Stereoselective synthesis of (+/-)-rocaglaol analogues

An intramolecular hydroxy epoxide opening was used to access the cyclopenta[b]benzofuran ring system of the natural product rocaglaol (2). Our route allowed the stereocontrolled preparation of the rocaglaol derivative (+/-)-(1S*,3S*,3aR*,8bS*)-3b. The synthesis of the (+/-)-(3R*)-epimer of 3b was also achieved. Our strategy is well-suited for the production of analogues with variation of the western ring. [reaction: see text]     

Total synthesis of nor-1,6-germacradien-5-ols

The first total synthesis of (+/-)-nor-1,6-germacradien-5-ols is described. The synthetic route involves the RCM methodology for the ring formation and a selective 1,2 addition of MeLi to cyclodecenone. By altering the order of the last synthetic steps, TBSO-protected (+/-)-(1Z,6E)-nor-1,6-germacradien-5-ols (+/-)-(5S*,8R*)-16 and -(+/-)-(5S*,8S*)-16 were obtained. The synthetic strategy via cyclodecenone offers the possibility of preparing different analogues of the title compounds through addition of other nucleophiles. Moreover, nor-germacrene D could be accessed from the target molecule by methylenation of its carbonyl moiety. (+/-)-nor-1,6-Germacradien-5-ol [(+/-)-(1E,5S*,6E,8S*)-2] was synthesized in eight steps from isovaleric acid. The 10-membered ring was formed by RCM, and the tertiary alcohol moiety was introduced in the last step via a highly diastereoselective addition of MeLi to (+/-)-(1E,6E)-1,6-cyclodecen-5-one (+/-)-E,E-5. Addition of MeLi to cyclodecenone (+/-)-Z,E-5 also occurred with complete selectivity to provide (+/-)-(1Z,5S*,6E,8S*)-2. A slightly different synthetic pathway was also explored, in which the order of the final synthetic steps was switched: the enone formation and the addition of MeLi were conducted prior to the cyclization. When the hydroxy group was protected as a TBS ether, the newly formed olefin had exclusively Z configuration. Thus, TBSO-protected (+/-)-(1Z,6E)-nor-1,6-germacradien-5-ols (+/-)-16 were obtained as a 1:1 (5S*,8S*)/(5R*,8S*) mixture. The NMR spectra of these two diastereomers confirmed the relative stereochemistry of natural (-)-1,6-germacradien-5-ol (1) at C5 and C8.     

Synthesis of sparteine-like chiral diamines and evaluation in the enantioselective lithiation-substitution of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine

Three chiral diamines were synthesised and evaluated as sparteine surrogates in the lithiation-substitution of N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidine. The synthesis and attempted resolution of sparteine-like diamines [(1S*,2R*,8R*)-10-methyl-6,10-diazatricyclo[6.3.1.0(2,6)]dodecane and (1S*,2R*,9R*)-11-methyl-7,11-diazatricyclo[7.3.1.0(2,7)]tridecane] (via inclusion complex formation) are reported. Unfortunately, it was only possible to resolve the diazatricyclo[7.3.1.0(2,7)]tridecane compound. An alternative route to (1R,2S,9S)-11-methyl-7,11-diazatricyclo[7.3.1.0(2,7)]tridecane starting from the natural product, (-)-cytisine, is described. This simple three-step route furnished gram-quantities of a (+)-sparteine surrogate. X-Ray crystallography of an intermediate in the route, (1R,5S,12S)-3-methoxycarbonyldecahydro-1,5-methanopyrido[1,2-a][1,5]diazocin-8-one, enabled the stereochemistry of all of the tricyclic diamines described in this paper to be unequivocally established. Two other diamines, starting from (S)-proline and resolved 2-piperidine ethanol, were prepared using standard methods. These diamines lacked the bispidine framework of (-)-sparteine and were found to impart vastly inferior enantioselectivity. It was concluded that, for the asymmetric lithiation substitution of N-Boc pyrrolidine, a rigid bispidine framework and only three of the four rings of (-)-sparteine are needed for high enantioselectivity. Furthermore, it is shown that diamine (1R,2S,9S)-11-methyl-7,11-diazatricyclo[7.3.1.0(2,7)]tridecane is the first successful (+)-sparteine surrogate.     

Lipase-catalyzed resolution of (2R*,3S*)- and (2R*,3R*)-3-methyl-3-phenyl-2-aziridinemethanol at low temperatures and determination of the absolute configurations of the four stereoisomers

[reaction: see text] Lipase-catalyzed resolution of (2R*,3S*)-3-methyl-3-phenyl-2-aziridinemethanol, (+/-)-2, at low temperatures gave synthetically useful (2R,3S)-2 and its acetate (2S,3R)-2a with (2S)-selectivity (E = 55 at -40 degrees C), while a similar reaction of (2R*,3R*)-3-methyl-3-phenyl-2-aziridinemethanol, (+/-)-3, gave (2S,3S)-3 and its acetate (2R,3R)-3a with (2R)-selectivity (E = 73 at -20 degrees C). Compound (+/-)-2 was prepared conveniently via diastereoselective addition of MeMgBr to tert-butyl 3-phenyl-2H-azirine-2-carboxylate, (+/-)-1a, which was successfully prepared by the Neber reaction of oxime tosylate of tert-butyl benzoyl acetate 7a. The tert-butyl ester was requisite to promote this reaction. For determination of the absolute configuration of (2S,3R)-2a, enantiopure (2S,3R)-2 was independently prepared in three steps involving diastereoselective methylation of 3-phenyl-2H-azirine-2-methanol, (S)-10, with MeMgBr. The absolute configuration of (2S,3S)-3 was determined by X-ray analysis of the corresponding N-(S)-2-(6-methoxy-2-naphthyl)propanoyl derivative (S,S,S)-13.     

Total synthesis of (+)-hatomarubigin B.

The first total synthesis of (+)-hatomarubigin 3 is described. The tetra-O-acetyl diborate promoted Diels-Alder reaction of 5-hydroxy-8-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-1,4-naphthoquinone 8 and (E, 1R*,5R*)-3-(2'-methoxyvinyl)cyclohex-2-enol (+/-)-7 gave a mixture of four cycloadducts from which (1S,3S,6S,6aR,12aR,12bS)-1,8-dihydroxy-6-dimethoxy-1-hydroxy-3-methyl-11-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-1,2,3,4,6,6a,12a,12b-octahydrobenz[a]anthracene-7,12-dione 12 was isolated in 51% yield. Selective methylation and acetylation of 12 gave (1S,3S,6S,6aR,12aR,12bS)-1-acetoxy-6,8-dimethoxy-3-methyl-11-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-1,2,3,4,6,6a,12a,12b-octahydrobenz[a]anthracene-7,12-dione 10a. Sequential aromatization, photooxidation and hydrolysis of the glucosyl unit gave (+)-3 (98% ee) in an 8% overall yield from 8.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activity of benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h] and [2,3-i]xanthone analogues of psorospermine, acronycine, and benzo[a]acronycine

Condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid with phloroglucinol afforded 9,11-dihydroxy-12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (6). Construction of an additional dimethylpyran ring onto this skeleton, by alkylation with 3-chloro-3-methyl-1-butyne followed by Claisen rearrangement, gave access to 6-hydroxy-3,3-dimethyl-3H,7H-benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one (12) and 5-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H,6H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one (13), which were methylated into 6-methoxy-3,3-dimethyl-3H,7H-benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one (14) and 5-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H,6H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one (15), respectively. Osmium tetroxide oxidation of 14 and 15 gave the corresponding (+/-)-cis-diols 16 and 17, which afforded the corresponding esters 18-21 upon acylation. Similarly, condensation of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthalenecarboxylic acid with 3,5-dimethoxyaniline gave 11-amino-9-methoxy-12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (23) which was converted into 11-amino-9-hydroxy-12H-benzo[a]xanthen-12-one (24) upon treatment with hydrogen bromide in acetic acid. Alkylation with 3-chloro-3-methyl-1-butyne followed by Claisen rearrangement afforded 6-amino-3,3-dimethyl-3H,7H-benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one (25) and 5-amino-2,2-dimethyl-2H,6H-benzo[a]pyrano[2,3-i]xanthen-6-one (26). The new benzopyranoxanthone derivatives only displayed marginal antiproliferative activity when tested against L1210 and KB-3-1 cell lines. The only compounds found significantly active against L1210 cell line, 16 and 20, belong to the benzo[a]pyrano[3,2-h]xanthen-7-one series, which possess a pyran ring fused angularly onto the xanthone basic core.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction of 1-phenylsulfonyl-1,2-octadien-7-yne derivatives

The Rh(I)-catalyzed PKR of 1-phenylsulfonyl-1,2-octadien-7-ynes and their aza derivatives exclusively produced the corresponding 9-phenylsulfonylbicyclo[4.3.0]nona-1,6-dien-8-ones and no 4-(phenylsulfonylmethylidene)bicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones could be detected. Thus, the ring-closing pattern was found to be the same as those of the previously reported 3-phenylsulfonyl-1,2-octadien-7-yne derivatives. However, the formation of 4-(phenylsulfonylmethylidene)-7-oxabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-1-en-3-ones was observed as a minor product when the 5-oxa congeners were used. In addition, a larger ring-sized product, 10-phenylsulfonyl-5-azabicyclo[5.3.0]deca-1,7-dien-9-one derivative, was obtained from the 6-aza derivative of 1-phenylsulfonyl-1,2-nonadien-8-yne.     

Syntheses of tetrahydrofurobenzofurans and dihydromethanobenzodioxepines from 5-hydroxy-3-methyl-3H-benzofuran-2-one. Rearrangement and ring expansion under reductive conditions on treatment with hydrides

5-Hydroxy-3-methyl-3H-benzofuran-2-one, 5, easily obtained from pyruvic acid and 1,4-cyclohexanedione, was used as a starting material to prepare (+/-)-5-hydroxy-3a-methyl-2,3,3a,8a-tetrahydro-furo[2,3-b]benzofuran, 10, and (+/-)-7-hydroxy-5-methyl-4,5-dihydro-2,5-methano-1,3-benzodioxepine, 14. Reduced reactivity relative to 5-hydroxy-3-methoxycarbonylmethylene-3-methyl-3H-benzofuran-2-one, 6, was preliminarily studied. Meanwhile, a plausible mechanism with regard to the formation of 10 and 14, which included cyclization, rearrangement, and ring expansion of hemiacetal, 15, is proposed. Specific carbamates of phenols, 10 and 14, have shown impressive inhibitory activities against human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) ex vivo.     

Sesquiterpenoid derivatives from Ferula ferulaeoides [correction of ferulioides]. V

Nine novel prenyl-dihydrofurocoumarin-type sesquiterpenoid derivatives, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2R*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4,8-dimethyl-3(E),7-nonadienyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4,8-dimethyl-3(E),7-nonadien-6-onyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4-methyl-5-(4-methyl-2-furyl)-3(E)-pentenyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2R*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4-methyl-5- (4-methyl-2-furyl)-3(E)-pentenyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin, 2,3-dihydro-7-methoxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4,8-dimethyl-3(E),7-nonadienyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin, 2,3-dihydro-7-methoxy-2R*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4,8-dimethyl-3(E),7-nonadienyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin, 2,3-dihydro-7-methoxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4,8-dimethyl-3(E),7-nonadien-6-onyl]-furo-[3,2-c]coumarin, and 2,3-dihydro-7-methoxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4-methyl-5-(4-methyl-2-furyl)-3(E)-pentenyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin, were isolated from the roots of Ferula ferulaeoides [corrected]. The structures were established by comprehensive spectral analysis. The biosynthetic pathway leading to these prenyl-furocoumarin-type sesquiterpenoids is proposed based on their structures.     

Photolyse stéréosélective des [α-tétrahydropyrannyloxy] -2 tétrahydropyrones-3

The photochemical irradiation of the 2-[sα-tetrahydropyrannyl-oxy]-3-tetrahydropyrones (3) gives the -3-tetrahydropyrone (6)and the α-valerolactone (7). the structures (S*, R*) or (S*, S*) which were determined by mmr and by comparison with the 2-[α-tetrahydropyrannyloxy]-2tetrahydropyrannes (5) (S*, R*) and (S*, S*) influence the rate of the photolysis     

Synthesis and pharmacological effects of the enantiomers of the N-phenethyl analogues of the ortho and para e- and f-oxide-bridged phenylmorphans

The N-phenethyl analogues of (1R*,4aR*,9aS*)-2-phenethyl-1,3,4,9a-tetrahydro-2H-1,4a-propanobenzofuro[2,3-c]pyridin-6-ol and 8-ol and (1R*,4aR*,9aR*)-2-phenethyl-1,3,4,9a-tetrahydro-2H-1,4a-propanobenzofuro[2.3-c]pyridin-6-ol and 8-ol, the ortho- (43) and para-hydroxy e- (20), and f-oxide-bridged 5-phenylmorphans (53 and 26) were prepared in racemic and enantiomerically pure forms from a common precursor, the quaternary salt 12. Optical resolutions were accomplished by salt formation with suitable enantiomerically pure chiral acids or by preparative HPLC on a chiral support. The N-phenethyl (-)- para-e enantiomer (1S,4aS,9aR-(-)-20) was found to be a mu-opioid agonist with morphine-like antinociceptive activity in a mouse assay. In contrast, the N-phenethyl (-)-ortho-f enantiomer (1R,4aR,9aR-(-)-53) had good affinity for the mu-opioid receptor (K(i) = 7 nM) and was found to be a mu-antagonist both in the [(35)S]GTP-gamma-S assay and in vivo. The molecular structures of these rigid enantiomers were energy minimized with density functional theory at the level B3LYP/6-31G* level, and then overlaid on a known potent mu-agonist. This superposition study suggests that the agonist activity of the oxide-bridged 5-phenylmorphans can be attributed to formation of a seven membered ring that is hypothesized to facilitate a proton transfer from the protonated nitrogen to a proton acceptor in the mu-opioid receptor.     

Polyketides from a marine sponge-derived fungus Mycelia sterilia and proton-proton long-range coupling

A series of polyketide-originated metabolites (1-5) were isolated from a marine sponge-derived fungus Mycelia sterilia. Of these, 1-3 were new compounds. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods as (4R*, 5S*, 6S*, 8S*, 13R*)-1-(2,8-dihydroxy-1,2,6-trimethyl-1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-naphthalen-1-yl)-3-methoxy-propan-1-one (1), 4,8-dihydroxy-7-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-6-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one (2) and 1-methyl-naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (3). In 1, the proton-proton long-range coupling phenomenon claimed attention and was discussed.     

Synthesis and rearrangement reactions of 1,4-dihydrospiro[1,4-methanonaphthalene-9,1′-cyclopropane] derivatives

Reactions of benzyne with ester derivatives of spiro[2.4]hepta-4,6-dien-1-ylmethanol were performed. By rearrangement reaction of cyclopropyl methanol units of ((1s*,1′R*,2R*,4′S*)-1′,4′-dihydrospiro[cyclopropane-1,9'-[1,4]methanonaphthalen]-2-yl) methyl 3,5-dinitrobenzoate (13) and its isomer (14), corresponding allyl chlorides were obtained. Two rearrangement products were obtained from bromination of compound 13 with an equivalent amount of Br₂. A naphthalene derivative including allyl and CHO moiety was formed for reactions from compounds with epoxide of 13 and 14 with NaN₃ by sequential rearrangements. Formations of products are discussed.     

New Monoterpene-Substituted Dihydrochalcones from Piper aduncum

Five New unusual monoterpene-substituted dihydrochalcones, the adunctins A–E (1″S)-1-{2′-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-6′-[4″-methyl-1″-(1?-methylethyl)cyclohex-3″ -en-1″ -yloxy]phenyl}-3-phenylpropan-1-one ( 1 ), (5aR*,8R*,9aR*)-3-phenyl-1-[5′,8′,9′,9′a-tetrahydro-3′-hydroxy-1′-methoxy-8′-(1″-methylethyl)-5′-a-methyldibenzo-[b,d]furan-4′-yl]propan-1-one ( 2 ), (2′R*,4″S*)-1-{6′-hydroxy-4′-methoxy-4″-(1?-methylethyl)spiro[benzo[b]-furan-2′(3′H),1″ -cyclohex-2″ -en]-7′-yl}-3-phenylpropan-1-one ( 3 ), (2′R*,4″R*)-1-{6′-hydroxy-4′-methylethyl-4″-(1?-methylethyl)spiro[benzo[b]furan-2′(3′H),1″-cyclohex-2″-en]-7′-yl}-3-phenypropan-1-one ( 4 ), and (5′aR*,6′S*, 9′R*,9′aS*)-1-[5′a,6′,7′,8′,9′a-hexahydro-3′,6′-methoxy-6′-methyl-9′-(1″-methylethyl)dibenzo[b,d]-furan-4′-yl]-3-phenylpropan-1-one ( 5 ) were isolated from the leaves of Piper aduncum (Piperaceae) by preparative liquid chromatography. In addition, (?)-methyllindaretin ( 6 ), trans-phytol, and α-tocopherol ( = vitamin E) were also isolated and identified. The structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The antibacterial and cytotoxic potentials of the isolates were also investigated.     

Stereoselective preparation of six diastereomeric quatercyclopropanes from bicyclopropylidene and some derivatives

Diastereomeric meso- and d,l-bis(bicyclopropylidenyl) (5) were obtained upon oxidation with oxygen of a higher-order cuprate generated from lithiobicyclopropylidene (4) in 50 and 31 % yield, respectively. Their perdeuterated analogues meso-[D(14)]- and d,l-[D(14)]-5 were obtained along the same route from perdeuterated bicyclopropylidene [D(8)]-3 (synthesized in six steps in 7.4 % overall yield from [D(8)]-THF) in 20.5 % yield each. Dehalogenative coupling of 1,1-dibromo-2-cyclopropylcyclopropane (6) gave a mixture of all possible stereoisomers of 1,5-dicyclopropylbicyclopropylidene 16 in 69 % yield, from which (Z)-cis-16 was separated by preparative gas chromatography (26 % yield). The crystal structure of meso-5 looks like a superposition of the crystal structures of two outer bicyclopropylidene units (3) and one inner s-trans-bicyclopropyl unit, whereas the two outer cyclopropyl moieties adopt a gauche orientation with respect to the cyclopropane rings at the inner bicyclopropylidene units in (Z)-cis-16. Birch reduction with lithium in liquid ammonia of meso-5 and d,l-5 gave two pairs of diastereomeric quatercyclopropanes trans,trans-(R*,S*,R*, S*)-17/cis,trans-(R*,S*,R*,R*)-18 and trans,trans-(R*,S*,S*,R*)-19/cis,trans-(R*,S*,S*,S*)-20 in 97 and 76 % yield, respectively, in a ratio 9:1 for every pair. The latter diastereomer was also obtained as the sole product by Birch reduction of (Z)-cis-16 in 96 % yield. Under the same conditions, tetradecadeuterio analogues trans,trans-[D(14)]-(R*,S*,R*,S*)-17/cis,trans-[D(14)]-(R*, S*,R*,R*)-18 (8:1) and trans,trans-[D(14)]-(R*,S*,S*,R*)-19/cis,trans-[D(14)]-(R*,S*,S*,S*)-20 (12:1) were prepared from meso-[D(14)]-5 and d,l-[D(14)]-5 in 37 and 63 % yield, respectively. Reduction of meso-5 with diimine gave the cis,cis-quatercyclopropane (S*,S*,R*,R*)-21 as the main product (58 % yield) along with the cis,trans-diastereomer (S*,S*,R*,S*)-18 (29 % yield). Thus, five of the six possible diastereomeric quatercyclopropanes were obtained from meso-5, d,l-5, and (Z)-cis-16. The X-ray crystal structure analyses of trans,trans-(R*,S*,R*,S*)-17 and cis,cis-(S*,S*,R*,R*)-21 revealed for the both an unusual conformation in which the central bicyclopropyl unit adopts an s-trans-(antiperiplanar) orientation with phi=180.0 degrees , and the two terminal bicyclopropyl moieties adopt a synclinal conformation with phi=49.8 and 72.0 degrees , respectively. In solution the vicinal coupling constants (3)J(H,H) in trans,trans-(R*,S*,R*,S*)-[D(14)]-17, trans,trans-(R*,S*,S*,R*)-[D(14)]-19, trans,cis-(R*,S*,R*,R*)-[D(14)]-18 and trans,cis-(R*,S*,S*,S*)-[D(14)]-20 were found to be 4.1, 4.7, 5.9 and 5.9 Hz, respectively. This indicates a predominance of the all-gauche conformer in (R*,S*,R*,S*)-17 and a decreasing fraction of it in this sequence of the other diastereomers.     

Rh(I)-catalyzed Pauson-Khand reaction and cycloisomerization of allenynes: selective preparation of monocyclic, bicyclo[m.3.0], and bicyclo[5.2.0] ring systems

[reaction: see text] Rhodium(I)-catalyzed PKR of allenynes was found to be applicable for constructing azabicyclo[5.3.0]decadienone as well as oxabicyclo[5.3.0]decadienone frameworks. In addition, a reliable procedure for constructing a 10-monosubstituted bicyclo[5.3.0]deca-1,7-dien-9-one ring system by the rhodium(I)-catalyzed PKR of allenynes was developed under the condition of 10 atm of CO. Investigation of the rhodium(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerization of 4-phenylsulfonylnona-2,3-dien-8-ynes under nitrogen atmosphere gave the corresponding cyclohexene derivatives, whereas the C1-homologated allenynes produced cycloheptene derivatives and/or bicyclo[5.2.0]nonene skeletons depending on the substitution pattern at the allenic terminus. Thus, proper choice of the starting allenynes and reaction conditions led to the selective formation of 2-phenylsulfonylbicyclo[5.3.0]deca-1,7-dien-9-ones (Pauson-Khand-type product), 3-alkylidene-1-phenylsulfonyl-2-vinylcycloheptene derivatives, and bicyclo[5.2.0]nonene frameworks.     

Constructing conformationally constrained macrobicyclic musks

To investigate the structure-odor correlation of musks, (12R)-12-methyl-13-tridecanolide (1), a macrocyclic musk, and 13-tridecanolide, its non-musky demethyl analogue, were conformationally constrained by introduction of methylene bridges between C-3 and C-8 or C-9. These [7.5.1]- and [8.4.1]-macrobicycles were synthesized starting from bicyclo[5.3.1]undec-8-en-9-one (3) and bicyclo[4.3.1]dec-7-en-8-one (8), respectively, by a sequence consisting of catalytic hydrogenation, alpha-alkylation with a TBS-protected (tert-butyldimethylsilyl) hydroxy halide, acid-catalyzed cyclization, oxidative cleavage of the formed enol ether double bond, and subsequent reduction of the carbonyl group via its tosylhydrazone. The compound (1R,6R,9R)-(+)-6-methyl-4-oxa-bicyclo[7.5.1]pentadecan-3-one (22) was found to possess the most pronounced musk odor, and this was rationalized by a superposition analysis with the polycyclic aromatic musk odorant (4S,7R)-Galaxolide (2). In its (1S,6R,9S)-(+)-stereoisomer 23 as well as in (1S,6R, 10R)-(+)-6-methyl-4-oxabicyclo[8.4.1]-pentadecan-3-one (18) the (6R)-methyl group seems to hinder the interaction with the musk receptor, while the demethyl compounds 7 and 12 showed only very faint odors.     

Sesquiterpenoid derivatives from Ferula ferulaeoides [correction of ferulioides]. IV

Four novel prenyl-furocoumarin type sesquiterpenoid derivatives, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-3-[4,8-dimethyl-3(E),7-nonadie nyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2R*,3R*-dimethyl-3-[4,8-dimethyl-3(E),7-nonadie nyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-3-[4-methyl-5-(4-methyl-2-furyl)- 3(E)-pentenyl]-furo[3,2-c]coumarin, and 2,3-dihydro-7-methoxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-3-[4,8-dimethyl-3(E),7-nonadie nyl]-furo]3,2-c]coumarin were isolated from the roots of Ferula ferulaeoides [corrected]. Their structures were established by detailed spectral analysis and the biosynthetic pathway leading to these prenyl-furocoumarin type sesquiterpenoids is proposed based on these structures.     

New sesquiterpenes from Ferula ferulaeoides (Steud.) Korovin. VI. Isolation and identification of three new dihydrofuro[2,3-b]chromones

Three novel 2-prenyl-dihydrofurochromone-type sesquiterpenoid derivatives, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4,8-dimethyl-3(E),7-nonadienyl]-furo[2,3-b]chromone, 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2S*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4-methyl-5-(4-methyl-2-furyl)-3(E),7-pentenyl]-furo[2,3-b]chromone, and 2,3-dihydro-7-hydroxy-2R*,3R*-dimethyl-2-[4-methyl-5-(4-methyl-2-furyl)-3(E),7-pentenyl]-furo[2,3-b]chromone, were isolated from the roots of Ferula ferulaeoides. The structures were established by comprehensive spectral analysis. The biosynthetic pathway leading to these 2-prenyl-dihydrofurochromone-type sesquiterpenoids is proposed based on their structures.     

In vitro cytotoxicity activity on several cancer cell lines of acridone alkaloids and N-phenylethyl-benzamide derivatives from Swinglea glutinosa (Bl.) Merr

The methanol extract from the stems and fruits of Swinglea glutinosa (Rutaceae) afforded 11 known acridone alkaloids and three N-phenylethyl-benzamide derivatives, glycocitrine-IV, 1,3,5-trihydroxy-4-methoxy-10-methyl-2,8-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)acridin-9(10H)-one, 1,3,5- trihydroxy-2,8-bis(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-10-methyl-9-acridone, citbrasine, citrusinine-II, citrusinine-I, 5-dihydroxyacronycine, pyranofoline, 3,4-dihydro-3,5,8-trihydroxy-6-methoxy-2,2,7-trimethyl-2H-pyrano[2,3-a]acridin-12(7H)-one, 2,3-dihydro-4,9-dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-propan-2-yl)-11-methoxy-10-methylfuro[3,2-b]acridin-5(10H)-one, bis-5-hydroxyacronycine, N-(2-{4-[(3,7-dimethylocta-2,6-dien-1-yl)oxy]phenyl}ethyl)benzamide, N-(2-{4-[(3,7-dimethyl-4-acethyl-octa-2,6-dien-1-yl)oxy]phenyl}ethyl)benzamide, and severine acetate. All compounds isolated were examined for their activity against three cancer cell lines: human lung carcinoma (COR-L23), human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), human melanoma (C32), and normal human fetal lung cell line, MRC-5. The acridones tested exhibited weak cytotoxicity but the amides showed moderate nonselective cytotoxic activity.