On the structure of palau'amine: evidence for the revised relative configuration from chemical synthesis

Hexacyclic congeners 3 and 4 of palau'amine, which incorporate both guanidine functional groups and have the cis configuration of the azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane core, are prepared in 14 steps from cycloadduct 6. Synthetic access to these analogues allows the first direct comparison of NMR data for hexacyclic diguanidine structures having the originally proposed cis-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane fragment with data for natural alkaloids of the palau'amine family. This comparison provides convincing evidence in favor of the recently proposed structural revision of these marine alkaloids, fully supporting the trans configuration of the central azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ring system of palau'amine and congeners.     

The revised structure, total synthesis, and absolute configuration of streptophenazine A

A total synthesis of both diastereomers of the originally proposed structure for streptophenazine A (1) has been achieved. However, both synthetic compounds are different from the natural product. Re-examination of NMR data reported for streptophenazine A and a concise total synthesis of both diastereomers of 17 (17a and 17b) led to the structural revision of streptophenazine A to 17b. Asymmetric synthesis of (-)-streptophenazine A was also conducted, and its absolute configuration was determined to be 1'S,2'R.     

Synthetic studies toward cytostatin, a natural product inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A

Synthetic approaches toward the natural product cytostatin, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A possessing cytotoxic and antimetastatic activities, have been investigated. A formal synthesis of cytostatin has been achieved according to a strategy relying on the formation of the C8-C9 bond by a nucleophilic addition of a functionalized organolithium (C1-C8 subunit) to an aldehyde (C9-C13 subunit).     

The structure and relative configuration of the decipiene diterpenes

The structures and relative configuration of three decipiene diterpenes from Eremophila decipiens have been established by degradation studies. These diterpenes possess the new tricyclic decipiane skeleton based on the tricyclo [5,3,1,0^5,11] undecane ring system.     

Synthetic studies directed toward amphidinol 2: elucidation of the relative configuration of the C1-C10 fragment

Model compounds (11 and 12) for the C1-C10 tetrahydropyran fragment of amphidinol 2 were prepared from (2S)-benzyloxypropanal in 9 steps. The synthetic route relied on diastereoselective diene-aldehyde cycloaddition, stereoselective C-allylation, and reagent based enantioselective aldehyde allylation. Comparison of the NMR spectra for models 11 and 12 with that for amphidinol 2 indicated that the C1-C10 segment of the natural product possesses the 2R^∗,4R^∗,6R^∗,7S^∗,8R^∗,10S^∗relative configuration.     

Electronic structure and relative stability of 1:1 Cu-O2 adducts from difference-dedicated configuration interaction calculations

A computational strategy to analyze Cu-O(2) adducts based on the use of difference-dedicated configuration interaction (DDCI) calculations is presented. The electronic structure, vertical gaps and nature of the metal-O(2) interaction, and the extension of the charge transfer between both fragments have been investigated. Relative stabilities between isomers are determined from triplet states CCSD(T) calculations. The key point of the here proposed strategy rests on the use of a rationally designed active space, containing only those orbitals, which optimize the interaction pathways between LCu and O(2) fragments. The procedure has been tested on a broad set of model and synthetic biomimetic systems, the results compared with previous theoretical evaluations and/or available experimental data. Our study indicates that this strategy can be considered as an alternative approach to multireference second-order perturbation theory methods to deal with this type of systems with remarkable biradical nature.     

Issues arising when interpreting the results of the protein phosphatase 2A inhibition assay for the monitoring of microcystins

Microcystins, cyclic heptapeptidic hepatotoxins produced by a number of bloom forming freshwater cyanobacteria, are considered to represent a serious risk to public health through drinking and recreational water. A highly sensitive bioassay relying on the specific inhibition of the human protein phosphatase 2A was applied to the quantification of microcystins. A systematic approach based on the rational testing of seven purified mcyst variants as well as characterized environmental samples allowed to point out the limits and experimental bias associated with this assay. All the seven microcystin variants known as microcystins RR, YR, LR, LY, LA, LW and LF strongly inhibited the enzyme with IC₅₀ ranging between 0.29±0.02 and 0.84±0.07 nM for microcystins LW and YR, respectively. Using the model system of Microcystis aeruginosa PCC7820 axenic cultures and within the 1-year study of a Planktothrix agardhii bloom, the PP2A assay was shown to be strongly correlated to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to ultra violet diode array detection. However the slope of the linear regression was significantly influenced by the sample composition, as confirmed by HPLC coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. A model based on pure additivity of mcyst effects was established to describe PP2A inhibition by standard mcyst mixtures, and fully agreed with experimental observations.     

Synthesis of the proposed structure of plakevulin A: revised structure of plakevulin A

A total synthesis of the proposed structure of plakevulin A was accomplished. However, the NMR spectral data of the synthetic plakevulin A were not identical of those of the reported compound. We next converted the synthetic plakevulin A into 1-dihydrountenone A. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectral data of 1-dihydrountenone A were identical with those of reported plakevulin A except for the peaks derived from levulinic acid. Thus, we repurified sample of the natural product and confirmed that the natural sample contained 1-dihydrountenone A and levulinic acid in the ratio of one to one. We also found that not plakevulin A but 1-dihydountenone A possessed the inhibitory activity against mammalian DNA polymerases α and β.     

A revised structure for the condensation product of 2-carbethoxycyclopentanone and ethyl cyanoacetate

The condensation product of 2-carbethoxycyclopentanone and ethyl cyanoacetate is ethyl 2-carbethoxycyclopentylidene cyanoacetate (IIa) and not the one described by Kon and Nanji. Similarly, 2-carbomethoxycyclopentanone and methyl cyanoacetate yield methyl 2-carbomethoxycyclopentylidene cyanoacetate (IIb). The by-products obtained in the first reaction are cyclopentylidene cyanoacetate (IV) and the enamine of 2-carbethoxycyclopentanone (VIa).     

erythro-1-Naphthyl-1-(2-piperidyl)methanol: synthesis,resolution, NMR relative configuration,and VCD absolute configuration

The erythro isomer of 1-naphthyl-1-(2-piperidyl)methanol 4, an efficient chiral modifier for asymmetric heterogeneous hydrogenation, was obtained as the major isomer (95%) in two steps while the threo isomer can be obtained as the major isomer (67%) in three steps. erythro-4 and threo-4 were resolved on a CHIRALCEL OD-RH column. It has been shown by VCD that the diastereomer determined as the erythro by NMR was indeed the erythro and that the first eluted (-)-enantiomer on CHIRALCEL OD-R or -RH columns has the (1R,2S) configuration. The VCD studies identify the presence of at least five conformers in CDCl(3) solution. Moreover, this (-)-(1R,2S) absolute configuration found by VCD is consistent with the expected stereo-outcome of catalytic hydrogenation of pyruvate into lactate, which supported the (+)-(1S,2R) assignment.     

A hydrogenation product derived from the diterpenoid barbatusin:A revised structure

The structure of the hydrogenation product of barbatusin, a diterpenoid from Coleus barbatus Bentham has been revised on the basis of NMR and X-ray data. A geminal coupling of unusually high magnitude has been observed and analysed.     

A chiral 1,4-oxazin-2-one: asymmetric synthesis versus resolution,structure, conformation and VCD absolute configuration

1,4-Oxazin-2-one 3 is obtained from 2-pinanone in 4 steps and 78% overall yield. Enantiopure (e.e. >99%) (R)-(+)-3 and (S)-(−)-3 were obtained through chiral supercritical fluid chromatography (using a semi preparative Chiralpak AS column) with almost quantitative recovery of material. The structure and the boat-conformation of the lactone ring have been determined by NMR and the absolute configuration determined by VCD.     

Plant protein proteinase inhibitors: structure and mechanism of inhibition

This review outlines known examples of the three-dimensional structures of protein proteinase inhibitors from plants. Three families of enzymes, serine proteinases, carboxypeptidases and cysteine proteinases, are targeted by at least a dozen inhibitor families, with the majority of them adopting the standard mechanism of inhibition towards the serine proteinases. All of the inhibitors discussed maintain compact and stable inhibitory domains that bind to the active site of their target proteinases and prevent access to the substrate molecules. One interesting highlight is the knottin group. Three separate inhibitor families utilize the overall knottin fold in a different way. This fold can accommodate extensive sequence variation and for each of the squash, Mirabilis and Potato carboxypeptidase families, the proteinase-binding residues are found at a different location. Plants have also evolved additional strategies to regulate proteinase activity, such as linking inhibitory domains and targeting multiple enzymes at once. The structural aspects of these strategies are discussed in the review.