2-Cyano-2-indolylpropanoic acid as a chiral derivatizing agent for the absolute configuration assignment of secondary alcohols and primary amines by 1H NMR and VCD

A convenient approach for the absolute configuration assignment of secondary alcohols in the (8R,1′R,2′S,5′R)-15,25, (8S,1′R,2′S,5′R)-15,25, (8R,1′R)-21–24, and (8S,1′R)-21–24 ester series, and of primary amines in the (8R,1′R)-32–37 and (8S,1′R)-32–37 amide series, by means of ¹H NMR and VCD spectroscopy, using 2-cyano-2-indolylpropanoic acid as a chiral derivatizing agent is presented. DFT calculations were carried out to demonstrate the anisotropic effect of the indole skeleton on the chiral alcohol or the amine fragment. Vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) measurements of the above series indicated a VCD bisignated couplet resulting from the interaction of the ester carbonyl group and the CN group. The absolute configuration assignments were further tested by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Highly Oxygenated Triterpenoids and Diterpenoids from Fructus Rubi (Rubus chingii Hu) and Their NF-kappa B Inhibitory Effects

During a phytochemical investigation of the unripe fruits of Rubus chingii Hu (i.e., Fructus Rubi, a traditional Chinese medicine named “Fu-Pen-Zi”), a number of highly oxygenated terpenoids were isolated and characterized. These included nine ursane-type (1, 2, and 4–10), five oleanane-type (3, 11–14), and six cucurbitane-type (15–20) triterpenoids, together with five ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids (21–25). Among them, (4R,5R,8R,9R,10R,14S,17S,18S,19R,20R)-2,19α,23-trihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-1,12-dien-28-oic acid (rubusacid A, 1), (2R*,4S*,5R*,8R*,9R*,10R*,14S*,17S*, 18S*,19R*,20R*)-2α,19α,24-trihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (rubusacid B, 2), (5R,8R,9R,10R, 14S,17R,18S,19S)-2,19α-dihydroxy-olean-1,12-dien-28-oic acid (rubusacid C, 3), and (3S,5S,8S,9R, 10S,13R,16R)-3α,16α,17-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-2-one (rubusone, 21) were previously undescribed. Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses. Compounds 1 and 3 are rare naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoids featuring a special α,β-unsaturated keto-enol (diosphenol) unit in ring A. Cucurbitacin B (15), cucurbitacin D (16), and 3α,16α,20(R),25-tetrahydroxy-cucurbita-5,23- dien-2,11,22-trione (17) were found to have remarkable inhibitory effects against NF-κB, with IC₅₀ values of 0.08, 0.61, and 1.60 μM, respectively.     

Agariblazeispirols A and B, an unprecedented skeleton from the cultured mycelia of the fungus, Agaricus blazei

Agariblazeispirols A and B, which have a unique steroidal skeleton, have been isolated from the cultured mycelia of Agaricus blazei (Agaricaceae). The absolute structure of Agariblazeispirol A was established to be (20S,22R,23R,24S)-13β,22:22,25-diepoxy-5-methoxy-14β-methyl-18-nor-des-A-ergosta-5,7,9,11-tetraen-23-ol by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectral data, and X-ray analysis. The structure of Agariblazeispirol B was elucidated to be a stereoisomer of agariblazeispirol A at its carbon 22, (20S,22S,23R,24S)-13β,22:22,25-diepoxy-5-methoxy-14β-methyl-18-nor-des-A-ergosta-5,7,9,11-tetraen-23-ol by comparison of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectral data with those of agariblazeispirol A. Both compounds showed a moderate circumvention of drug resistance on mouse leukemia P388/VCR cells.     

(Salen)Ti(IV) complex catalyzed asymmetric ring-opening of epoxides using dithiophosphorus acid as the nucleophile

A series of chiral bis-Schiff bases were synthesized starting from (1R,2R)-(+)-diaminocyclohexane, (+)-cis-1,2,2-trimethyl-1,3-diaminocyclopentane, (R)-2,2^′-diamino-1,1^′-binaphthalene, and (1S,2S)-diphenyl-1,2-ethanediamine. The enantioselective ring-opening of meso epoxides with dithiophosphorus acids catalyzed by a (salen)Ti(IV) complex formed in situ upon the treatment of Ti(OPr-i)₄ and the aforementioned chiral Schiff base was realized. The resulting products were obtained with low to good enantioselectivities (up to 73% ee). The (salen)Ti(IV) complex containing the backbone of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane exhibited the best enantioselectivity. The substituents in dithiophosphorus acids and those on the salen aromatic ring have a significant influence on the reaction. Moderate enantioselectivity were obtained for the (salen)Ti(IV) complex catalyzed ring-opening of racemic monosubstituted epoxides. High regioselectivity was observed for the alkyl substituted epoxides, whereas poor regioselectivity was obtained for the aryl substituted ones.     

DNA-, RNA- and self-pairing properties of a pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid with a (2′R,4′S)-prolyl-(1S,2S)-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid backbone

A new pyrrolidinyl peptide nucleic acid (PNA) comprising of an alternate sequence of 4′-nucleobase-modified proline with (2′R,4′S) configuration and a (1S,2S)-2-aminocyclopentanecarboxylic acid [(2′R,4′S)-acpcPNA] backbone was synthesized and its DNA-, RNA- and self-pairing properties studied. T_m and CD studies suggested that the (2′R,4′S)-acpcPNA forms antiparallel hybrids to DNA and RNA with high sequence and direction specificity. The stability of these hybrids is comparable to those of the (2′R,4′R)-acpcPNA hybrids previously reported by our group. On the other hand, experiments with a self-complementary sequence indicated that the new (2′R,4′S)-acpcPNA forms a more stable antiparallel self-hybrid than (2′R,4′R)-acpcPNA.     

Two diasteoisomers of 5-hydroxy-6-methylpipecolic acid from seeds of Fagus silvatica L.

Two diastereoisomers of 5-hydroxy-6-methylpipecolic acid have been isolated from beechnuts. The configurations of the two amino acids have been assigned as (2S, 5S, 6S) (1) and (2S, 5R, 6S) (2). The determination of structure and configuration for the two new amino acids is mainly based on spectroscopic and rotatory evidence. The ¹³C-NMR and ¹H-NMR spectra of the three ionic forms of the two amino acids and of S-pipecolic acid and (2S, 5R)-5-hydroxypipecolic acid and the CD-curves of the cations and amfoions of 1, 2, and (2S, 5R)-5-hydroxypipecolic acid have been recorded.     

Synthesis of four enantiomers of 2,3-di(N-Boc-amino)-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates

Enantiomerically pure diethyl (1S,2R)-, (1S,2S)-, (1R,2R)- and (1R,2S)-2,3-di(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates were synthesised from diethyl (1S,2R,1′S)-, (1S,2S,1′R)-, (1R,2R,1′S)- and (1R,2S,1′R)-[N-(1-phenylethyl)]-2,3-epimino-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates, respectively, via aziridine ring opening with neat TMSN₃ followed by hydrogenolysis in the presence of Boc₂O. A plausible mechanism for the aziridine ring opening in 2,3-epimino-1-hydroxypropylphosphonates involving the intermediate aziridinium ions was proposed. Significant differences in the rates of the aziridine ring opening between diastereoisomeric phosphonates (1S,2R,1′S) and (1S,2S,1′R) were rationalised taking into account different conformations of the 1-phenylethyl group in both diastereoisomers.     

Raman optical activity of tartaric acid and related molecules

The Raman optical activity spectra of (2R, 3R) (+)- and (2S,3S) (?)-tartaric acid, (2R, 3R) (+)-dimethyl tartrate, (2R,3R) (?)-2,3-butanediol and (2S, 3S) (+)-dibenzoyl tartaric acid are presented. A large couplet at about 500cm^?1 in the first three molecules, which probably originates in deformations of a chiral structural unit, might serve as an indicator of conformation and absolute configuration.     

Synthetic studies on homophymine A: stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3R,4R,6R)-3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethyloctanoic acid

An efficient and highly stereocontrolled synthesis of (2R,3R,4R,6R)-3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethyloctanoic acid, the β-hydroxy acid unit that acylates the N-terminus of homophymine A, has been devised starting from iodoethane and (S,S)-pseudoephedrine propionamide in 9 steps and 36% average overall yield. Comparison of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR and optical rotation data of the resulting β-hydroxy acid with the natural fragment unambiguously verifies the configurational assignment as (2R,3R,4R,6R).     

Studies towards the total synthesis of contignasterol

The (17R,20S,22S,24S) C₂₀-C₂₉ segment of contignasterol has been stereoselectively prepared in 8 steps and 40% overall yield from (S)-carvone. Synthetic studies towards contignasterol's C/D ring functionalization/isomerization are also reported.     

Arylacetic acid derivatization of 2,3- and internal erythro-squalene diols. Separation and absolute configuration determination

We have studied a new approach for the resolution and absolute configuration determination of the enantiomers of squalene diols as intermediate precursors in the chemical synthesis of different squalene oxides (SOs); (3R)- and (3S)-2,3-SO, (6R,7R)- and (6S,7S)-6,7-SO, and (10R,11R)- and (10S,11S)-10,11-SO. Monoderivatization of the corresponding racemic squalene diol intermediates with pure stereoisomers of (S)-(+)-methoxyphenyl acetic acid ((S)-(+)-MPA), (S)-(+)-9-anthrylmethoxyacetic acid ((S)-(+)-9-AMA) and (S)-(+)-acetoxyphenylacetic acid ((S)-(+)-APA) afforded the diastereomeric esters which could be easily separated by column flash chromatography with silica gel. In addition, the absolute configuration for these diastereoisomers of the derivatized diols was advantageously inferred from ¹H NMR data according to the models depicted for these derivatizing chiral agents. In order to demonstrate the absolute configuration assignment of the different stereoisomers, (S)-(+)-AMA showed the larger Δδ by ¹H NMR, however, (S)-(+)-MPA esters were much more stable derivatives.     

Versicolactones A and B: total synthesis and structure revision

To further determine absolute configurations of versicolactones A and B, total synthesis of versicolactones A and B and their six stereoisomers were reported in this Letter. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra of the synthetic erythro-stereoisomers matched perfectly with those of the natural products. Combined with the comparison of the specific rotations, the absolute configuration of versicolactones A and B were revised as (4Z,6R,7S)- and (4E,6R,7S)- from the corresponding (4Z,6R,7R)- and (4E,6R,7R)-6,7-dihydroxyocta-2,4-dien-4-lactone, respectively.     

A mild and efficient cyanosilylation of ketones catalyzed by a Lewis acid-Lewis base bifunctional catalyst

A new family of bifunctional catalysts (N-oxides-Ti(OⁱPr)₄ (2:1)) containing a Lewis acid and a Lewis base was developed and applied to the catalytic cyanosilylation of ketones. Utilizing rac((1R,2S) and (1S,2R))-1-(2′-pyridylmethyl)-2-diphenylhydroxymethylpyrrolidine N-oxide-titanium (2:1) complex and N-benzyl-diethanolamine N-oxide-titanium (2:1) complex as catalysts, the cyanosilylation products were obtained in 42-97% yield. Based on experimental phenomena and kinetic studies, a catalytic cycle was proposed to explain the remarkable activities of these catalysts. Investigations indicated that rac((1R,2S) and (1S,2R))-1-(2′-pyridylmethyl)-2-diphenylhydroxymethylpyrrolidine N-oxide-titanium (2:1) complex and N-benzyl-diethanolamine N-oxide-titanium (2:1) complex should promote the reaction via a dual activation of the ketone by the titanium and TMSCN by the N-oxide.     

Reversed diastereoselectivity in the ring-opening reaction of (S)-TFPO with a chiral aminoacetonitrile Schiff base

Diastereoselective ring opening of (S)-2,3-epoxy-1,1,1-trifluoropropane [(S)-TFPO: 75% ee] with an aminoacetonitrile Schiff base bearing the (R,R,R)-hydroxypinanone chiral auxiliary [(R)-Schiff base] are described. The reaction of (S)-TFPO with the (R)-Schiff base selectively gave one diastereomer out of the four possible, while that with the (S)-Schiff base gave a complex mixture of all four possible diastereomers. The stereochemistry of the reaction products was greatly dependent on the base used for abstracting a proton from the (R)-Schiff base; utilization of LDA and KO^tBu resulted in production of (R,R,R,S,S)- and (R,R,R,R,S)-isomers as the major diastereomers, respectively.     

Three New Lanostane Triterpenoids from Inonotus obliquus

Three new lanostane‐type triterpenoids, inonotsulides A, B, and C ( 1 – 3 , resp.) were isolated from the sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus (Pers .: Fr.) (Japanese name: Kabanoanatake; Russian name: Chaga). Their structures were determined to be (20R,24S)‐3β,25‐dihydroxylanost‐8‐en‐20,24‐olide ( 1 ), (20R,24R)‐3β,25‐dihydroxylanost‐8‐en‐20,24‐olide ( 2 ), and (20R,24S)‐3β,25‐dihydroxylanosta‐7,9(11)‐dien‐20,24‐olide ( 3 ) on the basis of chemical transformation, NMR spectroscopy including 1D and 2D (¹H,¹H‐COSY, NOESY, HMQC, HMBC), EI‐MS, and single‐crystal X‐ray analysis.     

Transformation of esters into allyl halides via substituted cyclopropanols. Application in the synthesis of (2S,3R,7R/S)-3,7-dimethyltridec-2-yl acetate and propionate, sex attractants of pine sawfly Diprion pini

A convenient new approach to the synthesis of the acetate and the propionate of (2S,3R,7R/S)-3,7-dimethyltridecan-2-ol, sex attractants of Diprion pini L., using the cyclopropanation of the ethoxycarbonyl group in O-THP protected ethyl (S)-lactate with ethylmagnesium bromide in the presence of titanium(IV) isopropoxide followed by C-2-C-3 cyclopropane ring opening as the key steps has been performed.     

Quality Evaluation of Angelica sinensis by Simultaneous Determination of Ten Compounds Using LC-PDA

A simple, rapid and valid analysis method for simultaneously determination of ten characteristic components, including six phthalides [(Z)-ligustilide, (Z)-butylidene phthalide, riligustilide, levistolide A, (3Z)-(3aR,6S,3′R,8′S)-3a.8′,6.3′-diligustilide and 3,9-dihydroxyl-ligustilide], three aromatic acids (o-phthalic acid, vanillic acid and ferulic acid) and one macrolide (brefeldin A), in the radix of Angelica sinensis, a valued traditional Chinese medicinal herb was developed by liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection. Riligustilide, levistolide A, (3Z)-(3aR,6S,3′R,8′S)-3a.8′,6.3′-diligustilide, 3,9-dihydroxyl-ligustilide and brefeldin A were first quantitatively determined in Angelica sinensis. Separation was performed on an Alltima C-18 analytical column by gradient elution with (A) 0.2% aqueous formic acid and (B) methanol as mobile phase. The column temperature was set at 25 °C. The method was validated for system suitability, precision accuracy and linearity. The average recovery of the method was 93.8–102.2% and linearity was (R ² > 0.998). Furthermore, the method was successfully applied to the simultaneous determination of ten analytes in 46 samples of A. sinensis from various sources including different collecting locations, harvesting time, storage time, drying methods, and medicinal portions of the herb. The results obtained suggest that the method can efficiently evaluate the quality of A. sinensis from different sources, which benefit its quality control.     

Synthesis of (+)-(1S,2R) and (−)-(1R,2S)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids

(+)-(1S,2R) and (−)-(1R,2S)-2-aminocyclobutane-1-carboxylic acids have been prepared in >97% ee and in 33% and 20% overall yields starting from a single, chiral, bicyclic compound perceived as a chiral uracil equivalent. Construction of the cyclobutane ring is achieved via a [2+2] photocycloaddition reaction of this chiral precursor with ethylene.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of new polyhydroxylated indolizidines from (l)-glutamic acid

A diastereoselective synthesis of two new swainsonine's analogues 1a and 1b with the piperidine ring fused to a phenyl nucleus at C6-C7, namely (1R, 2S, 10R, 10aR)-(+)-1,2,10-trihydroxy-1,2,3,5,10,10a-hexahydrobenzo[f] indolizine (1a) and (1S, 2R, 10R, 10aR)-(+)-1,2,10-trihydroxy-1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 10a-hexahydrobenzo[f] indolizine (1b), is described. Throughout this work, the effectiveness of the tricyclic indolizidine dione 5, readily available in three steps from the cheap l-glutamic acid, as an attractive platform for chemo- and stereodivergent transformations is illustrated. The key steps involved totally diastereoselective ketone reduction of compound 5 and catalytic cis-dihydroxylation of the unsaturated amide 10. The synthetic strategy also allowed for the diastereoselective synthesis of benzoanalogues of the 1,8a-di-epi-lentiginosine 3a ((1R, 2S, 10aR)-(+)-1,2-dihydroxy-1, 2, 3, 5, 10, 10a-hexahydrobenzo[f]indolizine) and 2,8a-di-epi-lentiginosine 3b ((1S, 2R, 10aR)-(+)-1,2-dihydroxy-1,2,3,5,10,10a-hexahydrobenzo[f]indolizine).     

Novel Antileukemic Sterol Glycosides from Ajuga salicifolia

Two novel and three new sterol glycosides were isolated from the MeOH extract of the aerial parts of Ajuga salicifolia (L.) Schreber . The structures of the compounds were elucidated as (3R,16S,17S,20R,22S,23S, 24S,25S)‐16,23 : 16,27 : 22,25‐triepoxy‐3‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)coprostigmast‐7‐en‐17‐ol ( 1 ), (3R,16S,17S, 20R,22S,23S,24S,25S)‐16,23 : 16,27 : 22,25‐triepoxy‐3‐{[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]oxy}coprostigmast‐7‐en‐17‐ol ( 2 ), (3R,16S,17R,20S,22R,24S,25S)‐22,25‐epoxy‐3,27‐bis(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)coprostigmast‐7‐en‐16‐ol ( 3 ), (3R,16S,17R,20S,22R,24S,25S)‐22,25‐epoxy‐3‐{[β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl]oxy}‐27‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)coprostigmast‐7‐en‐16‐ol ( 4 ), and (3R,16R,17S,20R,22S,23S, 24S,25S)‐22,25‐epoxy‐3‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)coprostigmast‐7‐ene‐16,17,23,27‐tetrol 27‐acetate ( 5 ) by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR‐MALDI mass spectrometry. The novel compounds, which consist of three additional ring systems at the coprostigmastane skeleton, were named ajugasalicioside A ( 1 ) and B ( 2 ), and the new compounds C ( 3 ), D ( 4 ) and E ( 5 ). In our cytotoxicity assays (HeLa cells, Jurkat T cells, and peripheral mononuclear blood cells), ajugasaliciosides A–D specifically inhibited the viability and growth of Jurkat T‐leukemia cells at concentrations below 10 μM . Ajugasalicioside A ( 1 ; (IC₅₀=6 μM ) and C ( 3 ; IC₅₀=3 μM ) were the most active compounds. Ajugasalicioside A ( 1 ) induced cell‐cell contact, inhibited Jurkat T cell proliferation, and up‐regulated mRNA levels of the cell‐cycle regulator cyclin D1, which might be an indication for cell differentiation. Furthermore, 1 down‐regulated the mRNA levels of the NF‐κB subunit p65 in a concentration‐dependent manner. These effects were not found for ajugasalicioside B ( 2 ), which has an additional glucose unit, and the onset of cytotoxicity of 2 (IC₅₀=10 μM ) was delayed by 24 h.