A new route for the preparation of the 22,23-dioxocholestane side chain from diosgenin and its application to the stereocontrolled construction of the 22R,23S-diol function

The new (22R,23S,25R)-3β,16β,26-triacetoxy-cholest-5-ene-22,23-diol (11a) was synthesized from diosgenin (3) through a synthetic route based on chemoselective RuO₄ oxidation of (25R)-3β,16β-diacetoxy-23-ethyl-23¹,26-epoxycholesta-5,23(23¹)-dien-22-one (9) that afforded (20S,25R)-3β,16β,26-triacetoxycholest-5-ene-22,23-dione (10) which was stereoselectively reduced using NaBH₄. Compound 9 was obtained from the known isomeric 22,26-epoxycholest-5-ene steroidal skeleton 8b by treatment with p-TsOH in toluene, amberlyst-15 or directly from diosgenin by treatment with BF₃·OEt₂/Ac₂O. Chemoselective reduction of the 23-keto group of 10, was attained using NaBH₄/ZnCl₂ at −70 °C to give 23S-14. The NMR spectra of all compounds were unambiguously assigned based on one and two dimensional experiments and the C-22 and C-23 stereochemistry in the diacetate derivative 11b, as well as the structure of epoxycholestene 9 were further established by X-ray diffraction analyses. The new route for the functionalization of the side chain of diosgenin can find application in the synthesis of norbrassinosteroid analogues.     

Synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)- and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin

A convergent synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)-rollicosin (1) and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin (2) was accomplished. Hydroxy lactone 6a and/or 6b were synthesized from 4-pentyn-1-ol, and α,β-unsaturated lactone 7 was synthesized from γ-lactone 8 and 5-hexen-1-ol. Inhibitory activity of these compounds was examined with bovine heart mitochondrial complex I.     

Synthesis of (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a nitrone

To synthesize (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine [(+)-1], the main metabolite of nicotine (2), cycloaddition of C-(3-pyridyl)nitrones 3a, 3c, and 15 with (2R)- and (2S)-N-(acryloyl)bornane-10,2-sultam [(2R)- and (2S)-8] was examined. Among them, l-gulose-derived nitrone 15 underwent stereoselective cycloaddition with (2S)-8 to afford cycloadduct 16, which was elaborated to (+)-1.     

New polyesters from Talaromyces flavus

Six new polyesters, talapolyesters A–F (1–4, 14, and 16), together with 11 known ones 15G256ν (5), 15G256ν-me (6), 15G256π (7), 15G256β-2 (8), 15G256α-2 (9), 15G256α-2-me (10), 15G256ι (11), 15G256β (12), 15G256α (13), 15G256α-1 (15), and 15G256ω (17), were isolated from the wetland soil-derived fungus Talaromyces flavus BYD07-13, and their structures were determined by NMR and MS spectroscopic data. Among them, 1–4 and 16 were assembled in a different manner from that of the known 256 polyesters. All the polyesters are composed of (R)-2,4-dihydroxy-6-(2-hydroxypropyl)benzoic acid and (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid/(S)-3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid residues. The absolute configurations of the residues were determined by alkaline hydrolysis. The cytotoxicity against five tumor cell lines of these compounds was examined, and a tight structure–activity relationship is proposed.     

Conduramine F-1 epoxides: synthesis and their glycosidase inhibitory activities

Starting from (±)-7-oxanorbornenone ((±)-14), (±)-(1RS,2RS,3SR,6SR)-6-azidocyclohex-4-en-1,2,3-triol ((±)-24) and (±)-(1RS,2RS,3SR,6RS)-6-azidocyclohex-4-en-1,2,3-triol ((±)-26) were obtained. Epoxidation of the latter cyclohexene derivative gave two epoxides (±)-30 and (±)-31 that were converted into (±)-conduramine F-1 epoxides (±)-10 and (±)-11 and N-substituted derivatives (±)-12 and (±)-13. Compound (±)-(1RS,2SR,3RS,4SR,5RS,6SR)-5-({[4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]methyl}amino)-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane-2,3,4-triol ((±)-12c) is a good, non-competitive inhibitor of β-xylosidase from Aspergillus niger (K_i=2.2 μM), and (±)-(1RS,2RS,3SR,4RS,5SR,6SR)-5-{[(biphenyl-4-yl)methyl]amino}-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]heptane-2,3,4-triol ((±)-13d) is a good inhibitor of α-glucosidase from brewer's yeast (K_i=2.8 μM, non-competitive).     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines, III. Synthesis of new protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-iminohexitols from d-fructose

The readily available 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (6) was straightforwardly transformed into 5-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (8), after treatment under modified Garegg's conditions followed by reaction of the resulting 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-5-iodo-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-l-sorbopyranose (7) with lithium azide in DMF. O-debenzoylation at C(3) in 8, followed by oxidation and reduction caused the inversion of the configuration to afford the corresponding β-d-psicopyranose derivative 11 that was transformed into the related 3,4-di-O-benzyl derivative 12. Cleavage of the acetonide of 12 to give 13 followed by O-tert-butyldiphenylsilylation afforded a resolvable mixture of 14 and 15. Compound 14 was transformed into (2R,3R,4S,5R)- (17) and (2R,3R,4S,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′,5′-di-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (18) either by a tandem Staudinger/intramolecular aza-Wittig process and reduction of the resulting intermediate Δ²-pyrroline (16), or only into 18 by a high stereoselective catalytic hydrogenation. When 15 was subjected to the same protocol, (2S,3S,4R,5R)- (21) and (2R,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (22) were obtained, respectively.     

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A, B and C, the components of the contact sex pheromone of Anoplophora malasiaca

Absolute configuration of gomadalactones A (1), B (2) and C (3), the pheromone components of the white-spotted longicorn beetle (Anoplophora malasiaca) was assigned as (1S,4R,5S)-1, (1R,4R,5R)-2 and (1S,4R,5S,8S)-3 by comparing their published CD spectra with those of (1R,5R)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-7-ene-2,6-dione (4) and (1S,5R,8S)-(+)-4,4,8-trimethyl-3-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane-2,6-dione (5) prepared from (R)-(−)-carvone (6).     

A simple and stereodivergent strategy for the synthesis of 3′-C-branched 2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides exploiting (Z)-but-2-en-1,4-diol and (R)-2,3-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde

Barbier type additions of allylic bromide 4, derived from (Z)-but-2-en-1,4-diol 2 to (R)-2,3-cyclohexylideneglyceraldehyde 1 were performed through mediation with Zn employing Luche’s procedure and also with low valent Cu, Co, and Fe which were produced via bimetal redox strategy in THF to afford 5c,d as the major products. From these, 5a,b were prepared following an oxidation-reduction protocol. Compound 5c was exploited as a representative starting material to develop a simple and inexpensive strategy toward the synthesis of 3′-C-branched 2′,3′-dideoxynucleosides having stereodiversity at 3′- and 4′-positions.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolizidines. Part 6: A new and concise stereoselective synthesis of (+)-casuarine and its 6,7-diepi isomer, from DMDP

A new synthesis for (+)-casuarine (1) and its 6,7-diepi isomer (15) in a stereocontrolled manner, is reported herein. An appropriately protected polyhydroxylated pyrrolidine, such as (2R,3R,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (3, protected DMDP), easily available from d-fructose, was chosen as the chiral starting material. Compounds 1 and 15 were obtained from 3, in seven steps, in a 23.2 and 20.5% overall yields, respectively.     

Studies on Wittig rearrangement of furfuryl ethers in steroidal side chain synthesis

Wittig rearrangement of 17(20)-ethylidene-16-furfuryloxy steroids 5-8 was examined. Reaction of 17E(20)-ethylidene-16α-furfuryloxy steroid 5 with t-BuLi in THF afforded (20S,22S)- and (20S,22R)-22-hydroxy steroids 9, 10 and 17Z(20)-ethylidene-16α-(2-furyl)hydroxymethyl steroid 11 in 61, 28, and 9% yields, respectively. Base treatment of 17E(20)-ethylidene-16β-furfuryloxy steroid 7 gave (20R,22R)-22-hydroxy steroid 13 and 17Z(20)-ethylidene-16β-(2-furyl) hydroxymethyl steroid 14 in 60 and 17% yields. In contrast, 17Z(20)-ethylidene-16-furfuryloxy steroids 6, 8 led to the corresponding 2,3-rearranged products in low yields (25% for (20R,22S)-22-hydroxy steroid 12; 31% for (20S,22R)-22-hydroxy steroid 10). Both (20S,22S)- and (20S,22R)-22-hydroxy steroids 9, 10 were converted by catalytic hydrogenation into known compounds 16, 17, key intermediates for the synthesis of biologically active steroids.     

Tomato steroidal alkaloid glycosides, esculeosides A and B, from ripe fruits

Major novel steroidal alkaloid glycosides, named esculeoside A (1) and esculeoside B (2), have been isolated from the pink color-type and the red color-type, respectively, of the ripe tomato fruits of Lycopersicon esculentum MILL. for the first time. The structures of 1 and 2 have been characterized as 3-O-β-lycotetraosyl (5S,22S,23S,25S)-23-acetoxy-3β,27-dihydroxyspirosolane 27-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and 3-O-β-lycotetraosyl (5S,22S,23R,25S)-22,26-epimino-16β,23-epoxy-3β,23,27-trihydroxycholestane 27-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, respectively.     

Synthesis and structural revision of eurypamides isolated from the Palauan sponge Microciona eurypa

Eurypamides A and B, 1 and 2, were successfully synthesized by employing Tl(NO₃)₃ (TTN) oxidation of the corresponding halogenated phenols, 9, 16, and 26. This investigation revealed that the dihydroxyarginine residue of 1 should be revised to possess (2S,3R,4S)-configuration. In addition, the synthesis of 2 provided a pure sample, which was previously characterized in a mixture.     

Effect of α-fluorination on asymmetric epoxidation of trans-olefins using α-fluorinated cyclohexanone dioxiranes

Epoxidations of trans-β-methylstyrene, trans-stilbene and trans-methyl p-methoxycinnamate using chiral dioxiranes derived from both enantiopure diastereomers of α-fluoro cyclohexanones, (2S, 5R)-3a-6a and (2R, 5R)-3e-6e are studied and compared. From ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31G^∗ level of conformational inter-conversion for (2S, 5R)-D5a and (2R, 5R)-D5e dioxiranes it was found that, due to the α-fluorine atom, conformer K1 is more stable in the case of (2S, 5R)-D5a while conformer K2 is more stable in the case of (2R, 5R)-D5e. However, in both cases, the more stable conformers, K1 and K2, undergo rapid inter-conversion. Therefore, based on slow epoxidation reactions and rapid ring inversion of six-membered ring dioxiranes the Curtin-Hammett principle holds. Conformation K2 with axial fluorine having been found to be more reactive, the inversion of configuration observed for the epoxides obtained with ketones 3e-6e (compared with ketones 3a-6a) could be rationalized from competitive reactions of K2 and K1 conformations leading to simultaneous production of both (−) and (+) epoxides in the case of ketones 3e-6e.     

Combined biotransformations of 4(20),11-taxadienes

Taxuyunnanine C (1) and its analogs (2 and 3), the C-14 oxygenated 4(20), 11-taxadienes from callus cultures of Taxus sp., were regio- and stereo-selectively hydroxylated at the 7β position by a fungus, Abisidia coerulea IFO 4011, and it was interesting that the longer the alkyl chain of the acyloxyl group at C-14 became, the higher the yield of 7β-hydroxylated product was. Besides the three 7β-hydroxylated products (5, 9, 17), other nine new products (7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20 and 21) and six known products (4, 6, 8, 10, 13 and 19) were obtained. Subsequently, the acetylated derivatives (24 and 27) of 7β-and 9α-hydroxylated products of 1 were regio- and stereo-specifically hydroxylated at the 9α position by Ginkgo cells and 7β position by A. coerulea, respectively. Thus, the two specific oxidations have been combined. These bioconversions would provide not only valuable intermediates for the semi-synthesis of paclitaxel or other bioactive taxoids from 1 and its analogs, but also some useful hints for the biosynthetic pathway of taxoid in the natural Taxus plant.     

Separation and identification of three epimeric pairs of new C-glucosyl anthrones from Rumex dentatus by on-line high performance liquid chromatography–circular dichroism analysis

Six C-glucosyl anthrones were characterized as three pairs of epimers by on-line high performance liquid chromatography–circular dichroism (HPLC–CD) analysis and isolated from the roots of Rumex dentatus by column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic spectroscopy and HPLC–CD analysis. They are 10R-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxyemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide E, 1) and 10S-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxyemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide F, 2), 10R-C-β-d-glucosylemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide G, 3) and 10S-C-β-d-glucosylemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide H, 4), 10S-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxychrysophanol-9-anthrone (cassialoin, 5) and 10R-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxychrysophanol-9-anthrone (rumejaposide I, 6). Rumejaposides F–I (2–4 and 6) were new C-glucosyl anthrones. Rumejaposide E (1) and cassialoin (5) were isolated for the first time in Rumex plants. On-line HPLC–UV–CD analysis was a useful tool for structure elucidating epimeric C-glycosides anthrones 3–6 because of the poor stability of the pure isomers (3 and 4) and the minute quantity of 5 and 6 in the mixture.     

Steroid-based head-to-tail amphiphiles as effective iono- and protonophores

The synthesis of five steroid-oligo(ethyleneglycol) conjugates (1-5) has been accomplished starting from commercially available epi-androsterone (8) and known 3β-[(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)oxy]-5α-23,24-bisnorchol-16-en-6α,7β,22-triol (27). The synthetic strategy was based on a convergent approach including stereoselective C-17 side chains construction and standard coupling reactions. The activities of the head-to-tail amphiphiles, once incorporated in 95:5 egg PC/PG vesicular membranes, have been assessed by direct determination of transported species by NMR techniques (²³Na⁺) and fluorescence spectroscopy (H⁺). The sodium and proton transmembrane transport was compared to those evaluated for the polyene macrolide antibiotic amphotericin B and those shown by the known related C₂-symmetric sterol-polyether conjugates 6 and 7.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines: synthesis from d-fructose of new tri-orthogonally protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-iminohexitols

The readily available 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (2) was transformed into its 5-O- (3) and 4-O-benzoyl (4) derivative. Compound 4 was straightforwardly transformed into 5-azido-4-O-benzoyl-3-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (7) via the corresponding 5-deoxy-5-iodo-α-l-sorbopyranose derivative 6. Cleavage of the acetonide in 7 to give 8, followed by regioselective 1-O-silylation to 9 and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation gave a mixture of (2S,3R,4R,5R)- (10) and (2R,3R,4R,5R)-4-benzoyloxy-3-benzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (12) that was resolved after chemoselective N-protection as their Cbz derivatives 11 and 1a, respectively. Stereochemistry of 11 and 1a could be determined after total deprotection of 11 to the well known DGDP (13). Compound 2 was similarly transformed into the tri-orthogonally protected DGDP derivative 18.     

Biotransformation of triptolide by Cunninghamella blakesleana

Biotransformation of triptolide 1 by Cunninghamella blakesleana (AS 3.970) was carried out. Seven biotransformation products were obtained and four of them were characterized as new compounds. On the basis of their NMR and mass spectral data, their structures were characterized as 5α-hydroxytriptolide 2, 1β-hydroxytriptolide 3, triptodiolide 4, 16-hydroxytriptolide 5, triptolidenol 6, 19α-hydroxytriptolide 7 and 19β-hydroxytriptolide 8. All the new transformed products (2, 3, 7 and 8) were found to exhibit potent in vitro cytotoxicity against some human tumor cell lines.     

Phloroglucinols, depsidones and xanthones from the twigs of Garcinia parvifolia

Seven phloroglucinols, named parvifoliols A-G (1-7), two depsidones, named parvifolidones A, B (8, 9), and three xanthones, named parvifolixanthones A-C (10-12), were isolated from the twigs of Garcinia parvifolia along with seven known compounds: garcidepsidone B, mangostinone, rubraxanthone, dulxanthone D, 1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone, norathyriol, and (2E,6E,10E)-(+)-4β-hydroxy-3-methyl-5β-(3,7,11,15-tetramethylhexadeca-2,6,10,14-tetraenyl)cyclohex-2-en-1-one. Their structures were proposed on the basis of spectroscopic data. The antibacterial and antioxidation activities were evaluated.     

A facile stereoselective synthesis of difunctionalized 1,3-dienes containing tin and halogen via hydrozirconation of (Z)-3-(tributylstannyl)alk-3-en-1-ynes

Sonogashira coupling of (E)-α-iodovinylstannanes 1 with (trimethylsilyl)acetylene gave (Z)-1-(trimethylsilyl)-3-(tributylstannyl)alk-3-en-1-ynes 2, which underwent a desilylation reaction to afford (Z)-3-(tributylstannyl)alk-3-en-1-ynes 3 in high yields. (1E,3Z)-1-Halo-3-(tributylstannyl)-substituted 1,3-dienes 5 could be synthesized stereoselectively via hydrozirconation of (Z)-3-(tributylstannyl)alk-3-en-1-ynes 3, followed by trapping with iodine or NBS.