Six Novel Eudesmane‐Like Sesquiterpenes from Illicium spathulatum

The four diastereoisomeric gorgonane sesquiterpenes 1 – 4 and the two diastereoisomeric forfugane sesquiterpenes 6 and 7 , which all have the same molecular formula C₁₅H₂₈O₃ and belong to the same eudesmane‐like sesquiterpenes, were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Illicium spathulatum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopy.     

Microwave‐assisted Synthesis of Hybrid Heterocyclics as Biological Potent Molecules

A series of novel 5‐((1H‐benzo[d]imidazol‐2‐yl)methyl)‐2‐((3aR,5S,6S,6aR)‐2,2‐dimethyl‐6‐((1‐phenyl‐1H‐1,2,3‐triazol‐4‐yl)methoxy)tetrahydrofuro[2,3‐d][1,3]dioxol‐5‐yl)‐3‐phenylthiazolidin‐4‐ones 9a–n has been synthesized from triazole‐linked thiazolidinone derivatives 8a–g with o‐phenylenediamine and characterized by IR, NMR, MS, and elemental analyses. Further, these compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria, namely, Bacillus subtilis (ATCC 6633), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538p), and Micrococcus luteus (IFC 12708), and Gram‐negative bacteria, namely, Proteus vulgaris (ATCC 3851), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 14028), and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). Among the screened compounds, compounds 9b , 9d , 9h , and 9i are highly active against almost all selected bacterial strains; the remaining compounds showed moderate to good activity and emerged as potential molecules for further development.     

Über Pterinchemie 76. Mitteilung [1] Eine einfache Synthese von Leucovorin

A Convenient Synthesis of Leucovorin The synthesis of leucovorin, a 5-formyl-(6R or S)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydropteroyl-L -glutamic acid (II) is described. The L -folic acid was first reduced to (6R, S)-tetrahy-dro-L -folic acid (I); formylation with methyl-formate in DMSO gave directly leucovorin (as a diastereomeric mixture) in good yields. To demonstrate, that the formylation occurred regiospecifically at N (5) and not at N (10), N (10)-nitroso-(6 R, S)-tetrahydro-L -folic acid was formylated under the same conditions. Reductive elimination of the N (10)-nitrosogroup gave the identical leucovorin as in the previous case. The synthetic leucovorin was biologically as active as the natural product with Streptococcus faecalis ATCC 8043 and Pediococcus cerevisiae ATCC 8081.     

New Sesquiterpenes from the Flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L.

Two new guaianolides (=guaianolactones), chrysanthguaianolactone A and B ( 1 and 2 , resp.), and one new eudesmane sesquiterpene, chrysanthemdiol A ( 6 ), together with seven known sesquiterpenes were isolated from the flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum L. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence.     

Synthesis and reactions of pyrido[3,2,1‐jk]carbazole‐4,6‐diones

Pyrido[3,2,1‐jk]carbazoles 1 , synthesized from carbazoles and alkyl‐ or arylmalonates, gave regioselective electrophilic substitution reactions at position 5 such as chlorination to 5‐chloro derivatives 2 , nitration to 5‐nitro compounds 3 , or hydroxylation to 5‐hydroxy derivatives 4 . 5‐Hydroxy compounds 4 gave on treatment with strong bases ring contraction to 5 , 6 or the ring opening product 7 . Exchange of the chloro group in 2 with azide or amines gave the corresponding azides 8 and the 5‐amino derivatives 9 and 10 . Alkylation of 1 with benzyl chloride or allyl bromide resulted in the formation of 5‐C‐alkylated products 11 together with 4‐alkyloxy derivatives 12 . J. Heterocyclic Chem., 48, 1039 (2011).     

Chemical Constituents from the Roots of Neolitsea hiiranensis

One triterpenoid, taraxerone ( 1 ); four germacrane-type sesquiterpene lactones, linderane ( 2 ), linderalactone ( 6 ), pseudoneolinderane ( 7 ), (+)-linderadine ( 8 ); one sesquiterpene dilactone, pseudoneoliacine ( 10 ); three elemane-type sesquiterpenes, isolinderalactone ( 3 ), compound 4 and sericealactone ( 9 ); one eudesmane type sesquiterpene, cryptomeridol ( 11 ); one glucoside, β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside ( 12 ) along with β-sitosterol (5) were isolated from the roots of Neolitsea hiiranensis. The structures of these compounds were identified on the basis of spectral properties.     

灰色链霉菌ATCC 13273 位点特异性转化商陆皂苷元羟基化反应研究

为增加商陆皂苷元的结构多样性,本研究采用两步培养法,利用灰色链霉菌ATCC 13273对其进行生物转化,得到一个极性增大的羟基化产物。通过二维核磁、高分辨质谱等方法鉴定该转化产物为2β, 3β, 23, 29-四羟基-齐墩果烷-12-烯-28, 30-二酸-30-甲酯。     

Enantioselective benzylic hydroxylation of indan and tetralin with Pseudomonas monteilii TA-5

A set of 22 toluene- and ethylbenzene-degrading strains were screened for the enantioselective benzylic hydroxylation of indan and tetralin, and Pseudomonas monteilii TA-5 was discovered as an active and selective biocatalyst for such hydroxylations. Cells of P. monteilii TA-5 can be easily grown to a high density and demonstrated a specific hydroxylation activity of 24 U/g cdw (cell dry weight). Conditions for the hydroxylation of indan 1a and tetralin 1b with resting cells of this strain were optimized, to give the corresponding (R)-1-indanol 2a and (R)-1-tetralol 2b in 99% ee and 62–67% yields, respectively. No significant product inhibition was observed, and biohydroxylation with cell-free extracts suggested that the responsible hydroxylase is a soluble enzyme depending on either NADH or NADPH. Preparative biohydroxylation was demonstrated with resting cells as biocatalysts, affording (R)-2a in 99% ee and 65% yield, and (R)-2b in 99% ee and in 63% yield, respectively.     

Stereocontrol of the Schiff Base of Substituted Benzaldehyde to Staudinger Cycloaddition Reaction

Syntheses of 4 novel chiral azetidin-2-one derivatives,which were characterized by ^1H NMR,IR,specific rotation and elemental analysis,through Staudinger cycloaddition reaction of Schiff base of benzaldehyde with chlorine substitution at different position in benzene ring,were described.For the first time,this type of 3S,4R configuration azetidin-2-one monocrystals with many chiral centers [(3S,4R)-3-hydroxy-N-[(S)-(1-phenyl)ethyl]-4-(2‘‘-chlorophenyl)-azetidin-2-one monocrystal]were obtained,the structures of which were determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.The effects of Schiff base of benzaldehyde with chlorine substitution at different position in benzene ring on stereoselectivity of Staudinger cycloaddition reaction products were discussed and the results are showed as below:2-chlorophenyl Schiff base favored to yield 3S,4R configuration product,but 4-chlorophenyl Schiff base favored to yield 3R,4S configuration product.The reaction orientation of 2,4-dichlorophenyl Schiff base was determined by corporate effect of 2- and 4-chlorine,and that of the 4-chlorine was more obvious.In contrast to 4-chlorophenyl,although the main product was 3R,4S configuration,3-chlorophenyl owned lower selectivity.     

Preparation of l-Threoninol and Its Bisoxazoline Derivative

Abstract

(R,R)-Threoninol was prepared in one step from l-threonine in 86% isolated yield. The product was regioselectively transformed into 2,2-bis[(4R,5R)-4-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methyl-1,3-oxazolin-2-yl]propane in 42% isolated yield.     

On Triazoles. XXXII. The reaction of 5-amino-1 H-1,2,4-triazolylcarbothiohydrazides with β- and γ-oxo-esters

5-Amino-lH-1,2,4-triazolylcarbothiohydrazides gave β and γ-oxo-esters in boiling ethanol [1,2,4]triazolo- [1,5-d][1,2,4,6]tetrazepine-5-thiones 3 . Analogously ethyl 2-oxocyclohexanecarboxylate provided a mixture of two diastereomeric spiro derivatives 5 and 6 . At 130°, 2-acetonyl-5-methyl-4,5-dihydro-1,3,4-oxadiazole-5-thione ( 8 ) was formed. Ring closure of 3e (R¹ = CH₃, R² = CH₂CH₂COOEt, Q = morpholino) lead to the isomeric pyrrolo[2,1-g][1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-d][1,2,4,6]tetrazepin-8(11H)-one ( 12 ) and pyrrolo[1,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo-[1,5-d][1,2,4,6]tetrazepin-10(7H)-one ( 13 ) derivatives representing two new ring systems.     

Electronic Tuning of Iron–Oxo‐Mediated C?H Activation: Effect of Electron‐Donating Ligand on Selectivity

We have reported previously that an iron(III) complex supported by an anionic pentadentate monoamido ligand, dpaq^H (dpaq^H=2‐[bis(pyridin‐2‐ylmethyl)]amino‐N‐quinolin‐8‐yl‐acetamido), promotes selective C? H hydroxylation with H₂O₂ with high regioselectivity. Herein, we report on the preparation of Fe^III–dpaq derivatives that have a series of substituent groups at the 5‐position of a quinoline moiety in the parent ligand dpaq^H (dpaq^R, R: OMe, H, Cl, and NO₂), and examine them with respect to their catalytic activity in C? H hydroxylation with H₂O₂. As the substituent group becomes more electron‐withdrawing, both the selectivity and the turnover number increase, but the selectivity of epoxidation shows the opposite trend.     

Solvent‐Free One‐Step Photochemical Hydroxylation of Benzene Derivatives by the Singlet Excited State of 2,3‐Dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone Acting as a Super Oxidant

Photoinduced hydroxylation of neat deaerated benzene to phenol occurred under visible‐light irradiation of 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyano‐p‐benzoquinone (DDQ), which acts as a super photooxidant in the presence of water. Photocatalytic solvent‐free hydroxylation of benzene derivatives with electron‐withdrawing substituents such as benzonitrile, nitrobenzene, and trifluoromethylbenzene used as neat solvents has been achieved for the first time by using DDQ as a super photooxidant to yield the corresponding phenol derivatives and 2,3‐dichloro‐5,6‐dicyanohydroquinone (DDQH₂) in the presence of water under deaerated conditions. In the presence of dioxygen and tert‐butyl nitrite, the photocatalytic hydroxylation of neat benzene occurred with DDQ as a photocatalyst to produce phenol. The photocatalytic reactions are initiated by oxidation of benzene derivatives with the singlet and triplet excited states of DDQ to form the corresponding radical cations, which associate with benzene derivatives to produce the dimer radical cations, which were detected by the femto‐ and nanosecond laser flash photolysis measurements to clarify the photocatalytic reaction mechanisms. Radical cations of benzene derivatives react with water to yield the OH‐adduct radicals. On the other hand, DDQ ^{. ?} produced by the photoinduced electron transfer from benzene derivatives reacts with the OH‐adduct radicals to yield the corresponding phenol derivatives and DDQH₂. DDQ is recovered by the reaction of DDQH₂ with tert‐butyl nitrite when DDQ acts as a photocatalyst for the hydroxylation of benzene derivatives by dioxygen.     

Three Unusual New Sesquiterpenes from Alpinia oxyphylla

Two new norcadinene sesquiterpenes oxyphyllones C and D ( 1 and 2 , resp.), and one new 1,10‐secoguaiane sesquiterpene, (+)‐mandassidion ( 3 ), together with two known compounds, oxyphyllenodiol B ( 4 ) and (1R,2R)‐p‐menth‐3‐ene‐1,2‐diol ( 5 ), were isolated from the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, including 2D‐NMR spectroscopic techniques. Compounds 1, 2 , and 3 exhibited no cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines.     

Synthesis and Crystal Structure of Peptide‐2,2′‐Biphenyl Hybrids

1,1′‐Biphenyl derivatives with amino acid/peptide substitution at C(2) and C(2′) (‘peptide‐biphenyl hybrids', 6 – 8 ) have been prepared by direct N‐acylation of amino acid/peptide derivatives with 1,1′‐biphenyl‐2,2′‐dicarbonyl dichloride ( 5 ). Both conformers, which arise from the rotation around the aryl aryl bond, have been detected by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. Single atropisomers of each 6 ((R)‐configuration at the stereogenic axis) and 7 ((S)‐configuration at the stereogenic axis) have been obtained in quantitative yield by slow evaporation of methanolic solutions. The procedures are dynamic atropselective resolutions (asymmetric transformations of the second kind). The crystal structures of the peptide‐biphenyl hybrids 6 and 7 show highly ordered molecular and supramolecular structures with extensive intramolecular and intermolecular H‐bonding.     

An efficient high-speed counter-current chromatography method for the preparative separation of sesquiterpenoids from the rhizomes of Cyperus rotundus L. combined with evaluation of the anti-inflammation activity in vitro and molecular docking

Cyperus rotundus L. has been extensively used in ancient medication for the treatment of different disorders worldwide, in which sesquiterpenes are the most representative components. In this study, sesquiterpenes were effectively purified by two-dimensional counter-current chromatography in combination with continuous injection and inner-recycling mode with a solvent system of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1:0.2:1:0.2, v/v/v/v). For one-dimension separation, continuous injection mode was used with three times injection and the inner-recycling mode was adopted for the separation of two mixtures for two-dimensional separation. Finally, four sesquiterpenoids, including scariodione ( 1 ), cyperenoic acid ( 2 ), scariodione ( 3 ), and α-cyperone ( 4 ), were obtained with purities over 98%. Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance were applied to identify their structures. The results from the anti-inflammation effect with zebrafish demonstrated that cyperenoic acid exhibited stronger anti-inflammation activity. Molecular docking results suggested that cyperenoic acid possessed lower binding energies –9.4545 kcal/mol with 1CX2 to form formed hydrogen bond interaction with ARG120. In general, all the obtained findings proved that the strong anti-inflammation capacity of cyperenoic acid can have the potential of being adopted for treating diseases resulting from inflammation.     

Cadinane and Eudesmane Sesquiterpenoids from Chloranthus henryi

Chemical investigation of the leaves and stems of Chloranthus henryi resulted in the isolation and characterization of the three new cadinane‐type sesquiterpenes 1 – 3 and of the new eudesmane‐type sesquiterpene 4 , together with three known compounds. Among the new compounds, the two cadinane‐type sesquiterpenes 1 and 2 possess an unusual aromatic ring B in their molecule. These structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. In addition, antitumor activities of the isolates were also evaluated.     

New Eremophilane Sesquiterpenes from a Rhizome Extract of Petasites hybridus

A total of 21 natural products, 1 – 21 , were isolated from a supercritical CO₂ extract of the rhizomes of Petasites hybridus. Thereby, seven new eremophilane (= (1S,4aR,7R,8aR)‐decahydro‐1,8a‐dimethyl‐7‐(1‐methylethyl)naphthalene) sesquiterpenes, compounds 4, 5, 9, 11, 12, 15 , and 17 , were identified. The new constituent 9‐hydroxyisobakkenolide ( 15 ) is the first representative of a group of compounds closely related to the well‐known, but rare, bakkenolides. Tsoongianolide B ( 18 ) and its degradation product ligularenolide ( 19 ) were found as new Petasites constituents as well. The known eremophilanolide 2 was isolated from a plant source for the first time and the oxofuranopetasin 16 was isolated for the first time from the rhizomes of P. hybridus, together with eight other known compounds. The C(8)‐epimeric 2‐[(tigloyl)oxy]eremophilanolides 3 and 8 could clearly be differentiated. All structures were established by extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments (Tables 1–3), and confirmed by in‐depth GC/MS and HPLC/MS experiments.     

A steroidal phenyldi­hydro‐1,3‐oxazine derivative

The structure of methyl (6R)‐6‐(3′β‐acetoxy‐5′‐androsten‐17′β‐yl)‐2‐phenyl‐5,6‐dihydro‐4H‐[1,3]oxazine, C₃₁H₄₁NO₃, synthesized from an azidopregnene derivative, is reported. The di­hydro‐1,3‐oxazine ring is connected in the β position to the sterane skeleton at C‐17′. An R configuration was found at C‐6.     

Terpyridine Diphosphine Ruthenium Complexes as Efficient Photocatalysts for the Transfer Hydrogenation of Carbonyl Compounds

The cationic achiral and chiral terpyridine diphosphine ruthenium complexes [RuCl(PP)(tpy)]Cl (PP=dppp ( 1 ), (R,R)-Skewphos ( 2 ) and (S,S)-Skewphos ( 3 )) are easily obtained in 85–88 % yield through a one-pot synthesis from [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃], the diphosphine and 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine (tpy) in 1-butanol. Treatment of 1 – 3 with NaPF₆ in methanol at RT affords quantitatively the corresponding derivatives [RuCl(PP)(tpy)]PF₆ (PP=dppp ( 1 a ), (R,R)-Skewphos ( 2 a ) and (S,S)-Skewphos ( 3 a )). Reaction of [RuCl₂(PPh₃)₃] with (S,R)-Josiphos or (R)-BINAP in toluene, followed by treatment with tpy in 1-butanol and finally with NaPF₆ in MeOH gives [RuCl(PP)(tpy)]PF₆ (PP=(S,R)-Josiphos ( 4 a ), (R)-BINAP ( 5 a )) isolated in 78 % and 86 % yield, respectively. The chiral derivatives have been isolated as single stereoisomers and 3 a , 4 a have been characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The tpy complexes with NaOiPr display high photocatalytic activity in the transfer hydrogenation (TH) of carbonyl compounds using 2-propanol as the only hydrogen donor and visible light at 30 °C, at remarkably high S/C (up to 5000) and TOF values up to 264 h⁻¹. The chiral enantiomers 2 , 2 a and 3 , 3 a induce the asymmetric photocatalytic TH of acetophenone, affording (S)- and (R)-1-phenylethanol with 51 and 52 % ee, respectively, in a MeOH/2-propanol mixture.