Laurane-derived sesquiterpenes from the marine red alga Laurencia tristicha (Rhodomelaceae)

Two new stereoisomers of laurane-derived brominated sesquiterpenes, 4-bromolaur-11-en-1,10alpha-diol (1) and 4-bromolaur-11-en-1,10beta-diol (2), one new natural product, laur-11-en-1,10alpha-diol (3), together with 11 known compounds (4-14) were isolated and identified from the organic extract of the marine red alga Laurencia tristicha. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were established by analysis of mass and NMR spectroscopic techniques.     

Cuparene‐Derived Sesquiterpenes from the Chinese Red Alga Laurencia okamurai Yamada

Four new cuparene‐derived sesquiterpenes, laureperoxide ( 1 ), 10‐bromoisoaplysin ( 2 ), isodebromolaurinterol ( 3 ), and 10‐hydroxyisolaurene ( 4 ), together with seven known, related sesquiterpenes, 5 – 11 , have been isolated from the red alga Laurencia okamurai. Their structures were determined on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analyses and comparison with known compounds. Compounds 8 – 11 were shown for the first time to represent true natural products, and the full ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR assignments of 5 are reported for the first time.     

Transannular cyclization of (4S,5S)-germacrone-4,5-epoxide into guaiane and secoguaiane-type sesquiterpenes

Germacrone (1) and (4S,5S)-germacrone-4,5-epoxide (2) were isolated, along with guaiane and secoguaiane-type sesquiterpenes, from Curcuma aromatica plants. Compound 2 was derived from 1 and cyclized through transannular (T-A) reactions into various guaiane and secoguaiane-type sesquiterpenes in C. aromatica. The cyclization reaction of 2 was initiated by protonation at an epoxide oxygen atom, followed by cleavage of the epoxide ring and the formation of a C-C bond between C-1 and C-5 to give guaiane-type derivatives. Acidic and thermal treatments of 2 produced twelve sesquiterpenes having guaiane and secoguaiane skeletons. The structures of these products were elucidated by spectral methods, including 2D-NMR spectroscopy. Most were identified as sesquiterpenes isolated from C. aromatica as natural products. The T-A cyclization of 2 occurred via two transition states, a cross conformation and a parallel conformation. The mechanism of the T-A cyclization reaction of 2 is discussed.     

Eremophilane sesquiterenes from the marine fungus Penicillium sp. BL27-2

Six eremophilane sesquiterpenes were obtained from a marine fungus Penicillium sp. BL27-2. Their structures were elucidated as 3-acetyl-9, 7 （11）-dien-7a-hydroxy-8-oxoeremophilane （1）, 3-acetyl-13-deoxyphomenone （2）, Sporogen-AO 1 （3）, 7-hydro- xypetasol （4）, 8a-hydroxy-13-deo -xyphomenone （5） and 6-dehydropetasol （6） based on detailed NMR analysis. 1 was a new compound and 2 was obtained as a new natural compound. These compounds were assayed for their cytotoxic activity on P388, A549, HL60, BEL7402 and K562 cell lines by the MTT method. The assay results suggested the epoxide rings in eremophilane molecules were essential for their activity, and acetylation could enhance their activity.     

A New Triterpene and New Sesquiterpenes from the Roots of Ligularia sagitta

One new triterpene and seven new eremophilane‐type sesquiterpenes were isolated from the roots of Ligularia sagitta, among them 1a , an O‐acetylated oleanane type triterpene, 2a and 3a , two 11‐nor eremophilane‐type sesquiterpenes, 4a, 5 , and 6 , three standard eremophilane‐type sesquiterpenes, and 7 and 8 , two tri‐nor eremophilane‐type sesquiterpenes. Their structures were established by extensive spectral analyses (1D, 2D‐NMR, IR, and MS). Compound 1a showed moderate cytotoxicity against two tumor cell lines.     

Enantiospecific synthesis and confirmation of the relative and absolute stereostructure of 11-hydroxyguaiadienes

Enantiospecific total synthesis of two epimeric sesquiterpenes 11-hydroxyguaiadienes has been accomplished starting from the readily available monoterpene (R)-limonene, which confirmed the structure and absolute configuration of the natural products.     

Eudesmane and Eremophilane Sesquiterpenes from the Fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla with Protective Effects against Oxidative Stress in Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel (Zingiberaceae) has been reported to show antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. In this study, two new eudesmane sesquiterpenes, 7α-hydroperoxy eudesma-3,11-diene-2-one (1) and 7β-hydroperoxy eudesma-3,11-diene-2-one (2), and a new eremophilane sesquiterpene, 3α-hydroxynootkatone (3), were isolated from the MeOH extract of dried fruits of A. oxyphylla along with eleven known sesquiterpenes (4–14). The structures were elucidated by the analysis of 1D/2D NMR, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), and optical rotation data. Compounds (1–3, 5–14) were evaluated for their protective effects against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP)-induced oxidative stress in adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs). As a result, treatment with isolated compounds, especially compounds 11 and 12, effectively reverted the damage of tBHP on ADMSCs in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, 11 and 12 at 50 µM improved the viability of tBHP-toxified ADMSCs by 1.69 ± 0.05-fold and 1.61 ± 0.03-fold, respectively.     

Two new sesquiterpenes from Sarcandra glabra

Phytochemical study of the ethanol extract of Sarcandra glabra resulted in the isolation of two new sesquiterpenes, glabranols A (1) and B (2). Their structures were elucidated as 8alpha,9alpha,15-trihydroxylinden-4,7(11)-dien-12,8beta-olide (1) and 1beta,4alpha,7beta,11-tetrahydroxyeudesmane (2), by spectroscopic methods including 1D- and 2D-NMR and FTICR-MS.     

Sesquiterpenes from the Roots of Ligularia duciformis

Two new sesquiterpenes named liguducin-A ( 1 ) and -B ( 4 ) were isolated from a Chinese medicinal plant, the dried roots of Ligularia duciformis, together with four known sesquiterpenes, 4α, 10β-dihydroxy-1β,5α-H-guai-6-ene ( 2 ), 4α-hydroxy-1β,5α,11α-H-guai-9-en-12,8α-olide ( 3 ), 1β-hydroxyeudesm-4,11-dien-3-one ( 5 ) and 1β,6α-dihydroxyeudesm-4(15)-ene ( 6 ). On the basis of the spectral evidence, their structures were determined.     

First Efficient Synthesis of 7-Epi-14-isocyano-isodauc-5-ene from a -(-)-Santonin

The natural products containing isodaucane skeleton 1 belonged to a rare kind of sesqiterpenes.1 In recent years, investigation on this kind sesquiterpenes have been attracting the interest of chemists, because some isodaucane sesquiterpenes isolated from the medical plants have been shown important bioactivities.2 The main synthetic challenge of isodaucane natural products resided in the introduction of syn-C1-methyl and C8-isopropyl groups. Although some approaches to synthesize isodaucane have been reported to date,3 they needed several steps to construct the cyclopentane unit bearing syn-methyl and isopropyl groups.     

Plant‐like cadinane sesquiterpenes from an actinobacterial mangrove endophyte

Cadinanes are typical plant sesquiterpenes with a broad range of biological functions. We report the isolation of three cadinanes ( 1–3 ) from a bacterial endophyte (Streptomyces sp.) of the mangrove plant Bruguiera gymnorrhiza. The structures of two new cadinenes, (+)‐11‐hydroxy‐epicubenol ( 1 ) and (+)‐12‐hydroxy‐epicubenol ( 2 ) were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry. The bacterial product (+)‐11‐hydroxy‐epicubenol was elucidated to be an enantiomer of the plant product pubinernoid C. (+)‐12‐Hydroxy‐epicubenol was established as a diastereomer of the basidiomycete product trichapargin A. In addition, a crystal structure analysis corroborated the structure and configuration of 5,11‐epoxy‐10‐cadinanol ( 3 ), a cadinane cycloether initially described as a natural product from liverwort. The discovery of oxygenated cadinanes from a bacterial endophyte may set the basis for the production of cadinanes by bacterial fermentation.     

New Nitrogenous Bisabolene‐Type Sesquiterpenes from a Hainan Sponge Axinyssa aff. variabilis

Two new uncommon nitrogenous sesquiterpenes, 11‐ethoxy‐3‐formamidotheonellin ( 1 ) and 7‐ethoxy‐3‐formamidobisabolane‐8,10‐diene ( 2 ), together with two known related sesquiterpenes, 3‐formamidotheonellin (=theonellin formamide; 3 ) and theonellin isothiocyanate ( 4 ), were isolated from the Hainan sponge Axinyssa aff. variabilis. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and by comparison of their NMR data with those of known compounds.     

Two New Sesquiterpenes from Eupatorium lindleyanum

Various germacrane sesquiterpenes have been isolated from many species of the Eupatorium.In recent years these compounds have been increasing interest due to their insecticidal,cytotoxic,antitumor-promoting and insect-antifeedant activities1.In our present study,we have investigated the chemical constituents of Eupatorium lindleyanum DC.,which is a geo-authentic medicine of Jiangsu province.It is used as a antipyretic drug.Two novel germacrane sesquiterpenes(Figure1)were found by us from th…     

New humulane-type sesquiterpenes from the liverworts Tylimanthus tenellus and Marchantia emarginata subsp. tosana

The ether extract of the New Zealand liverwort Tylimanthus tenellus produced three new sesquiterpenes, together with (+)-3,11-eudesmadiene and (-)-4(15),11-eudesmadiene which were enantiomeric to those isolated from higher plants. The structures of the new sesquiterpenes were established by 2D NMR spectral data and/or X-ray crystallographic analysis. Those structures were shown to be humulane type sesquiterpene alcohol, and its esters of 2,4-hexadienedioic acid 3,4-dihydroxy-2,5-diphenyl-gamma-lactone. 1,6-Humuladien-10-ol was also isolated from Japanese liverwort Marchantia emarginata subsp. tosana. The absolute configuration of 1,6-humuladien-10-ol was determined by (1)H-NMR resolution of its diastereomeric methoxy-alpha-trifluoromethylphenylacetyl (MTPA) esters. It was shown to be (3S,10R)-1,6-humuladien-10-ol.     

Sesquiterpenes from Myrrh and Their ICAM-1 Inhibitory Activity In Vitro

By using various chromatographic steps (silica flash, CPC, preparative HPLC), 16 sesquiterpenes could be isolated from an ethanolic extract of myrrh resin. Their chemical structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HRESIMS. Among them, six previously unknown compounds (1–6) and another four metabolites previously not described for the genus Commiphora (7, 10, 12, 13) could be identified. Sesquiterpenes 1 and 2 are novel 9,10-seco-eudesmanes and exhibited an unprecedented sesquiterpene carbon skeleton, which is described here for the first time. New compound 3 is an 9,10 seco-guaian and the only peroxide isolated from myrrh so far. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 7–9, 11, 13–16 were tested in an ICAM-1 in vitro assay. Compound 7, as well as the reference compound furanoeudesma-1,3-diene, acted as moderate inhibitors of this adhesion molecule ICAM-1 (IC₅₀: 44.8 and 46.3 μM, respectively). These results give new hints on the activity of sesquiterpenes with regard to ICAM-1 inhibition and possible modes of action of myrrh in anti-inflammatory processes.     

Total syntheses of (+)-chloropuupehenone and (+)-chloropuupehenol and their analogues and evaluation of their bioactivities

Tetracyclic pyrans (+)-chloropuupehenone (1) and (+)-chloropuupehenol (5) and its C8-R-isomer (+)-3 were synthesized via a one-pot condensation of 1-chloro-2-lithio-3,5,6-tris(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)benzene (8) with (4aS,8aS)-3,4,4a,5,6,7,8,8a-octahydro-2,5,5,8a-tetramethylnaphthalene-1-carboxaldehyde (7). The major condensation product, (4aS,6aR,12bS)-2H-9,10-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene (4), after desilylation provided tetracyclic pyran (+)-(4aS,6aR,12bS)-2H-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene-9,10-diol (3). At a dosage of 42 mg/rat over 8 h, pyran diol 3 inhibited the intestinal absorption of cholesterol by 71% in rats. Tetracyclic pyran 4 was also converted to o-quinone 28, which inhibited cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) activity and L1210 leukemic cell viability with IC(50) values of 31 and 2.4 microM, respectively. Diol (+)-5 inhibited CETP activity with an IC(50) value of 16 microM. The minor condensation product, (4aS,6aS,12bS)-2H-9,10-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)-11-chloro-1,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,12b-octahydro-4,4,6a,12b-tetramethyl-benzo[a]xanthene (6), was transformed into (+)-5 and (+)-1. A stepwise stereoselective synthesis of (+)-1 was also developed utilizing an oxyselenylation ring-closure reaction. The synthetic sequence also produced four biologically active naturally occurring drimanic sesquiterpenes, (+)-drimane-8alpha,11-diol (34), (-)-drimenol (38), (+)-albicanol (39), and (-)-albicanal (31) as intermediates.     

Two New Guaiane Sesquiterpenes from the Fruits of Daucus carota

Two new sesquiterpenes, 11‐(acetyloxy)torilolone ( 1 ) and 1β‐hydroxytorilolone ( 2 ) were obtained from the fruits of Daucus carota. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of various spectroscopic analyses and chemical evidence.     

A Novel,Short Synthesis of Confertifolin

Confertifolin and its related drimanic sesquiterpenes occur in the stem barks of the South American Drinys species.¹ Since the elucidation of their structures, synthesis of some of these natural substances has been published.² We now report that natural confertifolin (4) can be synthesized in three steps from manool (1).     

Sesquiterpenes from Ligularia Fischeri

Phytochemical investigation of the whole plant of Ligularia fischeri afforded two new sesquiterpenes 11‐hydroxy‐eremophil 1(10)‐en‐2,9‐dione (1) ; and 1β,11‐dihydroxy‐eremophil‐9‐ene (2) ; four known compounds (‐)‐4β,7α‐aromadendranediol (3) ; 1β,6α‐dihydroxyeudesm‐4(15)‐ene (4) ; Teucdiol A (5) ; Teucdiol B (6) . The new compound structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D‐NMR techniques.     

New C15 Acetogenins from Two Species of Laurencia from the Aegean Sea

The chemical diversity of the approximately 1,200 natural products isolated from red algae of the genus Laurencia, in combination with the wide range of their biological activities, have placed species of Laurencia in the spotlight of marine chemists’ attention for over 60 years. The chemical investigation of the organic (CH₂Cl₂/MeOH) extracts of Laurencia microcladia and Laurencia obtusa, both collected off the coasts of Tinos island in the Aegean Sea, resulted in the isolation of 32 secondary metabolites, including 23 C₁₅ acetogenins (1–23), 7 sesquiterpenes (24–30) and 2 diterpenes (31 and 32). Among them, six new C₁₅ acetogenins, namely 10-acetyl-sagonenyne (2), cis-sagonenyne (3), trans-thuwalenyne C (4), tinosallene A (11), tinosallene B (12) and obtusallene XI (17), were identified and their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of their spectroscopic data. Compounds 1–3, 5–11, 13 and 15–32 were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.