Total synthesis of resolvin E2

Resolvin E2 (2) was synthesized stereoselectively using the C1-8 and C15-20 aldehydes 6 and 9, which were connected to the C9-14 fragment by using Wittig reactions. The aldehyde 6 was prepared from the γ-silyl alcohol (S)-20 by a sequence of reactions involving ozonolysis, oxidation with NaIO₄, and the Wittig reaction of the resulting aldehyde with Ph₃PCHCHO, whereas the aldehyde 9 was synthesized from the corresponding γ-silyl alcohol through epoxidation, reaction with Et₂AlCN, and reduction with DIBAL-H.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 1-deoxy-8-epi-castanospermine, 1-deoxy-8-hydroxymethyl castanospermine, and (6S,7S,8R,8aR)-8-amino-octahydroindolizine-6,7-diol

A short, versatile, and enantioselective synthesis of 1-deoxy-8-epi-castanospermine (5), 1-deoxy-8-hydroxymethyl castanospermine (6), and (6S,7S,8R,8aR)-8-amino-octahydroindolizine-6,7-diol (7) is achieved from a common template 12. The key step utilized is PET provoked amine radical cyclization of 11 to 12 in excellent diastereoselectivity. The exocyclic double bond at C-8 of the template is functionalized to obtain 5-7 as exclusive diastereomers. 1-Deoxy-8-epi-castanospermine exhibited inhibition of α- and β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase. Compounds 6 and 7 were found to be weak inhibitors of β-glucosidase.     

Bis-spiro-azaphilones and azaphilones from the fungi Chaetomium cochliodes VTh01 and C. cochliodes CTh05

Four new dimeric spiro-azaplilones, cochliodones A-D (1-4), two new azaphliones, chaetoviridines E and F (5 and 6), a new epi-chaetoviridin A (7), together with five known compounds, chaetoviridin A (8), ergosterol (9), chaetochalasin A (10), 24(R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-22-diene-3β-ol (11), and ergosterol-β-d-glucoside (12) were isolated from the fungi Chaetomium cochliodes VTh01 and C. cochliodes CTh05. Structures and stereochemistry of the atropisomers 1-3 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 5, 10, and 11 exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, while 3, 5, 6, 10, and 11 showed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, 5 and 6 also showed cytotoxicity against the KB, BC1, and NCI-H187 cell lines.     

Five novel norcembranoids from Sinularia leptoclados and S. parva

Three new norcembrane-based diterpenoids, leptocladolides A (1), B (4) and C (5), along with five known metabolites 6-10, have been isolated from the dichloromethane extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia leptoclados. Furthermore, a chemical investigation on the dichloromethane extract of S. parva has resulted in the isolation of two new related isomers, 1-epi-leptocladolide A (2) and 7E-leptocladolide A (3), in addition to 1 and 7. The structures of new metabolites 1-5 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and their relative stereochemistries were determined by NOESY experiments. The new metabolites 1 and 3 have been shown to exhibit significant cytotoxic activity against KB and Hepa59T/VGH cancer cell lines.     

In vivo transformations of dihydro-epi-deoxyarteannuin B in Artemisia annua plants

[15-¹³C²H₃]-dihydro-epi-deoxyarteannuin B (4a) has been fed to intact Artemisia annua plants via the root and three labeled metabolites (17a-19a) have been identified by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopies. The in vivo transformations of 4a in A. annua are proposed to involve enzymatically-mediated processes in addition to possible spontaneous autoxidation. In the hypothetical spontaneous autoxidation pathway, the tri-substituted double bond in 4a appears to have undergone ‘ene-type’ reaction with oxygen to form an allylic hydroperoxide, which subsequently rearranges to the allylic hydroxyl group in the metabolite 3α-hydroxy-dihydro-epi-deoxyarteannuin B (17a). In the enzymatically-mediated pathways, compound 17a has then been converted to its acetyl derivative, 3α-acetoxy-dihydro-epi-deoxyarteannuin B (18a), while oxidation of 4a at the ‘unactivated’ 9-position has yielded 9β-hydroxy-dihydro-epi-deoxyarteannuin B (19a). Although all of the natural products artemisinin (1), arteannuin K (7), arteannuin L (8), and arteannuin M (9) have been suggested previously as hypothetical metabolites from dihydro-epi-deoxyarteannuin B in A. annua, none were isolated in labeled form in this study. It is argued that the nature of the transformations undergone by compound 4a are more consistent with a degradative metabolism, designed to eliminate this compound from the plant, rather than with a role as a late precursor in the biosynthesis of artemisinin or other natural products from A. annua.     

The combined use of stereoelectronic control and ring closing metathesis for the synthesis of (−)-8-epi-swainsonine

A novel and efficient synthesis of (−)-8-epi-swainsonine 2 is reported. Stereocontrolled diol formation from the bicyclic alkene 3 followed by a stereoselective vinylation of the aldehyde and ring closing metathesis gave the indolizidine ring system, which was converted into (−)-8-epi-swainsonine 2.     

Synthesis of unnatural pentahydroxylated pyrrolizidines: 5-epi- and 5,7a-di-epi-hyacinthacine C1

Stereocontrolled synthesis of 5-epi- and 5,7a-di-epi-hyacinthacine C₁ (7 and 8), two potential glycosidase inhibitors are described using α,β-unsaturated ketone 9 as homochiral starting material. The key step in the synthesis is the highly diastereoselective dihydroxylation reaction of 9, that allows the obtention of a single bis-hydroxylated ketone (10). Further derivatization into two epimeric mesylate esters followed by internal cyclization form the pyrrolizidinic compounds 7 and 8. This type of compounds can be useful in glycobiology due to their ability to inhibit carbohydrate-processing enzymes.     

Autoxidation of isotachysterol

Isotachysterol, the acid-catalyzed isomerization product of vitamin D₃, produces seven previously unknown oxygenation products in a self-initiated autoxidation reaction under atmospheric oxygen in the dark at ambient temperature. They are (5R)-5,10-epoxy-9,10-secocholesta-6,8(14)-dien-3β-ol (6a), (5S)-5,10-epoxy-9,10-secocholesta-6,8(14)-dien-3β-ol (6b), (10R)-9,10-secocholesta-5,7,14-trien-3β,10-diol (7a), (10S)-9,10-secocholesta-5,7,14-trien-3β,10-diol (7b), (7R,10R)-7,10-epoxy-9,10-secocholesta-5,8(14)-dien-3β-ol (8), 5,10-epidioxyisotachysterol (9) and 3,10-epoxy-5-oxo-5,10-seco-9,10-secocholesta-6,8(14)-dien-10-ol (10). The formation of these products is explained in terms of free radical peroxidation chemistry.     

A versatile approach to pyrrolidine azasugars and homoazasugars based on a highly diastereoselective reductive benzyloxymethylation of protected tartarimide

A highly diastereoselective synthesis of enantio-enriched all trans-3,4-dibenzyloxyl-5-benzyloxymethyl-2-pyrrolidinone 13a was developed based on SmI₂-mediated benzyloxymethylation of O,O′-dibenzyltartarimide. The versatility of 13a and its antipode as the key building blocks for the asymmetric synthesis of pyrrolidine azasugars and homoazasugars has been demonstrated by elaborating them into naturally occurring DAB 1 (1), LAB 1 (2), N-hydroxyethyl-DAB 1 (4), 6-deoxy-DMDP 7, and 5-epi-radicamine B 36 as well as the reductive ring-opening product 35.     

Synthesis of functional Δ-1,3,5-oxazaphospholene and 2H-1,4,2-diazaphosphole complexes via catalytic ring expansion reactions of a 2H-azaphosphirene complex

Catalytically-induced ring expansion of 2H-azaphosphirene complex 1 using ferrocenium hexafluorophosphate and acetone (2), diethylketone (3), cyclohexanone (4), benzaldehyde (5) or para-hydroxy-benzaldehyde (6) furnished selectively the Δ³-1,3,5-oxazaphospholene complexes 7-11, whereas with ortho- and para-hydroxy- or ortho- and para-amino-substituted benzonitriles the 2H-1,4,2-diazaphosphole complexes 16-19 were obtained. Two further findings are noteworthy: (1) The significant decreased reaction time in the case of the sterically more demanding carbonyl derivatives 2-4 and (2) the formation of diastereomers in the case of 10 and 11 with a ratio of 8:1 and 9:1, respectively. All products were characterized by NMR, MS and elemental analysis and the configuration of complexes 7 and 10a were determined by X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis.     

Stereochemical evaluation of sesquiterpene quinones from two sponges of the genus Dactylospongia and the implication for enantioselective processes in marine terpene biosynthesis

Silver nitrate flash chromatography of the organic extract from the sponge Dactylospongia elegans has led to the isolation of three new sesquiterpene quinones isohyatellaquinone (7), 7,8-dehydrocyclospongiaquinone-2 (8) and 9-epi-7,8-dehydrocyclospongiaquinone-2 (9) together with the known quinones dictyoceratidaquinone (6), mamanuthaquinone (10), ilimaquinone (11), hyatellaquinone (12) and the sesterterpene furospinosulin (22). The relative stereochemistry of dictyoceratidaquinone (6) is assigned on the basis of NOESY analysis. A second species of Dactylospongia, thought to be new to science, was found to contain ent-(7) together with the new quinone neomamanuthaquinone (13). The isolation of antipodal sesquiterpenes from closely related species has implications for the stereochemical evaluation of terpene metabolites. The biosynthetic processes in these marine sponges may involve terpene synthases that do not discriminate chiral substrates or may result from the presence of multiple terpene synthases, each with differing enantioselectivity.     

1-Iodo-1-selenoalkenes as versatile alkene 1,1-dianion equivalents. Novel connective approach towards the tetrahydropyran subunit of polycavernoside A

syn-Hydroalumination of 2,4,6-triisopropylphenylselanyl-1-alkynes with DIBAL-H followed by Al/I exchange with I₂ afforded exclusively (E)-1-iodo-1-selenoalkenes in good yields. 1-Iodo-1-selenopropene 10 proved to be a convenient 1,1 dianion equivalent, leading to the stereodivergent synthesis of allylsilanes (Z)-6 and (E)-6. Adduct 3, an intermediate in the synthesis of the tetrahydropyran subunit of polycavernoside A, was efficiently synthesised from allylsilane (Z)-6 and aldehyde 7 via an intramolecular Sakurai cyclisation.     

Cytotoxic cembranoids from the Red Sea soft coral, Sarcophyton auritum

Chemical investigation of the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton auritum led to the isolation and structure elucidation of two new diterpene cembranoids; 2-epi-sarcophine (2) and (1R,2E,4S,6E,8R,11R,12R)-2,6-cembradiene-4,8,11,12-tetrol (4), as well as two known diterpene cembranoids, reported for the first time from this species, namely sarcophine (1) and (+)-7α,8β-dihydroxydeepoxysarcophine (3). Structure elucidation was achieved using spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS. The isolated cembranoids were found to display high cytotoxicity against HepG2 (liver cancer cell line) and MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line).     

Musanahol: a new aureonitol-related metabolite from a Chaetomium sp.

Two antibacterial furano-polyenes, (−)-musanahol (1) and 3-epi-aureonitol (5), and a fatty acid, linoleic acid (8) were isolated from the laboratory cultures of a Chaetomium sp. accessed from tomato fruits, and grown on YMG medium (yeast extract, glucose, malt extract and water) at pH 5.8-6.0. The structure of compound 1, a new furano-polyene, was elucidated by spectroscopic methods that include extensive 2D NMR experiments, double resonance experiments, Mosher's method and PM3 calculations. (−)-Musanahol (1) and 3-epi-aureonitol (5) were present in the culture filtrate of the fungus. 3-epi-Aureonitol (5) completely inhibited the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes at 15.63 μg/mL and Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella choleraesuis and Corynebacterium diphtheriae at 31.25 μg/mL, whereas (−)-musanahol (1) lacked the antimicrobial potency of compound 5 in spite of the similarities in their structures. Linoleic acid (8) was isolated from the mycelia of the fungus; it inhibited the growth of S. aureus and Bacillus subtilis at a minimum concentration of 15.62 μg/mL.     

(−)-epi-Presilphiperfolan-1-ol, a new triquinane sesquiterpene from the essential oil of Anemia tomentosa var. anthriscifolia (Pteridophyta)

(−)-epi-Presilphiperfolan-1-ol, (1), a new triquinane sesquiterpene, was isolated from the essential oil of Anemia tomentosa var. anthriscifolia by column chromatography. Its structure elucidation was accomplished by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses, as well as by GC-MS, chiral bidimensional GC, dehydration reactions, and a comparative (GIAO/DFT) theoretical study of the ¹³C NMR chemical shifts of 1 and its known isomers (presilphiperfolan-1-ol (1a), presilphiperfolan-8-ol (3), and presilphiperfolan-9-ol (4)).     

Synthesis and properties of novel 5-(cyclohepta-2′,4′,6′-trienylidene)pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-triones: methodology for synthesizing cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates

Novel condensation reaction of tropone with N-substituted and N,N′-disubstitued barbituric acids in Ac₂O afforded 5-(cyclohepta-2′,4′,6′-trienylidene)pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-trione derivatives (8a-f) in moderate to good yields. The ¹³C NMR spectral study of 8a-f revealed that the contribution of zwitterionic resonance structures is less important as compared with that of 8,8-dicyanoheptafulvene. The rotational barriers (ΔG^‡) around the exocyclic double bond of mono-substituted derivatives 8a-c were obtained to be 14.51-15.03 kcal mol⁻¹ by the variable temperature ¹H NMR measurements. The electrochemical properties of 8a-f were also studied by CV measurement. Upon treatment with DDQ, 8a-c underwent oxidative cyclization to give two products, 7 and 9-substituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborates (11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻) in various ratios, while that of disubstituted derivatives 8d-f afforded 7,9-disubstituted cyclohepta[b]pyrimido[5,4-d]furan-8(7H),10(9H)-dionylium tetrafluoroborate (11d-f·BF₄⁻) in good yields. Similarly, preparation of known 5-(1′-oxocycloheptatrien-2′-yl)-pyrimidine-2(1H),4(3H),6(5H)-trione derivatives (14a-d) and novel derivatives 14e,f was carried out. Treatment of 14a-c with aq. HBF₄/Ac₂O afforded two kinds of novel products 11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a,c·BF₄⁻ in various ratios, respectively, while that of 14d-f afforded 11d-f. The product ratios of 11a-c·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻ observed in two kinds of cyclization reactions were rationalized on the basis of MO calculations of model compounds 20a and 21a. The spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of 11a-f·BF₄⁻ and 12a-c·BF₄⁻ were studied, and structural characterization of 11c·BF₄⁻ based on the X-ray crystal analysis and MO calculation was also performed.     

Bioactive meroterpenoids and alkaloids from the fungus Eurotium chevalieri

Five new meroterpenoids, chevalones A-D (1-4), aszonapyrone B (8), and a new sequiterpene alkaloid, eurochevalierine (5), together with four known compounds, sequiterpene (6), terpenoid pyrrolobenzoxazine named CJ-12662 (7), meroterpenoid, aszonapyrone A (9), and ergosterol were isolated from the fungus Eurotium chevalieri. The structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The configurations of 1 and 5 were determined by X-ray analysis. The biosynthetic pathway of 1-3, 8, and 9 were proposed. Chemical transformation of aszonapyrone A (9) was also studied. Compounds 4, 5, and 7 exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, while 3, 5, and 7 showed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, compounds 2-7 showed cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines.     

Seven new prenylated indole diketopiperazine alkaloids from holothurian-derived fungus Aspergillus fumigatus

Seven new prenylated indole diketopiperazine alkaloids, including compound 1, 3 spirotryprostatins C-E (2-4), 2 derivatives of fumitremorgin B (5 and 6), and 13-oxoverruculogen (7), have been isolated from the holothurian-derived fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, along with 12 known ones (8-19). The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic data and amino acid analysis. All new compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities on MOLT-4, A549, HL-60, and BEL-7420 cell lines by the MTT and SRB methods.     

New resveratrol oligomers in the stem bark of Vatica pauciflora

Five new resveratrol oligomers; pauciflorols A-C (1-3), isovaticanols B (6) and C (8), and three new oligostilbene glucosides; pauciflorosides A (11), B (13), C (14), were isolated from the stem bark of Vatica pauciflora (Dipterocarpaceae) together with known 17 resveratrol oligomers (4, 5, 7, 9, 10, 12 and 15-25) and bergenin (26). The structures of isolates were established on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. The typical and characteristic spectral properties of some resveratrol oligomers were also discussed.     

Bioactive pregnane-type steroids from the soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum

Nine new steroids, sclerosteroids A-I (1, 5, 6, 8-13), along with 18 known metabolites (2-4, 7, 14-27), were isolated from the soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum. These structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of sugar moieties in steroidal glycosides 10-13 were determined by HPLC analysis of the o-tolylthiocarbamate derivatives of the liberated sugars from hydrolysis of these steroidal giycosides. Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of these compounds were measured in vitro.