New Monoterpene-Substituted Dihydrochalcones from Piper aduncum

Five New unusual monoterpene-substituted dihydrochalcones, the adunctins A–E (1″S)-1-{2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-6′-[4″-methyl-1″-(1?-methylethyl)cyclohex-3″ -en-1″ -yloxy]phenyl}-3-phenylpropan-1-one ( 1 ), (5aR*,8R*,9aR*)-3-phenyl-1-[5′,8′,9′,9′a-tetrahydro-3′-hydroxy-1′-methoxy-8′-(1″-methylethyl)-5′-a-methyldibenzo-[b,d]furan-4′-yl]propan-1-one ( 2 ), (2′R*,4″S*)-1-{6′-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-4″-(1?-methylethyl)spiro[benzo[b]-furan-2′(3′H),1″ -cyclohex-2″ -en]-7′-yl}-3-phenylpropan-1-one ( 3 ), (2′R*,4″R*)-1-{6′-hydroxy-4′-methylethyl-4″-(1?-methylethyl)spiro[benzo[b]furan-2′(3′H),1″-cyclohex-2″-en]-7′-yl}-3-phenypropan-1-one ( 4 ), and (5′aR*,6′S*, 9′R*,9′aS*)-1-[5′a,6′,7′,8′,9′a-hexahydro-3′,6′-methoxy-6′-methyl-9′-(1″-methylethyl)dibenzo[b,d]-furan-4′-yl]-3-phenylpropan-1-one ( 5 ) were isolated from the leaves of Piper aduncum (Piperaceae) by preparative liquid chromatography. In addition, (?)-methyllindaretin ( 6 ), trans-phytol, and α-tocopherol ( = vitamin E) were also isolated and identified. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The antibacterial and cytotoxic potentials of the isolates were also investigated.     

Preparation of chiral trans-5-substituted-acenaphthene-1,2-diols by baker’s yeast-mediated reduction of 5-substituted-acenaphthylene-1,2-diones

A series of trans-5-substituted-acenaphthene-1,2-diols were obtained in 21–72% yield with 97–100% ee by baker’s yeast-mediated reduction of the corresponding acenaphthylene-1,2-diones, in the presence of DMSO as a co-solvent and under vigorous agitation. The absolute configuration of (?)-trans-5-methoxy-acenaphthene-1,2-diol trans-3b and (?)-trans-5-bromo-acenaphthene-1,2-diol trans-3c was assigned as (S,S) and (?)-trans-5-thiomorpholin-acenaphthene-1,2-diol trans-3d was established as (R,R) by exciton-coupled circular dichroism.     

Five-membered 2,3-dioxoheterocycles: XCVI. Reactions of 3-aroylpyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline-1,2,4(5h)-triones with substituted 1,3,3-trimethyl-2-azaspiro[4.5]dec-1-enes

3-Aroylpyrrolo[1,2-a]quinoxaline-1,2,4(5H)-triones react with 1,3,3,7,9-pentamethyl-2-azaspiro-[4.5] deca-1,6,9-trien-8-one and 2′,5′,5′-trimethyl-4′,5′-dihydro-4H-spiro[naphthalene-1,3′-pyrrol]-4-one providing 3-aroyl-2-hydroxy-3a-{(3,3,7,9-tetramethyl-8-oxo-2-azaspiro[4.5]deca-1,6,9-trien-1-yl)methyl}pyrrolo[1,2-a-quinoxaline-1,4(3a H,5H)-diones and 3-aroyl-2-hydroxy-3a-{(5′,5′-dimethyl-4-oxo-4′,5′-dihydro-4H-spiro[naphthalene-1,3′-pyrrol]-2′-yl)methyl}pyrrolo[1,2-a]-quinoxaline-1,4(3aH,5H)-diones.     

Studies on the Michael addition of naphthoquinones to sugar nitro olefins: first synthesis of polyhydroxylated hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]carbazole-5,6-diones and hexahydro-11bH-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-diones

A strategy for the synthesis of the novel (6bR,7R,8S,9S,10S,10aR)-8-(benzyloxy)-7,9,10-trihydroxy-6b,7,8,9,10,10a-hexahydro-11H-benzo[a]carbazole-5,6-dione is reported. The key steps were the Michael addition of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone to 1-nitrocyclohexene or 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro-α-d-xylo-hex-5-enefuranose and the diastereoselective intramolecular Henry reaction of 3-O-benzyl-5,6-dideoxy-5-C-(3′-hydroxy-1′,4′-naphthoquinon-2′-yl)-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro-α-d-glucofuranose to give the key (1S,2S,3S,4R,5R,6R)-3-(benzyloxy)-1,2,4-trihydroxy-5-(3′-hydroxy-1′,4′-naphthoquinon-2′-yl)-6-nitrocyclohexane. When 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone was replaced by (1,4-dimethoxynaphthalen-2-yl)lithium, the novel (1R,2S,3S,4R,4aS,11bS)-2-(benzyloxy)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-1,2,3,4,4a,5-hexahydro-11bH-benzo[b]carbazole-6,11-dione was obtained.     

Total synthesis of optically active liverwort sesquiterpenes,trifarienols A and B,using phenylethylamine as a chiral auxiliary

The imine of (rac)-2,3-dimethylcyclohexanone 10a with (S)-(−)-phenylethylamine was reacted with methyl acrylate to yield methyl (1′S,6′R)-3-(1′,6′-dimethyl-2′-oxocyclohexyl)propanoate 4a in 26% (97% ee) after hydrolysis. When (2RS,3R)-2,3-dimethylcyclohexanone 10b was used, the same product 4b was obtained in 59% yield (>99.5% ee) after hydrolysis. When (2RS,3R)-2,3-dimethylcyclohexanone 10b and (R)-(+)-phenylethylamine were used, the reaction underwent in only 5% yield, the products being 4c, 12, 13, 14, and 15. Thus, the reaction of 3b with methyl acrylate is a matched case, while that of 3c is a mismatched case. These phenomena are explained by the nonbonded interaction of methyl acrylate with chiral phenylethylamine and the methyl group at the 6′-position of the cyclohexanone ring in the transition state. The propanoate product 4b was successfully transformed into liverwort sesquiterpene (+)-trifarienol A 1 and (−)-trifarienol B 2 in 10 steps. We have developed an HPLC method to determine the ees of 2,2-disubstituted and 2,2,3-trisubstituted cyclohexanones using the corresponding pentafluorophenyl esters.     

A new phenanthro [2,3-b] furan from Pleione bulbocodioides

A novel phenanthro[2,3-b]furan 1,named(3-hydroxy-9-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxypheny1)-11-methoxy-5,6,9,10-tetrahydro- phenanthro[2,3-b]furan-10-yl)methyl acetate,and two known phenolic compounds were isolated from the tubers of Pleione bulbocodioides(Franch.)Rolfe.Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

2-Oxobenzo[h]chromene: a novel entry for the synthesis of functionalized angular polycyclic azaarenes

An efficient and short synthesis of (5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]pyrido[2,1-b]quinazolin-2-ylidene)acetonitriles, (5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]pyrazino[2,1-b]quinazolin-2-ylidene)acetonitriles and (5,6-dihydrobenzimidazo[1,2-b]benzo[f]isoquinolin-7-yl)acetonitriles in good yields is delineated through base catalyzed ring transformation of 4-(piperidin-1-yl)-2-oxo-5,6-dihydro-2H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitriles with 2-amino-pyridine, 2-aminopyrazine and (imidazo-2-yl)acetonitrile.     

5-Hydroxy substituted naphthofurans and naphthothiazoles as precursors of photochromic benzochromenes

3-Benzoylnaphtho[1,2-b]furan-5-ol forms a photochromic benzochromene upon reaction with a 1,1-diarylprop-2-yn-1-ol affording a red coloured photomerocyanine, with a half-life of 2.3 min, upon UV-irradiation. Retention of the initial 1,4-oxygenation pattern of the naphthalene moiety through replacement of the furan unit with a methoxy group led to a benzochromene, which developed a similar red colour upon UV-irradiation but was more persistent with a half-life of over 42 min. Treatment of the 3-benzoylnaphtho[1,2-b]furan-5-ol with a 1,1,3-triarylprop-2-yn-1-ol similarly afforded a benzochromene, which did not display any photochromism at ambient temperature as a consequence of steric interactions in the photomerocyanines. The synthesis of N-(5-hydroxynaphtho[1,2-d]thiazol-2-yl)acetamide, as a precursor to a photochromic hetero-fused benzochromene, by the mild selective deprotection of the O-acetyl group of 2-acetamidonaphtho[1,2-d]thiazol-5-yl acetate was complicated by a facile, competitive, oxidative dimerisation to afford a novel [2,2′-binaphthothiazole]-1,1′-diol.     

Synthesis of 9-nitro-5H-spiro[benzo[b]tetrazolo[1,5-d][1,4]oxazepine-4,2′-oxirane] via an unusual ring-expansion

Attempted cyclization of (4-(hydroxymethyl)-8-nitro-4H-benzo[b]tetrazolo[1,5-d][1,4]oxazin-4-yl)methyl 4-methylbenzenesulfonate 2 did not give the expected spirooxetane product 1, but instead provided 9-nitro-5H-spiro[benzo[b]tetrazolo[1,5-d][1,4]oxazepine-4,2′-oxirane] 3via an unusual ring-expansion process. The structure of compound 3 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The spiroepoxide (oxirane) in compound 3 could be ring-opened with a variety of nucleophiles to give products of potential interest to medicinal chemists.     

Enantioselective syntheses of isoprostane and iridoid lactones intermediates by enzymatic transesterification

Crude Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (Amano PS-30) is a suitable biocatalyst for the kinetic resolution of the 1,2-cis-disubstituted cyclopentanoid building block (3aR*,4R*,6aS*)-(±)-4-hydroxymethyl-3,3a,4,6a-tetrahydrocyclopenta[b]furan-2-one through enantioselective transesterification. Enantiomerically enriched acetic acid (3aS,4S,6aR)-(+)-2-oxo-3,3a,4,6a-tetrahydro-2H-cyclopenta[b]furan-4-yl methyl ester was utilized in a formal synthesis of the iridoids (+)-isoiridomyrmecin and (−)-teucriumlactone.     

Enantioselective hydrogenation of functionalized olefins catalyzed by Rh-chiral bidentatephosphite complexes

A novel catalytic system for the hydrogenation of dimethyl itaconate has been developed by using rhodium–diphosphite complexes. These chiral diphosphite ligands were derived from glucopyranoside, d-mannitol derivatives, and binaphthyl or H₈-binaphthyl phosphochloridites. The ligands based on the methyl 3,6-anhydro-α-d-glucopyranoside backbone and (R)- and (S)-binaphthol and/or (R)- and (S)-2,2′-dihydroxy-5,5′,6,6′,7,7′,8,8′-octahydro-1,1′-binaphthol gave almost complete conversion of the dimethyl itaconate and both enantiomers of dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate with excellent enantioselectivities. The stereochemically matched combination of methyl 3,6-anhydro-α-d-glucopyranoside and H₈-(S)-binaphthyl in ligand 2,4-bis{[(S)-1,1′-H₈-binaphthyl-2,2′-diyl]-phosphite} methyl 3,6-anhydro-α-d-glucopyranoside was essential to afford dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate with up to 98% ee. The sense of the enantioselectivity of products was predominantly determined by the configuration of the biaryl moieties of the ligands. An initial screening of [Rh(cod)₂]BF₄ with these ligands in the hydrogenation of (E)-2-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzylidene)-3-methylbutanoic acid was carried out. Good enantioselectivity (75% ee) and low yield for (R)-2-(3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl)-3-methylbutanoic acid were obtained.     

Synthesis of a new class of bisheterocycles via the Heck reaction of eudesmane type methylene lactones with 8-bromoxanthines

The eudesmane-type methylene lactones (isoalantolactone, alantolactone, 4,15-epoxyisoalantolactone, 2′,2′-dichloro-4H-spiro[cyclopropane-1′,4-eudesma-11(13)-en-8β,12-olide], and alantolactone) react with 8-bromoxanthines (8-bromocaffeine, 8-bromotheobromine, 8-bromo-3-butyltheobromine, 8-bromotheophylline, 8-bromo-9-butyltheophylline) under Heck reaction conditions to produce the target (E)-13-(2,6-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-purin-8-yl)eudesma-4(15),11(13)-dien-8β,12-olides and the subsequent endocyclic isomers - 11-(2,6-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-purin-8-yl)-13-normethyleudecma-4(15)-7(11)-dien-8α,12-olides. It was revealed that the yield and product ratio depends on the reaction conditions and the structure of methylene lactone. The effectiveness of Pd(OAc)₂–caffeine catalytic system has been demonstrated in this reaction. The electric eel acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity of the eudecmanolide-xanthine hybrids was evaluated. Among the new type bisheterocycles compound 27 with butyl and 2-oxodecahydronaphtho[2,3-b]furan-3(2H)-ylidene)methyl substituents at C-7 and C-8 of the xanthine core showed moderate activity with IC₅₀ value of 40 μM.     

A P,N ligand with central and axial chiral elements: synthesis and application in allylic alkylation

Two epimers of 4-({5-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl}methyl)-4,5-dihydro-3H-dinaphtho[1,2-e:2′,1′-c]azepine were prepared starting from (2S,3S)-4-amino-2,3-O-isopropylidenebutane-1,2,3-triol and (R)- and (S)-binaphthol. These ligands, in association with Pd(0) gave enantioselectivities up to 89% (S) and 36% (R) ee for the (S_A,4S,5R) and the (R_A,4S,5R) ligands in the alkylation of racemic 1,3-diphenylprop-2-enyl acetate with dimethyl malonate, showing that the binaphthyl moiety is the most important structure in the enantioselective creation of the new stereogenic center.     

Synthesis of linear and cyclic compounds containing the 3,4-bis(furazan-3-yl)furoxan fragment

Some chemical transformations of 3,4-bis(4-aminofurazan-3-yl)furoxan (1) and 3,4-bis-(4-nitrofurazan-3-yl)furoxan (2) were considered. Compounds 1 and 2 are valuable synthons for the preparation of linear and cyclic compounds containing the 3,4-bis(furazan-3-yl)furoxan fragment. The reaction of compound 2 with a series of N- and O-nucleophiles afforded novel heterocyclic systems: 7-R-7H-difurazano[3,4-b:3′,4′-f]furoxano[3″,4″-d]azepine and difurazano[3,4-b:3′,4′-f]furoxano[3″,4″-d]oxepin.     

Reaction of methyl 1-bromocyclopentane- and -cyclohexanecarboxylates with zinc and 2-arylmethylideneindan-1,3-diones

Methyl 1-bromocyclopentanecarboxylate and methyl 1-bromocyclohexanecarboxylate reacted with zinc and 2-arylmethylideneindan-1,3-diones to give methyl-1-[(aryl)(1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-yl)-methyl]cyclopentane(or cyclohexane)carboxylates and 4′-aryl-2′H-spiro[cyclopentane(or cyclohexane)-1,3′-indeno[ 1,2-b]pyran]-2′,5′(4′H)-diones.     

Polycyclic N-hetero compounds. XIX. Synthesis of novel meso-ionic benz[h]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline and benzo[h]pyrrolo[1′,2′:3,4]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazoline derivatives

Benz[h]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazolinium-l-olate (5) and benzo[h]pyrrolo[1′,2′:3,4]imidazo[1,2-c]quinazolinium-8-olate (9) having novel meso-ionic ring systems were synthesized by the reaction of N-(5,6-dihydrobenzo[h]-quinazolin-4-yl)amino acids with acetic anhydride.     

Enantioselective ring-opening reaction of meso-epoxides with ArSH catalyzed by a C2-symmetric chiral bipyridyldiol-titanium complex

This study describes a C₂-symmetric ligand comprising a central bipyridine-pinene-derived core and two functionalized diphenylmethanol subunits. [8′-(Hydroxy-diphenyl-methyl)-10,10,10′,10′-tetramethyl-[5,5′]bi[6-aza-tricyclo[7.1.1.0^2,7]undecyl]-2(7),3,5,2′(7′),3′,5′-hexaen-8-yl]-diphenyl-methanol 1 is an effective catalyst in the asymmetric ring opening (ARO) of meso-epoxides with PhSH and inductions of up to 69% ee. Importantly, there was a correlation between Hammett substituent constants and enantiomeric excesses; the electron-donating substituents at the meta- and para-positions of the substituted stilbene oxides had good enantioselectivity during the epoxide ring opening using PhSH.     

Synthesis of spiro[2H-indole-2,1′-1H-isoindole]-3,3′-diones,spiro[1H-isobenzofuran-1,2′-2H-indole]-3,3′-diones and spiro[benzofuran-2,1′-isobenzofuran]-3,3′-diones via transannular reactions of eight membered ring intermediates

An auto oxidation-rearrangement product 4 was isolated from a high dilution reaction of ninhydrin with 3,4,5-trimethoxyaniline in water. A general synthesis of this compound and its derivatives 4–6 was devised by oxidation of tetrahydroindeno[1,2-b]indol-10-ones 1–3 with sodium periodate to give isoindolo[2,1-a]-indole-6,11-diones 4–6 in good yield. Compounds 4–6 can be easily transformed into spiro[1H-isobenzofuran-1,2′-2H-indole]-3,3′-diones 8–10 , spiro[2H-indole-2,1′-1H-isoindole]-3,3′-diones 11–13 and isoindole[1,2-a:2′,1′-b]pyrimidine-5,15-diones 15, 16 in high yields. Analogous reactions were performed on 3-amino-5a, 10a-dihydroxybenzo[b]indeno[2,1-d]furan-10-one ( 17 ) to give a dibenzoxocintrione 18 , spiro-[benzofuran-2,1′-isobenzofuran]-3,3′-dione 19 and an isoindol-1-one 20 .     

Resolution of 3-methyl-3-phospholene 1-oxides by molecular complex formation with TADDOL derivatives

The antipodes of 1-phenyl-3-methyl-3-phospholene 1-oxide 1a were separated in good yield and in high enantiomeric excess (∼99% ee) by resolution via formation of diastereomeric complexes with (4R,5R)-(−)- and (4S,5S)-(+)-4,5-bis(diphenylhydroxymethyl)-2,2-dimethyldioxolane 2 (TADDOL) or (−)-(2R,3R)-α,α,α′,α′-tetraphenyl-1,4-dioxaspiro[4.5]decan-2,3-dimethanol 3. The method was also suitable for the resolution of the 1-ethoxy-3-phospholene derivative 1b, suggesting that our novel procedure may be of general value, both for the resolution of chiral phosphine oxides and phosphinates.     

Fine tuning of the structure of phosphine–phosphoramidites: application for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations

Diastereomers of (4-(diphenylphosphino)pentan-2-yl)-N-isopropyl-{dinaphtho[2,1-d:1′,2′-f][1,3,2]dioxa-phosphepin-2-yl}-4-amine, (S)-(2S,4S)-1, and (S)-(2R,4R)-3; the octahydro derivative 4 of (S)-(2S,4S)-1, and derivative 2 of (S)-(2S,4S)-1 containing a 1,3-propanediyl backbone, have been synthesized and used for rhodium-catalyzed asymmetric hydrogenations of prochiral olefins in order to study the role of the stereogenic elements in the backbone and in the terminal moiety. The central chirality in the bridge has been found to determine the configuration of the product with a cooperative effect from the terminal groups. Excellent ee’s (up to 99.9%) were obtained in the hydrogenation of methyl (Z)-α-acetamidocinnamate using a rhodium complex with the matched arrangement (S)-(2S,4S)-1. The hydrogenation is accomplished in a highly enantioselective manner by using green solvents such as propylene carbonate.