Simple methodology coupling microwave-assisted extraction to SPE/GC/MS for the analysis of natural steroids in biological tissues: Application to the monitoring of endogenous steroids in marine mussels Mytilus sp.

A simple analytical procedure for the simultaneous determination of eight endogenous steroids (testosterone, androstenedione, 17β-estradiol, estrone, pregnenolone, progesterone, dihydroandrostenedione, and dihydrotestosterone) in aquatic molluscs by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) has been developed. After a microwave-assisted extraction, samples were further extracted and purified using two successive SPE (EnviChrom-P and NH₂) cartridges. Steroids were derivatized with a mixture of N-methyl-N(trimethylsilyl)trifluoroacetamide (MSTFA)/mercaptoethanol/ammonium iodide (NH₄I) and determined by GC-MS in selective ion monitoring mode. Recoveries were in the range 85-114%, although slightly lower for dihydrotestosterone, and the repeatability of the procedure, expressed as the coefficient of variation, was lower than 16%. The limits of detection determined in digestive glands of mussels were in the range 0.1-0.4 ng g⁻¹ wet weight for all the steroids. The developed procedure was then applied to the monitoring of steroid profiles in the digestive glands of mussels from the Arcachon Bay (France) during two reproductive cycles. In parallel, two physiological parameters (lipid content and the condition index of mussels) were also monitored, as well as the seawater temperature and salinity. Only progesterone and pregnenolone were detected in the digestive glands of mussels, and the seasonal variations of progesterone levels seemed to be related to the spawning periods of Mytilus sp. in the Bay. The current challenge for the determination of natural steroids in aquatic invertebrates is also briefly discussed.     

An efficient multicomponent stereoselective synthesis of 1,2,4-trisubstituted 1,3-thiazetidines

The first one-pot three-component coupling reaction of O,O-diethyl hydrogen phosphorodithioate, aldehydes, and aldimines affording 1,2,4-trisubstituted 1,3-thiazetidines is reported. The product is obtained in moderate to high yields (45-94%) and has excellent diastereoselectivity (90-96%) in favour of the cis isomer. Shorter reaction times, ambient temperature, operational simplicity, and high yields are the salient features of the present procedure.     

Highly enantioselective Michael addition of acetone to nitroolefins catalyzed by chiral bifunctional primary amine-thiourea catalysts with acetic acid

Highly enantioselective Michael reaction of acetone with a variety of nitroolefins catalyzed by N-[(1R,2R)-2-aminocyclohexyl]-N′-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-thiourea (1b) together with acetic acid is described. The Michael addition products were obtained in high yields (76-94%) and up to 96% ee.     

The Use of Electrospray Mass Spectrometry (ES/MS) for the Differential Detection of Some Steroids as Calix-[n]-arene Sulphonate Complexes

Non-covalent inclusion complexes formed between three p-sulphonato-calix-[n]-arenes (1 n = 4, 2 n = 6 and 3 n = 8) and three steroids (progesterone, testosterone and oestradiol) have been studied by electrospray mass spectrometry (ES/MS). Mass spectrometric titration experiments have demonstrated differences with regard to selectivity of each p-sulphonato-calix-[n]-arene against the steroids. p-sulphonato-calix-[8]-arene interacts more strongly with oestradiol and p-sulphonato-calix-[6]-arene with progesterone. Studies in which different orifice voltages were applied show that all oestradiol complexes are reduced in signal intensity at 50 V as compared to 20 V, whereas the intensities observed for the testosterone and progesterone complexes do not vary with voltage. Competition experiments confirm the selectivity of the complexation.     

Synthesis of substituted carbazoles and β-carbolines by cyclization of diketoindole derivatives

A new route to substituted β-carbolines and carbazoles is described. Diketoindole intermediates, prepared by Friedel-Crafts acylations of 3-substituted indoles, have been converted to 3-hydroxycarbazoles and β-carbolines in good yields, 51-96% and 82-97%, respectively. This method also allows for the formation of 4-substituted β-carbolines. The application of this methodology to the synthesis of the natural products hyellazole and 6-chlorohyellazole is also described.     

Novel thiophosphonodiamides as efficient hydrogen bond donor catalysts in tandem Michael addition–cyclization of malononitrile and 2-(E)-2-nitrovinylphenols

From l-amino acid, three chiral thiophosphonodiamides were prepared as new hydrogen bond donor organocatalysts. Under the mediation of the catalyst derived from l-valine, a tandem Michael addition/cyclization reaction between (E)-2-(2-nitrovinyl)phenols and malononitrile proceeds smoothly, giving pharmaceutically valuable 2-amino-4H-chromene-3-carbonitriles in high yields with 66–95% ee within 2 h.     

A novel method for (Z)-stereoselective preparation of CF3-substituted enediynes and their coupling reactions

Trifluoromethylated enynyl sulfones 3 were reacted with 2-4 equiv of phenyl, n-hexyl, trimethylsilyl, or triisopropylsilyl substituted ethynyllithium reagents in THF or ether at 0 °C to give trifluoromethylated enediynes 6 (Z)-stereoselectively in 41-96% yields. The reactions of β-fluoro-β-trifluoromethylvinyl sulfone 5 with same ethynyllithium reagents (4 equiv) afforded the corresponding enediynes 6 in 41-90% yields. The cross-coupling reactions of 6 bearing TMS group with aryl iodides in the presence of Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂, Ag₂CO₃, and n-Bu₄NBr provided the corresponding enediynes 6 in 20-71% yields. Dimerization of (Z)-6 bearing TMS group in the presence of CuBr₂ and K₂CO₃ yielded dimer (Z,Z)-7 in good yield.     

Highly efficient and selective biocatalytic acylation studies on triazolylsugars

Different acid anhydrides (of C₂ to C₇ aliphatic fatty acids and benzoic acid) have been used to study the selective acylation of primary/secondary hydroxyl groups in 2-phenyl-4-(d-threo-1′,2′,3′-trihydroxypropyl)-2H-1,2,3-triazole, 2-phenyl-4-(d-erythro-1′,2′,3′-trihydroxypropyl)-2H-1,2,3-triazole, 2-phenyl-4-(d-arabino-1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydroxybutyl)-2H-1,2,3-triazole and 2-phenyl-4-(d-lyxo-1′,2′,3′,4′-tetrahydroxybutyl)-2H-1,2,3-triazole in the presence of Candida antarctica lipase B in diisopropyl ether. Among the different acid anhydrides, butanoic anhydride was found to be the most efficient acylating agent (for butanoylation); for acetylation, vinyl acetate gave the best results. The reactions with both these acylating agents were highly selective and efficient yielding exclusively the monoacylated products in 95-99% yields in 1-5 h.     

Trennung von freien und proteingebundenen Steroiden mit Amberlite

Amberlite IRA 400-coated resin strips were tested with regard to their capability to separate free from protein-bound steroids, and as such to act as an adsorbant for the determination of testosterone by protein binding methods. Results showed

1. Tritium labelled testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, cortisol, progesterone and estradiol are adsorbed to the Amberlite in aqueous media.
2. Adsorbed are mainly the free steroids and not the steroid hormones which are bound to their specific proteins.
3. Through the quantitative determination of testosterone, results show a coefficient of variation of 1.3–3.9% in the range from 1–8 ng per sample.
4. The standard curves performed on different days fit well. The percentage error calculated for curves performed on 5 successive days was 5.7% for 8 ng of testosterone and 1.7% for 2 ng.

In contrast to other adsorbants used, the Amberlite strips are much simpler to use; therefore a greater number of samples can be processed at any one time.     

Chiral N,N′-dioxide-iron(II) complexes catalyzed enantioselective oxa-Michael addition of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes

The enantioselective oxa-Michael addition reaction of 1-(4-methoxyphenyl) ethanone oxime to various α,β-unsaturated aldehydes was accomplished by using chiral N,N′-dioxide-FeSO₄·7H₂O (1:1) complex. Aromatic acid was employed as additive to increase the yield of the reaction. The corresponding adducts were obtained in moderate yields with up to 76% ee under mild conditions.     

Studies on Wittig rearrangement of furfuryl ethers in steroidal side chain synthesis

Wittig rearrangement of 17(20)-ethylidene-16-furfuryloxy steroids 5-8 was examined. Reaction of 17E(20)-ethylidene-16α-furfuryloxy steroid 5 with t-BuLi in THF afforded (20S,22S)- and (20S,22R)-22-hydroxy steroids 9, 10 and 17Z(20)-ethylidene-16α-(2-furyl)hydroxymethyl steroid 11 in 61, 28, and 9% yields, respectively. Base treatment of 17E(20)-ethylidene-16β-furfuryloxy steroid 7 gave (20R,22R)-22-hydroxy steroid 13 and 17Z(20)-ethylidene-16β-(2-furyl) hydroxymethyl steroid 14 in 60 and 17% yields. In contrast, 17Z(20)-ethylidene-16-furfuryloxy steroids 6, 8 led to the corresponding 2,3-rearranged products in low yields (25% for (20R,22S)-22-hydroxy steroid 12; 31% for (20S,22R)-22-hydroxy steroid 10). Both (20S,22S)- and (20S,22R)-22-hydroxy steroids 9, 10 were converted by catalytic hydrogenation into known compounds 16, 17, key intermediates for the synthesis of biologically active steroids.     

Use of molybdate as novel complex-forming selector in the analysis of polyhydric phenols by capillary zone electrophoresis

Molybdate was examined as a complex-forming additive to the CE background electrolytes (BGE) to affect the selectivity of separation of polyhydric phenols such as flavonoids (apigenin, hyperoside, luteolin, quercetin and rutin) and hydroxyphenylcarboxylic acids (ferulic, caffeic, p-coumaric and chlorogenic acid). Effects of the buffer concentrations and pH and the influence of molybdate concentration on the migration times of the analytes were investigated. In contrast to borate (which is a buffering and complex-forming agent generally used in CE at pH ≥9) molybdate forms more stable complexes with aromatic o-dihydroxy compounds and hence the complex-formation effect is observed at considerably lower pH. Model mixtures of cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid and 3-hydroxycinnamic acid were separated with 25 mM morpholinoethanesulfonic acid of pH 5.4 (adjusted with Tris) containing 0.15 mM sodium molybdate as the BGE (25 kV, silica capillary effective length 45 cm × 0.1 mm I.D., UV-vis detection at 280 nm). With 25 mM 2-hydroxy-3-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazinyl]propanesulphonic acid/Tris of pH^* 7.4 containing 2 mM sodium molybdate in aqueous 25% (v/v) methanol as the BGE mixtures of all the above mentioned flavonoids, p-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid could be separated (the same capillary as above, UV-vis detection at 263 nm). The calibration curves (analyte peak area versus concentration) were rectilinear (r > 0.998) for ≈8-35 μg/ml of an analyte (with 1-nitroso-2-naphthol as internal standard). The limit of quantification values ranged between 1.1 mg l⁻¹ for p-coumaric acid and 2.8 mg l⁻¹ for quercetin. The CE method was employed for the assay of flavonoids in medicinal plant extracts. The R.S.D. values ranged between 0.9 and 4.7% (n = 3) when determining luteolin (0.08%) and apigenin (0.92%) in dry Matricaria recutita flowers and rutin (1.03%) and hyperoside (0.82%) in dry Hypericum perforatum haulm. The recoveries were >96%.     

Selective N-debenzylation of amides with p-TsOH

N-Benzylamides were debenzylated efficiently with 4 equiv. of p-TsOH in refluxing toluene. Good to quantitative yields of the desired primary amides were obtained within 2-4 h from a wide variety of N-2,4-dimethoxybenzylamides. N-4-Methoxylbenzyl amides and N-benzylamides were also debenzylated cleanly. In the case of N-2,4-dimethoxylbenzylamides, selective N-debenzylation was possible in the presence of N-Fmoc, N-t-BOC or N-trityl-protection. Protected amino acid amides survived these conditions without any detectable epimerization.     

Asymmetric induction in the conjugate addition of thioacetic acid to methacrylamides with chiral auxiliaries

The conjugate addition of thioacetic acid to methacrylamides with chiral C₂-symmetric trans-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidines afforded the addition products in excellent stereoselectivities (>99% de) and good yields (80–90%). The high selectivity was attributed mainly to the steric effect of the chiral auxiliaries. The cyclic nature of the chiral auxiliaries seemed also important for both the stereoselectivity and the reaction rate. Acidic hydrolysis of the adduct containing (2R,5R)-bis(methoxymethyl)pyrrolidine gave (S)-3-mercapto-2-methylpropanoic acid, a key intermediate for captopril, in 98% ee and 96% yield. The chiral auxiliary was recovered in the demethylated form of N-Boc-(2R,3R)-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine in 90% yield.     

Asymmetric catalytic aziridination of dihydronaphthalenes for the preparation of substituted 2-aminotetralins

An enantioselective synthesis of substituted 2-aminotetralins from dihydronaphthalenes in four steps is described. The key step is the Jacobsen’s (diimine)copper-catalyzed asymmetric aziridination of dihydronaphthalenes to the respective aziridines in 33-82% yields and 60-87% enantiomeric excess. The enantioselectivity and the yield were dependent on the properties of the nitrene precursor. pTsNIPh appeared in general to give better results than pNsNIPh. Aziridines were ring-opened in the benzylic position by catalytic hydrogenolysis in quantitative yields, and deprotected in two steps to the respective 2-aminotetralins in 66-85% yields. The synthesis of (S)-2-aminotetralin (>98% ee) and (S)-2-amino-7-methoxytetralin (56% ee) were accomplished in 30 and 52% overall yields, respectively.     

Synthesis of cis-3,4-diarylpiperidines and cis-3,4-diaryltetrahydropyrans

Substituted cis-3,4-diarylpiperidines and cis-3,4-diaryltetrahydropyrans are synthesized in modest overall yields starting from 4-aryl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines and 4-aryl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyrans via the following sequence: (1) pinacol-type ring contraction having the combination of m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid and boron trifluoride etherate, (2) Grignard addition with arylmagnesium bromide reagents and followed by boron trifluoride etherate-mediated intramolecular ring-expanded rearrangement, and (3) hydrogenation with hydrogen on 10% palladium-activated carbon. A facile synthesis of 3,4-diarylpyridines was also described by base-induced aromatization.     

Synthesis of 3-(trifluoromethyl)indeno[2,1-c]pyran-1,9-diones from 4-aryl-3-carbethoxy-6-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyrones and their reaction with sodium azide leading to new carbostyril derivatives

Treatment of ethyl 4-aryl-6-(trifluoromethyl)-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates, prepared from 4,4,4-trifluorobutane-1,3-diones, PCl₅ and sodium diethyl malonate, with sulfuric acid afforded the intramolecular Friedel–Crafts acylation products, 3-(trifluoromethyl)indeno[2,1-c]pyran-1,9-diones, from which 2-(trifluoromethyl)-6H-pyrano[3,4-c]quinoline-4,5-diones were obtained via the Schmidt reaction in moderate yields. The latter reacted with sodium azide to give 2-oxo-4-(5-trifluoromethyl-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-1,2-dihydroquinoline-3-carboxylic acids in good yields.     

A xanthone and a polyketide derivative from the leaves of Cassia obtusifolia (Leguminosae)

A new xanthone, 1,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-6-methylxantone and a new polyketide derivative, (4R^∗,5S^∗,6E,8Z)-ethyl-4-((E)-but-1-enyl)-5-hydroxypentdeca-6,8-dienoate, together with 20 known secondary metabolites, including 2 steroids, 4 xanthones, 10 anthraquinones, 2 triterpenoids, 1 fatty ester, and (E)-eicos-14-enoic acid, were isolated from the leaves of Cassia obtusifolia. To the best of our knowledge, the last compound was isolated from a natural source for the first time. The structures of all the compounds were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR experiments. Some of the compounds were tested against Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans ATCC 9002, and Candida tropicalis, they did not show any activity.     

New synthesis of cis-3,4-diaryl-1-tosylpyrrolidines

Unsymmetrically substituted cis-3,4-diarylpyrrolidines are synthesized in nearly 25% overall yields starting from 4-aryl-1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridines by iterative reactions using the combination of m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid (MCPBA) and boron trifluoride etherate (BF₃·OEt₂) followed by Grignard addition, elimination and hydrogenation sequence.     

Gold-catalyzed consecutive [1,2] alkyl migration-oxygen transfer reaction of 2-alkynyl-1-tetralones

Gold-catalyzed isomerization of 2-alkynyl-1-tetralones afforded the corresponding 2-naphthylmethyl ketones in good to high yields. For example, the reaction of 2-{4-(methoxyphenyl)methyl}-2-(phenylethynyl)-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one and 2-benzyl-2-(phenylethynyl)-3,4-dihydronaphthalen-1(2H)-one in the presence of 5 mol % of (Ph₃P)AuCl and 5 mol % of AgOTf in THF at 50 °C gave 2-{1-(4-methoxyphenylmethyl)naphthalen-2-yl}-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)ethanone and 2-(1-benzylnaphthalen-2-yl)-1-phenylethanone in 85% and 96% yields, respectively. The present reaction proceeds through [1,2] alkyl migration followed by oxygen transfer.