Synthesis of new tetracyclic 7-oxo-pyrido[3,2,1-de]acridine derivatives

A series of (±)3-hydroxyl- and 2,3-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydro-7-oxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridines were synthesized for antitumor evaluation. These agents can be considered as analogues of glyfoline or (±)1,2-dihydroxyacronycine derivatives. The key intermediates, 3,7-dioxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridines (15a,b or 24a,b), for constructing the target compounds were synthesized either from 3-(N,N-diphenylamino)propionic acid (14a,b) by treating with Eaton’s reagent (P₂O₅/MsOH) (Method 1) or from (9-oxo-9H-acridin-10-yl)propionic acid (23a-c) via ring cyclization under the same reaction conditions (Method 2). Compounds 15a,b and 24a,b were converted into (±)3-hydroxy derivatives (25a-d), which were then further transformed into pyrido[3,2,1-de]acridin-7-one (28a-d) by treating with methanesulfonic anhydride in pyridine via dehydration. 1,2-Dihydroxylation of 28a-d afforded (±)cis-2,3-dihydroxy-7-oxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridine (29a-d). Derivatives of (±)3-hydroxy (25a,b) and (±)cis-2,3-dihydroxy (29a-d) were further converted into their O-acetyl congeners 26a,b and 30a-d, respectively. We also synthesized 2,3-cyclic carbonate (31, 32, and 33) from 29a-c. The anti-proliferative study revealed that these agents exhibited low cytotoxicity in inhibiting human lymphoblastic leukemia CCRF-CEM cell growth in culture.     

Palladium-catalyzed asymmetric synthesis of allylic alcohols from unsymmetrical and symmetrical racemic allylic carbonates featuring C-O-bond formation and dynamic kinetic resolution

Described is the asymmetric synthesis of the allylic alcohols 11 (85% ee), 15 (99% ee), 17 (93% ee), 19 (61% ee), and 21 (69% ee) through a Pd-catalyzed reaction of the unsymmetrical carbonates rac-10, rac-12, rac-14, rac-16, rac-18, and rac-20, respectively, with KHCO₃ and H₂O in the presence of bisphosphane 6. Similarly the allylic alcohols 23 (99% ee) and 25 (97% ee) have been obtained from the symmetrical carbonates rac-22 and rac-24, respectively. Reaction of the meso-biscarbonate 26 with H₂O and Pd(0)/6 afforded alcohol 27 (96% ee), which was converted to the PG building block 32. The unsaturated bisphosphane 33 showed in the synthesis of alcohols 36, 37, and 39 a similar high selectivity as 6. The formation of alcohols 11, 15, and 17 involves an efficient dynamic kinetic resolution.     

Efficient synthesis and applications of 2-substituted azulene derivatives: towards highly functionalized carbo- and heterocyclic molecules

An efficient synthesis of 2-substituted azulene derivatives (3-6) was accomplished from ethyl 2-oxo-2H-cyclohepta[b]furan-3-carboxylate 1 and its derivative 2, which in turn were prepared from readily available tropolone. Compounds 1 and 2 were utilized to construct densely functionalized benz[a]azulene and azulene-furan frameworks (16-25, 29-34, 37, 38).     

Photochemical isomerisation studies of rubifolide and bipinnatin J. Unravelling some of the biosynthesis interrelationships between macrocyclic and polycyclic cembranoids found in corals

Irradiation of natural rubifolide (1) and bipinnatin J (2) for short periods of time using a 400 W sunlamp results in photochemical Z- to E-isomerisations to their corresponding E-isomers 10 and 16, respectively, neither of which has yet been discovered in Nature. Prolonged irradiation of rubifolide (1) produces the ring-contracted compound kallolide B (11a), and photooxidation of E-rubifolide (10) leads to epilophodione (12); both 11a and 12 are found in corals. The photoisomerisation studies provide an insight into the most likely origins of more complex cembranoids, for example, 4, 5, 18 and 19 from the archetypal cembranoids 1, 2, and 3 in vivo. The studies also suggest a likely route to the unusually rearranged cembranoid sarcofuranocembrenolide B (23) via a cascade of photo-initiated radical cyclisations and rearrangements from the biradical intermediate 24 produced from cembranoid 22.     

Combined biotransformations of 4(20),11-taxadienes

Taxuyunnanine C (1) and its analogs (2 and 3), the C-14 oxygenated 4(20), 11-taxadienes from callus cultures of Taxus sp., were regio- and stereo-selectively hydroxylated at the 7β position by a fungus, Abisidia coerulea IFO 4011, and it was interesting that the longer the alkyl chain of the acyloxyl group at C-14 became, the higher the yield of 7β-hydroxylated product was. Besides the three 7β-hydroxylated products (5, 9, 17), other nine new products (7, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 20 and 21) and six known products (4, 6, 8, 10, 13 and 19) were obtained. Subsequently, the acetylated derivatives (24 and 27) of 7β-and 9α-hydroxylated products of 1 were regio- and stereo-specifically hydroxylated at the 9α position by Ginkgo cells and 7β position by A. coerulea, respectively. Thus, the two specific oxidations have been combined. These bioconversions would provide not only valuable intermediates for the semi-synthesis of paclitaxel or other bioactive taxoids from 1 and its analogs, but also some useful hints for the biosynthetic pathway of taxoid in the natural Taxus plant.     

Solid-state and solution photocycloadditions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones with maleimide

Solid-state photosensitized reactions of 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones (1b,c) with maleimide (2) afforded endo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (3b,c) with high stereoselectivity. Sensitized photoreactions of 1a-d with 2 in solution gave exo-endo double-[4+2] cycloadducts (4a-d). 2-Pyrones 1a-d were photolyzed to give carboxylic acids (5a-d) via their valence isomerization in the solid state and in solution. Such kinds of photoreaction of the 4-acyloxy-2-pyrones were dramatically different from regio- and stereoselective [2+2] cycloadditions of 4-alkyloxy-2-pyrones. The photoreaction mechanisms of 1 with 2 and 1 itself were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction analysis and MO calculations.     

Regioselective synthesis of 4- and 5-oxazole-phosphine oxides and -phosphonates from 2H-azirines and acyl chlorides

A simple and efficient regioselective synthesis of 4-oxazole-phosphine oxides 11 and -phosphonates 12 from 2H-azirine-phosphine oxides 1 and -phosphonates 6 is described. The key step for the synthesis of oxazoles 11 is a base-mediated ring closure of vinylogous α-aminophosphorus compounds derived from phosphine oxides 4 and from phosphonates 8. These derivatives 4 and 8 are obtained by reaction of functionalized azirines 1 and 6 with acyl chlorides 2 and subsequent acid-catalyzed ring opening of N-acylaziridine-phosphine oxides 3 and -phosphonates 7. Regioselective thermal ring cleavage of N-acylaziridine-phosphine oxides 3 leads α-chloro-β-(N-acylamido)-phosphine oxides 13 and their treatment with bases gives 5-oxazole-phosphine oxides 16.     

Cycloaddition of methyl 2-(2,6-dichorophenyl)-2H-azirine-3-carboxylate to electron-rich 2-azadienes

tert-Butyldimethylsililoxy-2-aza-1,3-butadienes react with 2H-azirine 3 leading to Diels-Alder cycloadducts in moderate yields. The reactions are endo- and regioselective with the azirine being added by its less hindered face. There is only one product in the case of 1b, 4b. There are two isomers (4 and 5) from 1a, 1c and 1d. A different result was obtained with the diene 1e. Diene 1e formed products 4e and 8. Some of compounds 4 and 5 have been hydrolysed leading to functionalised aziridines 7. Compound 8 gave aziridine 9.     

Efficient and regioselective chromium(0)-catalyzed reaction of 2-substituted furans with diazo compounds: stereoselective synthesis of (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters

Pentacarbonyl(η²-cis-cyclooctene)chromium(0) (1) catalyzes efficiently reactions of diazo compounds with electron-rich furans. The reaction of 2-methoxyfuran (2) with alkyl α-diazoarylacetate (3a-g) furnishes the (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters (4a-g) in excellent yields. These reactions are highly regioselective. The cyclopropanation intermediates formed from 1 and diazo compounds 3a-g always arise from a carbene addition to the less substituted CC bond of 2. The resulting cyclopropanation product undergoes a ring opening reaction to form the corresponding (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters (4a-g). The pentacarbonylchromium(0)-catalyzed reactions of 2-alkylfuran (5a-b) with ethyl α-diazophenylacetate (3a) and 9-diazo-9H-fluorene (3h) produce the 1(E),3(E)-butadienes (6a-d) in very good yields.     

Synthesis of a new class of azathia crown macrocycles containing two 1,2,4-triazole or two 1,3,4-thiadiazole rings as subunits

A series of new 1,2/1,3-bis[o-(N-methylidenamino-5-aryl-3-thiol-4H-1,2,4-triazole-4-yl)phenoxy]alkane derivatives 3a-d and bis[o-(N-methylidenamino-2-thiol-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-yl)phenoxy]alkanes 6a-c were prepared by condensation of 4-amino-5-(aroyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols 2a-b or 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole with bis-aldehydes 1a-c. Further reaction of compounds 3a-d and 6a-c with dibromoalkanes afforded the new macrocycles 5a-f and 8a-d. The cyclization does not require high dilution techniques and provides the expected azathia macrocycles in good yields, ranging from 55% to 68%.     

Asymmetric Michael addition using N-cinnamoyl- and N-crotonyl-trans-hexahydrobenzoxazolidin-2-ones

Preparation of N-cinnamoyl- and N-crotonyl-oxazolidin-2-ones 2 and 3 or ent-2 and ent-3 from (4S,5S)- and (4R,5R)-trans-hexahydrobenzoxazolidin-2-ones 1 or ent-1 are reported. Stereoselective copper promoted conjugated additions of Grignard reagents to chiral N-enoyl amides 2 and 3 or ent-2 and ent-3 in the presence of Zn(II) salts afforded the 1,4-addition products 4-11 and the corresponding enantiomers.     

Pd(0) catalyzed three-five-component C-2-arylallylation of active methylene heterocycles: pyrazolones, oxazolones, isoxazolones and N,N′-dimethylbarbituric acid

A Pd(0) catalyzed three-five-component cascade involving an aryl iodide, allene and a heterocyclic pronucleophile is used to prepare 2-arylallyl derivatives (10-12 and 16-24) from 3-phenyl-5-isoxazolone (6) and 1-phenyl-3-methylpyrazolin-5-one (7) in moderate yield. Similar cascade allylation of masked amino acids 4-methyl-2-phenyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (8a), 4-benzyl-2-phenyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (8b) and 4-isopropyl-2-phenyl-4H-oxazol-5-one (8c) gave analogous products (25-37) in good yield. N,N-Dimethylbarbiturates (38-49) are similarly prepared from N,N-dimethylbarbituric acid (9) in excellent yield.     

Highly efficient, multigram and enantiopure synthesis of (S)-2-(2,4′-bithiazol-2-yl)pyrrolidine

(S)-2-(4-Bromo-2,4′-bithiazole)-1-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine ((S)-1) was obtained as a single enantiomer and in high yield by means of a two-step modified Hantzsch thiazole synthesis reaction when bromoketone 3 and thioamide (S)-4 were used. Further conversion of (S)-1 into trimethyltin derivative (S)-2 broadens the scope for further cross-coupling reactions.     

An efficient microwave assisted synthesis of novel class of Rhodanine derivatives as potential HIV-1 and JSP-1 inhibitors

(Z)-5-(2-(1H-Indol-3-yl)-2-oxoethylidene)-3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one (7a-q) derivatives have been synthesized by the condensation reaction of 3-phenyl-2-thioxothiazolidin-4-ones (3a-h) with suitably substituted 2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-2-oxoacetaldehyde (6a-d) under microwave condition. The thioxothiazolidine-4-ones were prepared from the corresponding aromatic amines (1a-e) and di-(carboxymethyl)-trithiocarbonyl (2). The aldehydes (6a-h) were synthesized from the corresponding acid chlorides (5a-d) using HSnBu₃.     

New phlegmarane-type, cernuane-type, and quinolizidine alkaloids from two species of Lycopodium

Two new phlegmarane-type alkaloids, cermizines A (1) and B (2), three new quinolizidine alkaloids, cermizine C (3) and senepodines G (4) and H (5), and a new C₁₆N₂ type alkaloid consisting of a quinolizidine and a piperidine ring, cermizine D (6), as well as two new cernuane-type alkaloids, cernuine N-oxide (7) and lycocernuine N-oxide (8), have been isolated together with cernuine (9) and lycocernuine (10) from the club moss Lycopodium cernuum and L. chinense. The relative stereochemistry of 1-4 and 6, and the absolute stereochemistry of 5, 7, and 8 were elucidated by combination of NOESY correlations, modified Mosher's method, chemical transformations, and computational methods. Cermizine D (6) might be a biosynthetic intermediate of cernuane-type alkaloids such as 7-10.     

Highly efficient synthesis of phenanthroquinolizidine alkaloids via Parham-type cycliacylation

A concise and efficient route involving Parham-type cycliacylation as the key step has been used to synthesize phenanthroquinolizidine alkaloids 1a-c and 2a-c. Among the products, 1b-(S), 1b-(R), 2a-(14aS,15S), 2a-(14aR,15R), and 2b were synthesized for the first time.     

Chiroptical switching system based on the host-guest interaction between metal cations and poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing polycarbohydrate ionophore

Polycarbohydrate macromonomers with different degrees of polymerization (DP), that is, end-functionalized (1 → 6)-2,5-anhydro-3,4-di-O-ethyl-d-glucitols with 4-ethynylbenzoyl groups (macromonomer 2: DP = 6.6, and macromonomer 3: DP = 9.5) were synthesized. The copolymerizations of these macromonomers and phenylactylene (PA) were carried out in various molar ratios to give poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing a polycarbohydrate ionophore as the graft chain with various grafting rates, poly-(2_x-co-PA_y) and poly-(3_x-co-PA_y). These polymers showed split-type circular dichroism (CD) spectra in the long absorption region of the conjugated polymer backbones (280-500 nm). This indicated that poly-(2_x-co-PA_y) and poly-(3_x-co-PA_y) had predominantly one-handed helical conformations in the backbones. The CD spectral patterns of these polymers were inverted in the presence of metal cationic guest molecules. On the other hand, control experiments using poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing a monocarbohydrate (poly-(4_x-co-PA_y)) and metal cations did not show such a CD spectral inversion. These results clearly indicated that the chiroptical switching of the poly(phenylacetylene)s bearing polycarbohydrate ionophore was attributable to the host-guest complexation of the polycarbohydrate ionophore with metal cations.     

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.     

Agelasines O-U, new diterpene alkaloids with a 9-N-methyladenine unit from a marine sponge Agelas sp.

New diterpene alkaloids, agelasines O-U (1-7), have been isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Agelas sp. The gloss structures and relative stereochemistries of 1-7 were elucidated from the spectroscopic data. Agelasines O-R (1-4) were the third examples of diterpene alkaloid with a 9-N-methyladenine and a pyrrole units. Agelasine O (1) has a halimane skeleton, while agelasines P-R (2-4) have a clerodane skeleton. Agelasines S-U (5-7) were new diterpene alkaloids with a 9-N-methyladenine unit consisting of a halimane skeleton, a labdane skeleton, and a clerodane skeleton, respectively. Agelasines O-R (1-4) and T (6) showed antimicrobial activities against several bacteria and fungi.     

Bis-spiro-azaphilones and azaphilones from the fungi Chaetomium cochliodes VTh01 and C. cochliodes CTh05

Four new dimeric spiro-azaplilones, cochliodones A-D (1-4), two new azaphliones, chaetoviridines E and F (5 and 6), a new epi-chaetoviridin A (7), together with five known compounds, chaetoviridin A (8), ergosterol (9), chaetochalasin A (10), 24(R)-5α,8α-epidioxyergosta-6-22-diene-3β-ol (11), and ergosterol-β-d-glucoside (12) were isolated from the fungi Chaetomium cochliodes VTh01 and C. cochliodes CTh05. Structures and stereochemistry of the atropisomers 1-3 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 5, 10, and 11 exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, while 3, 5, 6, 10, and 11 showed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, 5 and 6 also showed cytotoxicity against the KB, BC1, and NCI-H187 cell lines.