Synthetic studies towards oxazinins. An expedient first total synthesis and proof of the absolute stereochemistry of oxazinin-3

A synthetic strategy, based on intramolecular addition of an appropriate hydroxyl substituent to a 3-methyleneindolenine, towards the naturally occurring marine toxins oxazinin-1, -2 and -3 is presented. The expedient first total synthesis of oxazinin-3, thus accomplished, demonstrated the efficiency of the approach and established the absolute stereochemistry of oxazinin-3 as 2S,5S.     

Structure and absolute configuration of new acidic metabolites from Stachys ehrenbergii

Two novel metabolites have been isolated from the aerial parts of Stachys ehrenberiigii. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated using a combination of ¹³C and ¹H homo and heteronuclear 2D NMR experiments and mass analysis. The development of an enantioselective synthesis of 3-(2′-acetoxy-4-phenylbut-3′-enoylamino)propionic acid allowed to confirm the structure and assign the (R) absolute configuration at C-2′ of the natural product.     

Structure elucidation and stereoselective total synthesis of pavettamine, the causal agent of gousiekte

The structure elucidation of a novel natural product pavettamine (1), the causal agent of the plant toxicosis gousiekte, is reported. The structure was defined by analysis of NMR and MS data and the relative configuration followed from the ¹³C NMR data of the acetonide derivative. The absolute stereochemistry was established by total synthesis from (2S)-malic acid using chiral sulfoxide methodology as (2S,4R,8R,10S)-1,11-diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol.     

Asymmetric first total syntheses and assignment of absolute configuration of oxazinin-5, oxazinin-6 and preoxazinin-7

Asymmetric first total syntheses of the unprecedented toxins oxazinin-5, oxazinin-6 and preoxazinin-7 have been achieved from a common key intermediate 18, derived from a regiocontrolled Sharpless asymmetric aminohydroxylation and oxa-Michael reaction, which in addition to confirming the structure also established the absolute configuration of the natural products. On the way an expeditious synthesis of a metabolite bursatellin was completed in 8 steps.     

Structure and enantioselective synthesis of polyamine toxin MG30 from the venom of the spider Macrothele gigas

A novel polyamine toxin, named MG30, was isolated from the venom of the spider, Macrothele gigas, and its structure was elucidated by two-dimensional NMR and mass analysis. In addition, the enantioselective synthesis of MG30 was achieved to assign its absolute stereochemistry.     

Revised absolute stereochemistry of natural kulokekahilide-2

Kulokekahilide-2 is a potent cytotoxic depsipeptide isolated from the Hawaiian marine mollusk Philinopsis speciosa. The structure of kulokekahilide-2 was reported to be composed of five amino acids (l-Ala, l-Ile, MeGly, l-MePhe, d-Ala) and two hydroxy acids (d-Hica, 5S,6S,7S-Dtda); however, following its total synthesis, the ¹H NMR spectrum of the synthetic compound was found to be different from that of the natural one, suggesting that the stereochemistry of the reported structure was incorrect. To determine the stereochemistry of the natural compound, arrays of analogues have been prepared using different sets of chiral amino acids, and the absolute stereochemistry of kulokekahilide-2 has been unambiguously confirmed to involve the combination 21-l-Ala, 24-d-MePhe, and 43-d-Ala.     

Dolastanes from the brown alga Dilophus spiralis: absolute stereochemistry and evaluation of cytotoxicity

Five new dolastanes (1-5) were isolated from the brown alga Dilophus spiralis. The structural elucidation of the isolated compounds and the assignment of relative stereochemistry were based on analyses of their spectroscopic data. The structure proposed for 1 was confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, whereas its absolute stereochemistry was determined using the modified Mosher's method. The cytotoxicity of 1-4 was evaluated against seven cell lines.     

Structural and stereochemical revision of isocyanide and isothiocyanate amphilectenes from the Caribbean marine sponge Cribochalina sp.

The absolute stereochemistry of amphilectene metabolites from Cribochalina sp. has been revised by a detailed NMR spectroscopic study of the Mosher ester derivatives of a related alcohol. The relative stereochemistry of the previously described amphilectenes has been reinvestigated and reassigned on the basis of the X-ray structural analysis carried out on one of them. The structure of a new amphilectene metabolite, which is an isothiocyanato analogue is also presented.     

Two novel norlignans from Gymnotheca chinensis

Two novel norlignans, gymnothedelignans A and B were isolated from the whole plants of Gymnotheca chinensis. These norlignans possess a rare 2/5 epoxy benzocycloheptanone skeleton. Their structures were established on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectral data analysis, and the absolute stereochemistry of gymnothedelignans A and B was further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Synthesis and elucidation of absolute stereochemistry of salaprinol, another thiosugar sulfonium sulfate from the ayurvedic traditional medicine Salacia prinoides

Synthesis and elucidation of absolute stereochemistry of salaprinol (3) isolated from the root and stems of Salacia prinoides, which has been used for the treatment of diabetes in India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia countries, is described. Compound 3 and its 2′-epimer, epi-salaprinol (epi-3) were synthesized via the coupling reaction of a cyclic sulfate, 2-O-benzylglycerol 1,3-cyclic sulfate (5), with a thiosugar, 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-epithio-d-arabinitol (6), as the key reaction, and S configuration of the asymmetric center in the side chain of 3 was elucidated by the X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Senepodines B-E, new C22N2 alkaloids from Lycopodium chinense

Four new C₂₂N₂Lycopodium alkaloids, senepodines B-E (2-5), consisting of an octahydroquinoline ring and a quinolizidine ring have been isolated together with senepodine A (1) from the club moss Lycopodium chinense. The relative and absolute stereochemistry of 2-5 were determined by combination of NOESY correlations and chemical transformation, while the absolute configuration of 1 was assigned by exciton chirality method.     

An enantioselective total synthesis of the stilbenolignan (−)-aiphanol and the determination of its absolute stereochemistry

The title natural product (−)-aiphanol has been prepared by total synthesis. A key step involved the asymmetric dihydroxylation of (E)-3,5-dimethoxy-4-(methoxymethoxy)cinnamyl alcohol with the AD-mix-β to give triol (1R,2R)-1-(3′,5′-dimethoxy-4′-methoxymethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydroxypropanol, the absolute stereochemistry of which was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis of a readily available bromo-derivative. These studies have established that the naturally occurring enantiomer of aiphanol possesses the (S)-configuration at each of C-2′ and C-3′.     

Synthesis of the core ring system of awajanomycin from N-Boc-3-methoxycarbonyl-2-pyridinone

Awajanomycin, which was isolated from marine-derived fungus, possesses unique structural features and cytotoxic activity against A549 cells. Due to its unique structure, no total synthesis has yet been reported, and neither the relative stereochemistry nor the absolute configuration has been determined. We report the synthesis of the core ring system of awajanomycin, which includes: (i) regioselective addition of the acetate unit onto C4-position of N-Boc-3-methoxycarbonyl-2-pyridinone; (ii) stereoselective installation of a hydroxyl group on C3-position; and (iii) stereo- and regioselective epoxide-opening reaction by Me₃Al.     

Hapalocyclamide: a novel phytotoxic hexapeptide of the cyanobacterium Hapalosiphon sp.

Hapalocyclamide, a novel oxazole-, thiazole- and thiazoline-containing cyclic hexapeptide, was isolated from the terrestrial cyanobacterium Hapalosiphon sp., and which showed phytotoxic activity on lettuce seedling growth. The gross structure of hapalocyclamide was established from spectroscopic data and chemical degradation. The absolute stereochemistry was determined by Marfey’s analysis. Hapalocyclamide was established as cyclo-thiazole-l-alanine-oxazole-d-alanine-d-thiazoline-d-phenylalanine.     

Determination of the absolute stereochemistry of Etzionin

The absolute configuration of Etzionin, a marine peptide-like compound isolated in 1989 from a red tunicate collected from the Red Sea has been determined by a combination of synthetic and spectroscopic procedures. Finally, its absolute stereochemistry has been established as 3S,3′R.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of cryptopyranmoscatone A1

The first total synthesis of cryptopyranmoscatone A1 isolated from Cryptocarya moschata has been accomplished from 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal. In addition to the RCM and cross-metathesis (CM) reactions, the synthesis features a highly diastereoselective Brown’s allylation reaction and sets the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product.     

Stereochemical challenges in characterizing nitrogenous spiro-axane sesquiterpenes from the Indo-Pacific sponges Amorphinopsis and Axinyssa

An investigation was conducted to identify the structures and bioactive properties of five compounds isolated from the Halichondrida sponges Amorphinopsis foetida and Axinyssa aplysinoides. All compounds possessed the spiro-axane sesquiterpene core and all were substituted at C-2 with nitrogen containing functionality. The stereochemistry of one known compound has been revised to (2R,5R,10S)-2-formamido-6-axene (3). It exhibited mild selective solid tumor and mild antibacterial activity and was found from Axinyssa. A second known substance whose stereochemistry has also been revised, (2R,5R,10S)-2-isothiocyanato-6-axene (4) plus its undescribed diastereomer (5) were isolated from Amorphinopsis. Both sponges were the source of two new N-phenethyl-2-formamido-6-axene diastereomeric compounds 6 and 7. No solid tumor or antibacterial activity was found for 4-7.     

A novel chlorinated norsesquiterpenoid and two related new metabolites from the soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides

A structurally unique chlorinated norsesquiterpenoid, paralemnolin A (1), along with two new metabolites, paralemnolin B (2) and C (3), have been isolated from the soft coral Paralemnalia thyrsoides. Their structures were determined by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis of 1 further establish the absolute stereochemistry of 1.     

First total synthesis of (+)-Vedelianin, a potent antiproliferative agent

The total synthesis of (+)-vedelianin has been accomplished in 18 steps from vanillin. Preparation of a key intermediate in nonracemic form through a Shi epoxidation has allowed determination of the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product as the (2S,3R,4aR,9aR)-isomer.     

Cytosporin-related compounds from the marine-derived fungus Eutypella scoparia

Chemical investigation of the culture broth of the fungus Eutypella scoparia ICB-OBX, isolated from the marine pulmonate mollusc Onchidium sp., led to the finding of novel compounds 1 and 2, structurally related to angiotensin II binding inhibitors cytosporins, along with unrelated known nitrogen metabolites (compounds 3-5). The structure and the relative stereochemistry of the novel metabolites were assigned mainly by a detailed analysis of two-dimensional NMR techniques whereas the absolute stereochemistry was proposed by modified Mosher's method. Compound 2 contains an unusual cyclic carbonate functionality that is rare among natural products.