Characterization of a neutral polysaccharide having activity on the reticuloendothelial system from the rhizome of Curcuma longa.

A neutral polysaccharide, named ukonan D, was isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. It produced a single band on electrophoresis and a single peak on gel chromatography, and its molecular mass was estimated to be 28,000. It showed remarkable reticuloendothelial system-potentiating activity in a carbon clearance test. Ukonan D is composed of L-arabinose: D-galactose: D-glucose: D-mannose in the molar ratio of 1:1:12:0.2, in addition to small amounts of peptide moiety. Methylation analysis, carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance and enzymic degradation studies indicated that its structural features include mainly both alpha-1,5-linked L-arabino-beta-3,6-branched D-galactan type and alpha-4,6-branched D-glucan type structural units. The influence of degradation with alpha-amylase followed by the elimination of glucan side chains on its immunological activity was discussed.     

Synthesis and structures of selected benzamidinates of Li, Na, Al, Zr and Sn(II) using the C1-symmetric ligands [N(SiMe3)C(C6H4Me-4 or Ph)NPh]-

Several compounds based on the C(1)-symmetric ligands [N(R)C(Ar)NPh]- [abbreviated as B1 (Ar = C(6)H(4)Me-4) or B2 (Ar = Ph), R = SiMe(3)] are reported. They are the crystalline metal benzamidinates [Li(mu:kappa2-B1)(OEt2)](2) (1), [Al(kappa2-B1)2Me] (2), [Al(kappa2-B1)2X] [X = Cl/Me, 1 : 1 (3)], [Sn(kappa2-B1)2] (4), Zr(kappa2-B1)2Cl2 (5), [Zr(kappa2-B1)3Cl] (6), [Na(mu:kappa2-B1)(tmeda)]2 (7), K[B1] (8), Li(B2)(OEt2) (9) and Zr(kappa2-B1)3Cl (10) and the known benzamidine Z-H2NC(C6H4Me-4) = NPh (11). They were prepared by (i) insertion of the nitrile 4-MeC6H4CN (1, 7, 8, 11) or PhCN (9) into the appropriate M-N(R')Ph [R' = R and M = Li (1, 9), Na (7), K (8)] bond and subsequent hydrolysis for 11 [R' = H and M = Li], or (ii) a ligand transfer reaction using the lithium amidinate 1 and Al(Me)2Cl (2, 3), SnCl2 (4) or ZrCl4 (5, 6), or Li(B2) and ZrCl4 (10). The X-ray structures of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6b (i.e..3PhMe) 7, and 11 are presented. Exploratory polymerisation experiments are described, using 2, 5 or 6 as a procatalyst with methylaluminoxane (MAO) (Al : Zr ca. 500 : 1) as promoter. Thus toluene solutions were exposed to C2H4 under ambient conditions; while 2 was unresponsive, 5 and 6 showed modest activity in the formation of polyethylene.     

Synthesis and characterization of novel 3,6‐di[3′,5′‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyromellitic dianhydride for polyimide synthesis

A novel dianhydride monomer, 3,6‐di[3′,5′‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]pyromellitic dianhydride (12FPMDA), was synthesized via a three‐step process: (1) the preparation of 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)benzene boronic acid (6FBB) and 3,6‐dibromo‐1,2,4,5‐tetramethylbenzene (2B4MB) via Grignard and bromination reactions, respectively; (2) the Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction of 6FBB and 2B4MB, resulting in 3,6‐di[3′,5′‐bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]tetramethylbenzene (12F4MB); and (3) the oxidation and cyclodehydration of 12F4MB to afford 12FPMDA. 12FPMDA was then characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H NMR, ¹⁹F NMR, elemental analysis, and a melting‐point apparatus, and it was used to prepare polyimides with aromatic diamines such as 1,1‐bis(4‐aminophenyl)‐2,2,2‐trifluoroethane and 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylether. Polyimides were synthesized via a two‐step process: (1) the preparation of poly(amic acid) in p‐chlorophenol with isoquinoline and (2) solution imidization at the reflux temperature for 12 h. They were designed to have molecular weights of 20,000 g/mol via off‐stoichiometry. The resulting polyimides were characterized by FTIR, NMR, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetric analysis, and their solubility, solution viscosity, water absorption, coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs), and dielectric constants were also evaluated. The polyimides exhibited excellent solubility even in acetone and toluene, high glass‐transition temperatures (>311 °C), good thermal stability (>518 °C in air), and well‐controlled molecular weights (19,000–21,000 g/mol). They also provided low CTEs (35–50 ppm/°C), water absorption (1.26–1.35 wt %), and dielectric constants (2.49–2.52). © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4217–4227, 2002     

A further study of the cytotoxic constituents of a milnamide-producing sponge

A reinvestigation of Auletta sp. yielded the novel compound milnamide C (3) plus the known compounds milnamide A (1), milnamide B (hemiasterlin) (2), jasplakinolide (5), and geodiamolides A (6), D (7), E (8), and G (9). The isolation work was guided by cytoskeletal bioactivity data. Compounds 2 and 3 were shown to cause microtubule depolymerization, and 6-9 were shown to cause microfilament disruption. This biological activity and the structural elucidation of 3, including X-ray analysis, are reported here. [structure: see text]     

New Tryptophan Metabolites from Cultures of the Lipophilic Yeast Malassezia furfur

Eleven new indole alkaloids were isolated from cultures of the human pathogenic yeast Malassezia furfur after addition of L ‐tryptophan as the sole N‐source: pityriacitrin B ( 2 ), the malassezindoles A ( 3 ) and B ( 4 ), malassezialactic acid ( 6 ), the malasseziazoles A ( 7 ), B ( 8 ), and C ( 9 ), pityriazole ( 10 ), malasseziacitrin ( 11 ), and malassezione ( 12 ), along with the known d‐ indole‐3‐lactic acid (=(αR)‐α‐hydroxy‐1H‐indole‐3‐propanoic acid 5 ), and 2‐hydroxy‐1‐(1H‐indol‐3‐yl)ethanone ( 13 ). The structural elucidation of these compounds was performed by spectroscopic methods (MS as well as 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR). The biogenetic relationships (Scheme) and biological activities of the new metabolites are discussed.     

Control of channel shapes in a microporous manganese(II)-borophosphate framework by variation of size and shape of organic template cations

The templated microporous compounds [H2(Templ.)][MnII{B2P3O12(OH)}], [templates: 1,3-diaminopropane, C3H10N2 (DAP); piperazine, C4H10N2 (PIP); 1,4-diazacyclo[2.2.2]octane, C6H12N2 (DABCO)] were prepared under mild hydrothermal conditions. The crystal structures (H2DAP-Mn: Pmc2(1) (no. 26), a=1259.43(5), b=949.86(5), c=1135.92(5) pm, Z=4; H2PIP-Mn: Ima2 (no. 46), a=1257.9(1), b=948.69(8), c=1158.19(8) pm, Z=4; H2DABCO-H2PIP-Mn: Ima2 (no. 46), a=1262.90(7), b=961.05(5), c=1151.42(7) pm, Z=4) are characterized by identical framework connectivities [MnII{B2P3O12(OH)}]2-, but vary in shapes (diameters) of the structural channels depending on the shapes of the templating molecule ions. The situation clearly reflects the directing effect of true templates during endotemplating reactions. The experimental results (preparation, chemical analyses, and X-ray refinements) are supported by detailed ab initio calculations (structure optimizations).     

Synthesis and stability of reactive salts of dodecafluoro-closo-dodecaborate(2-)

The synthesis and characterization of several salts of the B(12)F(12)(2-) anion are reported. The potassium salt was prepared in 72% recrystallized yield by treating K(2)B(12)H(12) with liquid HF at 70 degrees C for 14 h and 20% F(2)/N(2) in liquid HF at 25 degrees C for 72 h. The CPh(3)(+), N(n-Bu)(4)(+), NH(n-C(12)H(25))(3)(+), NH(4)(+), and Li(+) salts were prepared by metathesis reactions. The [NH(n-C(12)H(25))(3)](2)[B(12)F(12)] salt is soluble in aromatic hydrocarbon solvents. The B(12)F(12)(2-) anion is remarkably stable. The salts Li(2)B(12)F(12) and [NH(4)](2)[B(12)F(12)] were stable when heated to 450 and 480 degrees C, respectively. The B(12)F(12)(2-) anion did not react with 98% H(2)SO(4), 70% HNO(3), 3 M KOH, a 10-fold excess of Ce(NH(4))(2)(NO(3))(6) in aqueous solution, or metallic sodium in THF. In addition, B(12)F(12)(2-) did not react with metallic lithium in a mixture of ethylene carbonate and dimethyl carbonate, was not reduced at 0 V versus Li(+/0) in that solvent, and underwent a quasi-reversible oxidation at 4.9 V versus Li(+/0). The structure of [CPh(3)](2)[B(12)F(12)] was determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction: tetragonal, space group I4(1)/acd, a = 19.102(2), b = 19.102(2), c = 20.535(3) A, V = 7492.2(2) A(3), Z = 8, T = 173(2) K, R(1) = 0.064. The B(12)F(12)(2-) anion weakly interacts with the two symmetry related CPh(3)(+) cations via F.C contacts of 3.087(2) A, which are very close to the 3.17 A sum of van der Waals radii for these two atoms. Taken together, the data suggest that B(12)F(12)(2-) may be useful as a very robust weakly coordinating anion.     

The core structure of ukonan A, a phagocytosis-activating polysaccharide from the rhizome of Curcuma longa, and immunological activities of degradation products.

The controlled Smith degradation of ukonan A, a phagocytosis-activating polysaccharide isolated from the rhizome of Curcuma longa L., was performed. The reticuloendothelial system-potentiating, anti-complementary and alkaline phosphatase-inducing activities of ukonan A and its degradation products were investigated. Methylation analyses of both the primary and the secondary Smith degradation products indicated that the core structural features of ukonan A include a backbone chain mainly composed of beta-1,3-linked D-galactose, beta-1,4-linked D-xylose and alpha-1,2-linked L-rhamnose residues. All of the galactose units in the backbone carry side chains composed of alpha-L-arabino-beta-D-galactosyl or beta-D-galactosyl residues at position 6. Ukonan A has a remarkable effect on each of the three kinds of immunological activities. Periodate oxidation caused pronounced decrease or disappearance of the activities, but the controlled Smith degradation product having the core structure of polysaccharide showed considerable restoration of these activities.     

Exploring the effect of metal ions and counteranions on the structure and magnetic properties of five dodecanuclear Co(II) and Ni(II) clusters

We present the synthesis, characterization of the structures, and magnetic properties of five isostructural dodecanuclear coordination clusters of Ni(II) and Co(II): [Co(12)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(EtOH)(6)](NO(3))(5) (1), [Ni(12)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(H(2)O)(3)(EtOH)(3)](NO(3))(5)·2H(2)O (2), mixed-metal composition (Ni/Co 1:1) [Co(6)Ni(6)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(NO(3))(5) (3), and [M(12)(bm)(12)(NO(3))(O(2)CMe)(6)(EtOH)(6)](ClO(4))(5) (M=Co (4), Ni (5)), in which Hbm=(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)methanol. They consist of analogous structural cores that are constructed by three cubanes (M(4)O(4)) that surround the templating nitrate and bridging auxiliary acetate and the directing ligands bm. They have different magnetic behaviors. Whereas there is the absence of the out-of-phase ac susceptibility (χ') for the Ni(II)-based compounds 2 and 5, the Co(II)-containing compounds 1, 3, and 4 have prominent χ' signals that exhibit frequency dependence, which indicates slow magnetic relaxation behavior above 1.8 K. In particular, the larger perchlorate counterions in 4 further change the overall correlation interaction between clusters, thus leading to an enhanced blocking temperature for the less-symmetrical 4 (pseudo-C(3)) relative to 1 and 3 (true C(3)). Interestingly, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) indicates that the three dodecanuclear clusters of 1-3 retain their compositions in solution. The mixed-metal cluster cores of 3 are formed based on the nature of the interchangeability between metal centers in solution.     

Constituents from the stems of Hibiscus taiwanensis

Five new compounds, hibicuslide A (1), hibicuslide B (2), hibicuslide C (3), hibicutaiwanin (4), hibicusin (5), and fifty-one known compounds have been isolated from the stems of Hibiscus taiwanensis. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic and chemical transformation methods. Among them, mansonone H (19) and uncarinic acid A (30) inhibited HIV replication in H9 lymphocyte cells. The 9,9'-O-feruloyl-(-)-secoisolaricinresinol (12), myriceric acid C (29), and uncarinic acid A (30) showed cytotoxic activity against human lung carcinoma and breast carcinoma.     

The anti-HBsAg (human type B hepatitis, surface antigen) and anti-HBeAg (human type B hepatitis, e antigen) C18 dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from Kadsura matsudai and Schizandra arisanensis

The C(18) dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans including three novel schizanrin F (1), G (2), H (3), along with the known kadsurarin (4), were isolated from Kadsura matsudai. A new C(19) homolignan named schiarisanrin E (5), together with the known C(18) lignans, gomisin B (6), G (7) and (+)-gomisin K(3) (8) were obtained from Schizandra arisanensis. Gomisin B, G and (+)-gomisin K(3) showed moderate to strong activity for antihepatitis in anti-HBsAg (human type B hepatitis, surface antigen) and/or anti-HBeAg (human type B hepatitis, e antigen) tests. The structural elucidations of new compounds 1-3 and 5 were based on two-dimensional (2D) NMR techniques including COSY, HMQC, HMBC, NOESY and CD spectra. Preliminary structure-activity relationship studies for these isolated lignans are also discussed.     

Natural products, stylissadines A and B, specific antagonists of the P2X7 receptor, an important inflammatory target

The distribution of the P2X7 receptor in inflammatory cells suggests that P2X7 antagonists have a significant role to play in the treatment of inflammatory disease. We conducted a natural product high-throughput screening campaign to discover P2X7 receptor antagonists. The Australian marine sponge Stylissa flabellata yielded two new bisimidazo-pyrano-imidazole bromopyrrole ether alkaloids, stylissadines A (IC50 0.7 microM) and B (IC50 1.8 microM), as the specific bioactive constituents. The compounds inhibit BzATP-mediated pore formation in THP-1 cells. Also present in this extract was considerable nonspecific bioactivity in the hemeolysin specificity assay. A new pyrrole-imidazole alkaloid, konbu'acidin B, and the known pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids 4,5-dibromopalau'amine and massadine were also isolated and had nonspecific activity. ROESY and proton coupling constant data indicated that the stereochemistry at C12, C17, and C20 in 4,5-dibromopalau'amine should be revised to 12R, 17S, 20S. By analogy, the relative stereochemistry of palau'amine, 4-bromopalau'amine, styloguanidine, 3-bromostyloguanidine, and 2,3-dibromostyloguanidine should also be revised to 12R, 17S, 20S. Stylissadines A and B are the most potent natural product P2X7 antagonists to be isolated to date and provide a novel class of P2X7 receptor inhibitors. They are also the first examples of tetrameric pyrrole-imidazole alkaloids.     

Two new macrocyclic diaryl ether heptanoids from Boswellia ovalifoliolata

The stems of Boswellia ovalifoliolata BAL. & HENRY (Burseraceae) afforded two new macrocyclic diaryl ether heptanoids, ovalifoliolatin A (1) and B (2) together with three known compounds; acerogenin C (3), 3 alpha-hydroxyurs-12-ene (4), and sitost-4-en-3-one (5). The structures were established by means of spectroscopic analysis and compounds 1, 3-5 were evaluated for their antibacterial activity.     

Dehydro[12]- and -[18]annulenes fused with tetrafluorobenzene: synthesis,electronic properties,packing structures,and reactivity in the solid state

Dehydro[12]- and -[18]annulenes 3 and 4 fused with tetrafluorobenzene were newly synthesized by the copper-mediated oxidative coupling of 1,2-diethynyltetrafluorobenzene. The UV-vis spectra of 3 and 4 showed the maximum absorption to be almost identical to that of the corresponding unsubstituted benzodehydro[12]- and -[18]annulenes 1 and 2, respectively, while the reduction waves in cyclic voltammetry observed at potentials of -1.48 and -1.56 V vs Fc/Fc(+) for 3 and 4 were less negative than those for 1 and 2. In agreement with these results, theoretical calculations (B3LYP/6-31G(d)) indicated that the HOMO-LUMO gap is similar for 1 and 3 and for 2 and 4 but that the LUMO levels of 3 and 4 are apparently lowered by the electronegative fluorine substituents. The X-ray crystallography of single crystals grown from 3 (crystal A), 3.C(6)H(6) (crystal B), and a mixture of 1 and 3 (crystal C) demonstrated that the molecules of 3 are stacked in a slanted manner in crystals A and B, while those of 1 and 3 form sandwichlike 1:2 complexes (3.1.3) that are stacked in a columnar arrangement in crystal C. Despite the suitable packing for topochemical polymerization, crystals A-C were quite stable against photochemical reaction. In contrast, differential scanning calorimetry showed that the thermal polymerization occurred explosively at 120-135 degrees C.     

Metal-induced B-H activation: addition of acetylene, propyne, or 3-methoxypropyne to Rh(Cp*), Ir(Cp*), Ru(p-cymene), and Os(p-cymene) half-sandwich complexes containing a chelating 1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-1,2-dichalcogenolato ligand

The addition reactions of the 16e half-sandwich complexes [M(eta5-Cp*)[E2C2(B10H10)]] (Cp*=pentamethylcyclopentadienyl: 1S: E=S, M=Rh; 2S: E=S; M=Ir; 2Se: E=Se, M=Ir) and [M(eta6-p-cymene)[S2C2(B10H10)]] (p-cymene=4-isopropyltoluene; 3S: M=Ru; 4S: M=Os), with acetylene, propyne, and 3-methoxypropyne lead to the 18e complexes 5-19 with a metal-boron bond in each case. The reactions start with an insertion of the alkyne into one of the metal-chalcogen bonds, followed by B-H activation, transfer of one hydrogen atom from the carborane via the metal to the terminal carbon of the alkyne, and concomitant ortho-metalation of the carborane. The E-eta2-CC and the C(1)B units are arranged either cisoid or transoid at the metal. X-ray structural analyses are reported for one of the starting 16e complexes (4S), the cisoid complex 12S (from 2S and HC[triple bond]C-CH3), and the transoid complexes 9S and 14S (from 1S and HC[triple bond]C-CH2OMe, and from 3S and HC[triple bond]CH, respectively). All new complexes 5-19 were characterized by NMR spectroscopy (1H, 11B, 13C, and 77Se and 103Rh NMR spectroscopy when appropriate).     

Cyanide-bridged lanthanide(III)-transition metal extended arrays: interconversion of one-dimensional arrays from single-strand (type A) to double-strand (type B) structures. Complexes of a new type of single-strand array (type C)

A series of one-dimensional arrays of lanthanide-transition metal complexes has been prepared and characterized. These complexes, [(DMF)(10)Ln(2)[Ni(CN)(4)](3)](infinity), crystallize as linear single-strand arrays (structural type A) (Ln = Sm, 1a; Eu, 2a) or double-strand arrays (structural type B) (Ln = Sm, 1b; Eu, 2b) depending upon the conditions chosen, and they are interconvertible. The single-strand type A structure can be converted to the double-strand type B structure. When the 1b and 2b type B crystals are completely dissolved in DMF, their infrared spectra are identical to the infrared spectra of 1a and 2a type A crystals dissolved in DMF. These solutions produce type A crystals initially. It is believed that formation of the type A structure is kinetically favored while the type B structure is thermodynamically favored for lanthanide-nickel complexes 1 and 2. On the other hand the complex [(DMF)(10)Y(2)[Pd(CN)(4)](3)](infinity), 3, appears to crystallize only as the double-strand array (type B). The complexes [(DMF)(12)Ce(2)[Ni(CN)(4)](3)](infinity), 4, and [(DMF)(12)Ce(2)[Pd(CN)(4)](3)](infinity), 5, crystallize as a new type of single-strand array (structural type C). This structural type is a zigzag chain array. Crystal data for 1a: triclinic space group P1, a = 10.442(5) A, b = 10.923(2) A, c = 15.168(3) A, alpha = 74.02(2) degrees, beta = 83.81(3) degrees, gamma = 82.91(4) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 1b: triclinic space group P1, a = 9.129(2) A, b = 11.286(6) A, c = 16.276(7) A, alpha = 81.40(4) degrees, beta = 77.41(3) degrees, gamma = 83.02(3) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 2a: triclinic space group P1, a = 10.467(1) A, b = 10.923(1) A, c = 15.123(1) A, alpha = 74.24(1) degrees, beta = 83.61(1) degrees, gamma = 83.13(1) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 2b: triclinic space group P1, a = 9.128(1) A, b = 11.271(1) A, c = 16.227(6) A, alpha = 81.36(2) degrees, beta = 77.43(2) degrees, gamma = 82.99(1) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 3: triclinic space group P1, a = 9.251(3) A, b = 11.193(4) A, c = 16.388(4) A, alpha = 81.46(2) degrees, beta = 77.18(2) degrees, gamma = 83.24(3) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 4: triclinic space group P1, a = 11.279(1) A, b = 12.504(1) A, c = 13.887(1) A, alpha = 98.68(1) degrees, beta = 108.85(1) degrees, gamma = 101.75(1) degrees, Z = 2. Crystal data for 5: triclinic space group P1, a = 11.388(3) A, b = 12.614(5) A, c = 13.965(4) A, alpha = 97.67(3) degrees, beta = 109.01(2) degrees, gamma = 101.93(2) degrees, Z = 2.     

Chemical constituents of the roots of Piper sarmentosum

Sixteen compounds were isolated from the fresh roots of Piper sarmentosum. Seven of these have been previously isolated from the fruits and leaves of this plant: the aromatic alkene (1), 1-allyl-2-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxybenzene (4), beta-sitosterol, pyrrole amide (6), sarmentine (10), sarmentosine (13) and pellitorine (14). (+)-Sesamin (2), horsfieldin (3), two pyrrolidine amides 11 and 12, guineensine (15) and brachystamide B (16) are new for P. sarmentosum. Sarmentamide A, B, and C (7-9) are new natural products. Compounds 1--4 and 6--16 were tested for antiplasmodial, antimycobacterial and antifungal activities.     

Novel dolabellane-type diterpene alkaloids with lipid metabolism promoting activities from the seeds of Nigella sativa

[structure: see text] Four new dolabellane-type diterpene alkaloids, nigellamines A(1) (1), A(2) (2), B(1) (3), and B(2) (4), were isolated from the seeds of Nigella sativa. Their absolute stereostructures were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Nigellamines A(1) (1), B(1) (3), and B(2) (4) were found to show potent lipid metabolism promoting activity in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes, and their activities were equivalent to that of a PPAR-alpha agonist, clofibrate.     

First characterization of the ammine-ammonium complex [(NH4(NH3)4)2(mu-NH3)2]2+ in the crystal structure of [NH4(NH3)4][B(C6H5)4].NH3 and the [NH4(NH3)4]+ complex in [NH4(NH3)4][Ca(NH3)7]As3S6.2NH3 and [NH4(NH3)4][Ba(NH3)8]As3S6.NH3

The compound [NH4(NH3)4][B(C6H5)4].NH3 (1) was prepared by the reaction of NaB(C(6)H(5))(4) with a proton-charged ion-exchange resin in liquid ammonia. [NH(4)(NH(3))(4)][Ca(NH(3))(7)]As(3)S(6).2NH(3) (2) and [NH4(NH3)4][Ba(NH3)8]As3S6.NH3 (3) were synthesized by reduction of As(4)S(4) with Ca and Ba in liquid ammonia. All ammoniates were characterized by low-temperature single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. They were found to contain the ammine-ammonium complex with the maximal possible number of coordinating ammonia molecules, the [NH4(NH3)4]+ ion. 1 contains a special dimer, the [(NH4(NH3)4)2(mu-NH3)2]2+ ion, which is formed by two[NH4(NH3)4]+ ions linked by two ammonia molecules. The H(3)N-H...N hydrogen bonds in all three compounds range from 1.82 to 2.20 A (DHA = Donor-H...Acceptor angles: 156-178 degrees). In 2 and 3, additional H(2)N-H...S bonds to the thioanions are observed, ranging between 2.49 and 3.00 A (DHA angles: 120-175 degrees). Two parallel phenyl rings of the [B(C(6)H(5))(4)](-) anion in 1 form a pi...pi hydrogen bond (C...C distance, 3.38 A; DHA angles, 82 degrees), leading to a dimeric [B(C6H5)4]2(2-) ion.     

Celogentins A-C, new antimitotic bicyclic peptides from the seeds of Celosia argentea

Three new bicyclic peptides, celogentins A (1), B (2), and C (3), have been isolated together with a known-related peptide, moroidin (4), from the seeds of Celosia argentea, and their structures including absolute stereochemistry were determined by using extensive NMR methods and chemical means. Celogentins A (1), B (2), and C (3) inhibited the polymerization of tubulin, and celogentin C (3) was four times more potent than moroidin (4) in the inhibitory activity. Structure-activity relationship study using moroidin derivatives 5-7 and analogue 8 as well as celogentins A-C (1-3) and moroidin (4) indicates that the bicyclic ring system including unusual non-peptide connections among beta(s)-Leu, Trp, and His residues characteristic of celogentins and moroidin, with ring size and conformations suitable for interaction with tubulin would be important for their biological activity.