Non‐iterative Asymmetric Synthesis of C15 Polyketide Spiroketals

The 2,2′‐methylenebis[furan] ( 1 ) was converted to 1‐{(4R,6S))‐6‐[(2R)‐2,4‐dihydroxybutyl]‐2,2‐dimethyl‐1,3‐dioxan‐4‐yl}‐3‐[(2R,4R)‐tetrahydro‐4,6‐dihydroxy‐2H‐pyran‐2‐yl)propan‐2‐one ((+)‐ 18 ) and its (4S)‐epimer (?)‐ 19 with high stereo‐ and enantioselectivity (Schemes 1–3). Under acidic methanolysis, (+)‐ 18 yielded a single spiroketal, (3R)‐4‐{(1R,3S,4′R,5R,6′S,7R)‐3′,4′,5′,6′‐tetrahydro‐4′‐hydroxy‐7‐methoxyspiro[2,6‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐3,2′‐[2H]pyran]‐6′‐yl}butane‐1,3‐diol ((?)‐ 20 ), in which both O‐atoms at the spiro center reside in equatorial positions, this being due to the tricyclic nature of (?)‐ 20 (methyl pyranoside formation). Compound (?)‐ 19 was converted similarly into the (4′S)‐epimeric tricyclic spiroketal (?)‐ 21 that also adopts a similar (3S)‐configuration and conformation. Spiroketals (?)‐ 20 , (?)‐ 21 and analog (?)‐ 23 , i.e., (1R,3S,4′R,5R,6′R)‐3′,4′,5′,6′‐tetrahydro‐6′‐[(2S)‐2‐hydroxybut‐3‐enyl]‐7‐methoxyspiro[2,6‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane‐3,2′‐[2H]pyran]‐4′‐ol, derived from (?)‐ 20 , were assayed for their cytotoxicity toward murine P388 lymphocytic leukemia and six human cancer cell lines. Only racemic (±)‐ 21 showed evidence of cancer‐cell‐growth inhibition (P388, ED₅₀: 6.9 μg/ml).     

Two 2,6‐Dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐3‐ones from Phragmanthera capitata (Spreng.) Balle (Loranthaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of the leaves of Phragmanthera capitata collected on Cassia spectabilis tree led to the isolation of two natural lactones, rel‐(1R,5S,7S)‐7‐[2‐(4‐hydroxyphenyl)ethyl]‐2,6‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan‐3‐one ( 1 ) and 4‐{2‐[rel‐(1R,3R,5S)‐7‐oxo‐2,6‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]non‐3‐yl]ethyl}phenyl 3,4,5‐trihydroxybenzoate ( 2 ) together with the known compounds betulinic acid ( 3 ), dodoneine ( 4 ), quercetin 3‐O‐α‐L ‐rhamnopyranoside ( 5 ), quercetin 3‐O‐α‐L ‐arabinofuranoside ( 6 ), quercetin ( 7 ), betulin ( 8 ), lupeol ( 9 ), and sitosterol ( 10 ). Their structures were established by means of modern spectroscopic techniques, and the relative configuration of compound 1 was confirmed by X‐ray analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were tested in vitro for their antiplasmodial activity against the Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine sensitive‐strains NF54 and 3D7. Compound 2 exhibited good antiplasmodial activity against both strains with IC₅₀ of 2.4 and 4.9 μM , respectively, while compound 1 was inactive.     

A Guaianolide Sesquiterpene,a Chromenone,and a Flavanone from Ligularia macrophylla

Three new compounds, (5β,9β)‐guaia‐6,10(14)‐dien‐9‐ol (=rel‐(1R,3aS,5R,8aR)‐1,2,3,3a,4,5,6,8a‐octahydro‐1‐methyl‐4‐methylene‐7‐(1‐methylethyl)azulen‐5‐ol; 1 ), 6‐acetyl‐8‐methoxy‐2,3‐dimethylchromen‐4‐one (=6‐acetyl‐8‐methoxy‐2,3‐dimethyl‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one; 2 ), and (2S)‐3′‐hydroxy‐5′,7‐dimethoxyflavanone (=(2S)‐2,3‐dihydro‐2‐(3‐hydroxy‐5‐methoxyphenyl)‐7‐methoxy‐4H‐1‐benzopyran‐4‐one; 3 ) were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Ligularia macrophylla, together with seven known compounds. Their structures and configurations were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including 2D‐NMR techniques.     

Two New Octulosonic Acid Derivatives and a New Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acid Derivative from Erigeron bonariensis L.

The AcOEt‐soluble part of a MeOH extract from the whole plant of Erigeron bonariensis yielded two new rare‐class octulosonic acid derivatives, rel‐methyl (1R,2S,3S,5R)‐3‐(trans‐caffeoyloxy)‐7‐[(trans‐caffeoyloxy)methyl]‐2‐hydroxy‐6,8‐dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane‐5‐carboxylate ( 1 ) and 5,8‐di[O‐trans‐caffeoyl]‐3‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐gluco‐oct‐2‐ulopyranosonosyl 4,8‐di[O‐trans‐caffeoyl]‐3‐deoxy‐β‐D ‐gluco‐oct‐2‐ulopyranosidonic acid ( 2 ) along with a cyclohexanecarboxylic acid derivative, (1α,3β,4β,5β)‐1,4‐di‐3,5‐dihydroxy‐bis(trans‐caffeoyloxy)cyclohexanecarboxylic acid ( 3 ). The structures of these compounds were elucidated through ESI‐MS, and 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectroscopic techniques including ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, HMQC or HSQC, and HMBC experiments.     

Two New Triterpene and a New Nortriterpene Glycosides from Phlomis viscosa

The isolation and structure elucidation of two new oleanane‐type triterpene glycosides, 29‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐2α,3β,23‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid (=(2α,3β,4α,29α)‐29‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐2,3,23‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid; 1 ) and its C(20)‐epimer, 30‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐2α,3β,23‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid (=(2α,3β,4α,29β)‐29‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐2,3,23‐trihydroxyolean‐12‐en‐28‐oic acid; 2 ), and a novel nortriterpene glycoside, (17S)‐2α,18β,23‐trihydroxy‐3,19‐dioxo‐19(18→17)‐ abeo‐28‐norolean‐12‐en‐25‐oic acid β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester (=(1R,2S,4aS,4bR,6aR,7R,9R,10aS,10bS)‐3,4,4a,4b,5,6,6a,7,8,9,10,10a,10b,11‐tetradecahydro‐1‐hydroxy‐7‐(hydroxymethyl)‐3′,4′,4a,4b,7‐pentamethyl‐2′,8‐ dioxospiro[chrysene‐2(1H),1′‐cyclopentane]‐10a‐carboxylic acid β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl ester; 3 ) from Phlomis viscosa (Lamiaceae) are reported. The structures of the compounds were asigned by means of spectroscopic (IR, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, and LC‐ESI‐MS) and chemical (acetylation) methods.     

Lignans from the Bark of Zanthoxylum planispinum

A new dimeric lignan, named biplanispine A ( 1 ) which represents the first example of a dimeric 2,6‐diaryl‐3,7‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.0]octane skeleton from a Rutaceae plant, together with 13 known lignans 2 – 14 , was isolated from the bark of Zanthoxylum planispinum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, especially 2D‐NMR techniques. All isolated compounds were evaluated for their antibacterial activities by the disc diffusion method. Compounds 7 and 9 showed interesting antibacterial activities at 200 μg/disc; they were as effective as kanamycin sulfate at 10 μg/disc against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of 8‐Oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane‐2,3,4,6,7‐pentols and Total Asymmetric Synthesis of 2,6‐Anhydrohepturonic Acid Derivatives and of β‐C‐manno‐Pyranosides Suitable for the Construction of (1→3)‐C,C‐Linked Trisaccharides

Enantiomerically pure (+)‐(1S,4S,5S,6S)‐6‐endo‐(benzyloxy)‐5‐exo‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}‐7‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan‐2‐one ((+)‐ 5 ) and its enantiomer (−)‐ 5 , obtained readily from the Diels‐Alder addition of furan to 1‐cyanovinyl acetate, can be converted with high stereoselectivity into 8‐oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane‐2,3,4,6,7‐pentol derivatives (see 23 – 28 in Scheme 2). A precursor of them, (1R,2S,4R,5S,6S,7R,8R)‐7‐endo‐(benzyloxy)‐8‐exo‐hydroxy‐3,9‐dioxatricyclo[4.2.1.0^2,4]non‐5‐endo‐yl benzoate ((−)‐ 19 ), is transformed into (1R,2R,5S, 6S,7R,8S)‐6‐exo,8‐endo‐bis(acetyloxy)‐2‐endo‐(benzyloxy)‐4‐oxo‐3,9‐dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]non‐7‐endo‐yl benzoate ((−)‐ 43 ) (see Scheme 5). The latter is the precursor of several protected 2,6‐anhydrohepturonic acid derivatives such as the diethyl dithioacetal (−)‐ 57 of methyl 3,5‐di‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐4‐O‐benzoyl‐D ‐glycero‐D ‐galacto‐hepturonate (see Schemes 7 and 8). Hydrolysis of (−)‐ 57 provides methyl 3,5‐di‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐4‐O‐benzoyl‐D ‐glycero‐D ‐galacto‐hepturonate 48 that undergoes highly diastereoselective Nozaki‐Oshima condensation with the aluminium enolate resulting from the conjugate addition of Me₂AlSPh to (1S,5S,6S,7S)‐7‐endo‐(benzyloxy)‐6‐exo‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}‐8‐oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct‐3‐en‐2‐one ((−)‐ 13 ) derived from (+)‐ 5 (Scheme 12). This generates a β‐C‐mannopyranoside, i.e., methyl (7S)‐3,5‐di‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐4‐O‐benzoyl‐7‐C‐[(1R,2S,3R,4S,5R,6S,7R)‐6‐endo‐(benzyloxy)‐7‐exo‐{[(tert‐butyl)dimethylsilyl]oxy}‐4‐endo‐hydroxy‐2‐exo‐(phenylthio)‐8‐oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct‐3‐endo‐yl]‐L ‐glycero‐D ‐manno‐heptonate ((−)‐ 70 ; see Scheme 12), that is converted into the diethyl dithioacetal (−)‐ 75 of methyl 3‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐4,5‐dideoxy‐4‐C‐{[methyl (7S)‐3,5,7‐tri‐O‐acetyl‐2,6‐anhydro‐4‐O‐benzoyl‐L ‐glycero‐D ‐manno‐heptonate]‐7‐C‐yl}‐5‐C‐(phenylsulfonyl)‐L ‐glycero‐D ‐galacto‐hepturonate ( 76 ; see Scheme 13). Repeating the Nozaki‐Oshima condensation to enone (−)‐ 13 and the aldehyde resulting from hydrolysis of (−)‐ 75 , a (1→3)‐C,C‐linked trisaccharide precursor (−)‐ 77 is obtained.     

Litseaglutinan A and Lignans from Litsea glutinosa

A new abscisic acid derivative, named litseaglutinan A ( 1 ), and a new arylnaphthalene‐type lignan, (7′S,8R,8′S)‐4,4′,9‐trihydroxy‐3,3′,5‐trimethoxy‐9′‐O‐β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐2,7′‐cyclolignan ( 2 ), were isolated from the AcOEt extract of Litsea glutinosa, together with nine known lignans. Their structures were established by spectroscopic methods.     

Three New Arylnaphthalide Lignans from the Aerial Parts of Bupleurum marginatum Wall. ex DC.

Three new arylnaphthalide lignans, 5‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)furo[3′,4′: 6,7]naphtho[2,3‐d]‐1,3‐dioxol‐6(8H)‐one ( 1 ), 10‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)furo[3′,4′: 6,7]naphtho[1,2‐d]‐1,3‐dioxol‐9(7H)‐one ( 2 ), and 10‐(3,4‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐6‐hydroxyfuro[3′,4′: 6,7]naphtho[1,2‐d]‐1,3‐dioxol‐9(7H)‐one ( 3 ), together with two known ones, chinensin ( 4 ) and isodiphyllin ( 5 ), were isolated from the aerial parts of Bupleurum marginatum Wall . ex DC. The structures of the three new lignans were established by means of NMR spectroscopic studies, including HQSC, HMBC, and ROESY.     

Rationale on the Abnormal Effect of Temperature on the Enantioselectivity in the Asymmetric Borane Reduction of Ketones Catalyzed by L‐Prolinol

The effect of temperature on the enantioselectivity of the oxazaborolidine‐catalyzed asymmetric borane reduction of ketones was investigated in the presence of (5S)‐3‐oxa‐1‐aza‐2‐borabicyclo[3.3.0]octane (=(3aS)‐tetrahydro‐1H,3H‐pyrolo[1,2‐c][1,3,2]oxazaborole; 1a ) and its 2‐methoxy derivative ( 1b ) as catalysts, which were synthesized from L ‐prolinol with borane and trimethyl borate, respectively. The results indicate that the two catalysts induce a different temperature‐dependent enantioselectivity. The enantioselectivity of the B‐unsubstituted (5S)‐3‐oxa‐1‐aza‐borabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ( 1a ) increases with increasing temperature, while its B‐methoxy‐substituted derivative 1b shows the highest enantioselectivity at ca. 50°. (5S)‐3‐Oxa‐1‐aza‐2‐borabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ( 1a ) is more likely to dimerize than its 2‐methoxy derivative 1b . The conversion rates of L ‐proline to L ‐prolinol in the presence of different amounts of borane were also determined in this study.     

Isolation of a New Carotenoid and Two New Carotenoid Glycosides from Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pvar poinsettiae

An efficient method for the extraction of the carotenoids from Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pvar poinsettiae was developed. The glucosides of C.p. 450 (=(all‐E,2R,2′R)‐2‐[4‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐3‐methylbut‐2‐enyl]‐2′‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbut‐2‐enyl)‐β, β‐carotene; 4 ) and of C.p. 473 (=(all‐E,2R,2′S)‐2‐[4‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐3‐methylbut‐2‐enyl]‐2′‐(3‐methylbut‐2‐enyl)‐3′,4′‐didehydro‐1′,2′‐dihydro‐β,ψ‐caroten‐1′‐ol; 5 ) were isolated for the first time. In addition, the hitherto unknown 3′,4′‐dihydro derivative of C.p. 450, called C.p. 460 (=(all‐E,2R,2′R)‐2‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methylbut‐2‐enyl)‐2′‐(3‐methylbut‐2‐enyl)‐1′,2′‐dihydro‐β,ψ‐caroten‐1′‐ol; 6 ), was identified. The structures were established by UV/VIS, CD, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR, and mass spectra.     

An intermediate in a new synthesis approach to β‐substituted β‐hydroxy­aspartame

The crystal and molecular structure of 1‐tert‐butyl 4‐ethyl (2′R,3′R,5′R,2S,3S)‐3‐bromo­methyl‐3‐hydroxy‐2‐[(2′‐hydroxy‐2′,6′,6′‐tri­methyl­bi­cyclo­[3.1.1]­hept‐3′‐yl­idene)­amino]­succinate, C₂₁H₃₄BrNO₆, is presented. This compound is an intermediate in the new synthetic route to β‐substituted β‐hydroxy­aspartates, which are blockers of glutamate transport.     

Two New Ceramides from the Marine Sponge Ircinia fasciculata

A new 4‐sulfated ceramide, ircisulfamide (=N‐[(1S*,2S*,3R*)‐2‐hydroxy‐1‐(hydroxymethyl)‐3‐(sulfooxy)heptadecyl]hexadecanamide; 1 ), and a new glycosphingolipid, ircicerebroside (=(2R*)‐N‐{(1S*,2R*,3E,7E)‐1‐[(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)methyl]‐2‐hydroxy‐8‐methylheptadeca‐3,7‐dienyl}‐2‐hydroxyeicosanamide; 2 ), were isolated from the aqueous EtOH extract of the marine sponge Ircinia fasciculata (Pallas ). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and by means of chemical methods.     

Four New Lignan Glycosides from Osmanthus fragrans Lour. var. aurantiacus Makino

Four new tetrahydrofuranoid lignan glycosides, (7S,8R,7′R,8′S)‐4,9,4′,7′‐tetrahydroxy‐3,3′‐dimethoxy‐7,9′‐epoxylignan 9‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), (7R,8S,7′S,8′R)‐4,9,4′,7′‐tetrahydroxy‐3,3′‐dimethoxy‐7,9′‐epoxylignan 9‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3 ), (7R,8S,7′R,8′S)‐4,9,4′,9′‐tetrahydroxy‐3,3′‐dimethoxy‐7,7′‐epoxylignan 9‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ), and rel‐(7R,8S,7′S,8′R)‐4,9,4′,9′‐tetrahydroxy‐3,3′‐dimethoxy‐7,7′‐epoxylignan 9‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ), and ten known lignan glycosides, 1 and 6 – 14 , were isolated from the leaves of Osmanthus fragrans Lour. var. aurantiacus Makino . Their structures were established on the basis of spectral and chemical studies.     

Phenyl and Phenylethyl Glycosides from Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora

Three new phenyl glycosides, scrophenoside A ( 1 ), B ( 2 ), and C ( 3 ), and two new phenylethyl glycosides, scroside D ( 4 ) and scroside E ( 5 ), were isolated from the stem of Picrorhiza scrophulariiflora Pennell (Scrophularlaceae), besides five known compounds. On the basis of spectroscopic evidence, the structures of the new compounds were elucidated as 4‐acetyl‐2‐methoxyphenyl 6‐O‐[4‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)vanilloyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 1 ), 4‐acetylphenyl 6‐O‐[(E)‐p‐coumaroyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 ), 4‐[(1R)‐ and (1S)‐1‐hydroxyethyl]‐2‐methoxyphenyl β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 3a and 3b , resp.), 2‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐4‐O‐[(E)‐feruloyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 ), and 2‐(3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)ethyl O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐6‐O‐[(E)‐feruloyl]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 5 ).     

New Sesquiterpenoids from Lycianthes marlipoensis

Two new sesquiterpenoids and one derivative, lycifuranone A (= (4R)‐4,5‐dihydro‐4‐(3‐hydroxy‐2,6‐dimethylbenzyl)‐5,5‐dimethylfuran‐2(3H)‐one; 1 ), lycifuranone B (= 4,5‐dihydroxy‐3‐methyl‐2‐{[(3R)‐tetrahydro‐2,2‐dimethyl‐5‐oxofuran‐3‐yl]methyl} benzaldehyde; 2 ), and lycifuranone C (= (4R)‐4‐(3,4‐dihydroxy‐6‐{(2S,4R,6S)‐4‐[2‐(4‐hydroxy‐3‐methoxyphenyl)ethyl]‐6‐pentyl[1,3]dioxan‐2‐yl}‐2‐methylbenzyl)‐4,5‐dihydro‐5,5‐dimethylfuran‐2(3H)‐one; 3 ), respectively, have been isolated from the roots of Lycianthes marlipoensis, and their structures were established by spectroscopic methods.     

Three New Neolignans and One New Phenylpropanoid from the Leaves and Stems of Toona ciliata var. pubescens

Three new neolignans, (7S,8S,7′E)‐4,9‐dihydroxy‐3,7,3′,9′‐tetramethoxy‐8,4′‐oxyneolign‐7′‐ene ( 1 ), (7R,8S,7′E)‐4, 9‐dihydroxy‐3,7,3′,9′‐tetramethoxy‐8,4′‐oxyneolign‐7′‐ene ( 2 ), (7S,8S,7′E)‐5, 9‐dihydroxy‐3,7,3′,5′,9′‐pentamethoxy‐8,4′‐oxyneolign‐7′‐ene ( 3 ), and one new phenylpropanoid, threo‐5‐hydroxy‐3,7‐dimethoxyphenylpropane‐8,9‐diol ( 4 ), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Toona ciliata var. pubescens. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis, especially 2D‐NMR, HR‐ESI‐MS, and CD data. The antiproliferative activities of these compounds against four tumor cell lines (A549, Colo 205, QGY‐7703, and LOVO) were also evaluated by MTT (=(3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide) method.     

New α‐Glucosidase Inhibitors from the Mongolian Medicinal Plant Ferula mongolica

The four new and four known sesquiterpenoid derivatives 1 – 4 and 5 – 8 , respectively, were isolated from the air‐dried roots of Ferula mongolica. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods and found to be rel‐(2R,3R)‐2‐[(3E)‐4,8‐dimethylnona‐3,7‐dienyl]‐3,4‐dihydro‐3,8‐dihydroxy‐2‐methyl‐2H,5H‐pyrano[2,3‐b][1]benzopyran‐5‐one ( 1 ), rel‐(2R,3R)‐2‐[(3E)‐4,8‐dimethylnona‐3,7‐dienyl]‐2,3‐dihydro‐7‐hydroxy‐2,3‐dimethyl‐4H‐furo[2,3‐b][1]benzopyran‐4‐one ( 2 ), rel‐(2R,3R)‐2‐[(3E)‐4,8‐dimethylnona‐3,7‐dienyl]‐2,3‐dihydro‐7‐hydroxy‐2,3‐dimethyl‐4H‐furo[3,2‐c][1]benzopyran‐4‐one ( 3 ), rel‐(2R,3R)‐2‐[(3E)‐4,8‐dimethylnona‐3,7‐dienyl]‐2,3‐dihydro‐7‐methoxy‐2,3‐dimethyl‐4H‐furo[3,2‐c][1]benzopyran‐4‐one ( 4 ), (4E,8E)‐1‐(2‐hydroxy‐4‐methoxyphenyl)‐5,9,13‐trimethyltetradeca‐4,8,12‐trien‐1‐one ( 5 ), the rel‐(2R,3S) diastereoisomer 6 of 2 , the rel‐(2R,3S) diastereoisomer 7 of 4 , and (4E,8E)‐1‐(2,4‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐5,9,13‐trimethyltetradeca‐4,8,12‐trien‐1‐one ( 8 ). These compounds were tested as inhibitors against the enzyme α‐glucosidase. The compounds 1 – 6 and 8 exhibited significant inhibitory activity and, therefore, represent a new class of α‐glucosidase inhibitors.     

The hydrated and anhydrous gold(III) tetrachloride salts of l‐ecgonine,an important forensic toxicology marker for cocaine

The structure of the hydrated gold(III) tetrachloride salt of l ‐ecgonine {hydronium tetrakis[(1R,2R,3S,5S,8S)‐3‐hydroxy‐8‐methyl‐8‐azoniabicyclo[3.2.1]octane‐2‐carboxylate pentakis[tetrachloridoaurate(III)] hexahydrate}, (C₉H₁₆NO₃)₄(H₃O)[AuCl₄]₅·6H₂O, demonstrates an unprecedented stoichiometric relationship between the cations and anions in the unit cell. The previous tropane alkaloid structures, including the related hydrochloride salts, all have a cation–anion ratio of 1:1, as does the anhydrous salt described here, namely (1R,2R,3S,5S,8S)‐3‐hydroxy‐8‐methyl‐8‐azoniabicyclo[3.2.1]octane‐2‐carboxylate tetrachloridoaurate(III), (C₉H₁₆NO₃)[AuCl₄]. The hydrated salt, however, consists of four monopositive N‐protonated units of the alkaloid and five [AuCl₄]⁻ counter‐ions, plus seven solvent water molecules. The H atom required for change balance has been assigned to a water molecule. In addition, the hydrate has a novel arrangement, with all seven of the water molecules and all of the O atoms in the cations participating in an alternating arrangement of interleaved sheets of the anionic species. Both the hydrate and the anhydrous salt of the same toxicologically important marker for cocaine show that the cation and anion are in close proximity to each other, as was found in the gold(III) tetrachloride salt of l ‐cocaine.     

New Steroidal Glycosides from Balanites aegyptiaca

Five new steroidal glycosides were isolated from the roots of Balanites aegyptiaca, a widely used African medicinal plant. On the basis of spectroscopic and chemical evidence, their structures were determined as (3β,12α,14β,16β)‐12‐hydroxycholest‐5‐ene‐3,16‐diyl bis(β‐D ‐glucopyranoside) ( 1 ), (3β,20S,22R,25R)‐ and (3β,20S,22R,25S)‐26‐(β‐D ‐glucopyranosyloxy)‐22‐methoxyfurost‐5‐en‐3‐yl β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 2 and 3 , resp.), and (3β,20S,22R,25R)‐ and (3β,20S,22R,25S)‐spirost‐5‐en‐3‐yl β‐D ‐xylopyranosyl‐(1→3)‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→4)[α‐L ‐rhamnopyranosyl‐(1→2)]‐β‐D ‐glucopyranoside ( 4 and 5 , resp.)