Oryzamutaic acids B-G, new alkaloids from an Oryza sativa mutant with yellow endosperm

Oryzamutaic acids B-G (1-6), structurally unique nitrogen-containing heterocyclic alkaloids, were isolated from the endosperm (polished rice) of an Oryza sativa mutant. The structures and relative stereochemistries of 1-6 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analyses.     

Substituted tubaic acids, new oxidative rotenoid metabolites from Lonchocarpus nicou

A lipophile extract of Lonchocarpus nicou roots afforded two likely O-substituted isomers of the known tubaic acids. Spectroscopic analysis assigned to the former, named (−)-rotoic acid, the new 4-(2,3-dihydro-6,7-dimethoxychromon-3-oxy) tubaic acid structure which differs from (−)-deguoic acid, the latter, by the β-tubaic acid part. Biogenetically, the two compounds could be considered as resulting from the parent rotenone and deguelin, respectively, by oxidative ring-C cleavage.     

Diapolycopenedioic acid xylosyl ester, a novel glyco-C30-carotenoic acid produced by a new marine bacterium Rubritalea squalenifaciens

A novel acyl glyco-carotenoic acid, diapolycopenedioic acid xylosyl ester, was isolated from a marine bacterium Rubritalea squalenifaciens belonging to subdivision 1 of Verrucomicrobia as the major red pigment by using chromatographic methods. The structure of diapolycopenedioic acid xylosyl ester was determined to be 4-[2-O-(12-methyltridecanoyl)-β-xylopyranosyl] hydrogen 4,4′-diapo-ψ,ψ-carotene-4,4′-dioate by analysis of the MS and NMR data for this acid and for the diacetyl diapolycopenedioic acid xylosyl ester. The diapolycopenedioic acid xylosyl ester showed potent antioxidative activity against a lipid peroxidation model.     

The first A-nor-hippuristanol and two novel 4,5-secosuberosanoids from the Gorgonian Isis hippuris

The first A-nor-hippuristanol, A-nor-22-epi-hippurin-2α-carboxylic acid (1), and two 4,5-secosuberosane sesquiterpenoids, isishippuric acids A and B (2 and 3), have been isolated from the gorgonian coral Isis hippuris. Those structures were deduced by extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies. The structure of 1 was further supported by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Isishippuric acid B has been shown to exhibit potent cytotoxicity toward a limited panel of cancer cells.     

Efficient synthesis of analogs of safflower yellow B, carthamin, and its precursor: two yellow and one red dimeric pigments in safflower petals

The synthesis of analogs (8, 12, 14) of two yellow pigments, safflower yellow B and the precursor of carthamin, and carthamin itself, a red pigment, which are produced in safflower (Carthamus tinctrious L.) petals and, which have a common dimeric quinochalcone structure, is reported. The key compound for the synthesis of these analogs, (p-hydroxycinnamoyl)filicinic acid (7) was synthesized in six steps from phloroglucinol in a total yield of 39%, which was reacted with 2,3,4,5,6-penta-O-acetyl-aldehydo-d-glucose, glyoxylic acid, and ethyl orthoformate in the presence of base to afford the corresponding analog, 8, 12, 14, in good yields, respectively. Precursor analog 12 was then converted to carthamin analog 14 by oxidative decarboxylation by treatment with potassium permanganate as well as the natural specimen.     

Kendarimide A, a novel peptide reversing P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance in tumor cells, from a marine sponge of Haliclona sp.

A novel modulator of multidrug resistance (MDR) in tumor cells, kendarimide A (1), was isolated from an Indonesian marine sponge of Haliclona sp. Compound 1 reversed MDR in KB-C2 cells mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp) at a 6 μM concentration, and the chemical structure of 1 was characterized to be a linear peptide composed of N-methylpyroglutamic acid (pyroMeGlu), N-methylated eight-membered cysteinyl-cysteine (ox-[MeCys-MeCys]) together with many N-methyl amino acid residues. The amino acid sequence of 1 was determined by 2D NMR and FAB MS analysis. The absolute configuration of the amino acid residues in 1 except for the MeCys part was determined to be l-form respectively, based on interpretation of the HPLC analysis of Marfey's derivatives of the hydrolysates of 1 and the synthetic method for the pyroMeGlu residue.     

Three novel 3,4-seco-podocarpane trinorditerpenoids from Aleurites moluccana

Three novel 3,4-seco-podocarpane-type trinorditerpenoids, moluccanic acid (1), moluccanic acid methyl ester (2), and 6,7-dehydromoluccanic acid (3), were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Aleurites moluccana. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 2D NMR analysis. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-3 was evaluated.     

Fuligoic acid, a new yellow pigment with a chlorinated polyene-pyrone acid structure isolated from the myxomycete Fuligoseptica f. flava

Fuligoic acid (1), a new yellow pigment with a chlorinated polyene-pyrone acid structure, was isolated from field-collected fruit bodies of the myxomycete Fuligoseptica f. flava, and its structure was elucidated by spectral data, including its absolute configuration based on CD data.     

A new one-pot synthesis of all E-retinoic acid via a new enaminodiester synthon

A ‘one-pot’ synthesis of allE-retinoic acid from a new enaminodiester was described. The enaminodiester was easily produced from methyl isopropylidenemalonate and DMF-DMA.     

Stereoselective syntheses of 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives from 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate

A stereoselective total synthesis of naturally occurring 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives has been realized, starting from readily available 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate. The key step of these syntheses involves an ionic hydrogenation of a C-20,22-ketene dithioacetal and deoxygenation of steroidal C-20 tert-alcohols, to set up the unnatural C(20R) configuration with 100% stereoselectivity. The unnatural C-22 aldehydes with C(20R) stereocenters thus obtained were elaborated to 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives. Two derivatives of 20-epi cholanic acid were synthesized and their structures have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Catalytic hydrogenation of 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate and 16-dehydropregnenolone in ethanol affords C-5,C-16 tetrahydro products. Crystal structure analysis of one of these products revealed C-5α and C-17α configurations of the hydrogen atoms.     

Ab initio study of the mechanism of the formation of p-rosolic acid from trifluoromethoxybenzene under HF/Lewis acid conditions

The mechanism of the formation of p-rosolic acid from trifluoromethoxybenzene under HF/Lewis acid conditions was studied using ab initio methods. A series of cationic intermediates is initiated by the expulsion of a fluorine atom of trifluoromethoxybenzene with anomeric assistance of the trifluoromethoxy oxygen. The resulting difluorocarbonium ion is attacked by a second trifluoromethoxybenzene to generate the first carbon-carbon bond on what will be the central carbon of p-rosolic acid. Elimination of phenol results in the formation of cationic intermediate 4 which is susceptible to carbon-alkylation by the same phenol to form the second carbon-carbon bond. Attack on subsequent difluorocarbonium ions by trifluoromethoxybenzene strips trifluoromethyl groups from the downstream intermediates, eventually leading to p-rosolic acid, and continues the generation of 4, each of which initiate a fresh mechanistic series toward another p-rosolic acid molecule.     

Assessment of terbium (III) as a luminescent probe for the detection of tuberculosis biomarkers

A detection method for nicotinic acid, a specific metabolite marker of Mycobacterium tuberculosis present in cultures and patients' breath, is studied in complex solutions containing other metabolites and in biological media such as urine, saliva and breath condensate. The method is based on the analysis of the luminescence increase of Tb³⁺ complexes in the presence of nicotinic acid due to the energy transfer from the excited ligand to the lanthanide ion. It is shown that other potential markers found in M. tuberculosis culture supernatant, such as methyl phenylacetate, p-methyl anisate, methyl nicotinate and 2-methoxy biphenyl, can interfere with nicotinic acid via a competitive absorption of the excitation photons. A new strategy to circumvent these interferences is proposed with an upstream trapping of volatile markers preceding the detection of nicotinic acid in the liquid phase via the luminescence of Tb³⁺ complexes. The cost of the method is evaluated and compared with the Xpert MTB/RIF test endorsed by the World Health Organization.     

Facile preparation of N-acylsulfonamides by using sulfonyl isocyanate

N-Acylsulfonamide is widely used as a carboxylic acid bioisostere. A rapid and mild acyl sulfonamide preparation methodology from carboxylic acid and arylsulfonyl isocyanate in the presence of amine is described. The preparation of biologically active acylsulfonamide by our methodology is also presented.     

Tetratriacontanonaenoic acid, first natural acid with nine double bonds isolated from a crustacean Bathynella natans

The very-long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid—allZ-4,7,10,13,16,19,22,25,28-tetratriacontanonaenoic acid was determined and identified in the freshwater crustacean species Bathynella natans living in caves of central Europe by means of liquid chromatography—mass spectrometry with atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. The full structure was elucidated by using extensive spectroscopic analysis (¹H and ¹³C NMR, MS, IR and UV) including a chemical method. This acid was described in nature for the first time. A hypothesis is suggested for its origin and biosynthesis.     

A concise route to (−)-shikimic acid and (−)-5-epi-shikimic acid, and their enantiomers via Barbier reaction and ring-closing metathesis

A simple route for the synthesis of naturally occurring (−)-shikimic acid, (−)-5-epi-shikimic acid, and their enantiomers from d-ribose-derived enantiomeric aldehydes 8a and 8b by employing Barbier reaction and ring-closing metathesis as key steps has been developed.     

A novel approach to phosphonic acids from hypophosphorous acid

A novel access to phosphonic acids via Pd-catalyzed tandem carbon-phosphorus bond formation-oxidation processes was developed. The procedures involve atom-economical and environmentally friendly functionalization reactions of hypophosphorous acid (H₃PO₂) and H-phosphinic acids [RP(O)(OH)(H)].     

A biomimetic approach to the synthesis of a mycolic acid motif

A new method for the stereoselective synthesis of the (R,R)-β-hydroxy-α-alkyl fatty acid fragment of mycolic acids, via an asymmetric anti-aldol reaction is reported. The ‘mycolic acid motif’ fragment was prepared in three steps and >98% ee.     

Determination of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid and iminodisuccinic acid in cosmetic products by capillary electrophoresis and high performance liquid chromatography

A capillary electrophoresis (CE) and a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method are described for the simultaneous determination of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), S,S′-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) and R,S-iminodisuccinic acid (IDS) complexing agents as their Fe(III) complexes in cosmetics like shower cream and foam bath. The non-biodegradable EDTA is used in combination with biodegradable analogues like EDDS and IDS in many commercial products. The HPLC method involves separation by reversed-phase ion pair chromatography on a C₁₈ column using methanol-formate buffer (20 mM tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate, 15 mM sodium formate adjusted to pH 4.0 with formic acid) (10:90, v/v) as mobile solvent at a flow rate of 0.8 mL min⁻¹ at 24 °C using UV detection at 240 nm. The CE separation was performed in a fused silica capillary of 50 μm i.d. with the total length of 50 cm with a 10 mM MES and MOPSO (pH 5.5) at an applied voltage of −25 kV. The samples were introduced by applying a 50 mbar pressure for 2 s. Absorbances at 215 and 225 nm were monitored for the detection of the complexes. The methodology performance of the two methods was evaluated in terms of linearity, limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ) and reproducibility. The LOD values obtained from HPLC are low when compared with CE. The applicability of both the methods was demonstrated for the analysis of cosmetic products such as shower cream and foam bath. The results obtained by both CE and HPLC were found to be comparable and in good agreement.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of N-glycolylneuraminic acid derivatives

A rapid, efficient and scalable synthesis of biologically-relevant N-glycolylneuraminic acid derivatives from the natural N-acetyl (Neu5Ac) precursors has been developed. Microwave irradiation provides accelerated de-N-acetylation compared to more traditional methods, with optimised NaOH-promoted de-N-acetylation in only 15 min. The prepared amines were readily re-N-acylated to afford the corresponding N-glycolyl (Neu5Gc) analogues.     

Synthesis and absolute configuration of (−)-chettaphanin I and (−)-chettaphanin II

An efficient synthesis of chettaphanin I and II has been achieved from ent-halimic acid. The absolute configuration of the natural products was established by nOe experiment and by X-ray analysis of chettaphanin II.