Michael addition of chiral formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones to activated cyclic alkenes

The nucleophilic conjugate addition of chiral formaldehyde N,N-dialkylhydrazones 1 to doubly activated cyclic alkenes 2-8 proceeds smoothly to afford the corresponding Michael adducts 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, and 25 in variable yields and selectivities. The reactions take place either spontaneously or in the presence of MgI₂ as a mild Lewis acid depending on the type of substrate. Release of the chiral auxiliary was achieved by transformation of the hydrazone moiety into acetals, dithioacetals or nitriles.     

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.     

An efficient substituent dependent synthesis of congested pyridines and pyrimidines

An efficient and versatile synthesis of various congested pyridines 3a-h, 6a,b, 8a-n, 10a-g, and 16a,b, and (pyrimidin-4-yl)acetonitriles 13a-g has been delineated by base catalyzed ring transformation of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones 1a-h, 5, 7, and 15 by formamidine acetate 2a, acetamidine hydrochloride 2b, S-methylisothiourea 9a, pyrazol-1-yl-carboxamidine 9b, and arylamidine hydrochloride 12 separately in the presence of powdered KOH in dry DMF.     

Anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa xanthones from the resin and green fruits of Cratoxylum cochinchinense

Cochinchinones I-L (1-3 and 13) along with 11 known xanthones (4-12, 14, and 15) were isolated from the resin and green fruits of Cratoxylum cochinchinense. In addition, four new acetylated compounds (16-19) were derivatized from 7-geranyloxy-1,3-dihydroxyxanthone (14) and 3-geranyloxy-1,7-dihydroxyxanthone (15). All compounds were characterized on the basis of spectroscopic analyses. The structures of cochinchinone I (1), a monoacetate (18) and a dibrosylate (20), were also confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis. The antibacterial and antifungal activities of selected compounds were evaluated as well.     

Cycloaddition of methyl 2-(2,6-dichorophenyl)-2H-azirine-3-carboxylate to electron-rich 2-azadienes

tert-Butyldimethylsililoxy-2-aza-1,3-butadienes react with 2H-azirine 3 leading to Diels-Alder cycloadducts in moderate yields. The reactions are endo- and regioselective with the azirine being added by its less hindered face. There is only one product in the case of 1b, 4b. There are two isomers (4 and 5) from 1a, 1c and 1d. A different result was obtained with the diene 1e. Diene 1e formed products 4e and 8. Some of compounds 4 and 5 have been hydrolysed leading to functionalised aziridines 7. Compound 8 gave aziridine 9.     

Total synthesis of (±)-camphorataimides and (±)-himanimides by NaBH4/Ni(OAc)2 or Zn/AcOH stereoselective reduction

Maleic anhydride 1 of Antrodia camphorate, which can be isolated from Chinese herbal medicine, is achieved in which the longest linear sequence is only five steps, in 40% overall yield from commercially available succinic anhydride. The crucial antrodimides 3 and 2 can be readily transformed by the chemoselective reduction with Zn/AcOH and NaBH₄/Ni(OAc)₂·4H₂O to afford the naturally occurring camphorataimides, 4 and 5, in high yields as well, respectively. This synthetic strategy can also be modified to give access to a variety of different maleic acid derivatives, himanimides 6-8.     

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.     

Synthesis and revision of the stereochemistry of a cyclopentenone natural product isolated from ascomycete strain A23-98

The 2-propenyl-4,5-dihydroxycyclopent-2-enones 4, 10 and 14 have been synthesised in optically active form. NMR data suggest the compounds 10 and 14 (but not 4) correspond to compounds isolated from ascomycete strain A23-98.     

Synthesis of arylated highly congested indans using a domino sequence

A novel and efficient regioselective synthesis of various arylated highly congested 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (3a-f), methyl 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylates (10a-e) and 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylic acids (11a-e) through base-catalyzed reaction of 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (1a-f) and methyl 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (9a-e) by cyclopentanone (2) has been delineated. The synthetic potential of 2-pyranone was explored further to generate molecular diversity using 6-aryl-4-sec-amino-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (7a-h), 5,6-diaryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (5a,b) and methyl 5,6-diaryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (12a,b) as precursors for the ring transformation by cyclopentanone to assess the effects of substituents on the course of the reaction to obtain highly congested indans, 6,7-diaryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (6a,b), 7-aryl-5-(piperidin-1-yl)indan-4-carbonitriles (8a-h) and methyl 6,7-diaryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylates (13a,b).     

Synthesis and photochromic behaviour of new methyl induced linear and angular thieno-2H-chromenes

New methyl induced linear and angular thieno-2H-chromenes 4, 5 and 6 were prepared by reaction of new methylated 6-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophenes 2 (a, b and c) and propargylic alcohols 3a and 3b, using acidic Alumina Brockmann I as catalyst and drying agent. Compounds 2 were prepared in good to excellent yields in a ‘one pot’ three step reaction from the corresponding bromo compounds 1. The photochromic behaviour of compounds 4, 5 and 6b was evaluated with the aid of a classical set of spectrokinetic parameters, and compared to reference compounds that are benzoannellated in the 5,6 and 6,7 positions of the chromene (naphthopyrans) and also to thieno-2H-chromenes 7 and 8, previously prepared, which are analogues of 5a. The resistance to fatigue (photodegradation) under continuous irradiation was also evaluated.     

A search for kinase inhibitors and antibacterial agents: bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles from a deep-water Great Australian Bight sponge, Axinella sp.

Biological screening of a deep-water Great Australian Bight marine sponge, Axinella sp., detected inhibition against the neurodegenerative disease kinase targets CDK5/p25, CK1δ, and GSK3β, as well as significant levels of antibacterial activity. Chemical fractionation returned 18 secondary metabolites identified by detailed spectroscopic analysis as three new bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles, 14-O-sulfate massadine (1), 14-O-methyl massadine (2), and 3-O-methyl massadine chloride (3), together with the known metabolites massadine chloride (4), massadine (5), stylissadine B (6), axinellamines A-C (7-9), hymenin (10), stevensine (also known as odiline) (11), tauroacidin A (12), hymenidin (13), taurodispacamide A (14), oroidin (15), debromohymenialdisine (16), hymenialdisine (17), and aldisin (18). Armed with this focused natural product chemical diversity library, we re-established that 16 and 17 were nM kinase inhibitors, and determined that 3, 6, and 12-15 were sub μM antibacterials.     

Synthesis and hybridization affinity of oligodeoxyribonucleotides incorporating 4-N-(N-arylcarbamoyl)deoxycytidine derivatives

Modified oligodeoxynucleotides incorporating 4-N-(N-arylcarbamoyl)-dC derivatives 1a-c were synthesized. The ¹H NMR spectra of 1a-c suggest that the carbamoyl group forms an intramolecular hydrogen bond with the cytosine ring nitrogen atom so that formation of a Watson-Crick base pair with the complementary guanine base is inhibited. The hybridization properties of oligodeoxynucleotides containing 1a-c were investigated by use of T_m analysis. The hybridization properties of 4-N-(N-phenylcarbamoyl)-dC (1a) were similar to those of 4-N-(N-alkylcarbamoyl)-dC derivatives reported previously. In sharp contrast to 1a, it turned out that 4-N-(N-napht-1-yl) and (N-quionol-5-yl)-dC (1b,c) have a unique property as a universal base.     

Stabilization of (N-methyleneamino)imidoylketenes: synthesis of dipyrazolo[1,2-a;1′,2′-d][1,2,4,5]tetrazines

Thermolysis of substituted methyl 1-methyleneamino-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates 2a,b led to substituted dimethyl 3,9-dioxo-1,5,7,11-tetrahydro-1H,7H-dipyrazolo[1,2-a;1′,2′-d][1,2,4,5]tetrazine-1,7-dicarboxylates 4a,b and methyl 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylates 5a,b as minor products. The structure of compound 4a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The proposed mechanism of this conversion includes generation of (N-methyleneamino)imidoylketenes 6a,b and its intramolecular transformation to azomethine imines—5-oxo-2,5-dihydropyrazole-1-methylium-2-ides 7a,b, which undergo dimerization in head-to-tail manner yielding products 4a,b and partially hydrolyse to compounds 5a,b.     

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.     

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.     

Acyclic tertiary diamines and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane with fluorine-containing β-diketones: Leading to low melting ionic adducts

N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylmethanediamine (1a), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethanediamine (1b), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,3-propanediamine (1c), and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine (1d) were reacted at 25 °C with 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione (2a), 2,2-dimethyl-6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-3,5-octanedione (2b), 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (2c), and 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-furyl)-1,3-butanedione (2d) to form the ionic adducts 3-18. 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (1e) reacted at 25 °C with β-diketones (2a-d) and 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione (2e) to give ionic solids 19-23 in good yields. Some of the products are liquid at 25 °C and are thermally stable over long liquid ranges as determined by thermal gravimetric analyses. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations show that compounds 9 and 21 crystallize in the monoclinic space groups P2(1)/c and P2(1)/n, respectively. All the new compounds were characterized by ¹H, ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR, electrospray MS and/or elemental analyses.     

Palladium complexes of N-aryl-2-pyridylamines

Palladium complexes of N-phenyl-2-pyridylamine (4) and dipyridylamine substrates (7, 11) have been studied. Due to the coordination ability of the pyridine-nitrogen atoms, the pyridyl substrates, 4, 7, 11 were subjected to Pd(OAc)₂ complexations and a number of N-aryl-2-pyridylamine Pd complexes (13-17) were isolated and characterised, in particular by NMR and ESI-MS. A new method for the preparation of the acetato-bridged six-membered ring palladacycle complex (13) of 4 is reported. The dipyridyl amines 7, 11 formed cis/trans bis-dentate acetato-bridged dimeric Pd₂Lig₂(OAc)₂ (14a,b/16a,b) and Pd₃Lig₂(OAc)₄ complexes (15a,b/17a,b). The N-aryl-2-pyridylamine substrates (4, 7, 11) were prepared by oxidative nucleophilic substitution, by 1,3-cycloaddition reaction or by Buchwald amination.     

Unusual sulfanylation through ring transformation of arene-tethered 2H-pyran-2-ones by in situ built Michael adduct

A novel synthesis of highly functionalized alkylsulfanylmethyl arenes 8a-m through the ring transformation of 6-aryl-4-methyl/ethylsulfanyl-2H-pyran-2-one-3-carbonitriles 1a-j, by reaction with methyl vinyl ketone 2, is delineated and illustrated. To ascertain the course of reaction, 3-arylsulfanylmethyl-2-methyl-6-methylsulfanyl-4-phenylbenzonitriles 8k-m were also prepared from the reaction of 1 with 4-arylsulfanyl-butan-2-ones 7c,d.     

Pheromone synthesis. Part 255: Synthesis and GC–MS analysis of pheromonal triacylglycerols of male Drosophila fruit flies

Pheromonal triacylglycerols and their analogs, 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, and 3C, of male Drosophila fruit flies were synthesized and analyzed by GC–MS. Their GC retention times were found to be a reliable measure to analyze and identify these triacylglycerols with acetyl, oleoyl and tigloyl groups, although the stereo- and regioisomers of 1 (1A and 1B), 2 (2A and 2B), and 3 (3A, 3B, and 3C) could not be distinguished from each other by MS alone.     

Velutabularins A-J, phragmalin-type limonoids with novel cyclic moiety from Chukrasia tabularis var. velutina

Velutabularins A-J, ten novel phragmalin-type limonoids, were isolated from the stem bark of Chukrasia tabularis var. velutina. In structures of 1-6, the tetrahydrofuran ring from dehydration of OH-15 and OH-17, ring C and 13/14/18-cyclopropanyl moiety formed an unprecedented 8-oxatricyclo[4,3,1^1,6]decane. Compounds 7-10 are derivates of 1-6 opening the tetrahydrofuran ring. All of these compounds possess a novel C-16/C-30 δ-lactone ring, which were reported in phragmalins rarely. The structures of these novel compounds were elucidated based on extensive 1D and 2D spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configuration of 5 and 9 were determined by the calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) method. The anti-inflammatory activities of major compounds (2, 4, 5, 9) were evaluated for inhibitory activity against lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced nitric oxide (NO) production in macrophage (RAW264.7) cell line.