Furostanol saponins with inhibitory action against COX-2 production from Tupistra chinensis rhizomes

Two furostanol saponins were obtained from the n-butanol fraction of methanol extract from Tupistra chinensis rhizomes,a folk medicine of Shennongjia Forest District of Hubei Province.Their structures were determined as (25S)-26-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)- furost-1β,3β,22α,26-tetrol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (25R)- 26-O-(β-D-glucopyranosyl)-furost-1β,3β22α,26-tetrol 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glu- copyranoside (2),on basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidences.1 and 2 displayed marked inhibitory action towards COX-2 production in macrophages of the rat abdomen induced by LPS at 20μg/mL.     

A new triterpenoid saponin from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum

A new triterpenoid saponin, 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl 16-oxo-platycodigenin 28-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-L-arabinopyra-nosyl ester, was isolated from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum, together with three known saponins, including platycodin D, deapio platycoside E and platycoside E. The structure of the new compound, named 16-oxo-platycodin D, was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Two new flavonoid diglycosides from Cephalotaxus sinensis

Two new acetylated flavonoid diglycosides, scutellarein-5-O-[a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→ 4)-b-D-6-O-acetylglucopyranoside] (1), apigenin-5-O-[a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-b-D-3,6-di-O-acetylglucopyranoside] (2), were isolated from the leaves of Cephalotaxus sinensis. Their structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods including HR-FAB-MS, 1H–1H COSY, HSQC and HMBC experiments.     

Two new C-glycosylflavones from Mimosa pudica

Two new C-glycosylflavones were isolated from the whole plant of Mimosa pudica,and their structures were determined as 6,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyl-8-C-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl flavone(1),5,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxy-8-C[β-D- apiose-(1→4)]-β-D-glycopyranosyl flavone (2).Their structures elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic analysis including IR,MS,1D and 2D NMR spectra.     

A new triterpene glycoside from sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota

A new triterpene glycoside, leucospilotaside A, along with a known saponin, isolated from sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota, and its structure was elucidated as 3β-O-[4-O-sodiumsulfate-β-D-quinovopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl]-holosta-22-ketone-9-en-17α,25α-diol (1) by extensive spectroscopic analysis and chemical methods. Leucospilotaside A (1) has a ketone carbonyl group (22) in the aglycon side chain.     

Synthesis of an antimetastatic tetrasaccharide β-D-Gal-(1→4)-β-d-GlcpNAc-(1→6)-α-D-Manp-(1→6)-β-D-Manp-OMe

An antimetastatic tetrasaccharide T₁,β-D-Gal-（1→4）-β-D-GlcpNAc-（1→6）-α-D-Manp-（1→6）-β-D-Manp-OMe,was synthesized with two approaches.The first approach was a conventional method employing thioglycoside and Koenigs-Knorr glycosylation reaction in 24%overall yield.The second one was a novel route through the azidoiodo-glycosylation strategy by using 2-iodo-2-deoxylactosyl azide as the donor in 36%overall yield.     

A new C21-steroidal glycoside from Cynanchum stauntonii

A new C21-steroidal glycoside with two known compounds were isolated from the root of Cynanchum Stauntonii.Based on thespectral analysis,including MS,1H NMR,13C NMR,DEPT,1H-1H COSY,13C-1H COSY,HMQC and HMBC,their chemicalstructures were determinated as glaucogenin-C 3-O-a-L-cymaropyranosyl-(1→4)-b-D-digitoxopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-canaropyranoside(1),stigmasterol(2)and ursolic acid(3).     

Two new glycosides from the genus of Cassia

Two new glycosides were isolated and characterized by spectral analysis from the seeds of Cassia obtusifolia and the leaves of Cassia angustifolia.The structure was elucidated as 1-hydroxyl-2-acetyl-3,8-dimethoxynaphthalene-6-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl- (1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside and 2-acetyl-3-methyl-8-methoxyl-1,4-naphthoquinone-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside.     

A new coumarin glycoside from Daphne giraldii

A new coumarin glycoside was isolated from the ethanol extract of the barks of stem of Daphne giraldii Nitsche. Its structure was defined as daphnetin 8-O-b-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-b-D-glucopyranoside on the basis of spectral evidences.     

Synthesis ofa trimeric lignin model compound composed ofol-O-4 and β-O-4 linkages under microwave irradiation

A trimeric lignin model compound composed of α-O-4 and β-O-4 linkages was prepared by the microwave-assisted synthesis, which consisted of three steps： （a） the synthesis of 3-methoxy-4- benzyloxyacetophenone （2） from acetovanillone （1）, （b） the bromination of compound 2 to produce 3- methoxy-4-benzyloxy-α-bromoacetophenone （3）, and （c） followed by a nucleophilic substitution of compound （3） to obtain 3-methoxy-4-benzyloxy-α-（3-methoxy-4-（1-propenyl）phenol）-acetophenone （4）. The target product was characterized by MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. It was found that the trimeric compound synthesized can be used as a preferable lignin model compound because it contains guaiacyl structural unit （3-methoxy-4-hydroxy phenyl propane） linked by α-O-4 and β-O-4 linkages. In addition, under the conditions of microwave irradiation, the reaction time of each step is significantly reduced, and the selectivity of target product is greatly improved. The yields of each step and the overall sequence are 95.31%. 87.3%. 90.6% and 75.4% （95.31%× 87.3% × 90.6%）. respectively.     

A new triterpene and a saponin from Centella asiatica

A new triterpene and a saponin,named 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyurs-20-en-28-oic acid(1)and 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyurs-20-en-28-oic acid O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester(2),have been isolated from the aerial part of Centella asiatica.Their structures were elucidated by spectral methods,including 2D-NMR spectra.     

A novel case of 1,3-asymmetric induction in rhodium-catalyzed hydroformylation of an allylic double bond using perbenzylated C-glucosides as chiral directors

1-(2′,3′,4′,6′-Tetra-O-benzyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl)-2-propene 1a and 1-(2′,3′,4′,6′-tetra-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-2-propene 1b were hydroformylated at different temperatures affording linear and branched aldehydes in either a 1:1 or 2:1 regioisomeric ratio, depending on the stereochemistry of the starting substrate. The diastereoisomeric ratio of the branched isomer depended on the reaction temperature as well as the alkene structure, the highest value (85:15) being obtained in the case of hydroformylation of the α-isomer at 0 °C.     

Tetracyclic triterpenoids isolated from semi-mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus

A continuing phytochemical study on the semi-mangrove plant Hibiscus tiliaceus yielded two new tetracyclic triterpenoids （3β,24S）-19（10→9）-abeo-8α,9β,10α-eupha-5,25（26）-dien-3,24-diol （tiliacol A, 1 ）, and （3β,23Z）-19（10→9）-abeo-8α,9β,10α-tircalla-5,23-dien-3,25-diol （tiliacol B, 3）, together with one known analog （2）. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectral analyses （MS, IR, 1D NMR and 2D NMR） and comparison with literature compounds. Compound 2 showed potent cytotoxicity against both P388 and HeLa cells with ICon values of 11.2 μmol/L and 11.5 μmol/L, resoectively.     

Structural revision of shatavarins I and IV, the major components from the roots of Asparagus racemosus

The two major steroidal saponins from the roots of Asparagus racemosus were isolated by RP-HPLC and their structure determined by extensive NMR studies. Their structures did not match those reported previously for shatavarins I and IV and were found to be 3-O-{[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)][α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl}-26-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(25S)-5β-furostan-3β,22α,26-triol and 3-O-{[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→2)][α-l-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl}-(25S)-5β-spirostan-3β-ol.     

Selective binding of bile salts by β-cyclodextrin derivatives with appended quinolyl arms

Two β-cyclodextrin derivatives bearing appended quinolyl and isoquinolyl arms,i.e.mono-(6-quinolyl- 6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin(1) and mono-(6-isoquinolyl-6-deoxy)-β-cyclodextrin(2) were synthesized in satisfactory yields and fully characterized.Their original conformations and binding behaviors toward four bile salt guests,that is,sodium cholate(CA),sodium deoxycholate(DCA),sodium glycocholate (GCA),and sodium taurocholate(TCA),were investigated by means of fluorescence,circular dichroism and 2D NMR spectroscopy.The study of solution structures revealed that both quinolyl and isoquinolyl arms were located outside the cyclodextrin cavity.The results obtained from the fluorescence titrations showed that the binding abilities of hosts 1 and 2 with selected bile salts varied in an order of DCA > CA > GCA.The selective binding of hosts toward bile salt guests was discussed from the viewpoints of induced-fit and multiple binding.     

Conformational and stereoelectronic investigation of chloromethyl methyl sulfide and its sulfinyl and sulfonyl analogs

Three compounds based on polyoxometalate building blocks, [Cu(en)₂]{[Cu(en)₂]₂[Mo^VI₅Mo^V₃V^IV₈O₄₀(PO₄)]} · 4H₂O (1), [Co(en)₂]{[Co(en)₂]₂[HMo^VI₄Mo^V₄V^IV₈O₄₀(PO₄)]} · 5H₂O (2) and [Ni(en)₂]{[Ni(en)₂]₂[Mo^VI₅Mo^V₃V^IV₈O₄₀(VO₄)]} · 2H₂O (3) (en = ethylenediamine), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, XPS, XRD, TGA and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The result of structure determination shows that isomorphic compounds 1, 2 and 3 feature a one-dimensional chain built from the reduced tetra-capped pseudo-Keggin polyoxoanion, which is further interconnected by [M(en)₂]²⁺ (M = Cu, Co and Ni) groups via the terminal oxygen atoms of polyoxoanions. The crystal data for these compounds are the following: 1, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 26.702(3) Å, b = 13.4539(14) Å, c = 19.5987(19) Å, β = 108.650(2)°, V = 6671.0(12) Å³, Z = 4; 2, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 26.244(3) Å, b = 13.5070(17) Å, c = 19.581(3) Å, β = 106.881(2)°, V = 6641.8(15) Å³, Z = 4; 3, monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 26.2789(15) Å, b = 13.5408(6) Å, c = 19.6312(9) Å, β = 106.2590(10)°, V = 6706.1(6) Å³, Z = 4. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of compounds 1 and 3 reveal the feature of antiferromagnetic exchange in these compounds.     

Synthesis and characterization of a tetranuclear copper(Ⅱ) complex with a chiral Schiff base ligand

The title complex l-[Cu^Ⅱ₄（Hvap）₂（vap）₂（MeOH）₂]（CIO₄）₂ 1 has been synthesized and characterized by EA. IR,TGA,solid-state CD spectra and X-ray single-crystal analyses（l-H₂vap’.a Schiff base ligand derived from the condensation of o-vanillin and l-2-amino-3-phenyl-l-propanol）.Complex 1 crystallizes in monoclinic system,chiral space group P2₁ with a =10.4257（18）.b = 21.695（4）,c = 15.721（3）A,β= 94.443（3）.V= 3545.1（11） ³,Z=2,Cu₄C₇₀H₇₈N₄O₂₂Cl₂.Mr= 1652.42,D_c= 1.548 g/cm³, F（000）= 1704 andμ（MoKα） = 1.338 mm^-1.The final R = 0.0682 and wR = 0.1420 for 6170 observed reflections with I > 2σ（I） and R = 0.1775 and wR = 0.1830 for all data.The structure of complex 1 contains a boat-shaped(Cu₄O₄} motif.The solid-state CD spectra confirm the chiral nature of complex 1.     

In vitro anthelmintic and cytotoxic activities of extracts from the stem barks of Berlinia confusa (C. Hoyle) and identification of its active constituents

Phytochemical investigation of EtOAc extract from the stem bark of Berlinia confusa yielded a new and two known polysaturated monoacylglycerides characterised as 1-O-docosanoyl-sn-glyceride (3), 1-O-(13-methyltetradecanoyl)-sn-glycerol (4) and 1-O-pentadecacanoyl-sn-glycerol (5); along with the known compounds betulinic acid (1) and sitosteryl-β-d-glucoside (2). The structures of these compounds were elucidated using analytical methods, including 1D and 2D-NMR together with MS spectroscopy. The extracts and isolated compounds demonstrated concentration-dependent anthelmintic activities against Fusciola gigantica (liver flukes) and Taenia solium (tapeworm) at 10–100 mg/ml. The extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against a small panel of three human tumour cell lines.     

Unique tripodal chiral tertiary amine, 2,6-trans-1,2,6-trisubstituted piperidine with pyridine and bis(phenol) donor groups: Its stereoselective coordination to titanium(IV) ion

A new optically active functionalized tertiary amine, (2R,6R)-2,6-bis(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1-(2-pyridylmethyl)piperidine {(R,R)-1}, was synthesized and its complexation behavior as a tripodal ligand was elucidated with titanium(IV) ion. Protonolysis of Ti(OPr-i)₄ with (R,R)-1 and H₂O in a stepwise manner led to the formation of C₃-symmetric tris(μ-oxo)trititanium(IV,IV,IV) complex [Ti₃L₃(μ-O)₃] {L = diphenolato anion of (R,R)-1} with unified chiralities induced at the metal center (A) and by the conformations of the N^∧O chelate loops (λ) as well as the six-membered non-planner chair-like (Ti-μ-O)₃ ring core as defined by X-ray crystallography. These stereochemical issues are principally regulated by the stereogenic centers on the ligand and a chair conformation of the piperidine skeleton, which settle an enantiotopos-differentiating cis(O_phenolato–O_phenolato) binding mode by unequivocally locating one O_phenolato in an axial position and the other O_phenolato in an equatorial plane.     

Do lipases also catalyse the ring cleavage of inactivated cyclic trans-β-lactams?

Twelve-membered cyclic cis- and trans-β-lactams 1b and 2b and the corresponding cyclic cis- and trans-β-amino acid enantiomers, 1a, 1c and 2a, 2c were prepared through the CAL-B-catalysed enantioselective ring cleavage of racemic cis-13-azabicyclo[10.2.0]tetradecan-14-one, (±)-1, and trans-13-azabicyclo[10.2.0]tetradecan-14-one, (±)-2. High enantioselectivities (E >200) were observed for the ring opening of both the cis- and trans-β-lactams when the Lipolase-catalysed reactions were performed with 0.5 equiv of H₂O in i-Pr₂O at 70 °C. The resolved β-lactams 1b and 2b (yield ⩾47%) and β-amino acids 1a and 2a (yield ⩾32%) could be easily separated.