Isolation and identification of a new neo-clerodane diterpenoid from Teucrium chamaedrys L.

Teucrium chamaedrys L. is an aromatic and medicinal plant used as traditional medicine. Aerial parts of the plant material were dried and extracted with hexane–dichloromethane (extract 1), ethyl acetate–dichloromethane (extract 2) and methanol–dichloromethane (extract 3) in a ratio of 1:1 at rt successively. The solvents were evaporated to give crude extracts. Extract 1 was suspended in water at 60°C then partitioned successively with hexane and ethyl acetate to give hexane and ethyl acetate portions. After the column chromatography (silica gel) of ethyl acetate extract, one new and four known compounds were isolated. The new compound was named as 1(12S,18R)-15,16-epoxy-2β,6β-dihydroxy-neo-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-20,l2-olide-l8,l9-hemiacetal (teuchamaedryn D) (4). The known compounds were teucrin A (1), dihydroteugin (2), teucroxide (3), syspirensin A (5). The chromatographic methods were also applied for extract 3 to isolate verbascoside (6) and teucrioside (7). The structure of isolated compounds was elucidated by spectroscopic methods including LC-TOF/MS, 1D NMR and 2D NMR.     

Regioselective Syntheses of New Tri-and Tetrasaccharides by Transglycosylation of Trichoderma Viride β-Glucosidase

ABSTRACT

A new β-glucosidase, which was partially purified from Trichoderma viride cellulase, catalyzed a transglycosylation reaction of cellobiose to give β-D-Glcp-(1→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→4)-D-Glcp 1 and β-D-Glcp-(1→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→4)-D-Glcp 2, regioselectively. Furthermore, the enzyme converted laminaribiose and gentiobiose into β-D-Glcp-(1→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→3)-D-Glcp 3 and β-D-Glcp-(1→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→6)-D-Glcp 4, respectively. Selective β-(1→6) transglycosylation was achieved.     

1H NMR Studies of Hydroxy Protons of ASN- and Ser-Linked Disaccharides in Aqueous Solution

ABSTRACT

The hydroxy protons of β-D-GlcpNAc-(1→4)-β-D-GlcpNAc, β-D-GlcpNAc-(1→4)-β-D-GlcpNAc-N-Asn, β-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-GalpNAc-O-Me and of β-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-GalpNAc-O-Ser in aqueous solution have been investigated using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The chemical shifts, coupling constants, temperature coefficients, exchange rates and NOEs have been measured. The O(3)H proton of β-D-GlcpNAc-(1→4)-β-D-GlcpNAc and β-D-GlcpNAc-(1→4)-β-D-GlcpNAc-N-Asn, and the O(2')H proton of β-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-GalpNAc and β-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-GalpNAc-O-Ser have values which differ significantly from the other hydroxy protons. Both these hydroxy protons are shielded when compared to those of the corresponding monosaccharide methyl glycosides. This shielding is attributed to the proximity of these protons to the O(5') oxygen and to the 2-acetamido group, respectively. In β-D-GlcpNAc-(1→4)-β-D-GlcpNAc and β-D-GlcpNAc-(1→4)-β-D-GlcpNAc-N-Asn, the O(3)H proton has restricted conformational freedom with a preferred orientation towards the O(5') oxygen, and is protected from exchange with the bulk water through a weak hydrogen bond interaction with O(5'). In β-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-GalpNAc-O-Me and β-D-Galp-(1→3)-α-D-GalpNAc-O-Ser, the O(2')H is protected from exchange with the bulk water by the 2-acetamido group. The conformations of the disaccharides are not affected by the amino acid, and no interaction in terms of hydrogen bonding between the sugars and the amino acid residue could be observed.     

The Neutral Part of the Bark of Pinus Taiwanensis Hayata

The neutral part of the acetone extract from the bark of Pinus taiwanensis Hayata has been Investigated and found to consist of alkanes (C₁₄-C₃₃), longifolene, aliphatic esters (C₄₂, C₄₄, C₄₉), aliphatic alcohols (C₂₄, C₂₆), 3β-21α-dimethoxyserrat-14-enc, 3β-methoxyserrat-14-en-21-one, β-sitosterol, 3β-methoxyserrat-14-en-21ã-ol and 3β-hydroxyserrat-14-en-21-one.     

Two new labdane diterpenoids from the rhizomes of Isodon yuennanensis

Two new labdane diterpenoids, s-trans-8(17),12E,14-labdatrien-20-oic acid (1), s-trans-12E,14-labdadien-20,8β-olide (2), along with 10 known compounds, hinokiol (3), ursonic acid (4), 2α,3α-dihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (5), 2α,3β,23-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (6), ethyl 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)lactate (7), ethyl rosmarinate (8), (Z,E)-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethenyl caffeic ester (9), tridecanoic acid (10), β-sitosterol (11) and daucosterol (12), were isolated from the 70% acetone extract of the rhizomes of Isodon yuennanensis. Their structures were elucidated based on the analyses of extensive spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties.     

Major terpenoids from Telekia speciosa flowers and their cytotoxic activity in vitro

In addition to known constituents of Telekia speciosa, an acetone extract from ray florets of the plant yielded: 5,5?-dibutoxy-2,2?-bifuran (1), 5,5?-diisobutoxy-2,2?-bifuran (2), α-tocopherol (3), β-tocopherol (4), loliolide palmitate (5), a mixture of calenduladiol esters - 16β-hydroxylupeol-3-O-palmitate (7) and 16β-hydroxylupeol-3-O-myristate (8), 1-epiinuviscolide (12), inuviscolide (13), 3-epiisotelekin (16), 4α-hydroxy-9β,10β-epoxy-1β(H)-11(13)-guaien-8α,12-olide (17), 4α-hydroxy-1β(H)-9(10),11(13)-guaiadien-8α,12-olide (18), loliolide (19) and 4β,10β-dihydroxy-1α(H),5α(H)-11(13)-guaien-8α,12-olide (20). Calenduladiol esters and asperilin (14) were the major constituents of the extract. Their cytotoxic effect on human normal prostate epithelial cells (PNT-2), human prostate carcinoma cell lines, human skin fibroblasts (HSF) and human melanoma cell lines was examined in vitro. Triterpene esters showed no cytotoxicity against nearly all cell lines tested, except for Du145 prostate carcinoma cells (IC₅₀ – 62.0 μΜ). Asperilin displayed activity against the cell lines under study, especially against three tested lines of melanomas (A375, IC₅₀ – 17.6 μΜ, WM793, IC₅₀ – 28.2 μΜ and Hs 294T, IC₅₀ – 29.5 μΜ).     

Reaction of 2-aminobenzimidazole with bifunetional carboxylie acid derivatives. Formation of pyrimido[1,2-a] benzimidazolones

2-Aminobenzimidazole reacts with α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid chlorides or esters to give only pyrimido [1,2-a] benzimidazol-2-(1H) ones. β-Ethoxymethylenemalonie acid derivatives or β-ketocarboxylic acid derivatives give only pyrimido [1,2-a] benzimidazol-4-(1H)ones. Structural assignments based on nmr and chemical manipulations are discussed.     

Short synthesis of tryptophane and β-carboline derivatives by reaction of indoles with N-(diphenylmethylene)-α,β-didehydroamino acid esters

The ethylaluminum dichloride catalyzed Michael-type addition of indoles 1a-h to the N-(diphenylmethylene)-α,β-didehydroamino acid esters 2a-c allows a new synthesis of β-methyltryptophanes 41,m and a new route for 1,1-diphenyl-3-carbalkoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carbolines 5a-m.     

Cheritamine,A New N-Fatty Acyl Tryptamine and Other Constituents from the Stems of Annona cherimola

A new N-fatty acyl tryptamine, cheritamine ( 30 ), along with thirty-two compounds including nineteen benzenoids, p-hydroxybenzadehyde ( 1 ), p-hydroxybenzoic acid ( 2 ), methylparabene ( 3 ), 3-chlorobenzoic acid ( 4 ), vanillin ( 5 ), isovanillin ( 6 ), vanillic acid ( 7 ), isovanillic acid ( 8 ), methyl vanillate ( 9 ), methyl isovanillate ( 10 ), syringaldehyde ( 11 ), syringic acid ( 12 ), 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid ( 13 ), trans-methyl p-coumarate ( 14 ), ferulic acid ( 15 ), p-dihydrocoumaric acid ( 16 ), 3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-1,2-propanediol ( 17 ), 3,4,5 -trimethoxyphenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside ( 18 ) and thalictoside ( 19 ); one p-quinone, 2,6-dimethoxy-p-quinone ( 20 ); one purine, uridine ( 21 ); eight alkaloids, nicotinic acid ( 22 ), thalifoline ( 23 ), doryphornine ( 24 ), (–)-norstephalagine ( 25 ), (-)-romucosine ( 26 ), (+)-pronuciferine ( 27 ), (+)-norisocorydine ( 28 ) and oxoasimilobine (29) and three steroids, β-sitosterol-D-glucoside ( 31 ), stigmasterol-D-glucoside ( 32 ) and 6′-(β-sitosteryl-3-O-β-glucopyranosidyl)hexadecanoate ( 33 ), are isolated from the stems of Annona cherimola. These compounds were characterized and identified by physical and spectral evidence.     

The Terpenoids of Maytenus boaria MOL. (Celastraceae)

The known triterpenoids β-amyrin (= olean-12-en-3β-ol; 22 ), lupeol (= lup-20(29)-en-3β-ol; 17 ), betulin (= lup-20(29)-ene-3β,28-diol; 18 ), lup-20(29)-ene-3β,30-diol ( 20 ), oleanolic acid (= 3β-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid; 21 ), and betulonic acid (= 3-oxolup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid; 19 ), together with epicatechol (= cis-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol; 23 ), 5′-O-methylgallocatechol (= trans-2-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol; 24 ), and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde were isolated from the aerial parts of Maytenus boaria (MOL. ). Additonally, the eight 4,C⁴-dihydro-β-agarofuran sesquiterpenoids 1–8 , one of them a diol with a (4R)-configuration, and compound 9 were present in the extract. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic and chemical means.     

Synthesis of p-Trifluoroacetamidophenylethyl O-(2-Acetamido-2-Deoxy-β-D-Galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-β-D- Galactopyanosyl-(1→4)-O-β-D-Glucopyranoside,Containing the Trisaccharide Portion of the Asialo-GM2 Glycolipid

ABSTRACT

The p-trifluoroacetamidophenylethyl β-glycoside 9 of the trisaccharide O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→4)-D-glucopyranose (gangliotriose, asialo-GM2) was synthesised. The key step was coupling of a suitably protected lactose derivative with a galactosamine thioglycoside derivative using sulfuryl chloride/trifluoromethanesulfonic acid activation.     

The Constituents of Cananga odorata

Sixteen compounds, (+)-ushinsunine-β-N-oxide ( 1 ), cleistopholine ( 2 ), liriodenine ( 3 ), (-)-anonaine ( 4 ), (+)-nornuciferine ( 5 ), (+)-N-acetylnornuciferine ( 6 ), (-)-ushinsunine ( 7 ), (-)-norushinsunine ( 8 ), (-)-asimilobine ( 9 ), (+)-reticuline ( 10 ), N-trans-feruloyltyramine ( 11 ), β-sitosterol (12) and stigmasterol ( 13 ), lyscamine ( 14 ), (-)-anaxagoreine ( 15 ) and trans-cinnamic acid ( 16 ) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the Cananga odorata. Among them, 1 is a new stereoisomer of ushinsunine-β-N-oxide. The structures of these compounds were established by means of spectral experiments.     

Prediction of solvents extraction-the organochlorine pesticides in soil using solubility parameter

Prediction of the optimal extraction solvent based on the solubility parameter to extract the typical organochlorine pesticides from Jiangxi red soil was reported in this paper. Hildebrand solubility parameters, including dispersion coefficient (δ_d), polarity (δ_p) and hydrogen bonding (δ_h), of extraction solvents (including hexane, dichloromethane, hexane/methanol (4:1, v/v), hexane/acetone (1:1, v/v), hexane/dichloromethane (1:1, v/v) and organochlorine pesticides were calculated using group contribution method. The solvents, such as hexane/methanol (4:1, v/v) and hexane/acetone (1:1, v/v) were selected as ideal extraction solvents to extract o,p′-DDT o,p′-DDE and o,p′-DDD with high recoveries (>82%), furthermore, these solvents can be used to extract α-endosulfan, Endrin and HCB with the reliable recoveries (>75%). The estimated finding by solubility parameters was supported by the results of soxhlet extraction.     

Schiff base derivatives of peptide esters: Relative abundance of N-terminal,C-terminal and ‘internal’ fragments as a function of the blocking group

Electron-impact (EI) mass spectrometry of peptide derivatives is usually interpreted in terms of fragmentation where the charge resides on the N-terminal fragments and to a lesser degree on the less common, charged C-terminal fragments. Substituted and unsubstituted benzylidene, cinnamylidene, α- and β-naphthylidene derivatives of a reference tripeptide, valileala, gave both N- and C-terminal fragments as well as molecular ions. The order of increasing ion current (normalized) in C-terminal fragments was: acetylacetonyl, 4-dimethylaminonaphthylidene, p-dimethyl-aminobenzylidene, 3-pyridylmethylidene, p-diethylaminocinnamylidene, benzylidene, 2-hydroxy-naphthylidene, 4-pyridylmethylidene, p-nitrobenzylidene, p-methoxybenzylidene, p-cyanobenzylidene, cinnamylidene, p-dimethylaminocinnamylidene, β-indolylmethylidene, β-naphthylidene, 2-pyridylmethylidene and α-naphthylidene. The order for this value among the N-terminal fragments is significantly different, however (Day, Falter, Lehman and Hamilton, J. Org. Chem. in press). In addition to N- and C-terminal fragments, many spectra contain internal fragments, arising from loss of fragments from both ends, which provide sequence information. These fragments are found in the mass spectra of Schiff bases formed from various aromatic aldehydes with peptide esters. The interpretation of the latter pattern is facilitate in some cases by deuterium labeling at the α-carbon of the N-terminal amino acid residue of peptides. Such a pattern provides sequence information supplemental to that available involving N- and C-terminal fragmentations. In derivatives of hexaglycine, tetraphenylalanine and tryptophylmethionylaspartyl (β-OEt) phenylalanine amide, for example, substantial sequence information was contained in the internal fragments; in some cases the sequence could be deduced only if the internal fragments were utilized. The 4-dimethylamino-naphthylidene derivatives have proven to be the most useful to date in terms of volatility, tendency to maximize cleavage into N-terminal fragments, intensity of molecular ions and generation of useful mass spectra of certain peptide esters refractory to mass spectrometry in the form of any other derivative investigated.     

High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Behavior of 2-,4- and 6-Hydroxylated Bile Acid Stereoisomers

Abstract

High-performance liquid chromatographic behavior has been investigated for 40 stereoisomeric 2-, 4- and 6-hydroxylated bile acids, most of which possess a vicinal glycol structure, as their 4-nitrophthalimidomethyl (NPM) ester derivatives on a reversed-phase column using methanol-water systems as a mobile phase. The bile acid NPM esters were further derivatized to the so-called “mixed” acetonide-NPM esters, whereby the stereochemical relationships (α, α-and β,β-cis, diaxial trans or diequatorial trans) of 2,3-, 3,4-and 6,7-diol groups in the molecules were reflected to changes in the capacity factors of bile acids.     

A Stereospecific Synthesis of (E,Z)-α, β-γ, δ-Diunsaturated Aldehydes,Ketones, and Esters Using the Benary Reaction

The reaction between (Z)-1-alkenyllithium and (E)-β-(N, N-dialkylamino)-α, β-alkenals, (E)-β-(N, N-dialkylamino)-α, β-alkenones or (E)-β-(N, N-dialkylamino)-α, β-alkenoic esters yields mainly (E, Z)-α, β-γ, δ-diunsaturated aldehydes, ketones, or esters and is therefore highly stereospecific.     

Unusual p‐Coumarates from the Stems of Vaccinium myrtillus

The two previously unreported esters 1 and 2 of pentane‐2,4‐diol and p‐coumaric acid (=3‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)prop‐2‐enoic acid) along with 13 known compounds including 6 oleanane‐ and ursane‐type triterpenoids were isolated from MeOH extracts of the stems of Vaccinium myrtillus. The structures of the new compounds were assigned as (2S,4R)‐4‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)pentan‐2‐yl (2E)‐p‐coumarate ( 1 ) and its aglycone 2 on the basis of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic analyses of the isolated and synthesized compounds and molecular modelling experiments. This is the first report on the occurrence of a chiral pentane‐2,4‐diol linker between the phenol‐derived acid and a glycoside part in natural products.     

Neuroprotective effect from stem bark extracts of Knema laurina against H2O2- and Aβ1–42-induced cell death in human SH-SY5Y cells

The stem bark extracts of Knema laurina inhibited the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)- and aggregated amyloid β-peptide 1–42 length (Aβ_1–42)-induced cell death in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Exposure of 250 μM H₂O₂ or 20 μM Aβ_1–42 to the cells for 24 h reduced 50% of cell viability. Pretreatment of cells with ethyl acetate extract (EAE) or n-butanol extract (BE) at 300 μg/mL and then exposure to H₂O₂ protected the cells against the neurotoxic effects of H₂O₂. Besides, methanolic extract (ME) at 1 and 10 μg/mL exerted neuroprotective effect on Aβ_1–42-induced toxicity to the cells. These results showed that EAE, BE and ME exhibited neuroprotective activities against H₂O₂- and Aβ_1–42-induced cell death. Flavonoids (3–6) and β-sitosterol glucoside (8) were isolated from the EAE. Compound 1 was isolated from hexane extract, and compounds 2 and 7 were isolated from dichloromethane extract. All these observations provide the possible evidence for contribution in the neuroprotective effects.     

Homochiral lithium amides for the asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids

Secondary homochiral lithium amides derived from α-methylbenzylamine undergo highly diastereoselective conjugate additions to a range of α,β-unsaturated esters. The corresponding β-amino acids are readily liberated by successive N-debenzylation and ester hydrolysis, furnishing (R)-β-amino butyric acid, (R)-β-amino pentanoic acid, (S)-β-leucine, (R)-β-amino octanoic acid, (S)-β-phenylalanine, (S)-β-tyrosine methyl ether, (S)-β-tyrosine hydrochloride and (S)-β-(2-methoxyphenyl)-β-amino propanoic acid in high yields and high ee. The application of this procedure to the synthesis of the natural products (R)-β-DOPA and (R)-β-lysine is demonstrated. The development of a simplified one-pot reaction protocol applicable to the multi-gram scale synthesis of homochiral β-amino esters is also delineated.     

Clerodendrumic Acid,a New Triterpenoid from Clerodendrum glabrum (Verbenaceae), and Antimicrobial Activities of Fractions and Constituents

One new triterpenoid, (3β,11α,19β)‐3‐(butanoyloxy)‐11‐hydroxytaraxast‐20(30)‐ene‐23,28‐dioic acid (clerodendrumic acid; 1 ) was isolated from the hexane extract of the leaves of Clerodendrum glabrum var. glabrum along with heptadecanoic acid ( 2 ). The structure of the new compound was elucidated by interpretation of its NMR (1D and 2D), MS, and IR data. Combined fractions C and D from the column chromatography of the hexane extract exhibited significant antifungal activities (average MIC of 0.10 mg/ml) against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. C. albicans was relatively resistant to clerodendrumic acid ( 1 ; MIC 125 μg/ml) and was resistant to heptadecanoic acid ( 2 ; MIC 188 μg/ml). Both compounds had low antibacterial activities against two Gram‐positive and two Gram‐negative bacteria with average MIC values of 157 and 172 μg/ml, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 were relatively nontoxic against monkey kidney Vero cells in vitro with IC₅₀ values of 202.6 and 108.4 μg/ml, respectively.