‐1β,3β,10β‐triol 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ) and muurol‐4‐ene‐1β,3β,15‐triol 3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ), together with three known sesquiterpenoids. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analyses and chemical methods.     

Two New Lycopodine Alkaloids from Huperzia serrata

Two new lycopodine alkaloids, (12β)‐12‐hydroxyhuperzine G ( 1 ) and (5β,6β,15α)‐15‐methyllycopodane‐5,6‐diol ( 2 ), were isolated from the whole plants of Huperzia serrata, together with six known compounds, huperzines A, B, and G, phlegmariurine B, (8β)‐8‐hydroxyphlegmariurine B, and lycoposerramine D. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including HR‐ESI‐MS, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, DEPT, ¹H,¹H‐COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY data.     

5-雄烯-3β, 7α, 17β-三醇和5-雄烯-3β, 7β, 17β-三醇的合成

以5-雄烯二醇为原料,用微生物转化的方法合成了两个重要的神经甾体5-雄烯-3β, 7α, 17β-三醇和5-雄烯-3β, 7β, 17β-三醇。所用菌种总枝毛霉为我们自己筛选,并首次应用于5-雄烯-3β, 7α, 17β-三醇和5-雄烯-3β, 7β, 17β-三醇的合成中。     

Complete 1H NMR assignments of pyrrolizidine alkaloids and a new eudesmanoid from Senecio polypodioides

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Senecio polypodioides lead to the isolation of the new eudesmanoid 1β‐angeloyloxyeudesm‐7‐ene‐4β,9α‐diol ( 1 ) and the known dirhamnosyl flavonoid lespidin ( 3 ), while from roots, the known 7β‐angeloyloxy‐1‐methylene‐8α‐pyrrolizidine ( 5 ) and sarracine N‐oxide ( 6 ), as well as the new neosarracine N‐oxide ( 8 ), were obtained. The structure of 1 and 8 was elucidated by spectral means. Complete assignments of the ¹H NMR data for 5 , 6 , sarracine ( 7 ), and 8 were made using one‐dimensional and two‐dimensional NMR experiments and by application of the iterative full spin analysis of the PERCH NMR software. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of Phenanthrene Derivatives through the Reaction of an α,α‐Dicyanoolefin with α,β‐Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Phenanthrene derivatives were prepared by reacting an α,α‐dicyanoolefin with different α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl compounds resulting from Wittig reaction of ninhydrin and phosphanylidene or condensation of barbituric acid and an aldehyde. The easy procedure, mild and metal‐catalyst free, reaction conditions, good yields, and no need for chromatographic purifications are important features of this protocol. The structures of the product of type 3 and 5 were corroborated spectroscopically (IR, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and EI‐MS). A plausible mechanism for this type of reaction is proposed (Scheme 1).     

Substrate Range of the Titanium TADDOLate Catalyzed Asymmetric Fluorination of Activated Carbonyl Compounds

The substrate range of the [TiCl₂(TADDOLate)] (TADDOL=α,α,α′,α′‐tetraaryl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐4,5‐dimethanol)‐catalyzed asymmetric α‐fluorination of activated β‐carbonyl compounds has been investigated. Optimal conditions for catalysis are characterized by using 5 mol‐% of TiCl₂(naphthalen‐1‐yl)‐TADDOLate) as catalyst in a saturated (0.14 mol/l) MeCN solution of F‐TEDA (1‐(chloromethyl)‐4‐fluoro‐1,4‐diazoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane bis‐[tetrafluoroborate]) at room temperature. A series of α‐methylated β‐keto esters (3‐oxobutanoates, 3‐oxopentanoates) with bulky benzyl ester groups (60–90% ee) or phenyl ester (67–88% ee) have been fluorinated readily, whereas α‐acyl lactones were also readily fluorinated, but gave lower inductions (13–46% ee). Double stereochemical differentiation in β‐keto esters with chiral ester groups raised the stereoselectivity to a diastereomeric ratio (dr) of up to 96.5 : 3.5. For the first time, β‐keto S‐thioesters were asymmetrically fluorinated (62–91.5% ee) and chlorinated (83% ee). Lower inductions were observed in fluorinations of 1,3‐diketones (up to 40% ee) and β‐keto amides (up to 59% ee). General strategies for preparing activated β‐carbonyl compounds as important model substrates for asymmetric catalytic α‐functionalizations are presented (>60 examples).     

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).     

Cytotoxic Activity of Capnellene‐8β, 10α‐Diol Derivatives from a Taiwanese Soft Coral Capnella sp.

The sesquiterpene capnellene‐8β, 10α‐diol ( 1 ) was isolated from non‐polar extract of the soft coral Capnella sp. Ten acylation products of capnellene‐8β, 10α‐diol were prepared: 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐benzoylcapnellene ( 2 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐p‐toluoylcapnellene ( 3 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐chlorobenzoyl‐capnellene ( 4 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐2‐furoylcapnellene ( 5 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐2‐thiophenoylcapnellene ( 6 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐fluorobenzoylcapnellene ( 7 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐propylbenzoylcapnellene ( 8 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐cinnamoylcapnellene ( 9 ), 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐nitrobenzoylcapnellene ( 10 ), and 10α‐hydroxy‐8β‐O‐4‐anisoylcapnellene ( 11 ). The structures of capnellene‐8β, 10α‐diol as well as its derivatives were established through standard spectroscopic analysis. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of the eleven compounds were evaluated against Hela, KB, Daoy, and WiDr human tumor cell lines.     

Mn(III)‐Mediated Chlorination of Conjugated Ketones

Mn(III)‐Cl formed by the reaction of Mn(OAc)₃ and hydrochloric acid in situ, reacted with α,β‐unsaturated ketones readily to afford α,β‐dichloroketones in good yields under mild conditions. The products are key precursors for synthesis of conjugated alkynones and other organic compounds.     

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.     

A New Abietane Diterpenoid from Plectranthus bishopianus Benth.

Chemical examination of the MeOH extract of Plectranthus bishopianus Benth ., a rare and endangered plant, resulted in isolation of a new abietane diterpene, 6β‐hydroxy‐7α‐methoxyroyleanone ( 1 ), along with two more diterpenoids, 6,7‐dehydroroyleanone, and 6β,7α‐dihydroxyroyleanone, a triterpene oleanolic acid, and two sterols, β‐sistosterol and stigmasterol. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and also by comparison with authentic samples.     

Two New Sesquiterpene Polyol Esters from Celastrus angulatus

Two novel sesquiterpene polyol esters with a dihydro‐β‐agarofuran (=(3R,5aS,9R,9aS)‐octahydro‐2,2,5a,9‐tetramethyl‐2H‐3,9a‐methano‐1‐benzoxepin) skeleton, (1α,2α,4β,8α,9α)‐1,2,8,12‐tetrakis(acetyloxy)‐9‐(furoyloxy)‐4‐hydroxydihydro‐β‐agarofuran ( 1 ) and (1α,2α,6β,8α,9α)‐1,2,6,8,12‐pentakis(acetyloxy)‐9‐(benzoyloxy)dihydro‐β‐agarofuran ( 2 ), and the three known compounds (1α,2α,4β,6β,8α,9β)‐1,2,6‐tris(acetyloxy)‐9‐(benzoyloxy)‐4‐hydroxy‐8,12‐bis(isobutyryloxy)dihydro‐β‐agarofuran ( 3 ), (1α, 2α,4β,6β,8α,9β)‐1,2,6,8‐tetrakis(acetyloxy)‐9‐(furoyloxy)‐4‐hydroxy‐12‐isobutyryloxy)dihydro‐β‐agarofuran ( 4 ), and (1α,2α,4β,6β,8α,9β)‐1,2,6‐tris(acetyloxy)‐9‐(benzoyloxy)‐4‐hydroxy‐8‐(isobutyryloxy)‐12‐[(2‐methylbutanoyl)oxy]dihydro‐β‐agarofuran ( 5 ) were isolated from the root bark of Celastrus angulatus. Their chemical structures were elucidated by analyses of their MS and NMR data.     

Base‐Induced Decarboxylation of Polyunsaturated α‐Cyano Acids Derived from Malonic Acid: Synthesis of Sesquiterpene Nitriles and Aldehydes with β‐, φ‐, and ψ‐End Groups

Catalytic base‐induced decarboxylation of polyunsaturated α‐cyano‐β‐methyl acids derived from malonic acid led to the corresponding nitriles 3 (Schemes 2 and 3), 6 (Scheme 5), and 9 (Scheme 6). This decarboxylation occurred with previous deconjugation of the α,β‐alkene moiety of the α‐cyano‐β‐methyl acid, leading to an α‐cyano‐β‐methylene propanoic acid which was easily decarboxylated (see Scheme 2). β‐Methylene intermediates, in some cases, could be isolated; mechanistic pathways are proposed. The nitriles 3, 6 , and 9 were reduced to the sesquiterpene aldehydes 4 (β‐end group), 7 (φ‐end group), and 10 (ψ‐end group), respectively.     

Terpenoids from the Chinese Liverwort Chiloscyphus polyanthus

A new diterpene, (7α,11β,14β,16R)‐7,11,14‐trihydroxy‐ent‐kaur‐15‐one ( 1 ), and a new sesquiterpene, polyanthuslide ( 2 ), were isolated from the Chinese liverwort Chiloscyphus polyanthus. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, and the configuration of 2 was established by X‐ray crystallographic analysis.     

Flavonoid Constituents from Spiraea brahuica

Sparins A–C ( 1 – 3 , resp.), three new flavonoids, were isolated from the CHCl₃ subfraction of the EtOH extract of the whole plant of Spiraea brahuica, along with 3′,7‐di‐O‐methylquercetin ( 4 ) and luteolin 7‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ), reported for the first time from this species. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques including MS and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy.     

Reactions of a,ß‐unsaturated N‐benzenesulfonyl Imine – N‐[(2E)‐3‐phenyl‐2‐propen‐1‐ylidene]benzenesulfonamide with Methyllithium

α,β‐Unsaturated N‐benzenesulfonyl imine 1 was treated with 1.1 eq methyllithium to afford 1,2‐addition adduct as a sole product. However, when compound 1 was treated with 2 eq MeLi, 1,2‐addition product, benzenesulfonamide derivative 3 and 2H‐1,2‐benzothiazine 1,1‐dioxide derivatives 4 and 5 were isolated.     

Clionasterol Glucoside and Acylated Clionasterol Glucosides from Oplismenus burmannii

A new clionasterol glucoside, clionasterol‐[(1'→3α)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), a new acylated clionasterol glucoside, clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐acyl‐(1'→3β)‐O‐b‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ) and clionasterol ( 3 ) were isolated from the aerial parts of Oplismenus burmannii. The nature and length of fatty acid acyl chains in 2 was identified by alkaline methanolysis of compound 2 . The aglycone fraction on GC‐MS analysis showed three peaks in GC at t_R 49.86 (82.1%), 51.13 (13.3%) and 56.53 (4.6%) min, which were characterized as arachidic acid methyl ester ( a ) oleic acid methyl ester ( b ) and 12‐methyltetradecanoic acid methyl ester ( c ) respectively. Thus 2 was characterized as a mixture of three new compounds, clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐eicosanoyl‐(1'→3β)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2a ), clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐(8Z)‐octa‐deca‐9‐enoyl‐(1'→3β)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2b ) and clionasterol‐[6'‐O‐(12‐methyltetradecanoyl)‐(1'→3β)‐O‐β‐D]‐glucopyranoside ( 2c ).     

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.     

Xanthone O‐Glycosides from the Roots of Pteris Multifida

Two new xanthone glycosides and six known compounds were isolated from the roots of Pteris multifida. Based on spectroscopic and chemical methods, the structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 1‐hydroxy‐4,7‐dimethoxy‐8‐(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)‐6‐O‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐[β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranosylxanthone ( 1 ), and 1,3‐dihydroxy‐7‐methoxy‐8‐(3‐methyl‐2‐butenyl)‐6‐O‐α‐L‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1 →2)‐[β‐D‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)]‐β‐D‐glucopyranosylxanthone ( 2 ), respectively.     

Chemical Constituents from Alafia Barteri Oliv. Leaves with Cytotoxic Activity

Methanol extract of Alafia barteri leaves showed cytotoxic activity on leukaemia carcinoma K562, and hepatic liver cancer cells WRL (IC₅₀ values 193.1 and 225.0 μM respectively). Isolation of the extract gave ursane triterpenoid, 28‐acety‐urs‐5,20‐dien‐2β,3β,24α‐triol, 1 , together with undecanol, 2 , stigmasterol, 3 and octadecanoic acid, 4 . The structures of these compounds were identified by spectroscopic analysis, including MS, 1D and 2D NMR, and supported with literature data. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic activity against K‐562 at 50 and 100 μM concentrations with IC₅₀ 74.22 μM, while compounds 2 , 3 and 4 showed low inhibition of WRL, MCF‐7 and COLO cell lines.