On the Conformation of Bilirubin Ditaurate

 The first optically active taurine conjugate of a bilirubin was prepared by reaction of taurine sodium salt with the mixed anhydride formed from reaction of (βS,β′S)-dimethylmesobilirubin-XIIIα with isobutyl chloroformate. Analysis of the circular dichroism spectra of the conjugate in water and chloroform indicate a conformational preference for the (M)-helical ridge-tile conformation, thus providing the first spectroscopic evidence on the conformation of ditaurobilirubins.     

Synthesis of 20<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-protopanaxadiol <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-D-galactopyranosides

20S-Protopanaxadiol (3β,12β,20S-trihydroxydammar-24-ene) 3-, 12-, and 20-O-β-D-galactopyranosides were synthesized for the first time. Condensation of 12β-acetoxy-3β,20S-dihydroxydammar-24-ene (1) and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-D-galactopyranosylbromide (α-acetobromogalactose) (2) under Koenigs–Knorr conditions with subsequent removal of the protecting groups resulted in regio- and stereoselective formation of 20S-protopanaxadiol 3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside, an analog of the natural ginsenoside Rh₂. Glycosylation of 12β,20S-dihydroxydammar-24-en-3-one (5) by 2 with subsequent treatment of the reaction products with NaBH₄ in isopropanol and deacetylation with NaOMe gave 20S-protopanaxadiol 12- and 20-O-β-Dgalactopyranosides.     

New triterpenoid glycosides fromThalictrum minus L.

Two triterpenoid diglycosides of the cycloartane series were isolated from the terrestrial part ofThalictrum minus L. (Ranunculaceae). Genins of these glycosides are side-chain structural isomers—3-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-29-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-9β, 19-cyclo-20(S)-lanost-24(Z)-ene-3β, 16β, 22(S), 26, 29-pentaol and 3-O-β-d-galactopyranosyl-29-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-9β, 19-cyclo-20(S)-lanost-25-ene-3β, 16β,22(S), 24ζ, 29-pentaol. The structures of these glycosides were established using 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and FAB mass spectrometry. For Part 9, see Ref. 1. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1434–1437, July, 1998.     

Conformational Properties of (Z,Z)-, (E,Z)-, and (E,E)-Cycloocta-1,4-dienes

Summary.  Ab initio calculations at the HF/6-31G^* level of theory for geometry optimization and the MP2/6-31G^*//HF/6-31G^* level for a single point total energy calculation are reported for (Z,Z)-, (E,Z)-, and (E,E)-cycloocta-1,4-dienes. The C ₂-symmetric twist-boat conformation of (Z,Z)-cycloocta-1,4-diene was calculated to be by 3.6 kJ·mol⁻¹ more stable than the C _S-symmetric boat-chair form; the calculated energy barrier for ring inversion of the twist-boat conformation via the C _S-symmetric boat-boat geometry is 19.1 kJ·mol⁻¹. Interconversion between twist-boat and boat-chair conformations takes place via a half-chair (C ₁) transition state which is 43.5 kJ·mol⁻¹ above the twist-boat form. The unsymmetrical twist-boat-chair conformation of (E,Z)-cycloocta-1,4-diene was calculated to be by 18.7 kJ·mol⁻¹ more stable than the unsymmetrical boat-chair form. The calculated energy barrier for the interconversion of twist-boat-chair and boat-chair is 69.5 kJ·mol⁻¹, whereas the barrier for swiveling of the trans-double bond through the bridge is 172.6 kJ·mol⁻¹. The C _S symmetric crown conformation of the parallel family of (E,E)-cycloocta-1,4-diene was calculated to be by 16.5 kJ·mol⁻¹ more stable than the C _S-symmetric boat-chair form. Interconversion of crown and boat-chair takes place via a chair (C _S) transition state which is 37.2 kJ·mol⁻¹ above the crown conformation. The axial- symmetrical twist geometry of the crossed family of (E,E)-cycloocta-1,4-diene is 5.9 kJ·mol⁻¹ less stable than the crown conformation. Corresponding author. E-mail: isayavar@yahoo.com Received March 25, 2002; accepted April 3, 2002     

Synthesis of 20S-protopanaxadiol 20-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, a metabolite of Panax ginseng glycosides, and compounds related to it

A preparative semi-synthetic method was developed to prepare 20S-protopanaxadiol 20-O-β-Dglucopyranoside (1), a metabolite of Panax ginseng glycosides. The 20-O-•-D-glucopyranosides of 20S-hydroxydammar-24-en-3,12-dione, 3β,20S-dihydroxydammar-24-en-12-one, and 3β,12α, 20S-trihydroxydammar-24-ene were synthesized for the first time. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 364–369, July–August, 2006.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ab initio</Emphasis> Study of Structural and Conformational Properties of Five- to Nine-Membered Cyclic 1,2,3-Trienes

Summary.  The structures and relative energies of fundamental conformations of cyclopenta-1,2,3-triene, cyclohexa-1,2,3-triene, cylohepta-1,2,3-triene, cycloocta-1,2,3-triene, and cyclonona-1,2,3-triene were calculated by the HF/6-31G^* and MP2/6-31G^*//HF/6-31G^* methods. Only a C _2v symmetric planar conformation is available to cyclopenta-1,2,3-triene and cyclohexa-1,2,3-triene. The calculated energy barrier for ring inversion of the C _S symmetric puckerd conformation of cyclohepta-1,2,3-triene via the planar geometry is 62.2 kJ·mol⁻¹. The C ₂ symmetric twist conformation of cycloocta-1,2,3-triene was calculated to be the most stable one. Conformational racemization of the twist form takes place via the C _S symmetric half-chair geometry, which is by 60.8 kJ·mol⁻¹ less stable than the twist conformer. The C _S symmetric chair and unsymmetrical twist-boat conformations of cyclonona-1,2,3-triene were calculated to have similar energies; their interconversion takes place via an unsymmetrical low-energy (18.4 kJ·mol⁻¹) transition state. The twist (C ₂) and boat (C _S) geometries of cyclonona-1,2,3-triene are higher in energy by 13.2 and 33.9 kJ·mol⁻¹, respectively. Ring inversion in chair and twist-boat conformations takes place via a twist form as intermediate and requires 33.6 kJ·mol⁻¹. Corresponding author. E-mail: isayavar@yahoo.com Received March 25, 2002; accepted April 4, 2002     

Asymmetric Synthesis of a Structurally Simplified Analogue of the Antibiotic Heptelidic Acid

Summary.  A structurally simplified analogue of the antibiotic (+)-heptelidic acid was synthesized in ten steps with an overall yield of 9%. Key step was a conjugate addition of a silyl protected vinylcuprate to an asymmetrically shielded enoate, which gave an adduct as a single diastereomer. Transesterification in the presence of triethylamine allowed a selective cleavage of the chiral auxiliary and afforded an enantiomerically pure methyl ester. This easily enolizable β-ketoester was transformed to the trans configurated methylene derivative using a four-step reaction sequence. Finally, the desired epoxylactone was accessible from the methylene derivative by lactone ring formation and successive oxidation in four steps. Received July 13, 2001. Accepted August 16, 2001     

Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Iridoide and Coumarin Derivatives from Xeromphis nilotica (Rubiaceae)

Summary.  Besides a known coumarin derivative, scopoletin, the iridoids gardenoside, α- and β-gardiol were isolated for the first time from a Xeromphis species, namely Xeromphis nilotica. Their structures were established on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Corresponding author. E-mail: christoph.seger@uni-graz.at Received May 6, 2002; accepted (revised) May 29, 2002     

Synthesis of 4-phenyl-1-(2-thienyl)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-β-carboline

The Pictet-Spengler reaction involving β-phenyltryptamine was shown to be diastereo-specific with formation primarily of the (1S*,4R*) diastereomer of 4-phenyl-1-(2-thienyl)-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-β-carboline, a compound with potential GABA-receptor activity. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 468–470, September–October, 2006.     

Asymmetric synthesis of β-N-substituted α,β-diamino acidsvia a chiral complex of NiII with a dehydroalanine derivative

Asymmetric synthesis of β-N-substituted (S)-α,β-diamino acids was accomplished by Michael addition of amines to the Ni^II complex of the Schiff base derived from (S)-2-[N-(N′-benzylprolyl)amino]benzophenone (BPB) and dehydroalamine. Diastereoselectivity of the reaction is kinetically and thermodynamically controlled. The chiral auxiliary reagent, BPB, can be recovered and reused. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Serya Khimicheskaya, No. 3, pp. 504–507, March, 1997.     

High Spin and Anisotropic Molecules Based on Polycyanometalate Chemistry

 This paper points out some recent achievements in the chemistry and physics of high spin and anisotropic molecules based on polycyanometalate complexes. Following a step by step synthetic strategy and using a localized electron orbital model, isotropic high spin molecules were obtained with ground spin states ranging from S = 9/2 to 27/2. In the same way, anisotropic molecules with various nuclearities (bi, tri, tetra, hexa, and hepta-nuclear complexes) have been synthesized. Mixing these two approaches, it has been possible to obtained anisotropic high spin molecules that behave as single molecule magnets. The paper reviews some of the steps that lead to these findings and some of the prospects opened in the field of single molecule magnets. Corresponding author. E-mail: marvaud@ccr.jussieu.fr Received July 19, 2002; accepted July 23, 2002     

Syntheses based on norfluorocurarine. 2. Reduction and dehydrogenation products

The bisindole compound 2β,16α,2′β,16′β(H)-tetrahydronordihydrotoxiferine consisting of two diastereoisomeric deoxytetrahydronorfluorocurarine moieties was isolated from the reduction mixture of the alkaloid norfluorocurarine. 16-Deformyl-2,16,17,20-tetrahydro-20,21-dehydronorfluorocurarine was produced by dehydrogenation of norfluorocurarine; N(β)-methyldihydrodefluorocurarine, by hydrogenation of fluorocurarine. The structures of the synthesized compounds were established by x-ray structure analyses. The configurations of the asymmetric centers in 2β,16α,2′β,16′β(H)-tetrahydronordihydrotoxiferine were determined as 2S,3S,7R,15S,16R,2′S,3′S,7′R,15′S,16′S. Inversion to the R-configuration at the C15 center was observed in N(β)-methyldihydrodefluorocurarine whereas the configurations 3S and 7R were retained. Atom C2 adopted the S-configuration in 16-deformyl-2,16,17,20-tetrahydro-20,21-dehydronorfluorocurarine.     

Unpromoted and K2O-Promoted Cobalt Molybdate as Catalysts for the Decomposition of Acetic Acid

Summary.  Unpromoted cobalt molybdate was prepared from Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and (NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄·4H₂O, then calcined between 350 and 600°C for 5 h. K₂O (10 w%), as a promoter, was added to the calcined sample at 350°C from two different sources (i.e. KOH and KNO₃) and was subjected to further calcination at 350°C for 5 h. The catalytic activity of unpromoted catalysts towards the vapour phase decomposition of CH₃COOH was greatly influenced by the increase in the calcination temperature. This is attributed to the diminution of both S _BET and their dual acidic–basic characters. The promoted sample from the KOH source was found to be the most active of the catalysts studied. This is due to its high population of both acidic–basic surface sites and the formation of two new phases. XRD and FTIR analyses of the used catalysts, after the decomposition reaction of acetic acid, showed a remarkable change in its structure compared with the parent samples. E-mail: shalawy99@yahoo.com Received May 8, 2002; accepted (revised) July 9, 2002     

Molecular and crystal structures of stereoisomeric2R,3R,6S-2-(1′S-hydroxy-1′-biphenylyl)- and2R,3R,6S-2-(1′R-hydroxy-1′-biphenylyl)methyl-3-methyl-6-isopropylcyclohexanones

It was established by X-ray diffraction analysis that 2-(1′-hydroxy-1′-biphenylyl)methyl-3-methyl-6-isopropylcyclohexanone, one of the minor products of the directed aldol reaction of (−)-menthone bromomagnesium enolate with 4-phenylbenzaldehyde, has the2R,3R,6S, 1′R configuration. The characteristic features of the spatial structure of this β-hydroxyketone were compared with those of the major stereoisomeric product of the above-mentioned reaction. The latter has the2R,3R,6S,1′S configuration. In the crystals, both stereoisomers have the cyclohexanone ring in a chair-like conformation with the three substituents in equatorial positions and are characterized by the presence of the annelated (cis-fused) pseudoring with an −OH…O=C< intramolecular hydrogen bond. The structures of the stereoisomers differ in the orientation of the aryl group and the hydrogen atom at the C(1′) chiral center with respect to the cyclohexanone ring. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis were compared with the data of molecular mechanics calculation for the energetically most favorable conformations of the isolated molecules of β-hydroxyketones under study. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2251–2257, November, 1998.     

On the Synthesis and Basicity of 1,3-Diaminoisoquinolines

Summary.  A series of 6- and 7-substituted derivatives of 1,3-diaminoisoquinoline were synthesized by the reaction of N,N-diethylarylacetamides with POCl₃ and then with N,N-dimethylcyanamide. The products were identified by means of spectroscopic methods and their pK _a dissociation constants were determined. Corresponding author. E-mail: kudelkoa@zeus.polsl.gliwice.pl Received July 7, 2002; accepted July 22, 2002     

Condensations of Ethyl 3-Ethoxy-4-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)-2-butenoate with α,β-Unsaturated Carbonyl Compounds

Summary.  Wittig condensations of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds with ethyl 3-ethoxy-4-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)-2-butenoate gave good to high yields of (2E,4E,6E)-ethyl 3-ethoxy-2,4,6-alkatrienoates. Some of last mentioned compounds were almost quatitatively hydrolysed to (4E,6E)-ethyl 3-oxo-4,6-alkadienoates. This method can therefore be used as an attractive alternative for the preparation of unsaturated conjugated β-keto esters previously prepared in very low yields from α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds and ethyl 3-oxo-4-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)butanoate. Present address: Boron Molecular Pty. Ltd., PO Box 756, Noble Park, VIC 3174, Australia. E-mail: cmoorhoff@boronmolecular.com Received June 17, 2002; accepted June 21, 2002     

MS–MS Fragmentation Patterns of Cholesterol Oxidation Products

Summary. This study was aimed at analyzing the daughter ion spectra of 7 toxicologically relevant cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) i.e. cholestanetriol (cholestane-3β,5α,6β-triol), 7-ketocholesterol (cholest-5-en-3β-ol-7-one), 7α-hydroxycholesterol (cholest-5-en-3β,7α-diol), 7β-hydroxycholesterol (cholest-5-en-3β,7β-diol), 25-hydroxycholesterol (cholest-5-en-3β,25-diol), α-epoxycholesterol (cholestane-5α,6α-epoxy-3β-ol) and β-epoxycholesterol (cholestane-5β,6β-epoxy-3β-ol). In addition, 19-hydroxycholesterol (cholest-5-en-3β,19-diol) was analyzed as this serves as internal standard in COPs determination by HPLC-MS. Mass spectrometry was performed using a triple quadrupol mass spectrometer that was equipped with an APCI ion source. Our results indicate a common fragmentation pattern for COPs. The main breaking sites identified were in the sterol ring system between the carbon atoms with the position numbers 11–12, 12–13, and 8–14. Typical daughter ions of m/z = 81, 95, and 195 were used for multiple reaction monitoring analysis.     

Molecular dynamics simulation in aqueous solution of N-methylazetidinone as a model of β-lactam antibiotics

In this article, we analyze the results of a molecular dynamics simulation in aqueous solution of the N-methylazetidinone molecule, often used to model β-lactam antibiotics. The radial distribution functions (RDFs) corresponding to the most interesting atoms, in terms of reactivity, are presented. We focus our study on the effect of a polar environment on the molecule. The solvent structure around the system is compared to the structure of β-lactam-water complexes, as obtained in a previous study of reaction mechanisms for the neutral and alkaline hydrolyses of N-methylazetidinone. Two types of complexes have been considered which are related to different hydrolysis mechanisms having similar energy barriers at the rate-limiting step of the reaction path. In the first type, the β-lactam-water interaction takes place through the oxygen carbonyl atom and there is agreement between the maxima of the RDFs obtained here and the ab initio structure of the complexes previously reported. In the second type, the interaction takes place through the nitrogen atom and we do not predict a coordination layer around the β-lactam nitrogen atom. The results suggest that in aqueous solution hydrolysis of the carbonyl group is the most probable starting point for the overall hydrolysis reaction. Some discussion on the use of cluster models to represent the solvent effect is included. Received: 29 July 1998 / Accepted: 13 October 1998 / Published online: 1 February 1999     

Synthesis, Characterization, and Catalytic Activity of Rh(I) Complexes with (S)-BINAPO, an Axially Chiral Inducer Capable of Hemilabile P,O-Heterobidentate Coordination

Summary.  The reaction of dinuclear rhodium(I) derivatives of the formula [Rh(DIOL)X]₂ with the axially chiral phosphinyl phosphane 2-(diphenylphosphinyl)-2′-(diphenylphosphanyl)-1,1′-binaphthalene ((S)-BINAPO, 1) leads to the formation of cationic complexes [(BINAPO)Rh(DIOL)]⁺ where the ligand (S)-BINAPO consistently displays a P,O-chelate coordination which is mantained even in solvents of fair polarity. The mononuclear rhodium(I) complexes (S)-2-diphenylphosphanyl-2′-diphenylphosphinyl-1,1′-binaphthalene-(1,5-cyclooctadiene) rhodium tetrafluoroborate (3b) and (S)-2-diphenylphosphanyl-2′-diphenylphosphinyl-1,1′-binaphthalene-(1,4-norbornadiene) rhodium tetrafluoroborate (3c) with 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) and 2,5-norbornadiene (NBD) as the diolefin were isolated and characterized. Both show a fluxional behaviour in solution which is due to the mobility of the diolefin rather than to a displacement-recombination of the oxygenated arm of the ligand. The mobility of the 1,4-norbornadiene ligand in 3c is extremely pronounced and the coordinated diolefin flexibility could be frozen only at about 200 K. These complexes are active but poorly stereoselective catalysts for the hydrogenation, hydroboration, and hydroformylation of alkenes. Received June 16, 2000. Accepted (revised) July 24, 2000