Two stereoisomeric pentacyclic oxin­dole alkaloids from Uncaria tomentosa: uncarine C and uncarine E

The chloro­form solvate of uncarine C (pteropodine), (1′S,3R,4′aS,5′aS,10′aS)‐1,2,5′,5′a,7′,8′,10′,10′a‐octa­hydro‐1′‐methyl‐2‐oxospiro­[3H‐indole‐3,6′(4′aH)‐[1H]­pyrano­[3,4‐f]indolizine]‐4′‐carboxyl­ic acid methyl ester, C₂₁H₂₄N₂O₄·CHCl₃, has an absolute configuration with the spiro C atom in the R configuration. Its epimer at the spiro C atom, uncarine E (isopteropodine), (1′S,3S,4′aS,5′aS,10′aS)‐1,2,5′,5′a,7′,8′,10′,10′a‐octahydro‐1′‐methyl‐2‐oxospiro[3H‐indole‐3,6′(4′aH)‐[1H]pyrano[3,4‐f]indolizine]‐4′‐carboxylic acid methyl ester, C₂₁H₂₄N₂O₄, has Z′ = 3, with no solvent. Both form intermolecular hydrogen bonds involving only the ox­indole, with N?O distances in the range 2.759 (4)–2.894 (5) Å.     

Non‐iterative Asymmetric Synthesis of C15 Polyketide Spiroketals

The 2,2′‐methylenebis[furan] ( 1 ) was converted to 1‐{(4R,6S))‐6‐[(2R)‐2,4‐dihydroxybutyl]‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐4‐yl}‐3‐[(2R,4R)‐tetrahydro‐4,6‐dihydroxy‐2H‐pyran‐2‐yl)propan‐2‐one ((+)‐ 18 ) and its (4S)‐epimer (?)‐ 19 with high stereo‐ and enantioselectivity (Schemes 1–3). Under acidic methanolysis, (+)‐ 18 yielded a single spiroketal, (3R)‐4‐{(1R,3S,4′R,5R,6′S,7R)‐3′,4′,5′,6′‐tetrahydro‐4′‐hydroxy‐7‐methoxyspiro[2,6‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐3,2′‐[2H]pyran]‐6′‐yl}butane‐1,3‐diol ((?)‐ 20 ), in which both O‐atoms at the spiro center reside in equatorial positions, this being due to the tricyclic nature of (?)‐ 20 (methyl pyranoside formation). Compound (?)‐ 19 was converted similarly into the (4′S)‐epimeric tricyclic spiroketal (?)‐ 21 that also adopts a similar (3S)‐configuration and conformation. Spiroketals (?)‐ 20 , (?)‐ 21 and analog (?)‐ 23 , i.e., (1R,3S,4′R,5R,6′R)‐3′,4′,5′,6′‐tetrahydro‐6′‐[(2S)‐2‐hydroxybut‐3‐enyl]‐7‐methoxyspiro[2,6‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐3,2′‐[2H]pyran]‐4′‐ol, derived from (?)‐ 20 , were assayed for their cytotoxicity toward murine P388 lymphocytic leukemia and six human cancer cell lines. Only racemic (±)‐ 21 showed evidence of cancer‐cell‐growth inhibition (P388, ED₅₀: 6.9 μg/ml).     

Plumeridoid C from the Amazonian traditional medicinal plant Himatanthus sucuuba

The stereochemistry of the iridoid plumeridoid C, C₁₅H₁₈O₇, was established by X‐ray single‐crystal structure analysis, giving (2′R,3R,4R,4aS,7aR)‐methyl 3‐hydroxy‐4′‐[(S)‐1‐hydroxyethyl]‐5′‐oxo‐3,4,4a,7a‐tetrahydro‐1H,5′H‐spiro[cyclopenta[c]pyran‐7,2′‐furan]‐4‐carboxylate. The absolute structure of the title compound was determined on the basis of the Flack x parameter and Bayesian statistics on Bijvoet differences. The hydrogen‐bond donor and acceptor functions of the two hydroxy groups are employed in the formation of O—H...O‐bonded helical chains.     

Flip‐type disorder in 3‐substituted 2,2′:5′,2′′‐terthiophenes

In the crystal structures of four thiophene derivatives, (E)‐3′‐[2‐(anthracen‐9‐yl)ethenyl]‐2,2′:5′,2′′‐terthiophene, C₂₈H₁₈S₃, (E)‐3′‐[2‐(1‐pyrenyl)ethenyl]‐2,2′:5′,2′′‐terthiophene, C₃₀H₁₈S₃, (E)‐3′‐[2‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)ethenyl]‐2,2′:5′,2′′‐terthiophene, C₂₂H₁₈O₂S₃, and (E,E)‐1,4‐bis[2‐(2,2′:5′,2′′‐terthiophen‐3′‐yl)ethenyl]‐2,5‐dimethoxybenzene, C₃₆H₂₆O₂S₆, at least one of the terminal thiophene rings is disordered and the disorder is of the flip type. The terthiophene fragments are far from being coplanar, contrary to terthiophene itself. The central C—C=C—C fragments are almost planar but the bond lengths suggest slight delocalization within this fragment. The crystal packing is determined by van der Waals interactions and some weak, relatively short, C—H...S and C—H...π directional contacts.     

Precursors to dodecahedrane

The title compounds, (2R,2′′S,3b′S,4a′R,7b′S,8a′R)‐per­hydro­di­spiro­[furan‐2,3′‐di­cyclo­penta­[a,e]­pentalene‐7′,2′′‐furan]‐5,5′′‐dione, C₂₀H₂₆O₄, and (3aR,3bR,4aR,4bS,5aS,8aR,8bR,9aR,9bS,10aS)‐per­hydro­dipentaleno­[2,1‐a:2′,1′‐e]­pentalene‐1,6‐dione, C₂₀H₂₆O₂, are intermediates identified during the synthesis of dodecahedrane. Crystallographic studies have established the ring‐junction stereochemistry for these important intermediates. All the ring junctions are cis‐fused, and the molecular packing is stabilized by van der Waals interactions.     

Novel hydrazone derivatives of 7‐hydroxy‐3′,3′‐dimethyl‐3′H‐spiro[chromene‐2,1′‐isobenzofuran]‐8‐carbaldehyde

The structures of new oxaindane spiropyrans derived from 7‐hydroxy‐3′,3′‐dimethyl‐3′H‐spiro[chromene‐2,1′‐isobenzofuran]‐8‐carbaldehyde (SP1), namely N‐benzyl‐2‐[(7‐hydroxy‐3′,3′‐dimethyl‐3′H‐spiro[chromene‐2,1′‐isobenzofuran]‐8‐yl)methylidene]hydrazinecarbothioamide, C₂₇H₂₅N₃O₃S, (I), at 120 (2) K, and N′‐[(7‐hydroxy‐3′,3′‐dimethyl‐3′H‐spiro[chromene‐2,1′‐isobenzofuran]‐8‐yl)methylidene]‐4‐methylbenzohydrazide acetone monosolvate, C₂₇H₂₄N₂O₄·C₃H₆O, (II), at 100 (2) K, are reported. The photochromically active C_spiro—O bond length in (I) is close to that in the parent compound (SP1), and in (II) it is shorter. In (I), centrosymmetric pairs of molecules are bound by two equivalent N—H...S hydrogen bonds, forming an eight‐membered ring with two donors and two acceptors.     

Cinerin C: a macrophyllin‐type bicyclo[3.2.1]octane neolignan from Pleurothyrium cinereum (Lauraceae)

The structure of naturally‐occurring cinerin C [systematic name: (7S,8R,3′R,4′S,5′R)‐Δ^8′‐4′‐hydroxy‐5,5′,3′‐trimethoxy‐3,4‐methylenedioxy‐2′,3′,4′,5′‐tetrahydro‐2′‐oxo‐7.3′,8.5′‐neolignan], isolated from the ethanol extract of leaves of Pleurothyrium cinereum (Lauraceae), has previously been established by NMR and HRMS spectroscopy, and its absolute configuration established by circular dichroism measurements. For the first time, its crystal strucure has now been established by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis, as the monohydrate, C₂₂H₂₆O₇·H₂O. The bicyclooctane moiety comprises fused cyclopentane and cyclohexenone rings which are almost coplanar. An intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bond links the 4′‐OH and 5′‐OCH₃ groups along the c axis.     

Four N7‐alkoxybenzyl‐substituted 4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5‐spiro‐1′‐cyclohexane‐2′,6′‐diones: hydrogen‐bonded supramolecular structures in zero,one, two or three dimensions

3‐tert‐Butyl‐7‐(4‐methoxybenzyl)‐4′,4′‐dimethyl‐1‐phenyl‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5‐spiro‐1′‐cyclohexane‐2′,6′‐dione, C₃₁H₃₇N₃O₃, (I), 3‐tert‐butyl‐7‐(2,3‐dimethoxybenzyl)‐4′,4′‐dimethyl‐1‐phenyl‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5‐spiro‐1′‐cyclohexane‐2′,6′‐dione, C₃₂H₃₉N₃O₄, (II), 3‐tert‐butyl‐4′,4′‐dimethyl‐7‐(3,4‐methylenedioxybenzyl)‐1‐phenyl‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5‐spiro‐1′‐cyclohexane‐2′,6′‐dione, C₃₁H₃₅N₃O₄, (III), and 3‐tert‐butyl‐4′,4′‐dimethyl‐1‐phenyl‐7‐(3,4,5‐trimethoxybenzyl)‐4,5,6,7‐tetrahydro‐1H‐pyrazolo[3,4‐b]pyridine‐5‐spiro‐1′‐cyclohexane‐2′,6′‐dione ethanol 0.67‐solvate, C₃₃H₄₁N₃O₅·0.67C₂H₆O, (IV), all contain reduced pyridine rings having half‐chair conformations. The molecules of (I) and (II) are linked into centrosymmetric dimers and simple chains, respectively, by C—H...O hydrogen bonds, augmented only in (I) by a C—H...π hydrogen bond. The molecules of (III) are linked by a combination of C—H...O and C—H...π hydrogen bonds into a chain of edge‐fused centrosymmetric rings, further linked by weak hydrogen bonds into supramolecular arrays in two or three dimensions. The heterocyclic molecules in (IV) are linked by two independent C—H...O hydrogen bonds into sheets, from which the partial‐occupancy ethanol molecules are pendent. The significance of this study lies in its finding of a very wide range of supramolecular aggregation modes dependent on rather modest changes in the peripheral substituents remote from the main hydrogen‐bond acceptor sites.     

Sesquiterpenoids‐Related Metabolites from the Soft Coral Sinularia sp.

Two new sesquiterpenoids, sinularioperoxide E ( 1 ), ethyl 5‐[(2′S,5′E)‐2′, 6′‐dimethylocta‐5′,7′‐dienyl]furan‐3‐carboxylate ( 3 ), and a new C₁₁ terpenoid‐related carboxylic acid, (3S,6E)‐3,7‐dimethyl‐nona‐6,8‐dienoic acid ( 2 ) were isolated from a Formosan soft coral Sinularia sp. The structures of 1‐3 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and by comparison of the spectral data with those of the related metabolites.     

Mechanistic and Synthetic Studies on the Formation of 1,2,4-Trioxanes Related to Arteannuin. Photooxygenation of a bicyclic dihydropyran

The photooxygenation of (4R,4aS,7R)-4,4a,5,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,7-dimethyl-3H-2-benzopyran ( 16 ) was performed in (i) MeOH, (ii) acetaldehyde, and (iii) acetone at ?78°. The products obtained respectively were (i) (2R)-2-[(1S,4R)-4-methyl-2-oxocyclohexyl]propyl formate ( 17 ; 72% yield), (ii) 17 (54.5%), (1R,4R,4aS,7R)-3,4,4a,5,6,7-hexahydro-4,7-dimethyl-1H-2-benzopyran-2-yl hydroperoxide ( 19 ; 16.7%), a 12:1 ratio of (3R,4aR,7R,7aS,10R,11aR)-7,7a,8,9,10,11-hexahydro-3,7,10-trimethyl-6H-[2]benzopyrano[1,8a-e]-1,2,4-trioxane ( 20 ) and its C(3)-epimer 21 (17%), together with evidence for the 1,2-dioxetane ( 22 ) originating from the addition of dioxygen to the re-re face of the double bond of 16 , and iii) unidentified products and traces of 22 . Addition of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (Me₃SiOTf) to the acetone solution of 16 after photooxygenation afforded (4aR,7R,7aS,10R,11aR)-7,7a,8,9,10,11-hexahydro-3,3,7,10-tetramethyl-6H-[2]benzopyrano[1,8a-e]-1,2,4,-trioxane ( 23 , 40%). The photooxygenation of 16 in CH₂Cl₂ at ?78° followed by addition of acetone and Me₃SiOTf afforded 17 (11%), 23 (59%), and (4aR,7R,7aS,10R,11aR)-7,7a,8,9,10,11-hexahydro-3,3,7,10-tetramethyl-6H-[2]benzopyrano[8a,1-e]-1,2,4-trioxane ( 24 ; 5%. Repetition of the last experiment, but replacing acetone by cyclopentanone, gave 17 (16%), (4′aR,7′R,7′aS,10′R,11′aR)-7′,7′a,8′,9′,10′,11′-hexahydro-7′,10′-dimethylspiro[cyclopentane-1,3′-6′H-[2]benzopyrano[1,8a-e]-1,2,4-trixane] ( 25 ; 61%), and (4′aR,7′R,7′aS,10′R,11′aR)-7′,7′a,8′,9′,10′,11′-hexahydro-7′,10′-dimethylspiro[cyclopentane-1,3′-6′H-[2]benzopyrano[8a,1-e]-1,2,4-trixane] ( 26 , 4%). The X-ray analysis of 23 was performed, which together with the NMR data, established the structure of the trioxanes 20, 21, 24, 25 , and 26 . Mechanistic and synthesis aspects of these reactions were discussed in relation to the construction of the 1,2,4-trioxane ring in arteannuin and similar molecules.     

Nonclassical Pschorr and Sandmeyer Reactions in Pyrazole Series

The diazonium salt derived from 4‐amino‐N,1,3‐trimethyl‐N‐(3‐methyl‐1‐phenyl‐1H‐pyrazol‐5‐yl)‐1H‐pyrazole‐5‐carboxamide ( 14 ) was reacted with a mixture of CuSO₄ and NaCl, with ascorbic acid as an initiator to afford the planar derivative 4,6‐dihydro‐1,4,6,8‐tetramethyl‐3‐phenyldipyrazolo[3,4‐b:4′,3′‐d]pyridin‐5(3H)‐one ( 16 ) and its unexpected isomer 4,6‐dihydro‐3,4,6,8‐tetramethyl‐1‐phenyldipyrazolo[4,3‐b:4′,3′‐d]pyridin‐5(1H)‐one ( 17 ), as well as the epimers (3S,4S)‐ (or (3S,4R)‐) and (3S,4R)‐ (or (3S,4S)‐) 4‐chloro‐2,4‐dihydro‐1′,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐2‐phenylspiro[pyrazole‐3,4′(1′H)‐pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrazol]‐6′(5′H)‐one ( 18a and b , respectively). Epimers 18a and b were converted under basic conditions to 4′‐chloro‐N,1,3,3′‐tetramethyl‐1′‐phenyl‐[4,5′‐bi‐1H‐pyrazole]‐5‐carboxamide ( 19 ). The structures of isomers 16 and 17 determined by single‐crystal X‐ray analysis are also reported. Linear dichroism (LD) measurements for the above isomers suggest that 17 intercalates into DNA, and 17 exhibited antiproliferation activity against human NCI‐H460 pulmonary carcinoma cells.     

Novel regioselective synthesis of 3′H,4H‐spiro[chromene‐3,2′‐[1,3,4]thiadiazol]‐4‐one containing compounds

A variety of 3″,5″‐diaryl‐3″H,4′H‐dispiro[cyclohexane‐1,2′‐chromene‐3′,2″‐[1,3,4]thiadiazol]‐4′‐ones 3a‐c were synthesized regioselectively through the reaction of 4′H,5H‐trispiro[cyclohexane‐1,2′‐chromene‐3′,2″‐[1,3,4]oxadithiino[5,6‐c]chromene‐5″,1″′‐cyclohexan]‐4′‐one ( 1 ) with nitrilimines (generated in situ via triethylamine dehydrohalogenation of the corresponding hydrazonoyl chlorides 2a‐c ) in refluxing dry toluene. Single crystal X‐ray diffraction studies of 3a,b add support for the established structure. Similarly, 3′,5′‐diaryl‐2,2‐dimethyl‐3′H,4H‐spiro[chromene‐3,2′‐[1,3,4]thiadiazol]‐4‐ones 5a‐c were obtained in a regioselective manner through the reaction of 2,2,5′,5′‐tetramethyl‐4H,5′H‐spiro[chromene‐3,2′‐[1,3,4]oxadithiino[5,6‐c]chromen]‐4‐one ( 4a ) with nitrilimines under similar reaction conditions. On the other hand, reaction of 2,5′‐diethyl‐2,5′‐dimethyl‐4H,5′H‐spiro[chromene‐3,2′‐[1,3,4]oxadithiino‐[5,6‐c]chromen]‐4‐one ( 4b ) with nitrilimines in refluxing dry toluene afforded the corresponding 3′,5′‐diaryl‐2‐ethyl‐2‐methyl‐3′H,4H‐spiro[chromene‐3,2′‐[1,3,4]thiadiazol]‐4‐ones 5d‐f as two unisolable diastereoisomeric forms.     

Synthesis of spiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizines] by 1,3‐dipolar reactions between isatins,l‐proline and electron‐deficient alkenes

Two spiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine] derivatives have been synthesized in good yield with high regio‐ and stereospecificity using one‐pot reactions between readily available starting materials, namely l ‐proline, substituted 1H‐indole‐2,3‐diones and electron‐deficient alkenes. The products have been fully characterized by elemental analysis, IR and NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and crystal structure analysis. In (1′RS ,2′RS ,3SR ,7a′SR )‐2′‐benzoyl‐1‐hexyl‐2‐oxo‐1′,2′,5′,6′,7′,7a′‐hexahydrospiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine]‐1′‐carboxylic acid, C₂₈H₃₂N₂O₄, (I), the unsubstituted pyrrole ring and the reduced spiro‐fused pyrrole ring adopt half‐chair and envelope conformations, respectively, while in (1′RS ,2′RS ,3SR ,7a′SR )‐1′,2′‐bis(4‐chlorobenzoyl)‐5,7‐dichloro‐2‐oxo‐1′,2′,5′,6′,7′,7a′‐hexahydrospiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine], which crystallizes as a partial dichloromethane solvate, C₂₈H₂₀Cl₄N₂O₃·0.981CH₂Cl₂, (II), where the solvent component is disordered over three sets of atomic sites, these two rings adopt envelope and half‐chair conformations, respectively. Molecules of (I) are linked by an O—H…·O hydrogen bond to form cyclic R ₆⁶(48) hexamers of (S ₆) symmetry, which are further linked by two C—H…O hydrogen bonds to form a three‐dimensional framework structure. In compound (II), inversion‐related pairs of N—H…O hydrogen bonds link the spiro[indoline‐3,3′‐pyrrolizine] molecules into simple R ₂²(8) dimers.     

Preparation and (E/Z)‐Isomerization of the Diastereoisomers of Violaxanthin

Violaxanthin A (=(all‐E,3S,5S,6R,3′S,5′S,6′R)‐5,6 : 5′,6′‐diepoxy‐5,6,5′,6′‐tetrahydro‐β,β‐carotene‐3,3′‐diol =syn,syn‐violaxanthin; 5 ) and violaxanthin B (=(all‐E,3S,5S,6R,3′S,5′R,6′S)‐5,6 : 5′,6′‐diepoxy‐5,6,5′,6′‐tetrahydro‐β,β‐carotene‐3,3′‐diol=syn,anti‐violaxanthin; 6 ) were prepared by epoxidation of zeaxanthin diacetate ( 1 ) with monoperphthalic acid. Violaxanthins 5 and 6 were submitted to thermal isomerization and I₂‐catalyzed photoisomerization. The structure of the main products, i.e., (9Z)‐ 5 , (13Z)‐ 5 , (9Z)‐ 6 , (9′Z)‐ 6 , (13Z)‐ 6 , and (13′Z)‐ 6 , was determined by their UV/VIS, CD, ¹H‐NMR, ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectra.     

The Diastereoselective Formation of 1,2,4-Trioxanes and 1,3-Dioxolanes by the reaction of endoperoxides with chiral cyclohexanones

1,4-Diphenyl-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-ene ( 2 ), on treatment with a catalytic amount of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (Me₃SiOTf) in CH₂Cl₂ at ?78°, reacts with excess (?)-menthone ( 10 ) to give (1S,2S,4′aS,5R,7′aS)-4′a,7′a-dihydro-2-isopropyl-5-methyl-6′,7′-diphenylspiro[cyclohexane-1,3′-[7′H]cyclopenta-[1,2,4]trioxine] ( 11 ) and its (1R,2S,4′aR,5R,7′aR)-diastereoisomer 12 in a 1:1 ratio and in 21% yield. Repeating the reaction with 1.1 equiv. of Me₃SiOTf with respect to 2 affords 11 , 12 , and (1S,2S,3′a.R,5R,6′aS)-3′a,6′a-dihydro-2-isopropyl-5-methyl-3′a-phenoxy-5′-phenylspiro[cyclohexane-l,2′-[4′H]cyclopenta[1,3]dioxole] ( 13 ) together with its(1R,2S,3′aS,5R,6′aR)-diastereoisomer 14 in a ratio of 3:3:3:1 and in 56% yield. (+)-Nopinone( 15 ) in excess reacts with 2 in the presence of 1.1 equiv. of Me₃SiOTf to give a pair of 1,2,4-trioxanes ( 16 and 17 ) analogous to 11 and 12 , and a pair of 1,3-dioxolanes ( 18 and 19 ) analogous to 13 and 14 , in a ratio of 8:2:3:3 and in 85% yield. (?)-Carvone and racemic 2-(tert-butyl)cyclohexanone under the same conditions behave like 15 and deliver pairs of diastereoisomeric trioxanes and dioxolanes. In general, catalytic amounts of Me₃SiOTf give rise to trioxanes, whereas 1.5 equiv. overwhelmingly engender dioxolanes. Adamantan-2-one combines with 2 giving only (4′aRS,7′aRS)-4′a,7′a-dihydro-6′.7′a-diphenylspiro[adamantane-2,3′-[7′H]cyclopenta[1,2,4]trioxine] in 98% yield regardless of the amount of Me3SiOTf used. The reaction of 1,4-dipheny 1-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-ene ( 32 ) with 10 and 1.1 equiv. of Me3SiOTf produces only the pair of trioxanes 33 and 34 homologous to 11 and 12 . Treatment of the (S,S)-diastereoisomer 33 with Zn and AcOH furnishes (1S,2S)-1,4-diphenylcyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol. The crystal structures of 11 – 13 and 16 are obtained by X-ray analysis. The reaction courses of 10 and the other chiral cyclohexanones with prochiral endoperoxides 2 and 32 to give trioxanes are rationalized in terms of the respective enantiomeric silylperoxy cations which are completely differentiated by the si and re faces of the ketone function. The origin of the 1,3-dioxolanes is ascribed to 1,2 rearrangement of the corresponding trioxanes, which occurs with retention of configuration of the angular substituent.     

Synthese von diastereo- und enantio-selektiv deuterierten β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- und γ,γ-Carotinen

Synthesis of Diastereo- and Enantioselectively Deuterated β,ε-, β,β-, β,γ- and γ,γ-Carotenes We describe the synthesis of (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-β, εcarotene, (1R, 1′R)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-β, β-carotene, (1′R, 6′S)-[16′, 16′, 16′-²H₃]-γ, γ-carotene and (1R, 1′R, 6S, 6′S)-[16, 16, 16, 16′, 16′, 16′-²H₆]-γ, γ-carotene by a multistep degradation of (4R, 5S, 10S)-[18, 18, 18-²H₃]-didehydroabietane to optically active deuterated β-, ε- and γ-C₁₁-endgroups and subsequent building up according to schemes \documentclass{article}\pagestyle{empty}\begin{document}${\rm C}_{11} \to {\rm C}_{14}^{C_{\mathop {26}\limits_ \to }} \to {\rm C}_{40} $\end{document} and C₁₁ → C₁₄; C₁₄+C₁₂+C₁₄→C₄₀. NMR.- and chiroptical data allow the identification of the geminal methyl groups in all these compounds. The optical activity of all-(E)-[²H₆]-β,β-carotene, which is solely due to the isotopically different substituent not directly attached to the chiral centres, is demonstrated by a significant CD.-effect at low temperature. Therefore, if an enzymatic cyclization of [17, 17, 17, 17′, 17′, 17′-²H₆]lycopine can be achieved, the steric course of the cyclization step would be derivable from NMR.- and CD.-spectra with very small samples of the isolated cyclic carotenes. A general scheme for the possible course of the cyclization steps is presented.     

Three New Neolignans and One New Phenylpropanoid from the Leaves and Stems of Toona ciliata var. pubescens

Three new neolignans, (7S,8S,7′E)‐4,9‐dihydroxy‐3,7,3′,9′‐tetramethoxy‐8,4′‐oxyneolign‐7′‐ene ( 1 ), (7R,8S,7′E)‐4, 9‐dihydroxy‐3,7,3′,9′‐tetramethoxy‐8,4′‐oxyneolign‐7′‐ene ( 2 ), (7S,8S,7′E)‐5, 9‐dihydroxy‐3,7,3′,5′,9′‐pentamethoxy‐8,4′‐oxyneolign‐7′‐ene ( 3 ), and one new phenylpropanoid, threo‐5‐hydroxy‐3,7‐dimethoxyphenylpropane‐8,9‐diol ( 4 ), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Toona ciliata var. pubescens. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially 2D‐NMR, HR‐ESI‐MS, and CD data. The antiproliferative activities of these compounds against four tumor cell lines (A549, Colo 205, QGY‐7703, and LOVO) were also evaluated by MTT (=(3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide) method.     

Preference for the Diels–Alder addition of dienes syn to the O atom in cross‐conjugated spiro­cyclic cyclo­hexadienones

In the Diels–Alder reaction, the preferred addition of dienes syn to the O atom in cross‐conjugated cyclo­hexadienones containing an oxa‐­spiro ring system is observed. The two structures reported here, namely rel‐(1R,4aR,9S,9aS,10R)‐4a,9,9a,10‐tetra­hydro‐9,10‐di­phenyl­spiro­[9,10‐epoxy­anthra­cene‐1(4H),2′‐oxiran]‐4‐one, C₂₇H₂₀O₃, and rel‐(1R,4aS,9R,9aS,10S)‐4a,9,9a,10‐tetra­hydro‐9,10‐di­phenyl­spiro­[9,10‐epoxy­anthracene‐1(4H),2′‐oxetane]‐4‐one, C₂₈H₂₂O₃, are the minor and sole products, respectively, of the reactions of di­phenyl­isobenzo­furan with two slightly different cyclo­hexadienones. These structures differ in the size of the oxa‐­spiro ring, by one C atom, and in the relative configuration at the spiro­cyclic ring C atom, leading to some minor conformational differences between the two compounds.     

Characterization,crystal structure and cytotoxic activity of a rare iridoid glycoside from Lonicera saccata

A new iridoid glycoside, methyl (3R,4R,4aS,7S,7aR)‐3‐hydroxy‐7‐methyl‐5‐oxooctahydrocyclopenta[c]pyran‐4‐carboxylate‐3‐O‐β‐d ‐(1′S,2′R,3′S,4′S,5′R)‐glucopyranoside, named loniceroside A, C₁₇H₂₆O₁₀, ( 1 ), was obtained from the aerial parts of Lonicera saccata. Its structure was established based on an analysis of spectroscopic data, including 1D NMR, 2D NMR and HRESIMS, and the configurations of the chiral C atoms were determined by X‐ray crystallographic analysis. The single‐crystal structure reveals that the cyclopenta[c]pyran scaffold is formed from a five‐membered ring and a chair‐like six‐membered ring connected through two bridgehead chiral C atoms. In the solid state, the glucose group of ( 1 ) plays an important role in constructing an unusual supramolecular motif. The structure analysis revealed adjacent molecules linked together through intermolecular O—H…O hydrogen bonds to generate a banded structure. Furthermore, the banded structures are linked into a three‐dimensional network by interesting hydrogen bonds. Biogenetically, compound ( 1 ) carries a glucopyranosyloxy moiety at the C‐3 position, representing a rare structural feature for naturally occurring iridoid glycosides. The growth inhibitory effects against human cervical carcinoma cells (Hela), human lung adenocarcinoma cells (A549), human acute mononuclear granulocyte leukaemia (THP‐1) and the human liver hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HepG2) were evaluated by the MTT method.     

(+)‐Geodin from Aspergillus terreus

The fungal metabolite (+)‐geodin [systematic name: (2R)‐methyl 5,7‐dichloro‐4‐hydroxy‐6′‐methoxy‐6‐methyl‐3,4′‐dioxospiro[benzofuran‐2,1′‐cyclohexa‐2′,5′‐diene]‐2′‐carboxylate], C₁₇H₁₂Cl₂O₇, was isolated from Aspergillus terreus. The crystal structure contains two independent molecules in the asymmetric unit. Molecules denoted 1 interact through O—H...O hydrogen bonds creating chains of molecules parallel to the crystallographic 2₁ screw axis. Molecules denoted 2 interact through an O...Cl halogen bond, also creating chains of molecules parallel to the crystallographic 2₁ screw axis. Molecules 1 and 2 interact through another O...Cl halogen bond. The two molecules are similar but molecules 2 have a slightly more planar cyclohexadiene ring than molecules 1. The absolute structure of (+)‐geodin has been unequivocally assigned with the spiro centre having the R configuration in both molecules. The structurally related (+)‐griseofulvin has an S configuration at the spiro centre, a difference of potential biological and biosynthetic relevance.