Novel microbial transformations of sclareolide

Fungal catalysis of sclareolide (1) using Mucor plumbeus (ATCC 4740), Cunninghamella blakesleeana (ATCC 9245), Cunninghamella echinulata (ATCC 9244), Curvularia lunata (ATCC 12017) and Aspergillus niger (ATCC 1004), was performed. Cunninghamella blakesleeana (ATCC 9245) metabolized compound 1 to afford O(6)-sclareolide (2), 3beta,6alpha-dihydroxysclareolide (3), 9-hydroxysclareolide (4), along with three known metabolites, 1beta,3beta-dihydroxysclareolide (5), 3-oxosclareolide (6) and 3beta-hydroxysclareolide (7). Biotransformation experiments of compound 1 with Cunninghamella echinulata (ATCC 9244) also yielded two new compounds, 5-hydroxysclareolide (8), and 7beta-hydroxysclareolide (9) along with two known compounds 5 and 7. Spectroscopic methods were used to establish the structures of compounds 2-9. Compounds 2-9 exhibited modest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.     

1-methyl-2-undecyl-4(1H)-quinolone as an irreversible and selective inhibitor of type B monoamine oxidase

The inhibitory compound of monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity was isolated from the CH(2)Cl(2) fraction of the fructus of Evodia rutaecarpa and identified as 1-methyl-2-undecyl-4(1H)-quinolone (1). Compound 1 showed a selective inhibition of type B MAO (MAO-B) activity with the IC(50) value of 15.3 microM using a substrate kynuramine, but did not inhibit type A MAO (MAO-A) activity. The kinetic analysis using Lineweaver-Burk plots indicated that compound 1 competitively inhibited MAO-B activity with the K(i) value of 9.91 microM. The inhibition of MAO-B by compound 1 was found to be irreversible by dialysis of the incubation mixture. These results suggest that compound 1 is a potent irreversible inhibitor of MAO-B, and may regulate catecholamine content in the neurons.     

Enantioselective radical cyclisation reactions of 4-substituted quinolones mediated by a chiral template

Six 4-substituted quinolones 6-8, which bear an ω-iodoalkyl chain, were prepared and subjected to reductive radical cyclisation conditions employing BEt(3)/O(2) as the initiator and either Bu(3)SnH or TMS(3)SiH as hydride source. 4-(4-Iodobutyl)-quinolone (6a) and 4-(3-iodopropylthio)-quinolone (8a) gave the respective 6-endo-cyclisation products in good yields. 4-(3,3-Dimethyl-4-iodobutyl)-quinolone (6b) cyclised in a 5-exo-fashion, while the other substrates delivered only reduction products. The cyclisation reactions could be conducted in the presence of a chiral template (1) with high enantiomeric excess (94-99% ee). The association behaviour of substrate 6a to 1 was studied by NMR titration experiments. In the enantioselective cyclisation of 6b a significant nonlinearity was observed when comparing the product ee with the ee of the template.     

Development of 1-Hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolone-Based Photoacid Generators and Photoresponsive Polymer Surfaces

A new class of carboxylate and sulfonate esters of 1-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolone has been demonstrated as nonionic photoacid generators (PAGs). Irradiation of carboxylates and sulfonates of 1-hydroxy-2(1H)-quinolone by UV light (λ≥310?nm) resulted in homolysis of weak N?O bond leading to efficient generation of carboxylic and sulfonic acids, respectively. The mechanism for the homolytic N?O bond cleavage was supported by time-dependent DFT calculations. Photoresponsive 1-(p-styrenesulfonyloxy)-2-quinolone-methyl methacrylate (SSQL-MMA) and 1-(p-styrenesulfonyloxy)-2-quinolone-lauryl acrylate (SSQL-LA) copolymers were synthesized from PAG monomer 1-(p-styrenesulfonyloxy)-2-quinolone, and subsequently controlled surface wettability was demonstrated for the above-mentioned photoresponsive polymers.     

Studies on ketene and its derivatives. CXI . Photoreaction of diketene with 2(1H)-quinolone derivatives

Photoreaction of diketene with 4-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone and 1,4-dimethyl-2(1H)-quinolone gave 2R*,2aR*,SbR*- and 2R*,2aS*8bS*-8b-methyl-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]quinoline-2-spiro-2′-(oxetan)-4′-one ( 6a and 6b ), and their 4-methyl derivatives 7a and 7b , respectively. Thermolysis of compounds 6 and 7 afforded 2aR*,8bS*-8b-methyl-2-methylene-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]quinoline ( 8 ) and its 4-methyl derivatives 9 , respectively. Similarly, photolysis of diketene and 4-acetoxy-2(1H)-quinolone gave 1R*,2aS*,8bS*- and 1R*,2aR*,8bR*-8b-acetoxy-3-oxo-1,2,2a,3,4,8b-hexahydrocyclobuta[c]-quinoline ( 11a and 11b ). Alcoholysis of compounds 11a and 11b with hydrogen chloride in methanol gave 1-hydroxy-1-(methoxycarbonyl)methylcyclobuta[c]quinoline derivative 12 and 13 which were transformed to 4-acetyl-3-methyl-2(1H)-quinolone ( 15 ) by further alcoholysis. Photoreaction of diketene with 2(1H)-quinolone derivatives gave the corresponding cyclobuta[c]quinoline spirooxetanone derivatives 18 and 23 , which, by thermolysis, were transformed to 2-methylenecyclobuta[c]quinoline 23 and 25 , respectively.     

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa 4-quinolone signal molecules HHQ and PQS play multifunctional roles in quorum sensing and iron entrapment

Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone (PQS), a quorum-sensing (QS) signal that regulates numerous virulence genes including those involved in iron scavenging. Biophysical analysis revealed that 2-alkyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolones form complexes with iron(III) at physiological pH. The overall stability constant of 2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4-quinolone iron(III) complex was log beta(3) = 36.2 with a pFe(3+) value of 16.6 at pH 7.4. PQS was found to operate via at least three distinct signaling pathways, and its precursor, 2-heptyl-4-quinolone (HHQ), which does not form an iron complex, was discovered to function as an autoinducer molecule per se. When PQS was supplied to a P. aeruginosa mutant unable to make pyoverdine or pyochelin, PQS associated with the cell envelope and inhibited bacterial growth, a finding that reveals a secondary function for PQS in iron entrapment to facilitate siderophore-mediated iron delivery.     

An Unsaturated Quinolone N-Oxide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Modulates Growth and Virulence of Staphylococcus aureus

The pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa produces over 50 different quinolones, 16 of which belong to the class of 2-alkyl-4-quinolone N-oxides (AQNOs) with various chain lengths and degrees of saturation. We present the first synthesis of a previously proposed unsaturated compound that is confirmed to be present in culture extracts of P. aeruginosa, and its structure is shown to be trans-Δ¹-2-(non-1-enyl)-4-quinolone N-oxide. This compound is the most active agent against S. aureus, including MRSA strains, by more than one order of magnitude whereas its cis isomer is inactive. At lower concentrations, the compound induces small-colony variants of S. aureus, reduces the virulence by inhibiting hemolysis, and inhibits nitrate reductase activity under anaerobic conditions. These studies suggest that this unsaturated AQNO is one of the major agents that are used by P. aeruginosa to modulate competing bacterial species.     

Synthesis of unnatural 1-methyl-2-quinolone derivatives

Unnatural 1-methyl-2-quinolone derivatives were synthesized by regioselective C-C bond formation. When 1-methyl-3,6,8-trinitro-2-quinolone (TNQ) was treated with enamines, nucleophilic addition readily occurred at the 4-position, and succeeding hydrolysis of enamine moiety followed by elimination of nitrous acid furnished 4-acylmethyl-1-methyl-6,8-dinitro-2-quinolones. The same products could be prepared by the reaction of TNQ with ketones in the presence of triethylamine. The present reaction enabled the introduction of various kinds of acylmethyl groups substituted with alkyl, aryl or hetaryl groups.     

Microbial transformation of rubijervine

Preparative-scale fermentation of rubijervine (1), the known 22,26-epiminocholestane Veratrum alkaloid, with Cunninghamella echinulata ATCC 9244 has resulted in the isolation of the new metabolites 7alpha-hydroxyrubijervine (2) and solanid-5-ene-3beta,12alpha-diol-1-one (3). Structure elucidation of these metabolites was based primarily on 1D- and 2D-NMR analyses. The microbe C. echinulata ATCC 9244 was able to metabolize rings A and B of rubijervine but failed to metabolize rings C, D or its N-containing side chain, a finding which is analogous to the results of previous fermentation studies of steroidal alkaloids.     

Synthesis of 6-chloro and 6-fluoro-4-hydroxyl-2-quinolone and their azo disperse dyes

<正>In this study,6-chloro-4-hydroxy-2-quinolone and 6-flouro-4-hydroxy-2-quinolone were synthesized from corresponding dianilides.These compounds were coupled with some diazotized aromatic amines to give the corresponding azo disperse dyes.The structures of the quinolone derivatives and new azo dyes were confirmed by UV-vis,FT-IR,~1H NMR and elemental analysis.     

On the reactions between ethyl benzoylacetate and anisidines

4-Hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-[(m-methoxyphenylimino)-phenylmethyl]-2-quinolone ( 6 ) was a by-product of the condensation of ethyl benzoylacetate and m-anisidine; no corresponding products were obtained from p- and o-anisidine. From o-anisidine, 2-phenyl-8-methoxy-4-quinolone ( 1c ) was isolated and characterized; the same reaction also gave 2-phenyl-4-o-anisidyl-1-8-methoxy-quinoline ( 11 ) and the Schiff base ( 14 ) as by-products; the crotonamide (15) also isolated, is a possible intermediate of the cyclization. The direct condensation of anisidines with ethyl benzoylacetate in diphenyl ether and the transformations of some intermediates were studied.     

Preparative isolation and purification of alkaloids from the Chinese medicinal herb Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth by high-speed counter-current chromatography

High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water system (5:5:7:5, v/v) was applied to the isolation and purification of alkaloids from the Chinese medicinal plant Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.) Benth. Five kinds of alkaloids were obtained and yielded 28 mg of evodiamine (I), 19 mg of rutaecarpine (II), 21 mg of evocarpine (III), 16mg of 1-methy-2-[(6Z,9Z)]-6,9-pentadecadienyl-4-(1H)-quinolone (IV), 12 mg of 1-methyl-2-dodecyl-4-(1H)-quinolone (V) from 180 mg of crude extract in a one-step separation, with the purity of 98.7%, 98.4%, 96.9%, 98.0%, 97.2%, respectively, as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The structures of these compounds were identified by 1H NMR and 13CNMR.     

Recherches dans la série de la quinoléine: Préparation et oxydation du chlorhydrate de (1-quinoléinio)acétate

Reaction of quinoline with chloroacetic acid yields N-carboxymethyl-quinolinium chloride ( 1 ) (75%), which is oxidised by K₃Fe(CN)₆ in the presence of a base to N-carboxymethyl- 2 -quinolone ( 2 ) (70%). If 2 is heated in pure form at 300°, 1,3-Bis(2-quinolon-1-yl)acetone ( 4 ) (43%) is obtained; the expected N-methyl-2-quinolone ( 5 ) is formed by decarboxylation of 2 in benzyl benzoate at 275° (34%).     

Microbial metabolism. Part 12. Isolation, characterization and bioactivity evaluation of eighteen microbial metabolites of 4'-hydroxyflavanone

Fermentation of 4'-hydroxyflavanone (1) with fungal cultures, Beauveria bassiana (ATCC 13144 and ATCC 7159) yielded 6,3',4'-trihydroxyflavanone (2), 3',4'-dihydroxyflavanone 6-O-β-D-4-methoxyglucopyranoside (3), 4'-hydroxyflavanone 3'-sulfate (4), 6,4'-dihydroxyflavanone 3'-sulfate (5) and 4'-hydroxyflavanone 6-O-β-D-4-methoxyglucopyranoside (7). B. bassiana (ATCC 13144) and B. bassiana (ATCC 7159) in addition, gave one more metabolite each, namely, flavanone 4'-O-β-D-4-methoxyglucopyranoside (6) and 6,4'-dihydroxyflavanone (8) respectively. Cunninghamella echinulata (ATCC 9244) transformed 1 to 6,4'-dihydroxyflavanone (8), flavanone-4'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), 3'-hydroxyflavanone 4'-sulfate (10), 3',4'-dihydroxyflavanone (11) and 4'-hydroxyflavanone-3'-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (12). Mucor ramannianus (ATCC 9628) metabolized 1 to 2,4-trans-4'-hydroxyflavan-4-ol (13), 2,4-cis-4'-hydroxyflavan-4-ol (14), 2,4-trans-3',4'-dihydroxyflavan-4-ol (15), 2,4-cis-3',4'-dihydroxyflavan-4-ol (16), 2,4-trans-3'-hydroxy-4'-methoxyflavan-4-ol (17), flavanone 4'-O-α-D-6-deoxyallopyranoside (18) and 2,4-cis-4-hydroxyflavanone 4'-O-α-D-6-deoxyallopyranoside (19). Metabolites 13 and 14 were also produced by Ramichloridium anceps (ATCC 15672). The former was also produced by C. echinulata. Structures of the metabolic products were elucidated by means of spectroscopic data. None of the metabolites tested showed antibacterial, antifungal and antiprotozoal activities against selected organisms.     

Novel azo dyes derived from 8-methyl-4-hydroxyl-2-quinolone：Synthesis, UV-vis studies and biological activity

In this study, N,N'-di-(2-methylphenyl)malonamide was synthesized and reacted with polyphosphoric acid to afford 8-methyl-4-hydroxyl-2-quinolone. Eight novel azo disperse dyes were then synthesized by linking diazotized p-substituted aniline derivatives with 8-methyl-4-hydroxyl-2-quinolone. The solvatochromism of these azo dyes in various solvents was evaluated. All the compounds were then evaluated for their antibacterial activity against four bacteria, namely, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Salmonella enterica, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results showed that some of these compounds have high levels of antibacterial activity.     

Functional genetic analysis reveals a 2-Alkyl-4-quinolone signaling system in the human pathogen Burkholderia pseudomallei and related bacteria

Pseudomonas aeruginosa synthesizes diverse 2-alkyl-4(1H)-quinolones (AHQs), including the signaling molecule 2-heptyl-3-hydroxy-4(1H)-quinolone (PQS), via the pqsABCDE locus. By examining the genome databases, homologs of the pqs genes were identified in other bacteria. However, apart from P. aeruginosa, only Burkholderia pseudomallei and B. thailandensis contained a complete pqsA-E operon (termed hhqA-E). By introducing the B. pseudomallei hhqA and hhqE genes into P. aeruginosa pqsA and pqsE mutants, we show that they are functionally conserved and restore virulence factor and PQS production. B. pseudomallei, B. thailandensis, B. cenocepacia, and P. putida each produced 2-heptyl-4(1H)-quinolone (HHQ), but not PQS. Mutation of hhqA in B. pseudomallei resulted in the loss of AHQ production, altered colony morphology, and enhanced elastase production, which was reduced to parental levels by exogenous HHQ. These data reveal a role for AHQs in bacterial cell-to-cell communication beyond that seen in P. aeruginosa.     

Microbial metabolites of harman alkaloids

Several microorganisms showed the ability to transform the harman alkaloids, harmaline (1), harmalol (2) and harman (5). Harmaline (1) and harmalol (2) were converted by Rhodotorula rubra ATCC 20129 into the tryptamines, 2-acetyl-3-(2-acetamidoethyl)-7-methoxyindole (3) and 2-acetyl-3-(2-acetamidoethyl)-7-hydroxyindole (4), respectively. Harman (5) was biotransformed by Cunninghamella echinulata NRRL 3655 into 6-hydroxyharman (6) and harman-2-oxide (7).     

Carbonylative Sonogashira annulation sequence: One-pot synthesis of 4-quinolone and 4H-chromen-4-one derivatives

Carbonylative Sonogashira annulation sequence for one pot synthesis of 4-quinolone and 4H-chromen-4-one has been developed in presence of Pd-NHC catalyst. Substituted 2-iodoaniline and 2-iodophenol independently underwent in the carbonylative Sonogashira annulation reaction with a variety of acetylenes to result in 4-quinolone and flavone derivatives respectively in good to excellent yield. Moreover, this protocol does not require toxic CO gas, high catalyst loading and any expensive salt/additive. Herein we, for the first time, are using Mo(CO)₆, as solid CO source for the one pot synthesis of flavone derivatives via carbonylative Sonogashira annulation reaction.     

Biotransformations of imbricatolic acid by Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus nigricans cultures

Microbial transformation of imbricatolic acid (1) by Aspergillus niger afforded 1alpha-hydroxyimbricatolic acid (2), while transformation with Rhizopus nigricans yielded 15-hydroxy-8,17-epoxylabdan-19-oic acid (3). When the diterpene 1 was added to a Cunninghamella echinulata culture, the main products were the microbial metabolites mycophenolic acid (4) and its 3-hydroxy derivative 5. All the structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The cytotoxicity of these compounds towards human lung fibroblasts and AGS cells was assessed. While 4 and 5 showed low cytotoxicity, with IC50 values > 1000 microM against AGS cells and fibroblasts, 1alpha-hydroxyimbricatolic acid (2) presented moderate toxicity towards these targets, with IC50 values of 307 and 631 microM, respectively. The structure of 2 is presented for the first time.     

The chemistry of 2H-3,1-benzoxazine-2,4(1H)-dione (isatoic anhydride). 9. Synthesis of 2-arylquinoline alkaloids

A one-step synthesis of N-methyl-2-aryl-4-quinolone alkaloids is described. These compounds are readily prepared from the reaction of an N-methylisatoic anhydride with the lithium enolate of an acetophenone. By this method, the reaction of N-methylisatoic anhydride ( 5 ) or 5-methoxy-N-methylisatoic anhydride ( 7 ) with acetophenone produces the alkaloids N-methyl-2-phenyl-4-quinolone ( 1 ) and eduline ( 2 ) in 81% and 70% yield, respectively. An analogous reaction of 5 with 3,4-methylenedioxyacetophenone gives graveoline ( 3 ) in 63% yield whereas 7 and α-methoxyacetophenone affords japonine ( 4 ) in 61% yield.