Three New Polyyne (=Polyacetylene) Glucosides from the Edible Roots of Codonopsis cordifolioidea

Three new linear C₁₄ polyyne (=polyacetylene) glucosides, cordifolioidynes A–C ( 1 – 3 ), together with two known polyynes, lobetyol ( 4 ) and lobetyolin ( 5 ), and five known phenylpropanoids, i.e., sinapinaldehyde ( 6 ), coniferaldehyde ( 7 ), coniferoside ( 8 ), sachaliside ( 9 ), and isoconiferin ( 10 ), were isolated from the roots of Codonopsis cordifolioidea. The structures of 1 – 3 were established from spectral evidences and by characterization of their hydrolysis products. Acid hydrolysis of 1 afforded the aglycone 1a , while hydrolysis of 2 and 3 gave the cyclization products 2a and 3a , respectively. Compounds 4 – 10 were isolated from this plant for the first time. The antibacterial activity of compounds 1 – 5 were assessed against eight microbial strains by the agar dilution method, none of them exhibited antibacterial effects at concentrations up to 100 μg/ml.     

New Triterpenoid Saponins from the Roots of Gypsophila paniculata L.

The seven new triterpenoid saponins 1 – 7 were isolated from the roots of Gypsophila paniculata L. Their structures were established by 1D ‐ and 2D‐NMR techniques, HR‐MS, and acid hydrolysis. The isolated compounds include 3,28‐O‐bidesmosides with or without a 4‐methoxycinnamoyl group (see 1 vs. 2 and 3 ), and 3‐O‐monoglucosides 4 – 7 . All isolated saponins 1 – 7 and their aglycones were evaluated for their α‐glucosidase inhibition activity. Compound 1 showed inhibitory activity against yeast α‐glucosidase with an IC₅₀ value of 100.9±3.3 μM , whereas compounds 2 – 7 were inactive.     

Macrocyclic Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Silphiperfolanol Angelate Esters from Solanecio mannii

Three new compounds, the silphiperfolanol angelate ester umutagarananol ( 1 ), the macrocyclic pyrrolizidine alkaloids umutagarinine A and B ( 2 – 3 ), and five known secondary metabolites ( 4 – 8 ) were isolated from the CH₂Cl₂−MeOH (1 : 1) extract of the roots and the stem bark of Solanecio mannii (Hook. f.) (Asteraceae). The isolated compounds were characterized by NMR and IR spectroscopic, and mass spectrometric analyses, whereas the relative stereochemistry of 4 was established by NAMFIS-based combined computational and solution NMR analysis. Synthetic modification of 5 provided two new compounds, 2-angeloyloxy-4,8-epoxypresilphiperfolane ( 9 ) and 2-angeloyloxy-4,8-epoxypresilphi-perfolane ( 10 ). The crude extracts and the isolated constituents showed weak antibacterial activities (EC₅₀ 0.7–13.3 mM) against the Gram-negative Escherichia coli and the Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis. Compounds 2 , 3 and 4 exhibited strong cytotoxicity against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, with EC₅₀ values of 35.6, 21.7 and 12.5 μM, respectively.     

Chemical Constituents from Termite‐associated Xylaria acuminatilongissima YMJ623

Three previously unreported benzofurans, namely acumifurans A–C ( 1 – 3 ), along with five known compounds, 2‐(isopropyl‐1′‐ol)‐2,3‐dihydrobenzofuran‐5‐carbinol ( 4 ), fomannoxin alcohol ( 5 ), fomannoxin ( 6 ), acremine S ( 7 ) and cyclo(L ‐Pro‐L ‐Leu) ( 8 ), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extracts of the fermented broths of termite n est associated Xylaria acuminatilongissima YMJ623. Compound 4 , a synthe tic benzofuran analogue of 1 – 3 , was isolated for the first time from natural resources. The str uctures of 1 – 8 were determined through spectroscopic data analyses. The absolute configurations of 1 – 4 were established based mainly on ROESY experiment and Mosher’s reaction, and compared the optical rotation data with the literatures. The effects of these compounds on the inhibition of NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐activated murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells were also evaluated. Of the compounds tested, 6 showed a mild NO production inhibitory activity without any cytotoxicity, and its mean maximum inhibition (E_max) at 100 μM was 42.98±0.87 %.     

Nortriterpenoids from Schisandra wilsoniana

Three new highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids, wilsonianadilactones A–C ( 1 – 3 ), together with twelve known ones, i.e., 4 – 15 , were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra wilsoniana. Their structures were established by means of extensive analysis of spectroscopic data, and compound 1 was further confirmed by X‐ray crystallographic diffraction. Compounds 1 – 3 showed weak anti‐HIV‐1 activity with EC₅₀ values of 23.5, 55.5, and 66.4 μg/ml, respectively.     

Trichodermates A–F,New Cytotoxic Trichothecenes from the Plant Pathogenic Fungus Trichoderma sp.

Trichodermates A – F ( 1 – 6 , resp.), six new trichothecene polyunsaturated octadioic acid esters, and (?)‐harzianum B ( 7 ) were isolated from the fermentation extract of Trichoderma sp., a plant pathogenic fungus isolated from stem rot of an unidentified tree in Thailand. The structures of 1 – 7 were elucidated by NMR experiments. The absolute configuration at C(12) in 3 was assigned by in situ dimolybdenum circular dichroism method, whereas that in 7 was deduced after hydrolysis of 7 to 8 via modified Mosher's method. Compounds 1 and 2 showed modest cytotoxic activities against the K562 (human myelogenous leukemia) cell line with IC₅₀ values of 12.12 and 13.08 μM , respectively.     

Purines. Part XVI

A series of N‐substituted 8‐aminoxanthines (=8‐amino‐3,7(or 3,9)‐dihydro‐1H‐purine‐2,6‐diones) 8 – 16 and 34 – 37 were synthesized from the corresponding 8‐nitroxanthines 1 – 7, 30 – 33 , and 8‐(phenylazo)xanthines 17 and 18 by catalytic reduction. Another approach was derived from 6‐amino‐5‐(cyanoamino)uracils (=N‐(6‐amino‐1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐2,4‐dioxopyrimidin‐5‐yl)cyanamides) 23, 24 , and 27 by base‐catalyzed cyclization yielding 25 – 28 . All 8‐aminoxanthines 8 – 29 and 34 – 37 were acetylated to the corresponding 8‐(acetylamino)xanthines 40 – 57 , and prolonged heating led to 8‐(diacetylamino)xanthines 58 and 59 . Several 8‐aminoxanthines 8 – 13 were diazotized forming 8‐diazoxanthines 60 – 64 . Coupling reactions of isolated 62 and 64 and intermediary formed 8‐diazoxanthines with 1,3‐dimethylbarbituric acid (=1,3‐dimethylpyrimidine‐2,4,6(1H,3H,5H)‐trione; 66 ) resulted in 5‐[(xanthin‐8‐yl)diazenyl]‐1,3‐dimethylbarbituric acids=3,7(or 3,9)‐dihydro‐8‐[2‐(1,2,3,4‐tetrahydro‐1,3‐dimethyl‐2,4‐dioxopyrimidin‐5‐yl)diazenyl]‐1H‐purine‐2,6‐diones) 67 – 80 . The newly synthesized xanthine derivatives were characterized by the determination of their pK_a values, the UV‐ and NMR spectra, as well as elemental analyses.     

Four New Nortriterpenoids from Schisandra lancifolia

Four new highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids, lancifodilactones O–R ( 1 – 4 ), together with six known ones, i.e., 5 – 10 , were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra lancifolia. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR experiments and mass spectrometry. Compounds 1 – 3 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against NB4, A549, SHSY5Y, PC‐3, and MCF‐7 cell lines. No compounds exhibited significant cytotoxicity, the IC₅₀ values being above 50 μM .     

Four New Cuparene‐Type Sesquiterpenes from Flammulina velutipes

Flamvelutpenoids A–D ( 1 – 4 ), four new cuparene‐type sesquiterpenes, were isolated from the solid culture of Flammulina velutipes. Their structures were elucidated by NMR experiments. The absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were assigned via the circular dichroism data of the [Rh₂(OCOCF₃)₄] complex, whereas that of C(3) of 3 was determined by applying the octant rule for the α,β‐unsaturated ketone moiety. Compounds 1 – 4 showed weak antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus with MIC values larger than 100 μM .     

Six New Sesquiterpenes from Eupatorium lindleyanum

The six new germacrane‐type sesquiterpenoid lactones 1 – 6 were isolated from the CHCl₃ extract of Eupatorium lindleyanum DC. The structures of these compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses, including interpretation of 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectra. Compounds 1 – 6 were tested for cytotoxicity against NB4 and K562 leukemia cell lines, showing that 2 and 5 possess potent cytotoxicity (Table 3).     

Four New Diterpenoids from Ballota limbata

Six diterpenoids ( 1 – 6 ) belonging to the clerodane and tetracyclic diterpene types were isolated from the CHCl₃ extract of Ballota limbata. The structures of the new compounds 1 and 4 – 6 (named ballatenolide A and limbatenolides A–C, resp.) were established by their spectral data, and their relative configuration was determined by 2D NMR. Compounds 2 and 3 were identified as known clerodanes. Compound 1 had a unique feature, i.e., an α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactone moiety at C(4)/C(6), whereas limbatenolides A–C ( 4 – 6 ) belonged to the rare class of tetracyclic diterpenoids, which are known to occur only in the genus Ballota. All of the isolated compounds showed inhibitory potential in a cholinesterase‐inhibition assay.     

Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloids Bearing an N4‐Iridoid from Gelsemium elegans

Five new alkaloids, gelseganines A–D ( 1 – 4 ) and humantenine N₄‐oxide ( 5 ), were isolated from the stems and leaves of Gelsemium elegans. Compounds 1 – 4 represent a rare class of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids that bear an N₄‐iridoid unit. The structures of 1 – 5 were determined by spectroscopic analysis, single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction, and chemical correlation, and their absolute configurations were elucidated by CD analysis. A plausible biogenetic pathway for alkaloids 1 – 5 was also postulated.     

Three New Alkaloids from the Leaves of Uncaria rhynchophylla

Three new alkaloids, 2′‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosyl‐11‐hydroxyvincoside lactam ( 1 ), 22‐O‐demethyl‐22‐O‐β‐D ‐glucopyranosylisocorynoxeine ( 2 ), and (4S)‐corynoxeine N‐oxide ( 3 ) were isolated from the leaves of Uncaria rhynchophylla, together with four known tetracyclic oxindole or indole alkaloids, isocorynoxeine N‐oxide ( 4 ), rhynchophylline N‐oxide ( 5 ), isorhynchophylline N‐oxide ( 6 ), and dihydrocorynantheine ( 7 ), and an indole alkaloid glycoside, strictosidine ( 8 ). The structures of 1 – 3 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including UV, IR, ESI‐TOF‐MS, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR, as well as CD experiments. The activity assay showed that 8 (IC₅₀=8.3 μM ) exhibited potent inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide(LPS)‐induced nitrogen monoxide (NO) release in N9 microglia cells. However, only weak inhibitory activities were observed for 1 – 7 (IC₅₀>100 μM for 1 – 6 or >30 μM for 7 ).     

Engyodontochones,Antibiotic Polyketides from the Marine Fungus Engyodontium album Strain LF069

Six new ( 2 , 4 – 8 ) and two known polyketides with a basic structure of an anthraquinone‐xanthone were isolated from mycelia and culture broth of the fungus Engyodontium album strain LF069. The structures and relative configurations of these compounds were established by spectroscopic means, and their absolute configurations were defined mainly by comparison of quantum chemical TDDFT calculated and experimental ECD spectra. Compounds 2 and 4 – 8 were given the trivial names engyodontochone A ( 2 ) and B–F ( 4 – 8 ). Compounds 5 – 8 represent the first example of a 23,28 seco‐beticolin carbon skeleton. The relative and absolute configurations of two known substances JBIR‐97/98 ( 1 ) and JBIR‐99 ( 3 ) were determined for the first time. All isolated compounds were subjected to bioactivity assays. Compounds 1 – 4 exhibited inhibitory activity against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) that was 10‐fold stronger than chloramphenicol.     

Regioselectivity of the 1,3‐Oxathiolane Formation in the Lewis Acid‐Catalyzed Reaction of Thioketones with Asymmetrically Substituted Oxiranes

The reactions of the aromatic thioketone 4,4′‐dimethoxythiobenzophenone ( 1 ) with three monosubstituted oxiranes 3a – c in the presence of BF₃⋅Et₂O or SnCl₄ in dry CH₂Cl₂ led to the corresponding 1 : 1 adducts, i.e., 1,3‐oxathiolanes 4a – b with R at C(5) and 8c with Ph at C(4). In addition, 1,3‐dioxolanes 7a and 7c , and the unexpected 1 : 2 adducts 6a – b were obtained (Scheme 2 and Table 1). In the case of the aliphatic, nonenolizable thioketone 1,1,3,3‐tetramethylindane‐2‐thione ( 2 ) and 3a – c with BF₃⋅Et₂O as catalyst, only 1 : 1 adducts, i.e. 1,3‐oxathiolanes 10a – b with R at C(5) and 11a – c with R or Ph at C(4), were formed (Scheme 6 and Table 2). In control experiments, the 1 : 1 adducts 4a and 4b were treated with 2‐methyloxirane ( 3a ) in the presence of BF₃⋅Et₂O to yield the 1 : 2 adduct 6a and 1 : 1 : 1 adduct 9 , respectively (Scheme 5). The structures of 6a , 8c , 10a , 11a , and 11c were confirmed by X‐ray crystallography (Figs. 1 – 5). The results described in the present paper show that alkyl and aryl substituents have significant influence upon the regioselectivity in the process of the ring opening of the complexed oxirane by the nucleophilic attack of the thiocarbonyl S‐atom: the preferred nucleophilic attack occurs at C(3) of alkyl‐substituted oxiranes (O−C(3) cleavage) but at C(2) of phenyloxirane (O−C(2) cleavage).     

Cephalotanins A–D,Four Norditerpenoids Represent Three Highly Rigid Carbon Skeletons from Cephalotaxus sinensis

Four polycyclic norditerpenoids, cephalotanins A–D ( 1 – 4 ) representing three unprecedented carbon skeletons with highly rigid ring systems, were isolated from Cephalotaxus sinensis and structurally characterized by a combination of various methods. Compounds 1 and 2 are new skeletal norditerpenoid trilactones, while 3 and 4 are two norditerpenoids featuring different new carbon skeletons. Biosynthetic pathways for 1 – 4 were proposed by involving diverse and very fascinating chemical events with the coexisting cephalotane troponoids as the precursors. Compound 1 exhibited good NF‐κB inhibition with an IC₅₀ value of 4.12±0.61 μΜ.     

华泽兰的七个新的倍半萜

Seven new sesquiterpenoids, namely eupatochinilides Ⅰ-Ⅶ （1-7）, together with eight known compounds, euponin （8）, mollisorin A （9）, niveusin B （10）, 8β-（4＇-acetoxy-tiglyloxy）-3β-hydroxy-6Hβ,7Hα-germacra-1（10）E,4E,11（13）-trien-6,12-olide （11）, eupalinifide B （12）, 8β-（4＇-hydroxytigloyloxy）-5-desoxy-8-desacyleuparotin （13）, 3-deacetyeupalinin A （14）, and 15-hydroxyleptocarpin （15）, were isolated from the ethanolic extract of the whole plant of Eupatorium chinense L. Their structures and stereochemistry were established by spectroscopic methods and GIAO based ^13C NMR chemical shift calculations.     

Five New C19‐Diterpenoid Alkaloids from Aconitum hemsleyanum

Five new C₁₉‐diterpenoid alkaloids, named hemsleyaconitines A–E ( 1 – 5 , resp.), were isolated from Aconitum hemsleyanum Pritz. By UV, IR, MS, 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses, their structures were elucidated as 18‐dehydroxygeniculatine D ( 1 ), 6‐hydroxy‐14‐O‐veratroylneoline ( 2 ), 14‐O‐acetyl‐8‐ethoxysachaconitine ( 3 ), 18‐veratroylkaracoline ( 4 ) and 8‐O‐ethylaustroconitine B ( 5 ).     

A Series of New Eu/Tb Mixed MOFs with Tunable Color Luminescence

Two isostructural lanthanide metal‐organic frameworks [Ln‐MOFs, Ln = Tb ( 1 ), Eu ( 8 )] containing oxalic acid ligand with green, red luminescence were solvothermally synthesized. A series of Eu/Tb mixed MOFs ( 2 – 7 ), (C₅H₆N)₂[Eu_xTb_2–x(H₂O)₂(C₂O₄)₄] · 2H₂O, were designed and obtained, which displayed highly tunable luminescence color by adjusting the excitation wavelength. Complexes 1 – 8 were characterized by IR, elemental analysis, ICP, powder XRD, and TG measurements. The quantum yields of the complexes 1 – 8 range from 6.89 to 4.15 %, whereas the fluorescence lifetime of 1 – 8 varies between 1.12 and 0.87 ms. Therefore, with the increase of the molar ratio of Eu, the quantum yields and fluorescence lifetime of the complexes 1 – 8 gradually decrease.     

Dipeptide Derivatives with a Phosphonate Instead of Carboxylate Terminus by C-Alkylation of Protected (Decarboxy-dipeptidyl)phosphonates

Z-Protected diphenyl (decarboxy-dipeptidyl)phosphonates 5a - c with a (decarboxysarcosinyl)phosphonate moiety are prepared from Z-L-alanine ( 1a ). Z-L-valine ( 1b ), and Z-L-phenylalanine ( 1c ) by the following series of steps: coupling with methyl sarcosinate (→ 2a – c ), saponification (→ 3a – c ), Hofer-Moest oxidative decarboxyiation by electrolysis in MeOH (→ 4a – c ), and Arbuzov reaction with P(OPh)₃/TiCl₄ (Scheme 3). Double deprotonation and alkylation lead to non-stereoselective incorporation of side chains next to the phosphonate group (products of type 6 – 8 , nine examples, see Scheme 4). In the cases of 6a – c and 8c , the diastereoisomers could be separated and the configuration of the newly formed stereogenic center deduced. We assign the L,D-configuration to the diastereoisomers for which the ³¹ P-NMR signal appears at higher field.