Cytotoxic diterpenoids from Vietnamese medicinal plant Croton tonkinensis GAGNEP

Six new ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids were isolated from the leaves of the endemic Vietnamese medicinal plant Croton tonkinensis GAGNEP. (Euphorbiaceae) together with three known ent-11alpha-acetoxy-7beta,14alpha-dihydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (1), ent-kaur-16-en-15-one 18-oic acid (5) and ent-18-hydroxykaur-16-ene (7). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses to be ent-7beta-acetoxy-11alpha-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (2), ent-18-acetoxy-11alpha-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (3), ent-11alpha-acetoxykaur-16-en-18-oic acid (4), ent-15alpha,18-dihydroxykaur-16-ene (6), ent-11alpha,18-diacetoxy-7beta-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (8), and ent-(16S)-1alpha,14alpha-diacetoxy-7beta-hydroxy-17-methoxykauran-15-one (14). ent-Kaurane-type diterpenoids from Croton tonkinensis 2-4, 6, and 9-13, were tested for toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality assay. Compounds 9, 10, and 12 demonstrated significant activity, compounds 2, 3, 6, and 11 showed weak activity, and compounds 4 and 13 were inactive.     

Enantioselective total synthesis of (1R,3S,4R,5R)-1-amino-4,5-dihydroxycyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylic acid. A full-aldol access to carbaketose derivatives

The enantioselective synthesis of cyclopentanedicarboxylic amino acid 1, a novel rigid and functionalized L-glutamic acid analogue, has been achieved in 15 linear steps from silyloxypyrrole 3, utilizing L-glyceraldehyde 4 as the source of chirality. The key steps in the synthesis are three sequential aldol-based carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions: two crossed vinylogous aldol additions (2 + 3 --> 8 and 4 + 5 --> 10 + 11) and one intramolecular silylative aldolization (6 --> 7). En passant, the short syntheses of (2S)-2-hydroxymethylglutamic acid (16) and its (2R)-enantiomer ent-16, a potent metabotropic glutamate receptor agonist, have been achieved.     

Terpenoids from Chloranthus multistachys

Two new diterpenoids, ent-17-hydroxyl-16beta-methoxyl-kauran-3-one (1) and ent-17-acetoxyl-16beta-methoxyl-kauran-3-one (2), along with nine known compounds (3-12), ent-17-hydroxyl-kaur-15-en-3-one (3), ent-3beta-acetoxyl-kaur-15-en-16beta, 17-diol (4), ent-kauran-3beta, 16beta, 17-triol (5), ent-3beta-acetoxyl-kauran-16beta, 17-diol (6), ent-kauran-16beta, 17-diol (7), abbeokutone (8), ent-17alpha-acetyl-16beta-hydroxyl- kauran-3-one (9), shizukaol F (10), cycloshizukaol A (11) and curcolonol (12), were isolated from Chloranthus multistachys (Chloranthaceae). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic spectra.     

Four ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids from Croton tonkinensis Gagnep

From the leaves of the endemic Vietnamese medicinal plant Croton tonkinensis GAGNEP. (Euphorbiaceae) the four new ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids ent-1alpha,14alpha-diacetoxy-7beta-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (1), ent-1alpha,7beta-diacetoxy-14alpha-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (2), ent-18-acetoxy-14alpha-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (3), and ent-(16S)-18-acetoxy-7beta-hydroxykauran-15-one (4) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses.     

Variable strategy toward carbasugars and relatives. 4. Viable access to (4a-carbapentofuranosyl)amines, (5a-carbahexopyranosyl)amines,and amino acids thereof

A chiral, divergent synthesis of two carbafuranosylamines, 1 and 2, two carbapyranosylamines, 3 and 4, two carbafuranosylamino acids, 5 and 6, and two carbapyranosylamino acids, 7 and 8, has been achieved. Highlights of the procedure include the following: a diastereoselective crossed vinylogous Mukaiyama aldol coupling between N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-2-[(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)oxy]pyrrole (TBSOP, 9) and 2,3-O-isopropylidene-D-glyceraldehyde (10) for the assembly of the target compound carbon backbone; a high-yielding silylative cycloaldolization that gives the cyclopentanoid and cyclohexanoid motifs; and a reductive or hydrolytic breakage of the lactam C(O)-N link to liberate the carbasugar and install the desired pseudo-anomeric amine and the hydroxymethyl or carboxyl functionalities. The sequences leading to trans-configured carbafuranosyl compounds 1 and 5 and carbapyranosyl compounds 3 and 7 were 12- and 13-step processes, with overall yields of 34%, 35%, 17%, and 16%. Cis-configured isomers 2, 4, 6, and 8 were obtained only in minor yields.     

Vicarious silylative Mukaiyama aldol reaction: a vinylogous extension

A vinylogous, silylative, and direct variant of the venerable Mukaiyama aldol reaction has been developed. Exploiting N-Boc-pyrrol-2(5H)-one as the conjugate donor, several aldehyde and ketone acceptors were scrutinized under the guidance of suitable dual Lewis acid-Lewis base activators to provide a varied repertoire of functionality-rich alpha,beta-unsaturated-gamma-amino-delta-silyloxy carbonyl structures, in useful yields and often with an exquisite level of diastereoselection.     

Diterpenes from Sideritis trojana

Six known ent-kaurene, a new ent-kaurane and a new pimarane diterpenes were isolated from Sideritis trojana. The structures of new compounds were determined as ent-7alpha-15beta,16beta-epoxykaurane (1), and ent-2alpha-hydroxy-8(14),15-pimaradiene (2) along with the known compounds siderol (3), sideridiol (4), 7-epicandicandiol (5), isocandol B (6), candol A acetate (7) ent-7alpha-acetoxykaur-15-ene (8) by IR, 1D and 2D NMR techniques and HRMS.     

β,β-二氯丁烯酮甲基上的反应

通过4,4-二氯-3-丁烯-2-酮的氯甲基化,Mannich反应和醇醛缩合制备了1,1,5-三氯-p-戊烯-3-酮(2),1,1-二氯-9-二乙胺基-1-戊烯-3-酮盐酸盐(3)和1,1-二氯-1,4-己二烯-3-酮(4).氯甲基化产品(2)与三乙胺在醚反应生成1,1-二氯-1,4-戊二烯-3-酮(6),在醇中生成1,1-二氯-5-乙氧基-1-戊烯-3-酮(6).与容易在室温中聚合.(2)和氨在醇中反应可得到环化产品N-(4-酮基-5H,6H-2-吡啶基)-3H,4H,5H-吡啶-2,4-二酮.     

Effect of some ent-kaurenes on the viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The possible cytotoxic activity of some ent-kaurenes on human mononuclear cells, obtained from peripheral blood, was studied having in mind future studies on their antitumor activity. The cells were obtained using the Ficoll-Hypaque method, adjusted to 2 x 10(6) cells/mL, and incubated with kaurenes for 48 hours at 3 x 10(-5), 30 x 10(-5), 300 x 10(-1) and 3000 x 10(-5) micromol/well. Ent-kaurenic acid showed no toxicity at all concentrations studied. The least toxic of all the kaurene derivatives studied was ent-15,16-epoxy-17-acetoxy-(-)-kauran-19-oic acid, with a cellular viability of 99% at 3 x l0(-5) micromol/well, and 94% at 30 x 10(-1) micromol/well. Another compound that showed low toxicity was the 2,3,4,6-tetra-acetyl-alpha-D-pyranosyl ester of ent-15-oxo-(-)-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid with 44% viability at 3000 x 10(-5) micromol/well. The most toxic compounds at all concentrations tested were ent-kaur-16-en-19-ol acetate and ent-16alpha-hydroxy-(-)-kauran-19-oic acid. On the other hand, ent-kaur-9(11)16-dien-19-oic acid, ent-kauran-19-oic acid, and ent-kaur-16-en-19-ol were toxic only at the highest concentration studied. According to these results, and considering the concentrations employed, ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid and ent-15,16-epoxy-17-acetoxy-(-)-kauran-19-oic acid could be used for in vivo experiments and possibly for therapeutic purposes on humans, without much risk.     

Noncatalytic on water aldol reaction of isatins with cyclic 1,3-diketones at room temperature without the need for subsequent chromatography

Noncatalytic on water aldol transformation of isatins and cyclic 1,3-diketones results in substituted 3-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxy-6-oxocyclohex-1-en-1-yl)indolin-2-ones in 87–98% yields. Optimized conditions have been found and a mechanistic rationale for the reaction has been deduced. The new efficient and facile process represents a convenient way to compounds with the 3-hydroxyindolin-2-one and 3-hydroxycyclohex-2-en-1-one moieties.     

Thiopyran route to polypropionates: an efficient synthesis of serricornin

The synthesis of serricornin [(4S,6S,7S)-7-hydroxy-4,6-dimethylnonan-3-one], a sex pheromone produced by the female cigarette beetle (Lasioderma serricorne F.), in seven steps from readily available racemic 1,4-dioxa-8-thiaspiro[4.5]decane-6-carboxaldehyde (6) is described. The key steps include enantioselective aldol reaction of 6 with tetrahydrothiopyran-4-one catalyzed by 5-[(2S)-pyrrolidine-2-yl]-1H-tetrazole to fabricate the tetrapropionate skeleton, stereoselective Li(s)Bu(3)BH reduction of the resulting aldol adduct, Barton-McCombie deoxygenation, and Raney nickel desulfurization.     

First total synthesis of two nematicidal prenylated flavanones

The total synthesis of(±)-8-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2-phenyl-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one and(±)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-8-(3- methylbut-2-enyl)-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one was first achieved through C-prenylation,protection of phenolic hydroxyl group, aldol condensation,cyclization and deprotection starting from cheap benzaldehyde,4-hydroxybenzaldehyde and 2-hydroxyacetophenone, with total yield of 20 and 16.3%.All structures of new compounds were confirmed by IR,~1H NMR and MS.     

Isolation and biological activity of new and known isolation and biological activity of new and known diterpenoids from Sideritis stricta Boiss. & Heldr

Nine known and one new ent-kaurene diterpenoid were isolated from the acetone extract of Sideritis stricta Boiss & Heldr. The new compound, identified as ent-1 beta-hydroxy-7 alpha-acetyl-15 beta,16 beta-epoxykaurane (1) by IR, 1D and 2D NMR techniques and mass spectra, was isolated along with sideroxol (2), 7-acetyl sideroxol (3), 7-epicandicandiol (4), linearol (5), ent-7 alpha,15 beta,18-trihydroxy-kaur-16-ene (6), ent-7 alpha-acetyl,15,18-dihydroxy-kaur-16-ene (7), foliol (8), sideridiol (9) and siderol (10). The antibacterial and antifungal activities of these compounds and the whole crude acetone extract were evaluated against E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumeonia and C. albicans.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 5-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-5-methyl-5H-furan-2-ones

The reactivity of 5-methyl-4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)-5H-furan-2-one with aldehydes and with acyl chlorides followed by reduction was studied. The aldol condensation gave predominantly the anti aldol product when the acylation-reduction sequence led exclusively to the syn product. The use of a chiral pyrrolidine, (S)-2-methoxymethylpyrrolidine (SMP), allowed the synthesis of enantio-enriched compounds, the acylation-reduction leading to the (R,R) addition product.     

Synthese von Alkylphenolen und -pyrocatecholen aus Plectranthus albidus (Labiatae)

Synthesis of Alkylphenols and -catechols from Plectranthus albidus (Labiatae) In the preceding paper, we described the isolation and structure elucidation of a series of even-numbered phenol- or pyrocatechol-derived 1-arylalkane-5-ones. To establish the assigned structures unambiguously and to have larger quantities available for physiological testing, the following compounds were prepared: in the alkylphenol series, 1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)tetradecan-5-one ( 2a ), 1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)hexadecan-5-one ( 2b ), and 1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)octadecan-5-one ( 2c ); in the alkylcatechol series, 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)decan-5-one ( 3a ; not isolated as a natural compound), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)dodecan-5-one ( 3b ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)tetradecan-5-one ( 3c ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)hexadecan-5-one ( 3d ), 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)octadecan-5-one ( 3e ), and 1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)icosan-5-one ( 3f ); in the alkenylphenol series, (Z)-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)octadec-13-en-5-one ( 4a ) and (E)-1-(4′-hydroxyphenyl)octadec-13-en-5-one ( 4b ); in the alkenylcatechol series, (E,E)-1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)deca-1,3-dien-5-one ( 1 ) and (Z)-1-(3′,4′-dihydroxyphenyl)octadec-13-en-5-one ( 5 ). All compounds proved to be identical with the previously assigned structures. Compound 1 was synthesized by regioselective aldol condensation of heptan-2-one with (E)-1-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)prop-2-enal ( 6d ; Scheme 1), the phenols 2a–c and the catechols 3a–f by addition of the corresponding alkyl Grignard reagent to 5-(4′-methoxyphenyl)- or 5-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)pentanal ( 17c and 18c , resp.; Scheme 4), and the olefins 4a, 4b and 5 from 17c or 18c via the 9-O-silyl-protected 13-(4′-methoxyphenyl)- or 13-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)tridecanals ( 26 and 27 , resp.) and Wittig olefination as the key steps (Scheme 5).     

Regulated expressions of MMP-2, -9 by diterpenoids from Euphorbia formosana Hayata

Two new abietane type diterpenoids, namely seco-helioscopinolide (1) and 3b,7b-dihydroxy-ent-abieta-8,13-diene-12,16-olide (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia formosana Hayata together with helioscopinolide A (3), helioscopinolide B (4), helioscopinolide C (5) and ent-(5b,8a,9b,10a,12a)-12-hydroxyatis-16-ene-3,14-dione (6). The structures of compounds 1-6 were elucidated by analyzing their spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature. Further biological tests by gelatin zymographic analysis revealed that 3-5 significantly up-regulated the expressions and activation of MMP-2 and -9 in human fibrosarcoma cell line HT1080.     

Development of versatile cis- and trans-dicarbon-substituted chiral cyclopropane units: synthesis of (1S,2R)- and (1R,2R)-2-aminomethyl-1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)cyclopropanes and their enantiomers as conformationally restricted analogues of histamine

The cyclopropane ring can be used effectively in restricting the conformation of biologically active compounds to improve activity and also to investigate bioactive conformations. We designed (1S,2R)- and (1R,2R)-2-aminomethyl-1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)cyclopropanes (1 and 2, respectively) and their enantiomers (ent-1 and ent-2) as conformationally restricted analogues of histamine. The four types of chiral cyclopropanes bearing two differentially functionalized carbon substituents in a cis or trans relationship on a cyclopropane ring, (1S,2R)-2-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)methyl-1-formylcyclopropane (7) and (1R,2R)-2-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)methyl-1-formylcyclopropane (8) and their enantiomers (ent-7 and ent-8), were developed as the key intermediates for synthesizing 1, 2, ent-1, and ent-2. The reaction between (R)-epichlorohydrin [(R)-12] and phenylsulfonylacetonitrile (13a) in the presence of NaOEt in EtOH followed by treatment with acid gave the chiral cyclopropane lactone 11a with 98% ee in 82% yield. Compound 11a was converted into both the cis- and trans-chiral cyclopropane units 7 and 8, respectively, via reductive desulfonylation with Mg/MeOH as the key step. The corresponding enantiomers, the cis-substituted ent-7 and the trans-substituted ent-8, were also prepared starting from (S)-epichlorohydrin [(S)-12]. The four conformationally restricted target histamine analogues 1, 2, ent-1, and ent-2 were successfully synthesized from 7, 8, ent-7, and ent-8, respectively. The chiral cyclopropane units 7, 8, ent-7, and ent-8 should be useful as versatile intermediates for synthesizing various compounds having an asymmetric cyclopropane structure.     

Regioselective intramolecular ring closure of 2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxyhexono-1,4-lactones to 5- or 6-membered iminuronic acid analogues: synthesis of 1-deoxymannojirimycin and 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-D-glucitol

1-Deoxymannojirimycin (8c) was synthesised from 2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-D-mannono-1,4-lactone (7) by intramolecular direct displacement of the C-6 bromine employing non-aqueous base treatment followed by reduction of the intermediate methyl ester. Likewise, using aqueous base at pH 12, ring closure took place by 5-exo attack on the 5,6-epoxide leading to 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-L-gulonic acid (9b), which was reduced to 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-D-glucitol (9b). The method was further applied to 2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-D-galacto- as well as D-talo-1,4-lactones (14 and 15). However, only the corresponding six-membered ring 1,5-iminuronic acid mimetics, namely (2R,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acid (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-D-galactonic acid, 16) and (2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acid (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-D-talonic acid, 17), were obtained. The corresponding enantiomers, L-galacto- as well as L-talo-2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-1,4-lactones ent-14 and ent-15, reacted accordingly to give the D-galacto- and L-altro-1,5-iminuronic acid mimetics, (2S,3S,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acid (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-L-galactonic acid, ent-16) and (2R,3S,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acids (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-L-talonic acid, ent-17), respectively.     

A Sequence of Aldol Condensations and a Michael Addition Giving a Cyclohexenone Ring System

Summary.  The reaction of 1,5-diphenylpentanetrione, 4-chlorobenzaldehyde, and acetone in the presence of methylamine resulted in 2,6-dibenzoyl-5-(4-chlorphenyl)-3-methyl-cyclohex-2-en-1-one, which was formed by a sequence of a Knoevenagel reaction, an aldol condensation, and a Michael addition in a one-pot reaction. Received August 16, 2000. Accepted September 8, 2000     

New cholinesterase inhibiting steroidal alkaloids from the leaves of Sarcococca coriacea of Nepalese origin

From the leaves of Sarcococca coriacea two new steroidal alkaloids, epoxynepapakistamine-A [(20S)-20-(N-methylamino)-3beta-(tigloylamino)-5alpha-pregna-16alpha,17alpha-epoxy-2beta,4beta-di-O-acetate] (1), and epoxysarcovagenine-D [(20S)-20-(N-methylamino)-3beta-(tigloylamino)-5alpha-pregna-2-en-16alpha,17alpha-epoxy-4-one] (2), and two known compounds funtumafrine C [(20S)-20-(N,N-dimethylamino)-5alpha-pregna-3-one] (3) and N-methylfuntumine (4) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of their spectral properties. The compounds 1, 3 and 4 were found to have cholinesterase inhibitory activity when tested for the inhibition of electric eel acetylcholinesterase and horse serum butyrylcholinesterase. They inhibited both enzymes in a concentration dependent fashion.