The first total synthesis of telephiose A

The first total synthesis of telephiose A (1), a novel trisaccharide ester having two acetyl groups and two benzoyl groups, was achieved by using glucosyl donor 6 and disaccharide acceptor 12. The crucial key step was the stereoselective construction of the β-d-glucosidic linkage featuring the neighboring group participation of the 2-O-N-phenylcarbamoyl group (of donor 6), which can be selectively deprotected in the presence of acetyl and benzoyl groups. Donor 6 was prepared from d-glucose in eight steps (33% yield), whereas acceptor 12 was prepared from sucrose in six steps (35% yield). Precursors 6 and 12 were reacted in subsequent reactions (five steps) to afford 1 in 22% yield.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 1-deoxy-8-epi-castanospermine, 1-deoxy-8-hydroxymethyl castanospermine, and (6S,7S,8R,8aR)-8-amino-octahydroindolizine-6,7-diol

A short, versatile, and enantioselective synthesis of 1-deoxy-8-epi-castanospermine (5), 1-deoxy-8-hydroxymethyl castanospermine (6), and (6S,7S,8R,8aR)-8-amino-octahydroindolizine-6,7-diol (7) is achieved from a common template 12. The key step utilized is PET provoked amine radical cyclization of 11 to 12 in excellent diastereoselectivity. The exocyclic double bond at C-8 of the template is functionalized to obtain 5-7 as exclusive diastereomers. 1-Deoxy-8-epi-castanospermine exhibited inhibition of α- and β-galactosidase and β-glucosidase. Compounds 6 and 7 were found to be weak inhibitors of β-glucosidase.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 2-methylenepyrrolizidines by tandem cyclization of N-propargylaminyl radicals

Tandem cyclization of N-propargylaminyl radicals, generated by N-chlorination of (E)-alk-4-enylamines 2a-d and 2f followed by treatment with tributyltin radical, afforded 2-methylenepyrrolizidines 3a-d and 3f in a highly stereoselective manner. A similar radical cyclization of (Z)-N-propargyl-1-methyl-5-phenylpent-4-enylamine (2e) gave pyrrolizidine 3b having the same stereochemistry as that obtained from the E isomer 2b.     

Simple preparation of phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside congeners by Mizoroki-Heck type reaction using organoboron reagents

Palladium(II)-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation between allyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and arylboronic acid congeners gave the corresponding cinnamyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl- β-d-glucopyranosides (4a-m) in good yield. Among them, coupling products 4a-m were converted to not only the naturally occurring phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside analogues (1a-e) but also the unnaturally ones (1f-m).     

Synthesis of (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a nitrone

To synthesize (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine [(+)-1], the main metabolite of nicotine (2), cycloaddition of C-(3-pyridyl)nitrones 3a, 3c, and 15 with (2R)- and (2S)-N-(acryloyl)bornane-10,2-sultam [(2R)- and (2S)-8] was examined. Among them, l-gulose-derived nitrone 15 underwent stereoselective cycloaddition with (2S)-8 to afford cycloadduct 16, which was elaborated to (+)-1.     

Ti(III)-promoted cyclizations. Application to the synthesis of (E)-endo-bergamoten-12-oic acids. Moth oviposition stimulants isolated from Lycopersicon hirsutum

The Ti(III)-promoted radical cyclization of epoxyenone 8 is described as the key step to access the diol 10 as a convenient starting material of the target molecules. The synthesis of β-(E)-endo-bergamoten-12-oic acid 2a from (+)-8,9-epoxycarvone 8 was successfully achieved by Suzuki-Miyaura coupling of the terminal alkene 20 with β-iodomethacrylate 21c, followed by deprotection and dehydration processes. Moreover, synthesis of the α-(E)-endo-1-hydroxy-bergamoten-12-oic acid derivative 34 was achieved by iterative elongation processes of the diol 10 lateral chain.     

New antimitotic bicyclic peptides, celogentins D-H, and J, from the seeds of Celosia argentea

Six new bicyclic peptides, celogentins D-H (1-5) and J (6) have been isolated from the seeds of Celosia argentea, and the structures including its absolute stereochemistry were determined by using extensive NMR methods and chemical means. Celogentins E-H (2-5) and J (6) showed potent inhibition of tubulin polymerization, while the inhibitory activity of celogentin D (1) was modest. Structure-activity relationship study indicates that ring size of the bicyclic ring system including unusual β^s-Leu, Trp, and His residues would be important for their biological activity.     

Preparation of new pyrido[3,4-b]thienopyrroles and pyrido[4,3-e]thienopyridazines

Two new types of pyrido-fused tris-heterocycles (1a,b and 2a,b) have been prepared from 3-aminopyridine in five/six steps. A synthetic strategy for the preparation of the novel pyrido[3,4-b]thieno[2,3- and 3,2-d]pyrroles (1a,b) and pyrido[4,3-e]thieno[2,3- and 3,2-c]pyridazines (2a,b) has been studied. The Suzuki cross coupling of the appropriate 2- and 3-thienoboronic acids (3,4) and 4-bromo-3-pyridylpivaloylamide (9) afforded the biaryl coupling products (10,11) in high yields (85%). Diazotization of the hydrolysed (2-thienyl)-coupling product (12) and azide substitution gave the 3-azido-4-(2-thienyl)pyridine intermediate (72%, 14). 3-Azido-4-(3-thienyl)pyridine (15) was prepared by exchanging the previous order of reactions. The desired β-carboline thiophene analogues (1a,b) were obtained via the nitrene by thermal decomposition of the azido precursors (14,15). By optimising conditions for intramolecular diazocoupling, the corresponding pyridazine products (72-83%, 2a,b) were afforded.     

Five novel norcembranoids from Sinularia leptoclados and S. parva

Three new norcembrane-based diterpenoids, leptocladolides A (1), B (4) and C (5), along with five known metabolites 6-10, have been isolated from the dichloromethane extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia leptoclados. Furthermore, a chemical investigation on the dichloromethane extract of S. parva has resulted in the isolation of two new related isomers, 1-epi-leptocladolide A (2) and 7E-leptocladolide A (3), in addition to 1 and 7. The structures of new metabolites 1-5 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and their relative stereochemistries were determined by NOESY experiments. The new metabolites 1 and 3 have been shown to exhibit significant cytotoxic activity against KB and Hepa59T/VGH cancer cell lines.     

Imidomethylation of C-nucleophiles using O-phthalimidomethyl trichloroacetimidate and catalytic amounts of TMSOTf

The O-phthalimidomethyl trichloroacetimidate (1), as a latent aminomethylating agent, exhibits high electrophilicity towards a variety of C-nucleophiles in the presence of catalytic amounts of TMSOTf and mild reaction conditions. The nucleophiles include aromatics, alkenes and active methylene compounds 2-11 whereby a phthalimidomethyl group could be introduced to give compounds 12-22. Removal of the phthaloyl group gave the respective amines, β-amino ketones, and β-amino acids. The O-(trichloroacetamido)methyl trichloroacetimidate (35) was also found to be a good amidomethylating agent.     

Bioactive meroterpenoids and alkaloids from the fungus Eurotium chevalieri

Five new meroterpenoids, chevalones A-D (1-4), aszonapyrone B (8), and a new sequiterpene alkaloid, eurochevalierine (5), together with four known compounds, sequiterpene (6), terpenoid pyrrolobenzoxazine named CJ-12662 (7), meroterpenoid, aszonapyrone A (9), and ergosterol were isolated from the fungus Eurotium chevalieri. The structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The configurations of 1 and 5 were determined by X-ray analysis. The biosynthetic pathway of 1-3, 8, and 9 were proposed. Chemical transformation of aszonapyrone A (9) was also studied. Compounds 4, 5, and 7 exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, while 3, 5, and 7 showed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, compounds 2-7 showed cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines.     

A concise and stereoselective synthesis of (+/−)-erythro-methylphenidate

A concise and stereoselective synthesis of racemic erythro-methylphenidate (1) is described. The coupling reaction between piperidine-2-thione (3) and 2-bromo-2-phenylmethylacetate (4) afforded the β-enaminocarbonyl compound 2 in 60% yield by a modified Eschenmoser sulfide contraction reaction. In most cases the bicyclic thiazolidinone 5 was produced. Diastereoselective reduction of 2 in the presence of borohydrydes furnished the (+/−)-erythro-methylphenidate in good yields with dr >95%.     

Diastereoselective route to (2R,5S)- and (2S,5S)-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane, a pheromone component of the wasp Paravespula vulgaris

A diastereoselective approach to (2R,5S)- and (2S,5S)-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane 1 and 1a is described. The route starts with an alkylation reaction among the cyclopentanone N,N-dimethylhydrazone 6 and the chiral iodides (R)-3 or (S)-3, derived from the enantiomers of ethyl β-hydroxybutyrate, controlling the estereocenter at C-2 of the molecules. The alkylated products 7 and 7a were easily transformed into the 1,8-O-TBS-1,8-dihydroxy-5-nonanones 9 and 9a in four steps, and a subsequent stereoselective spiroketalization, in acidic media, afforded a Z:E mixture (1:2) of compounds 1 and 1a.     

Studies on the Synthesis of Reidispongiolide A: Stereoselective Synthesis of the C(22)-C(36) Fragment

A highly stereoselective synthesis of the C(22)-C(36) fragment 2 of reidispongiolide A is described. This synthesis features the highly stereoselective mismatched double asymmetric crotylboration reaction of the aldehyde derived from 5 and the new chiral reagent (S)-(E)-7 that provides 12 with >15:1 dr. Subsequent coupling of the derived vinyl iodide 3 with aldehyde 16 provided allylic alcohol 17, that was elaborated by three steps into the targeted reidispongiolide fragment 2.     

A convenient synthesis of new pyrido[3,2-e][1,4]diazepine-2,5-diones and pyrido[2,3-e][1,4]diazepine-2,5-diones

A convenient synthesis of a series of pyrido[3,2-e][1,4]-diazepine-2,5-diones 8 and pyrido[2,3-e][1,4]diazepine-2,5-diones 9, is reported using the condensation of α-amino acid methyl ester derivatives with 1H-pyrido[3,2-d][1,3]oxazine-2,4-dione and 1H-pyrido[2,3-d][1,3]oxazine-2,4-dione. Compounds 8 and 9 were also synthesized by peptide coupling of α-amino acid methyl ester derivatives with β-amino acids (2 or 3) followed by the cyclisation in tetrahydrofuran with sodium hydride (NaH).     

Stereoselective synthesis of tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids: (−)-trolline, (+)-crispin A, (+)-oleracein E

Tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, (S)-(−)-trolline, (R)-(+)-crispin A, and (R)-(+)-oleracein E, have been synthesized stereoselectively from the both enantiomers of common intermediate (S)-4 and (R)-4. The key step in the synthesis include a stereoselective Bi(OTf)₃-catalyzed intramolecular 1,3-chirality transfer reaction of chiral non-racemic amino allylic alcohols (S)-6 and (R)-6 to construct both enantiomers of (E)-1-propenyl tetrahydroisoquinoline 4.     

Leccinine A, an endoplasmic reticulum stress-suppressive compound from the edible mushroom Leccinum extremiorientale

Leccinine A (1) along with a known compound (2), were isolated from the edible mushroom Leccinum extremiorientale. The structure of 1 was determined by the interpretation of spectral data. Leccinine A showed protective activity against endoplasmic reticulum stress-dependent cell death. Seven analogues (3-9) of 1 were synthesized in order to evaluate the structure-activity relationship, and the result indicated that the formamide group of 1 was indispensable for the activity.     

Pulcherrins D-R, potential anti-inflammatory diterpenoids from the roots of Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Bioactivity-guided isolation and purification of the dichloromethane extract from the roots of Caesalpinia pulcherrima yielded 15 new cassane-type diterpenes, named pulcherrins D-R (1-15) together with eight known compounds. The structures of the new metabolites were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including 1D- and 2D-NMR and mass spectroscopy. The anti-inflammatory activity of isolated compounds was investigated with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell lines. Compounds 8, 9, 11-15, and 17-23 showed potent NO inhibitory activity.     

Isolation and synthesis of N-acyladenine and adenosine alkaloids from a southern Australian marine sponge, Phoriospongia sp.

Chemical fractionation of the southern Australian marine sponge Phoriospongia sp. (CMB-03107) yielded phorioadenine A (1) as a nematocidal agent and the first reported example of a 6-N-acyladenine natural product. The structure of 1 was confirmed by spectroscopic analysis and the chemical synthesis of racemic (1a) and enantiomeric (1b) analogues. HPLC–ESIMS analysis of the crude sponge extract with comparisons to the synthetic 6-N-acyladenosine 2a provided evidence that the biosynthetically related adenosine, phorioadenosine A (2), was present as a trace co-metabolite. The rare starfish metabolite asterubine (3) was also isolated as a co-metabolite, and its structure confirmed by spectroscopic analysis and chemical synthesis. Biological investigations confirmed that natural products 1–3 and synthetic analogues 1a–e and 2a were not cytotoxic to multiple mammalian cancer cell lines, or Gram-positive or -negative bacteria. Nematocidal activity (inhibition of larval development of Haemonchus contortus) detected in the Phoriospongia sp. extract was attributed to 1 (LD₉₉ 31 μg/mL), with preliminary structure–activity relationship investigations confirming the importance of the N-acyl side chain.     

Potent lipid peroxidation inhibitors from Withania somnifera fruits

A bioassay-guided purification of the methanolic extract of Withania somnifera fruits yielded novel withanamides A-I (1-9) and withanolides (10-13). Among the withanolides, compound 10 is novel. The structures of these compounds were determined by using FABMS, HRFABMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral and chemical methods. The withanamides possess novel chemical structures and consisted of serotonin, glucose and long-chain hydroxyl fatty acid moieties. The stereochemistry of the hydroxyl group in the long-chain fatty acid moiety in compound 1 was determined by the modified Mosher's ester method. Compounds 1-13 were tested for their ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation in a model system using large unilamellar vesicles. Withanamides 1-5 and 9 inhibited lipid peroxidation by 98, 93, 79, 94, 81 and 86%, respectively, at 1 μg/mL. However, compounds 6-8 inhibited the lipid peroxidation by 85, 82 and 90%, respectively, at 0.5 μg/mL. Withanolides 10-13 were also tested and only compound 12 inhibited the lipid peroxidation by 82% at 10 μg/mL. To evaluate the structure activity relationships of withanamides A-I, compounds 14-16 were purchased and their lipid peroxidation activity determined as in the case of compounds 1-9. Commercial antioxidants, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), were also tested in this assay at 1 μg/mL and showed 80, 81 and 85% of inhibition, respectively. Our results suggest that the potent antioxidant activity exhibited by novel withanamides is probably due to the hydroxylated long-chain acyl group. This is the first report of withanamides, unique serotonin conjugates, from W. somnifera fruits.