New insights into the titanium-mediated enantioselective oxidation of fluorinated aryl benzyl sulfides and aryl phenacyl sulfides

A fruitful switch from tert-butyl to cumene hydroperoxide was able to overcome a difficulty arose in the enantioselective oxidation of fluorinated aryl benzyl sulfide with hydroperoxides in the presence of a titanium/(S, S)-hydrobenzoin catalyst. New experiments show the complementarity of the old and the new protocols and indicate unequivocally the right choice leading to the corresponding highly enantioenriched sulfoxides. Moreover, in a totally unexpected way, the new protocol was able to overcome another difficulty arose in another field of research, that is the enantioselective oxidation of a fluorinated aryl phenacyl sulfide. Also in this case, the complementarity of behavior is acting. Finally, this investigation gives new support to the attribution of configuration of sulfoxides with ECD techniques, but only if the protocol outlined in our past research was followed thoroughly.     

Phytochemical,antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory,thrombolytic, antibacterial,antiviral and in silico studies of Acacia jacquemontii leaves

The main objective of this work was to gain insight into biological propensities, and bioactive phytochemicals of Acacia jacquemontii Benth, a wild plant providing medicinal components, as well as to establish a link between its phytochemical profile and biological activities. Phytochemical profiling revealed the presence of a higher amount of total phenolic (271.44 ± 4.41 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid contents (216.47 ± 5.82 mg QE/g) in methanolic extract (MEAJ), and as compared to n-hexane fraction (HEAJ) and stronger biological activities of MEAJ were possibly linked to the higher bioactive contents. The freshly collected plant leaves showed a strong antioxidant potential (total antioxidant capacity 1.03 ± 0.19 mmol TE/g), which was found even stronger in dried methanolic extract (TAC; 4.36 ± 1.12 mmol TE/g), moreover, MEAJ also showed strong antioxidant potential when investigated by different antioxidant assays (DPPH; 154.04 ± 2.47, ABTS; 122.36 ± 0.80, FRAP; 453.18 ± 5.9, CUPRAC; 1389.97 ± 5.32 mg TE/g). The MEAJ showed good tyrosinase inhibition activity (71.69 %), compared with 83 % inhibition by kojic acid. Ten major compounds identified by GC–MS were docked and eight legends showed lower binding energies (-6 to ?7.8 kcal/mol) compared with kojic acid (-5.9 kcal/mol), which shows the possible role of these compounds in the anti-tyrosinase activity of the extract, and the ADMET analysis predicted the drug-likeness and safety profile of the studied compounds. The thrombolytic effect of MEAJ was 56.41 ± 0.75 to 57.15 ± 1.41 % which was comparable with streptokinase (82.44 ± 1.15 to 84.14 ± 0.95 %). Antibacterial activity of MEAJ was also good (MEAJ; 0.5–2.0 mg/mL, and co-amoxiclav; 5.0–12.5 µg/mL), and the highest activity was observed against Bacillus subtilis (MEAJ; 0.5 mg/mL, co-amoxiclav; 5.0 µg/mL). The antiviral activity of MEAJ was highly strong (HA titer; 00 to 08) against all the tested strains. It can be concluded that A. jacquemontii is a prospective source of phytochemicals with strong biological activities, and their usage in formulations of natural products and pharmaceuticals is recommended, however, further research may address the discovery and development of novel drugs for the pharmaceutical industry.     

New insights into the selective and systematic preparation of arylgermanium hydrides

A series of novel arylgermanium hydrides Ar_nGeH_4–n (n = 1–3) and diaryl(chloro)germanium hydrides Ar₂Ge(Cl)H were synthesized and characterized. Systematic preparation and purification were achieved via the lithium chloride–triflic acid and the optimized Grignard route. Arylgermanium hydrides ArnGeH_4–n (Ar = 2,5-Me₂C₆H₃, n = 1–3) were characterized by ¹H and ⁷³Ge NMR spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffractometry.     

Three New Stigmatellin Derivatives Reveal Biosynthetic Insights of Its Side Chain Decoration

Myxobacteria generate natural products with unique chemical structures, which not only feature remarkable biological functions, but also demonstrate unprecedented biosynthetic assembly strategies. The stigmatellins have been previously described as potent inhibitors of the mitochondrial and photosynthetic respiratory chain and originate from an unusual polyketide synthase assembly line. While previous biosynthetic investigations were focused on the formation of the 5,7-dimethoxy-8-hydroxychromone ring, side chain decoration of the hydrophobic alkenyl chain in position 2 was investigated less thoroughly. We report here the full structure elucidation, as well as cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of three new stigmatellins isolated from the myxobacterium Vitiosangium cumulatum MCy10943^T with side chain decorations distinct from previously characterized members of this compound family. The hydrophobic alkenyl chain in position 2 of the herein described stigmatellins feature a terminal carboxylic acid group (1), a methoxy group at C-12′ (2) or a vicinal diol (3). These findings provide further implications considering the side chain decoration of these aromatic myxobacterial polyketides and their underlying biosynthesis.     

Study of the structural and electronic properties of 1-(4, 5 and 6-selenenyl derivatives-3-formyl-phenyl) pyrrolidinofullerenes

A series of 1-(4, 5 and 6-selenenyl derivatives-3-formyl-phenyl) pyrrolidinofullerenes molecules C₆₀-C₂H₄N-[3-(CHO)C₆H₃SeX] were investigated theoretically by performing Density Functional Theory calculations at the B3LYP/3-21G^∗ level of the theory. The substituents include: X = CN, CH₂CH(NH₂)CO₂H and CH₂CH₂CH(NH₂)CO₂H. We have selected these substituents to be in ortho, meta and para positions with relation to formyl group in order to show the effect of such structural change on the electronic properties of the molecules. The theoretical IR spectra, physical, chemical and thermodynamics properties of the molecules studied are obtained and discussed.     

Macrolide Analogues of the Novel Immunosuppressant Sanglifehrin: New Application of the Ring-Closing Metathesis Reaction

Macrocycles containing a conjugated 1,3-diene moiety have been synthesized for the first time in good yields by the ring-closing metathesis reaction [Eq. (1)]. The new compounds represent cyclophilin-binding, simplified analogues of the macrocyclic core of sanglifehrin A, an immunosuppressant which binds with high affinity to cyclophilin.     

The Genus Cladosporium: A Rich Source of Diverse and Bioactive Natural Compounds

Fungi are renowned as one of the most fruitful sources of chemodiversity and for their ubiquitous occurrence. Among the many taxonomic groupings considered for the implications deriving from their biosynthetic aptitudes, the genus Cladosporium stands out as one of the most common in indoor environments. A better understanding of the impact of these fungi on human health and activities is clearly based on the improvement of our knowledge of the structural aspects and biological properties of their secondary metabolites, which are reviewed in the present paper.     

New insights into the solubilization of Bodipy dyes

Several Bodipy dyes were synthesized with various substituents designed to improve the water solubility. Among the different synthetic strategies protection of sulfonate groups by pyrrole of indopyrrole appears efficient but the deprotection step does not offer viable routes. Conversion of the bromopyrene or iodo Bodipy compounds to sulfobetaine derivatives is feasible either by cross-coupling directly the ethynylsulfobetaine or by first cross-coupling 1-(N,N-dimethylamino)-prop-2-yne followed by quaternization of the dimethylamino residue with 1,3-propanesultone. Some of these dyes (Bodipy’s and pyrene) are reasonably soluble in water and remain highly fluorescent in polar solvents and water.     

New Phenolic Compounds from the Roots of Lentil (Lens culinaris)

While lentil (Lens culinaris) seeds are phytochemically well characterized, very little is known about secondary metabolites from lentil roots. Our research on lentil roots led to isolation of five phenolic compounds and five group B soyasaponins. Their structures were established using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Four phenolics have not been hitherto described in the literature: 4‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐2‐methoxybenzoic acid, (αS)‐4,4′‐di‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐α,2′‐dihydroxydihydrochalcone, (αS)‐4′‐O‐β‐d ‐glucopyranosyl‐α,2′,4‐trihydroxydihydrochalcone, and keto‐2‐hydroxyglycitein. The DPPH^? radical‐scavenging activity of the purified phenolic compounds was additionally evaluated.     

Synthesis and Structure of the Clusters [Hg2(μ—SePh)2(SePh)2(PPh3)2] and [Hg3Br3(μ—SePh)3] · 2 DMSO

The compounds [Hg₂(μ—SePh)₂(SePh)₂(PPh₃)₂] ( I ) and [Hg₃Br₃(μ—SePh)₃] · 2 DMSO ( II ) are formed by reactions of [Hg(SePh)₂] with PPh₃ in THF( I ) or with HgBr₂ in DMSO ( II ) at room temperature. X—ray crystallography reveals that the cluster I consists of a distorted square built by each two Hg and Se atoms. The Hg atoms have almost tetrahedral co‐ordination environments formed by selenium atoms of two (μ‐^—SePh) ligands and Se and P atoms of terminal ^—SePh and PPh₃ ligands. The compound II is a six‐membered ring with alternating Hg and Se atoms in the chair conformation. Two DMSO molecules occupy positions below and above the [Hg₃Se₃] ring with the oxygen atoms directed to the centre of the ring.     

Stereochemistry-59: New insights into the mechanism of the proline-catalyzed asymmetric robinson cyclization; structure of two intermediates. asymmetric dehydration

Two sets of results give information about the mechanism of carbonyl activation by (S)-proline during asymmetric syntheses: (i) X-ray structures of two ketols produced by the proline-induced cyclization of triketones; (ii) (S)-Proline-catalyzed asymmetric dehydration of (±)-β ketols leading to optically active enones.     

Relative stereochemistries of the ether rings and sugar moieties in durinskiol A

Durinskiol A (1) is a long carbon-chain polyol compound with a molecular weight of 2128 mu isolated from the symbiotic dinoflagellate Durinskia sp. The relative stereochemistries of ether rings and sugar moieties in 1 were established based on 2D-NMR analysis and molecular modeling studies. Conformational analysis of the 6,5,6-bis-spiroacetal ring in 1 was also examined by using ab initio methods.     

Visible light and base promoted O-H insertion/cyclization of para-quinone methides with aryl diazoacetates: An approach to 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives

A visible light and base promoted O-H insertion/cyclization of para-quinone methides with aryl diazoacetates is developed. This one-pot two step reaction offers a mild and efficient approach for the synthesis of biologically important 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran derivatives in good yields and moderate diastereoselectivities.     

Electrostatic and electrophilic catalysis in the reductive cleavage of alkyl aryl ethers. The influence of ion pairing on the regioselectivity

Electrophilic and electrostatic catalysis have been identified as distinct contributions that affect the reactivity of radical anions in the reductive cleavage of alkyl aryl ethers. Two modes of mesolytic scission of these radical anions are possible: homolytic (dealkylation, a thermodynamically favored but kinetically forbidden process) and heterolytic (dealkoxylation). From our studies (alkali metal reductions, electrochemical studies, use of substrates with a preformed positive charge in certain positions of their structure) it can be concluded that the heterolytic scission is very much dependent on the electrophilic assistance by the counterion and it is only observed in contact ionic pairs with unsaturated cations (electrophilic catalysis). On the other hand, the homolytic scission is observed in solvent-separated ionic pairs, and it is especially efficient when the pair has a controlled topology with a tetralkylammonium cation (saturated cation) near the oxygen atom. The effect of the cation has, in this case, electrostatic origin (electrostatic catalysis), probably lowering the barrier of the intramolecular pi-sigma electron transfer process and thus reducing the kinetic control of the reaction in such a way that the thermodynamically more favorable process is produced.     

Simple and catalyst-free method for the synthesis of diaryl selenides by reactions of arylselenols and arenediazonium salts

We describe here a simple and catalyst-free method to synthesize diaryl selenides by reaction of arenediazonium tetrafluoroborate salts with arylselenols, generated in situ by using diaryl diselenides and hypophosphorous acid (H₃PO₂), using THF as solvent. This is a direct nucleophilic aromatic substitution (SNAr) reaction performed with diaryl diselenides and arenediazonium salts bearing electron-withdrawing and electron-donating groups affording the corresponding diaryl selenides in moderated to good yields.