Optisch aktive 4,5-Epoxy-4,5-dihydro-α-ionone und Synthese der stereoisomeren 4,5:4′,5′-Diepoxy-4,5,4′,5′-tetrahydro-ϵ,ϵ-carotine und der sterische Verlauf ihrer Hydrolyse

Optically Active 4,5-Epoxy-4,5-dihydro-α-ionones; Synthesis of the Stereoisomeric 4,5:4′,5′-Diepoxy-4,5,4′,5′-tetrahydro-?,?-carotenes and the Steric Course of their Hydrolysis We prove that epoxidation with peracid of α-ionone, contrary to a recently published statement, predominantly leads to the cis-epoxide. Acid hydrolysis affords a single 4,5-glycol whose structure, established by an X-ray analysis, shows that oxirane opening occurred with inversion at the least substituted position (C(4)). Stable cis-and trans-epoxides are prepared by epoxidation of the C₁₅-phosphonates derived from α-ionone. Both the racemic and optically active form are used for the synthesis of the 4,5:4′,5′-diepoxy-4,5,4′,5′-tetrahydro-?,?-carotenes having the following configuration in the end groups: meso-cis/cis, meso-trans/trans, rac-cis/trans, rac- and (6R, 6′ R)-cis/cis, rac- and (6R, 6′R)-trans/trans, rac- and (6R, 6′R)-cis/trans, and (6R, 6′ R)-cis/?. Acid hydrolysis of the cis/cis-epoxycarotenoids under relatively strong conditions occurs again with inversion at C(4)/C(4′) in case of the cis/cis-epoxycarotenoids, but at C(5)/C(5′) in case of the trans/trans-epoxycarotenoids. An independent synthesis of this 4,5,4′,5′-tetrahydro-?,?-carotene-4,5,4′,5′-tetrol is presented. The irregular results of the oxirane hydrolysis are explained by assumption of neighbouring effects of the lateral chain. 400-Mz-¹H-NMR data are given for each of the stereoisomeric sets. In the visible range of the CD spectra, the (6R, 6R′)-epoxycarotenoids compared with (6R, 6R′)-?,?-carotene exhibit an inversion of the Cotton effects.     

Syntheses and Reactions of 1′,2′-Unsaturated 2′,3′-Seconucleoside Analogues

The 1′,2′-unsaturated 2′,3′-secoadenosine and 2′,3′-secouridine analogues were synthesized by the regioselective elimination of the corresponding 2′,3′-ditosylates, 2 and 18 , respectively, under basic conditions. The observed regioselectivity may be explained by the higher acidity and, hence, preferential elimination of the anomeric H–C(1′) in comparison to H? C(4′). The retained (tol-4-yl)sulfonyloxy group at C(3′) of 3 allowed the preparation of the 3′-azido, 3′-chloro, and 3′-hydroxy derivatives 5–7 by nucleophilic substitution. ZnBr₂ in dry CH₂Cl₂ was found to be successful in the removal (85%) of the trityl group without any cleavage of the acid-sensitive, ketene-derived N,O-ketal function. In the uridine series, base-promoted regioselective elimination (→ 19 ), nucleophilic displacement of the tosyl group by azide (→ 20 ), and debenzylation of the protected N(3)-imide function gave 1′,2′-unsaturated 5′-O-trityl-3′-azido-secouridine derivative 21 . The same compound was also obtained by the elimination performed on 2,2′-anhydro-3′-azido-3′-azido-3′-deoxy-5′-O-2′,3′-secouridine ( 22 ) that reacted with KO(t-Bu) under opening of the oxazole ring and double-bond formation at C(1′).     

Nucleotides. Part XLV. Synthesis of new (2′–5′)adenylate trimers,containing 5′-amino-5′-deoxyadenosine residues at the 5′-end of the oligoadenylate chain,and of its analogues,carrying a 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]adenine residue at the 2′-terminus

The 5′-amino-5′-deoxy-2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine ( 4 ) was obtained in pure form from 2′,3′-O-isopropylideneadenosine ( 1 ), without isolation of intermediates 2 and 3 . The 2-(4-nitrophenyl)ethoxycarbonyl group was used for protection of the NH₂ functions of 4 (→7) . The selective introduction of the palmitoyl (= hexadecanoyl) group into the 5′-N-position of 4 was achieved by its treatment with palmitoyl chloride in MeCN in the presence of Et₃N (→ 5 ). The 3′-O-silyl derivatives 11 and 14 were isolated by column chromatography after treatment of the 2′,3′-O-deprotected compounds 8 and 9 , respectively, with (tert-butyl)dimethylsilyl chloride and 1H-imidazole in pyridine. The corresponding phosphoramidites 16 and 17 were synthesized from nucleosides 11 and 14 , respectively, and (cyanoethoxy)bis(diisopropylamino)phosphane in CH₂Cl₂. The trimeric (2′–5′)-linked adenylates 25 and 26 having the 5′-amino-5′-deoxyadenosine and 5′-deoxy-5′-(palmitoylamino)adenosine residue, respectively, at the 5′-end were prepared by the phosphoramidite method. Similarly, the corresponding 5′-amino derivatives 27 and 28 carrying the 9-[(2-hydroxyethoxy)methyl]adenine residue at the 2′-terminus, were obtained. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by physical means. The synthesized trimers 25–28 were 3-, 15-, 25-, and 34-fold, respectively, more stable towards phosphodiesterase from Crotalus durissus than the trimer (2′–5′)ApApA.     

Bestrahlung von 4-allylierten 2,6-Dimethylanilinen in Methanol

Irradiation of 4-Allylated 2,6-Dimethylanilines in Methanol 4-Allyl-, 4-(1′-methylallyl)-, 4-(2′-butenyl)-, and 4-(1′,1′-dimethylallyl)-2,6-dimethylaniline ( 14–17 ; cf. Scheme 3) were obtained by the acid catalysed, thermal rearrangement of the corresponding N-allylated anilines in good yields. Aniline 14 , when irradiated with a high pressure mercury lamp through quartz in methanol, yielded as main product 4-(2′-methoxypropyl)-2,6-dimethylaniline ( 22 ; cf. Scheme 4) and, in addition, 2,6-dimethyl-4-propylaniline ( 18 ) and 4-cyclopropyl-2,6-dimethylaniline ( 23 ). The analogous products, namely erythro- and threo-4-(2′-methoxy-1′-methylpropyl)-2,6-dimethylaniline (erythro- and threo- 24 ), 2,6-dimethyl-4-(1′-methylpropyl)aniline ( 19 ), trans- and cis-2,6-dimethyl-4-(2′-methylcyclopropyl)aniline (trans- and cis- 25 ), as well as small amounts of 4-ethyl-2,6-dimethylaniline ( 26 ), were formed by irradiation of 15 in methanol (cf. Scheme 5). When this photoreaction was carried out in O-deuteriomethanol, erythro- and threo- 24 showed an up-take of one deuterium atom in the side chain. The mass spectra of erythro- and threo- 24 revealed that in 50% of the molecules the deuterium was located at the methyl group at C(1′) and in the other 50% at the methyl group at C(2′) (cf. Scheme 6). This is a good indication that the methanol addition products arise from methanolysis of intermediate spiro[2.5]octa-4,7-dien-6-imines (cf. Scheme 7). This assumption is further supported by the photoreaction of 17 in methanol (cf. Scheme 8) which led to the formation of 4-(2′-methoxy-1′,2′-dimethylpropyl)-2,6-dimethylaniline ( 28 ) as main product. The occurrence of a rearranged side chain in 28 can again be explained by the intervention of a spirodienimine 31 (cf. Scheme 9). In comparison with 14, 15 and 17 , the 2′-butenylaniline 16 reacted only sluggishly on irradiation in methanol (cf. Scheme 10). It is suggested that all photoproducts - except for the cyclopropyl derivatives which are formed presumably via a triplet di-π-methane rearrangement - arise from an intramolecular singlet electron-donor-acceptor complex between the aniline and ethylene chromophor of the side chain. Protonation of this complex at C(3′) or C(2′) will lead to diradicals (e.g. 33 and 34 , respectively, in Scheme 11). The diradicals of type 33 undergo ring closure to the corresponding spirodienimine intermediates (e.g. 31 ) whereas the diradicals of type 34 take up two hydrogen atoms to yield the photo-hydrogenated compounds (e.g. 21 ) or undergo to a minor extent fragmentation to side chain degraded products (e.g. 30 ; see also footnote 7).–Irradiation of 4-ally-2,6-dimethylaniline ( 14 ) in benzene or cyclohexane yielded the corresponding azo compound 38 (cf. Scheme 12), whereas its N,N-dimethyl derivative 41 was transformed into the cyclopropyl derivative 42 . The allyl moiety in 14 is not necessary for the formation of azo compounds since 2,4,6-trimethylaniline ( 39 ) exhibited the same type of photoreaction in benzene solution.     

Stereochemical Analysis of an Aromatic Triplet Di-π-methane Rearrangement

It is shown that (−)-(S)-N,N-dimethyl-2-(1′-methylallyl)aniline ((−)-(S)- 4 ), on direct irradiation in MeCN at 20°, undergoes in its lowest-lying triplet state an aromatic di-π-methane (ADPM) rearrangement to yield (−)-(1′R,2′R)- and (+)-(1′R,2′S)-N,N-dimethyl-2-(2-methylcyclopropyl)aniline ((−)-trans- and (+)-cis- 7 ) in an initial trans/cis ratio of 4.71 ± 0.14 and in optical yields of 28.8 ± 5.2% and 15 ± 5%, respectively. The ADPM rearrangement of (−)-(S)- 4 to the trans- and cis-configurated products occurs with a preponderance of the path leading to retention of configuration at the pivot atom (C(1′) in the reactant and C(2′) in the products) for (−)-trans- 7 and to inversion of configuration for (+)-cis- 7 , respectively. The results can be rationalized by assuming reaction paths which involve the occurrence of discrete 1,4- and 1,3-diradicals (cf. Schemes 10, 12, and 13). A general analysis of such ADPM rearrangements which allows the classification of these photochemical reactions in terms of borderline cases is presented (Scheme 14). It is found that the optical yields in these ‘step-by-step’ rearrangements are determined by the first step, i.e. by the disrotatory bond formation between C(2) of the aromatic moiety and C(2′) of the allylic side chain leading to the generation of the 1,4-diradicals. Moderation of the optical yields can occur in the ring closure of the 1,3-diradicals to the final products, which may take place with different trans/cis-ratios for the individual 1,3-diradicals. Compounds (−)-trans- 7 as well as (+)-cis- 7 easily undergo the well-known photochemical trans/cis-isomerization. It mainly leads to racemization. However, a small part of the molecules shows trans/cis-isomerization with inversion of configuration at C(1′), which is best explained by a photochemical cleavage of the C(1′)–C(3′) bond.     

Regioselective Transformations of 2′,3′-Seconucleosides into Anhydro Structures and Chiral Crown Ethers

Intramolecular cyclisation of properly protected and activated derivatives of 2′,3′-secouridine ( = 1-{2-hydroxy-1-[2-hydroxy-1-(hydroxymethyl)ethoxy]-ethyl}uracil; 1 ) provided access to the 2,2′-, 2,3′-, 2,5′-, 2′,5′-, 3′,5′-, and 2′,3′-anhydro-2′,3′-secouridines 5, 16, 17, 26, 28 , and 31 , respectively (Schemes 1–3). Reaction of 2′,5′-anhydro-3′-O-(methylsulfonyl)- ( 25 ) and 2′,3′-anhydro-5′-O-(methylsulfonyl)-2′,3′-secouridine ( 32 ) with CH₂CI₂ in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene generated the N(3)-methylene-bridged bis-uridine structure 37 and 36 , respectively (Scheme 3). Novel chiral 18-crown-6 ethers 40 and 44 , containing a hydroxymethyl and a uracil-1-yl or adenin-9-yl as the pendant groups in a 1,3-cis relationship, were synthesized from 5′-O-(triphenylmethyl)-2′,3′-secouridine ( 2 ) and 5′-O,N⁶-bis(triphenylmethyl)-2′,3′-secoadenosine ( 41 ) on reaction with 3,6,9-trioxaundecane-1,11-diyl bis(4-toluenesulfonate) and detritylation of the thus obtained (triphenylmethoxy) methylcompound 39 and 43 , respectively (Scheme 4).     

Variantes de mycosides caracterisees par des residus glycosidiques substitues par des chaines acyles–I: Spectres de masse des mycosides G′ et A′ peracetyles

Mass spectra of peracetylated mycosides G′ and A′ are characterised by rearranged oxonium ions, corresponding to deoxysugars which have lost an acyl chain by fragmentation in the mass spectrometer. The main carboydrate constituent of mycoside G′ is a deoxysugar with one acyl chain and a methyl group. Mycoside A′ contains deoxysugars with one acyl chain and 0, 1 or 2 methyl groups. Deoxysugars with no acyl chains and one (G′, A′) or two (A′) methyl groups are also present. The mass spectra indicate that the acyl chains might be of the mycolic type: Peaks which might correspond to a fragmentation on both sides of the methyl branching are present and the CH⁺˙?C? C₂₂H₄₅ fragment, found in the spectrum of paracetylated mycoside A′ is characteristic of the branched chain. The highest peaks (m/e 1072 and 1100) in the spectrum of paracetylated mycoside A′ can be due to a mycolic chain after loss of acetic acid, methanol and H (l) on loss of acetic acif and H (m). The nature and abundance of the mycocerosic acids which esterify the aglycones can be deduced from the same spectra, as well as the structure of these aglycones which has been established previously by degradation and mass spectrometry. In order of decreasing abundance, C₂₇ and C₂₄ mycocerosic acids are present in mycoside G′, and C₂₉, C₃₂, C₃₂, C₃₀ and C₂₇ mycocerosic acids are found in mycoside A′.     

Synthesis of some oxadiazole derivatives of d-mannose

The syntheses of 2-methyl-5-[1′,2′,3′,4′,5′-penta-O-benzoyl-D-manno-pentitol-1′-yl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole and 5-methyl-3-[1′,2′,3′,4′,5′-penta-O-benzoyl-D-manno-pentitol-1-′yl]-1,2,4-oxadiazole, as well as their intermediate products, are described. Their ¹H and ¹³C nmr and ms spectra are presented and their preferential conformation in solution are proposed.     

Die thermische Umlagerung von 2-(Buta-1′,3′-dienyl)-phenolen in 2-Alkyl-2H-chromene; Beispiele für aromatische [1,7a]- und [1,5s]sigmatropische Wasserstoffverschiebungen

2-(1′-cis,3′-cis-)- and 2-(1′-cis,3′-trans-Penta-1′,3′-dienyl)-phenol (cis, cis- 4 and cis, trans- 4 , cf. scheme 1) rearrange thermally at 85–110° via [1,7 a] hydrogen shifts to yield the o-quinomethide 2 (R ? CH₃) which rapidly cyclises to give 2-ethyl-2H-chromene ( 7 ). The trans formation of cis, cis- and cis, trans- 4 into 7 is accompanied by a thermal cis, trans isomerisation of the 3′ double bond in 4. The isomerisation indicates that [1,7 a] hydrogen shifts in 2 compete with the electrocyclic ring closure of 2 . The isomeric phenols, trans, trans- and trans, cis- 4 , are stable at 85–110° but at 190° rearrange also to form 7 . This rearrangement is induced by a thermal cis, trans isomerisation of the 1′ double bond which occurs via [1, 5s] hydrogen shifts. Deuterium labelling experiments show that the chromene 7 is in equilibrium with the o-quinomethide 2 (R ? CH₃), at 210°. Thus, when 2-benzyl-2H-chromene ( 9 ) or 2-(1′-trans,3′-trans,-4′-phenyl-buta1′,3′-dienyl)-phenol (trans, trans- 6 ) is heated in diglyme solution at >200°, an equilibrium mixture of both compounds (～ 55% 9 and 45% 6 ) is obtained.     

On the Karplus relation for 3J(POCC) of nucleotides

The original Karplus parameters for analysing ³J(POCC) magnitudes of nucleotides in terms of conformational properties of the O? C bond were taken from results for 3′,5′-nucleotides and applied to 3′→ 5′-oligonucleotides; the parameters were later modified to take account of ‘largey’ magnitudes of ³J(POCC) observed in 2′ → 5′-oligonucleotides. In this work the origin of this discrepancy is explained in terms of substituent electronegativity effects at C-1′, and quantified using the ¹³C NMR results of 2′,3′-cyclic mononucleotides. A new set of Karplus parameters suitable for analysing ³J(POCC) magnitudes in 3′- and 5′-nucleotides and 3′ → 5′-oligonucleotides is determined from ¹³C NMR measurements on 3′-nucleotides and available results for 3′,5′-cyclic mononucleotides. A method of dealing with J(P, C-1′) coupling in 2′-nucleotides, 2′,3′-cyclic nucleotides and 2′ → 5′-oligonucleotides using the same Karplus relationship is suggested.     

Carotinoide mit 7-Oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptyl-Endgruppen. Teil I. Versuch einer Synthese von Cycloviolaxanthin (= (3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,6′R)-3,6:3′,6′-Diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotin-5,5′-diol)

Carotenoids with 7-Oxabicyclo[2,2.1]heptyl End Groups. Attempted Synthesis of Cycloviolaxanthin ( = (3S,5R,6S,3′S,5′R,6′R)-3,6:3′,6′- Diepoxy-5,6,5′,6′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotin-5,5′-diol) Starting from our recently described synthon (+)- 24 , the enantiomerically pure 3,6:4,5:3′,6′:4′,5′-tetraepoxy-4,5,4′,5′-tetrahydro-ε,ε-carotene ( 34 ) and its 15,15′-didehydro analogue 32 were synthesized in eleven and nine steps, respectively (Scheme 4). Chiroptical data show, in contrast to the parent ε,ε-carotene, a very weak interaction between the chiral centers at C(5), C(5′), C(6), C(6′), and the polyene system. Diisobutylaluminium hydride reduction of 32 lead rather than to the expected 15,15′-didehydro analogue 35 of Cycloviolaxanthin ( 8 ), to the polyenyne 36 (Scheme 5). We explain this reaction by an oxirane rearrangement leading to a cyclopropyl ether followed by a fragmentation to an aldehyd on the one side and an enol ether on the other (Scheme 6). This complex rearrangement includes a shift of the whole polyenyne chain from C(6), C(6′) to C(5), C(5′) of the original molecule.     

Synthese und Circulardichroismus optisch aktiver Carotinoidmodelle

Synthesis and Circular Dichroism of Optically Active Carotenoid Models The synthesis of the following optically active carotenoidic model compounds are described: (—)-(3,S,3′S)-3,3′-diisopropenyl-16,17,18,16′,17,18′-hexanor-β,β-carotene ( 1 ), (3R,3′R)-19,20,19′,20′-Metranor-zeaxanthin ( 2 ) and (6R,6′R)-19,20, 19′,20′-tetranor-ε,ε-carotene ( 3 ). These compounds were synthesized for the following reasons: (1) the presence of methyl groups at C(1), C(1′), C(5), C(5′) of cyclic carotenoids profoundly affects the torsional angle of the C(6), C(7)- and C(6′), C(7′)-bonds. Sign and magnitude of this angle are, according to recent theories [4] [5], responsible for a helical chromophore and for strong conservative [4] Cotton effects. CD. measurements of 1 give experimental support to these state- 1 exhibits weaker and less temperature dependent Cotton effects. Of more significance, the shape of the curve is no longer conservative, as expected. This constitutes experimental evidence for the contention that the β-endgroups and the polyene chain indeed form an inherently dissymmetric chromophore in optically active β, β-carotene derivatives; (2) the slightly S-shaped form of the polyene chain of carotenoids, shown by X-ray analyses [12] [13], is mainly ascribed to the presence of the methyl groups in the chain. Models 2 and 3 therefore are assumed to be linear. CD. studies of these compounds should consequently give information about the influence of deviation from Linearity and planarity of the polyene on the CD. spectra of carotenoids. CD measurements of 2 and 3 show that the lack of methyl groups does not alter the general type of the curve. Only the intensity and to some extent the position of the Cotton effects are influenced. Carotenoids with the ε-endgroup possess inherently symmetric but asymmetrically distorted chromophores. The assumption that non-conservative CD. spectra could become conservative upon cooling [4] is experimentally confirmed by model 3 . The rule stating that pairs of all-(E) and mono-(Z) isomers of carotenoids with only one cyclic endgroup should have CD. spectra with the same sign [5] is disproved by the CD. spectra of four stereoisomeric rubixanthins (s. Fig. 5). The UV./VIS. spectrum of 3, λ_max 447 (ε 216000), 418 (ε 189000) exhibits the highest molecular extinction ever reported for a carotenoid.     

Nucleotides. Part XXXV. Synthesis of 3′-deoxyadenylyl-(2′–5′)-3′-deoxyadenyIyl-(2′–ω)-9-(ω-hydroxyalkyl)adenines

Via the phosphotriester approach, new structural analogs of (2′–5′)oligoadenyiates, namely 3′-deoxyadenylyl-(2′–5′)-3′-dcoxyadenylyl-(2′–ω)-9-(ω-hydroxyalkyl)adenines 18 – 21 , have been synthesized (see Scheme) which should preserve biological activity and show higher stability towards phosphodiesterases. The newly synthesized oligonucleotides 18 – 21 have been characterized by ¹H-NMR spectra, TLC, and HPLC analysis.     

Trennung und absolute Konfiguration der C(8)-epimeren (all-E)-Neochrome (Trollichrome) und -Dinochrome

Separation and Absolute Configuration of the C(8)-Epimeric (app-E)-Neochromes (Trollichromes) and -Dinochromes The C(8′)-epimers of (all-E)-neochrome were separated by HPLC and carefully characterized. The faster eluted isomer, m.p. 197.8–198.3°, is shown to have structure 3 ((3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,8′R)-5′,8′-epoxy-6,7-dodehydro-5,6,5′,8′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene-3,5,3′-triol). To the other isomer, m.p. 195-195.5°, we assign structure 6 , ((3S,5R,6R,3′S,5′R,8′R)-5′,8′-epoxy-6,7-didehydro-5,6,5′,8′-tetrahydro-β,β-carotene-3,5,3′-triol). The already known epimeric dinochromes (= 3-O-acetylneochromes) can now be formulated as 4 and 5 , (‘epimer 1’ and its trimethylsilyl ether) and 7 and 8 , (‘epimer 2’ and its trimethylsilyl ether), respectively.     

Synthesis of 5-Methyluridine and Its 5′-Mercapto-, 2-Amino-, and 4′,5′-Unsaturated Analogues

The stereospecific cis-hydroxylation of 1-(2,3-dideoxy-β-D -glyceropent-2-enofuranosyl)thymine (1) into 1-β-D -ribofuranosylthymine (2) by osmium tetroxide is described. Treatment of 2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5-methyl-2,5′-anhydrouridine (8) with hydrogen sulfide or methanolic ammonia afforded 5′-deoxy-2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5′-mercapto-5-methyluridine (9) and 2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5-methyl-isocytidine (10) , respectively. The action of ethanolic potassium hydroxide on 5′-deoxy-5′-iodo-2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene-5-methyluridine (7) gave rise to the corresponding 1-(5-deoxy-β-D -erythropent-4-enofuranosyl)5-methyluracil (13) and 2-O-ethyl-5-methyluridine (14) . The hydrogenation of 2 and its 2′,3′-O, O-isopropylidene derivative 4 over 5% Rh/Al₂O₃ as catalyst generated diastereoisomers of the corresponding 5-methyl-5,6-dihydrouridine ( 17 and 18 ).     

Synthese von optisch aktiven,natürlichen Carotinoiden und strukturell verwandten Naturprodukten. VIII. Synthese von (3S,3′S)-7,8,7′,8′-Tetradehydroastaxanthin und (3S,3′S)-7,8-Didehydroastaxanthin (Asterinsäure)

Synthesis of Optically Active Natural Carotenoids and Structurally Related Compounds. VIII. Synthesis of (3S,3′S)-7,8,7′,8′-Tetradehydroastaxanthin and (3S,3′S)-7,8-Didehydroastaxanthin (Asterinic Acid) The synthesis of all-trans-(3S,3′S)-3,3′-dihydroxy-7,8, 7′,8′-tetradehydro-β, β-carotene-4,4′-dione ( 1 ), of all-trans-(3S,3′S)-3,3′-dihydroxy-7, 8-didehydro-β,β-carotene-4,4′-dione ( 2 ) (asterinic acid = mixture of 1 and 2 ), and of their 9,9′-di-cis- and 9-cis-isomers is reported starting from (4′S)(2E)-5-(4′-hydroxy-2′, 6′,6′-trimethyl-3′-oxo-l′-cyclohexenyl)-3-methyl-2-penten-4-ynal ( 8 ). The absolute configuration (3S,3′S) for both components 1 and 2 of asterinic acid ex Asterias rubens is confirmed on the basis of spectroscopic and direct comparison.     

Absolute Konfiguration von Loroxanthin (=(3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ϵ-Carotin-3, 19, 3′-triol)

Absolute Configuration of Loroxanthin (=(3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ?-Carotene-3, 19, 3′-triol) ‘Loroxanthin’, isolated from Chlorella vulgaris, was separated by HPLC. methods in two major isomers, a mono-cis-loroxanthin and the all-trans-form. Solutions of the pure isomers easily set up again a mixture of the cis/trans-isomers. Extensive ¹H-NMR. spectral measurements at 400 MHz allowed to establish the 3′, 6′-trans-configuration at the ?-end group in both isomers and the (9E)-configuration in the mono-cis-isomer. The absolute configurations at C(3) and C(6′) were deduced from CD. correlations with synthetic (9Z, 3R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19-diol ( 5 ) and (9E, 3R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19-diol ( 6 ), respectively. Thus, all-trans-loroxanthin ( 3 ) is (9Z, 3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19, 3′-triol and its predominant mono-cis-isomer is (9E, 3R, 3′R, 6′R)-β, ?-carotene-3, 19, 3′-triol ( 4 ). Cooccurrence in the same organism and identical chirality at all centers suggest that loroxanthin is biosynthesized from lutein ( 2 ).     

Novel Aplysinopsin-Type Alkaloids from Scleractinian Corals of the Family Dendrophylliidae of the Mediterranean and the Philippines. Configurational-assignment criteria,stereospecific synthesis,and photoisomerization

From the scleractinian coral Tubastraea sp. (Dendrophylliidae) collected at Palawan, Philippines, 3′-deimino-3′-oxoaplysinopsin ( 4 ) and 6-bromo-3′-deimino-3′-oxoaplysinopsin ( 6 ) are now isolated as 5:2 mixtures of (E/Z) stereoisomers. The 3′-deimino-2′,4′-bis(demethyl)-3′-oxoaplysinopsin ( 7 ) and 6-bromo-3′-demino-2′,4-bis(demethyl)-3′-oxoaplysinopsin ( 5 ) are isolated as 2:3 and 1:1 (E/Z) mixtures, respectively, from another dendrophylliid, Leptopsammia pruvoti, collected near Marseille, Mediterranean coast of France. Larger amounts of these and related compounds, needed for a full structural determination, are obtained by synthesis. Thus, condensations of indol-3-carboxaldehyde (9) or of its 6-bromo derivative 14 with hydantoin (15) , 3-methylhydantoin (11) , or 1,3dimethylhydantoin (10) give the prevalent natural aplysinopsins with high stereospecificity. The minor stereoisomers (Z)- 4 , (Z)- 6 , (E)- 7 , and (E)- 5 are obtained by (E/Z) photoisomerization under UV light of the condensation mixtures. The configuration is assigned from larger H? C(8)/C(5′) ¹H, ¹³C couplings in the (E) than in the (Z) isomer, and, in the case of 4 and 6 , from NOE enhancement at Me? N(2′) on irradiation at H? C(8). The stereospecificity of the condensations is attributed to steric inhibition to planarity in the rate-limiting transition states, due to N(2′)/H? C(2) repulsion with (Z)- 4 and (Z)- 6 , or to C(5′)?O/H? C(2) repulsion with (E)–7 or (E)- 5 . As the aplysinopsins undergo (E/Z ) phostoisomerization also under the daylight conditions of the laboratory, their isomeric composition in nature can not be presently assessed.     

Nonglycoside analogs of nucleotides

N¹-(2′,3′-Dihydroxypropyl)uracil, -thymine, -cytosine, and N⁹-(2′,3′-dihydroxypropyl)adenine were synthesized by alkylation of nucleic bases with 2,3-O-isopropylideneglycerol chlorohydrin, subsequent separation of the resulting mixtures, and removal of the protective groupings. Phosphorylation of these compounds or of their selectively substituted derivatives gave 2′(3′)-monophosphates, which were converted to 2′,3′-cyclophosphates by reaction with N,N′-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. Thionation of the corresponding cytosine derivatives gave N¹-(2′,3′-dihydroxypropyl)-4-thiouracil and its 2′(3′) phosphate.