Studies on constituents of Abies grandis: The structures and absolute stereochemistry of cyclograndisolide and epicyclograndisolide,novel cyclopropane triterpene lactones

The light petroleum extract of grand fir [Abies grandis (Dougl.) Lindl.] was found to contain two novel triterpene lactones. The first compound, named cyclograndisolide, was shown by chemical and spectroscopic considerations and finally confirmed by X-ray analysis to be (23 R)-3α-methoxy-9,19-cyclo-9β-lanost-24-ene-26,23-olide (6). The second component, epicyclograndisolide was isomeric with the first and was assigned as (23 S)-3α-methoxy-9,19-cyclo-9β-lanost-24-ene-26,23-olide (10).     

Officinatrione: an unusual (17S)-17,18-seco-lupane skeleton,and four novel lupane-type triterpenoids from the roots of Taraxacum officinale

Novel 5 lupane-type of triterpenois, i.e., 3β-acetoxy-18α,19α-epoxylupan-21β-ol (1), 18α,19α-epoxy-21β-hydroxylupan-3-one (2), lup-18-ene-3,21-dione (3), lupa-18,21-dien-3β-yl acetate (4), and (17S)-17,18-seco-lup-19(21)-ene-3,18,22-trione (5), named officinatrione, as well as 16 known compounds from the roots of Taraxacum officinale collected in Takatsuki city, Osaka, Japan. Of the above compounds, 5 was the first lupane-type triterpene, of which the D-ring was open to form a nine-membered ring. Compounds 2 and 5 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against L1210 cell line (IC₅₀ 10.5 and 10.1 μM).     

Steroidal analogues of unnatural configuration—X : Synthesis of 9-methyl-19-nor-9β,10α-progesterone

The reaction of 3,3-ethylenedioxy-9-methyl-9β-oestr-5(10)-en-17-one (4) with tosylmethyl isocyanide and base afforded the 17β- and 17α-carbonitriles (5 and 6). Treatment of the 17β-epimer (5) with methyl lithium gave, after hydrolysis, 9-methyl-19-nor-9β-pregn-5(10)-ene-3,20-dione (8). The same reaction sequence employed on 3,3; 5,5-bisethylenedioxy-9-methyl-4,5-seco-9β,10α-oestr-17-one (12), with subsequent cyclization, yielded the 5β-hydroxy-3,20-diketones (17 and 18) as well as 9-methyl-19-nor-9β,10α-progesterone (19) and its 17α-epimer (20).     

Neurosteroids: 7-aza-allopregnanolone—a poor substitute for allopregnanolone

7-Nor-20-oxopregn-5-en-3β-yl acetate was converted into (20R)-5β,6β-epoxy-7-nor-5β-pregnane-3β,20-diyl diacetate in three steps. Stereospecific migration of the 6α-hydride ion led to a 6-oxo derivative with a 5α-configuration. The (Z)-oxime of this ketone underwent Beckmann rearrangement to yield a lactam with the nitrogen in position 7. Lithium aluminium hydride reduction yielded the dihydroxy amine, which was either oxidised or Boc-protected and then oxidised to 7-aza-5α-pregnane-3,20-dione. Its regioselective reduction produced 7-aza-3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20-one—a poor inhibitor for the binding of [³⁵S]TBPS to the GABA_A receptor. The corresponding lactam—7-aza-3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnane-6,20-dione—was inactive.     

Tomato steroidal alkaloid glycosides, esculeosides A and B, from ripe fruits

Major novel steroidal alkaloid glycosides, named esculeoside A (1) and esculeoside B (2), have been isolated from the pink color-type and the red color-type, respectively, of the ripe tomato fruits of Lycopersicon esculentum MILL. for the first time. The structures of 1 and 2 have been characterized as 3-O-β-lycotetraosyl (5S,22S,23S,25S)-23-acetoxy-3β,27-dihydroxyspirosolane 27-O-β-d-glucopyranoside and 3-O-β-lycotetraosyl (5S,22S,23R,25S)-22,26-epimino-16β,23-epoxy-3β,23,27-trihydroxycholestane 27-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, respectively.     

Synthese des 4α et 4β-deuterio 3β, 17β-dihydroxy androsta-5-ene

The synthesis of 4β and 4α-deuterio 3β, 17β-dihydroxyandrost-5-ene, based on the reduction of 6β-bromo-17β-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3 one benzoate and of its deuterated homologue by LiAlH₄, is reported. This S_N2' reaction requires a syn relationship of entering and departing groups. The conditions for the synthesis of androst-5-ene-3,17-dione sterospecifically labelled at the 4 position are discussed.     

Proof of the Absolute Configuration of (−)-(S)-2-Hydroxy-β-ionone by correlation with ursolic acid and with (−)-trans-verbenol

(?)-(S)-2-Hydroxy-β-ionone ( 33 ), (+)-(2 S, 6 S)-2-hydroxy-α-ionone ( 34 ), and their acetates 35 and 36 have been synthesized from (+)-(S)-6-methylbicyclo [4.3.0]-non-1-ene-3, 7-dione ( 3 ). The key intermediate (+)-(1 R, 3 S, 6 S)-2, 2, 6-trimethyl-7-oxobicyclo [4.3.0]non-3-yl acetate ( 7 ) was correlated with a degradation product of the pentacyclic triterpene ursolic acid ( 16 ). Compound 33 was also synthesized by an alternative route starting from (?)-trans-verbenol ( 42 ).     

Studies on asterosaponins—V : A novel steroid conjugate, 5α-pregn-9(11)-ene-3β,6α-diol-20-one-3-sulfate,from a starfish saponin,asterosaponin A

A new crystalline steroid conjugate was obtained by partial acid hydrolysis of asterosaponin A, a steroidal saponin from the starfish, Asterias amurensis. The structure of the conjugate was established as 5α-pregn-9(11)-ene-3β,6α-diol-20-one-3-sulfate (2) on the basis of elemental analysis, IR and PMR spectra measurement and chemical reaction. Solvolysis of compound 2 yielded 5α-pregn-9(11)-ene-3β,6α-diol-20-one. Oxidation with chromium trioxide-pyridine complex followed by solvolysis afforded a new steroid, 5α-pregn-9(11)-ene-3β-ol-6,20-dione, whose structure was deduced by the measurement of ORD curve and PMR spectra. Thus, the location of carbohydrate moiety in asterosaponin A has been assigned to 6α-hydroxy group of the steroid conjugate.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of antiquorin and related polyoxygenated atisene-type diterpenes

A diastereoselective approach to polyoxygenated atisene-type diterpenes starting from (S)-(+)-carvone is described. The key steps used in the preparation of the atisene framework are an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction, an intramolecular diazoketone cyclopropanation, an endocyclic cyclopropane ring cleavage and the regioselective reduction of an allylic bromide by a low-valent chromium species. The synthesis of natural atisanes antiquorin (1), atis-16-ene-3,14-dione (3), atis-16-ene-2,3,14-trione (8) and 3β-hydroxy-atis-16-ene-2,14-dione (9) following this approach is presented. Also described is the synthesis of 18-hydroxy-atis-16-ene-3,14-dione (5), the structure erroneously assigned to an atisene isolated from the Fijian plant Euphorbia fidjiana. This work shows that the natural atisene isolated from this plant is, in fact, the epimer at C-4 of this compound.     

Ilwensisaponins A,B, C,and D: Triterpene Saponins from Scrophularia ilwensis

From the aerial parts of Scrophularia ilwensis, four new triterpene saponins, ilwensisaponins A–D ( 1 – 4 ) were isolated. The structures of the compounds were elucidated using chemical and spectral data as 13β, 28-epoxy-3-β-{{[β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[α-L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D -fucopyranosyl}-oxy} olean-11-en-23-ol ( 1 ), 3-β-{{[β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[α-L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D -fucopyranosyl}oxy}olena-11, 13(18)-diene-23, 28-diol ( 2 ), 3-β-{{[β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→2)]-[α-L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D fucopyranosyl}oxy}-11α-methoxyolean- 12-ene-23, 28-diol (3) , and 3-β-{{[β-D -glucopyransoyl-(1→2)]-[α-L -rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D -glucopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D -fucopyranosyl}oxy}olean-12-ene-11α,23,28-triol (4) .     

Norlanostane and lanostane glycosides from the bulbs of Chionodoxa luciliae and their cytotoxic activity

Ten lanostane glycosides (1-10), including two new norlanostane glycosides (2 and 7) and a new lanostane glycoside with a spirolactone ring system (9), were isolated from the fresh bulbs of Chionodoxa luciliae (Liliaceae). The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis and the results of hydrolytic cleavage to be (23S)-3beta-[(O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->2)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-17alpha,23-epoxy-28,29-dihydroxy-27-norlanost-8-en-24-one (2), (23S)-17alpha,23-epoxy-29-hydroxy-3beta-[(O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-[O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-27-norlanost-8-ene-15,24-dione (7), and (23S,25R)-17alpha,23-epoxy-29-hydroxy-3beta-[(O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-O-[beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]lanost-8-en-23,26-olide (9), respectively. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds against HSC-2 human oral squamous cell carcinoma cells are also reported.     

Absolute Konfiguration von Antheraxanthin, «cis-Antheraxantliirt» und der diastereomeren Mutatoxanthine

Absolute Configuration of Antheraxanthin, ‘cis-Aritheraxanthin’ and of the Stereoisomeric Mutatdxanthins The assignement of structure 2 to antheraxanthin (all-E)-(3 S, 5 R, 6 S, 3′ R)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol and of 1 to ‘cis-antheraxanthin’ (9Z)-(3 S, 5 R, 6 S, 3′ R)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol is based on chemical correlation with (3 R, 3′ R)-zeaxanthin and extensive ¹H-NMR. measurements at 400 MHz. ‘Semisynthetic antheraxanthin’ ( = ‘antheraxanthin B’) has structure 6 . For the first time the so-called ‘mutatoxanthin’, a known rearrangement product of either 1 or 2 , has been separated into pure and crystalline C(8)-epimers (epimer A of m.p. 213° and epimer B of m.p. 159°). Their structures were assigned by spectroscopical and chiroptical correlations with flavoxanthin and chrysanthemaxanthin. Epimer A is (3 S, 5 R, 8 S, 3′ R)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol ( 4 ; = (8 S)mutatoxanthin) and epimer B is (3 S, 5 R, 8 R, 3′ R)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol ( 3 ; = (8 R)-mutatoxanthin). The carotenoids 1 – 4 have a widespread occurrence in plants. We also describe their separation by HPLC. techniques. CD. spectra measured at room temperature and at ? 180° are presented for 1 – 4 and 6 . Antheraxanthin ( 2 ) and (9Z)-antheraxanthin ( 1 ) exhibit a typical conservative CD. The CD. Spectra also allow an easy differentiation of 6 from its epimer 2 . The isomeric (9Z)-antheraxanthin ( 1 ) shows the expected inversion of the CD. curve in the UV. range. The CD. spectra of the epimeric mutatoxanthins 3 and 4 (β end group) are dissimilar to those of flavoxanthin/chrysanthemaxanthin (ε end group). They allow an easy differentiation of the C (8)-epimers.     

(all-E)-12′-Apozeaxanthinol,Persicaxanthine und Persicachrome

( all-E)-12′-Apozeanthinol, Persicaxanthine, and Persicachromes Reexamination of the so-called ‘persicaxanthins’ and ‘persicachromes’, the fluorescent and polar C₂₅-apocarotenols from the flesh of cling peaches, led to the identification of the following components: (3R)-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 3 ), (3S,5R,8R, all-E)- and (3S,5R,8S,all-E)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diols (4 and 5, resp.), (3S,5R,6S,all-E)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-l2′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol =persicaxanthin; ( 6 ), (3S,5R,6S,9Z,13′Z)-5,6-dihydro-12′apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 7 ; probable structure), (3S,5R,6S,15Z)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 8 ), and (3S,5R,6S,13Z)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-12′-apo-β-carotene-3,12′-diol ( 9 ). The (Z)-isomers 7 – 9 are very labile and, after HPLC separation, isomerized predominantly to the (all-E)-isomer 6 .     

Cytotoxic Terpenes from the Stems of <i>Dipterocarpus obtusifolius</i> Collected in Cambodia

From the stems of Dipterocarpus obtusifolius, five new triterpenes, 3-oxo-20-hydroxy-30α-methyl,17(29)α-epoxy-28-norlupane (1), 3-oxo-20-hydroxy-30β-methyl-17(29)α-epoxy-28-norlupane (2), 3,20-dioxo-28,29-norlupan-17α-ol (3), 27-demethyl-20(S)-dammar-23-ene-20-ol-3,25-dione (4), and 3-epi-cecropic acid (5) together with 13 known compounds including diterpene, sesquiterpenes and triterpenes were isolated and characterized. All isolates were tested for their cytotoxicities against a small panel of human cancer cell lines. Of the tested compounds, compounds 4-11 were found to be cytotoxic against one or more human cancer cell lines.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 3-beta,20(R)-dihydroxy-protost-24-ene

The possible lanosterol precursor, 3β, 20(R)-dihydroxy-protost-24-ene ( 1 a ) has been prepared, in thirteen steps, from 3α-hydroxy-4α, 8, 14-trimethyl-18-nor-5α, 8α, 9β, 13ξ, 14β-androstan-17-one (mixture of 2 and 3 ). In vitro experiments with rat liver homogenates failed to convert 1 a to lanosterol.     

Synthetic transformations of isoquinoline alkaloids. Synthesis of 1-halo derivatives of <Emphasis Type="Italic">endo</Emphasis>-ethenotetrahydrothebaine and their behavior in the heck reaction

Bromination of endo-ethenotetrahydrothebaine derivatives having a pyrrolidine ring fused at the C⁷-C⁸ bond, namely 1′-substituted 4,5α-epoxy-6α,14-etheno-3,6-dimethoxy-17-methyl-2′,5′,7β,8β-tetrahydro-1′H-14α-pyrrolo[3′,4′:7,8]morphinan-2′,5′-diones, 1′-aryl-4,5α-epoxy-6α,14-etheno-3,6-dimethoxy-17-methyl-2′,5′,7β,8β-tetrahydro-1′H-14α-pyrrolo[3′,4′:7,8]morphinans, and 4,5α-epoxy-6α,14-etheno-2′α-hydroxy-3,6-dimethoxy-17-methyl-1′-phenyl-2′,5′,7β,8β-tetrahydro-1′H-14α-pyrrolo[3′,4′:7,8]morpphinan-5′-one, with molecular bromine in formic acid smoothly afforded the corresponding 1-bromo derivatives. Iodination of 4,5α-epoxy-6α,14-etheno-3,6-dimethoxy-17-methyl-1′-phenyl-2′,5′,7β,8β-tetrahydro-1′H-14α-pyrrolo[3′,4′:7,8]-4,5α-epoxy-6α,14-etheno-3,6-dimethoxy-17-methyl-1′-phenyl-2′,5′,7β,8β-tetrahydro-1′H-14α-pyrrolo[3′,4′:7,8]-morphinan-2′,5′-dione with iodine(I) chloride gave 4,5α-epoxy-6α,14-etheno-1-iodo-3,6-dimethoxy-17-methyl-1′-phenyl-2′,5′,7β,8β-tetrahydro-1′H-14α-pyrrolo[3′,4′:7,8]morphinan-2′,5′-dione. The resulting 1-halo derivatives were brought into the Heck reaction with acrylic acid esters to obtain 1-[(E)-2-(alkoxycarbonyl)ethenyl]-substituted compounds. Demethylation of the 6-methoxy group in 1-bromo-endo-ethenotetrahydrothebaines was accomplished using boron(III) bromide in chloroform.     

A new route for the preparation of the 22,23-dioxocholestane side chain from diosgenin and its application to the stereocontrolled construction of the 22R,23S-diol function

The new (22R,23S,25R)-3β,16β,26-triacetoxy-cholest-5-ene-22,23-diol (11a) was synthesized from diosgenin (3) through a synthetic route based on chemoselective RuO₄ oxidation of (25R)-3β,16β-diacetoxy-23-ethyl-23¹,26-epoxycholesta-5,23(23¹)-dien-22-one (9) that afforded (20S,25R)-3β,16β,26-triacetoxycholest-5-ene-22,23-dione (10) which was stereoselectively reduced using NaBH₄. Compound 9 was obtained from the known isomeric 22,26-epoxycholest-5-ene steroidal skeleton 8b by treatment with p-TsOH in toluene, amberlyst-15 or directly from diosgenin by treatment with BF₃·OEt₂/Ac₂O. Chemoselective reduction of the 23-keto group of 10, was attained using NaBH₄/ZnCl₂ at −70 °C to give 23S-14. The NMR spectra of all compounds were unambiguously assigned based on one and two dimensional experiments and the C-22 and C-23 stereochemistry in the diacetate derivative 11b, as well as the structure of epoxycholestene 9 were further established by X-ray diffraction analyses. The new route for the functionalization of the side chain of diosgenin can find application in the synthesis of norbrassinosteroid analogues.     

Synthesis of brassinosteroids analogues from laxogenin and their plant growth promotion

Four steroid saponins (2–5) and three derivatives (6–8) were synthesised from laxogenin. Four of them were new compounds: (25R)-3β-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-galactopyranosyloxy)-5α-spirostan-6-one (3), (25R)-3β-(β-d-galactopyranosyloxy)-5α-spirostan-6-one (5), 3β,16-diacetyl-26-hydroxy-5α-cholestan-6,22-dione (6) and 16-acetyl-3β,26-dihydroxy-5α-cholestan-6,22-dione (7). All the compounds showed plant growth-promoting activity in the radish hypocotyl elongation and cotyledon expansion bioassay. Above all, 2 and 6 were found to be more active.     

Triterpene saponins fromThalictrum minus. VII. Structure of thalicoside E

A new minor cycloartane glycoside — thalicoside E, 9,19-cyclo-20(S)-lanost-23-ene-3β,16β,22ζ,25,29-pentaol 3-O-β-D-galactoside 29-O-β-D-glucopyranoside — has been isolated from the epigeal part ofThalictrum minus L. (Ranunculaceae).     

Synthese von (−)-(5R,6S)-5,6-Epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β-ionon

Synthesis of (?)-(5R,6S)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β-ionone Optically active 5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β-ionones have been prepared for the first time and their absolute configurations were determined by correlation with (?)-(S)-α-ionone. Acid catalyzed hydrolysis of the epoxide proceeds with retention of the configuration at C(6) and with inversion at C(5).