Metabolism of 24,25-dihydrolanosterol analogs by partially purified cytochrome P-450(14DM) from rat liver microsomes

27-Nor-24,25-dihydrolanosterol (27-nor-DHL), 26,27-dinor-24,25- dihydrolanosterol (26,27-dinor-DHL), and 25,26,27-trinor-24,25-dihydrolanosterol (25,26,27-trinor-DHL), analogs of 24,25-dihydrolanosterol (DHL) which have no C-27 carbon, C-26,27 carbons and C-25,26,27 carbons, were converted to the corresponding 14-demethylated products using a reconstituted monooxygenase system from rat liver microsomes which contained cytochrome P-450(14DM) catalyzing lanosterol 14-demethylation and reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-cytochrome P-450 reductase in the presence of NADPH and molecular oxygen. Each metabolite showed a relative retention time (RtR) of 0.72 with respect to each substrate in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) on a reversed-phase column. Comparison of each gas chromatography-mass spectrum and RtR value with those of the metabolite of DHL, 4,4-dimethyl-5 alpha-cholesta-8,14-dien-3 beta-ol, indicated that the metabolites could be inferred to be 27-nor-4,4-dimethyl-5 alpha-cholesta-8,14-dien-3 beta-ol, 26,27-dinor-4,4- dimethyl-5 alpha-cholesta-8,14-dien-3 beta-ol, and 25,26,27-trinor-4,4-dimethyl-5 alpha-cholesta-8,14-dien-3 beta-ol. However, 24,25,26,27-tetranor- and 23,24,25,26,27-pentanor analogs of DHL and 20-iso-24,25-dihydrolanosterol were not metabolized by the reconstituted enzyme system.     

Quantitation of lanosterol and its major metabolite FF-MAS in an inhibition assay of CYP51 by azoles with atmospheric pressure photoionization based LC-MS/MS

Azoles affect the steroid balance in all biological systems and may therefore be called endocrine disrupters. Lanosterol 14alpha-demethylase (CYP51) is an enzyme inhibited by azoles. Only few data have been reported showing their inhibitory potency since an assay in an in vitro system is not available so far. In the present work an inhibition assay using human recombinant CYP51, coexpressed with human P450 oxido-reductase by the baculovirus/insect cell expression system, and LC-MS/MS as analytical method is described. Atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) and atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) sources were used with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer to compare quantitation of lanosterol (substrate) and 4,4-dimethyl-5alpha-cholesta-8,14,24-triene-3beta-ol (FF-MAS) (product of CYP51) with d(6)-2,2,3,4,4,6-cholesterol (d(6)-cholesterol) as internal standard. Optimization of analytical parameters resulted in a LC-APPI-MS/MS method with a LOQ of 10 pg on column for FF-MAS. The sensitivity of the method (LOD 0.5 ng/ml) makes it possible to analyze supernatants of inhibition experiments after precipitation of proteins by isopropanol without any sample enrichment. The coefficient of variation of the analytical method was <20% (n = 5) for FF-MAS, lanosterol and d(6)-cholesterol. The external calibration curve was linear from 1 to 10,000 ng/ml with R(2) >/= 0.999 and an accuracy of 94-115%. Compared with APCI, APPI provides a ten- to 500-fold increase in sensitivity for the analytes in this study. IC(50) values of epoxiconazole and miconazole-two widely used azole fungicides used in agriculture and in human medicine, respectively-were 1.95 microM and 0.057 microM.     

Metabolism of 32-oxo-24,25-dihydrolanosterols by partially purified cytochrome P-450(14DM) from rat liver microsomes

Metabolism of 32-oxo-24,25-dihydrolanosterols (3 beta-hydroxylanost-8-en-32- al (4,delta 8-CHO) and 3 beta-hydroxylanost-7-en-32-al (5,delta 7-CHO)) was studied in a reconstituted system consisting of rat liver partially purified cytochrome P-450, which catalyzes lanosterol 14-demethylation (P-450(14DM)), and reduced nicotineamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-cytochrome P-450 reductase. The reconstituted system converted delta 8-CHO to 4,4-dimethyl-5 alpha-cholesta-8,14-dien-3 beta-ol (2, 8, 14-Diene), which corresponds to the 14-deformylated product. delta 7-CHO, the isomer of delta 8-CHO, was not converted to the corresponding 14-deformylated product. The apparent Km value of cytochrome P-450(14DM) for delta 8-CHO was about 1/20 of that for 24,25-dihydrolanosterol (1, DHL). The metabolism of delta 8-CHO was inhibited by 7-oxo-24,25-dihydrolanosterol (6, 7-oxo-DHL), which is a potent inhibitor of cholesterol biosynthesis from lanosterol or DHL. However, the metabolism of delta 8-CHO was less inhibited by 7-oxo-DHL than that of DHL.     

A new cytotoxic cholesterol sulfate from marine sponge Halichondria rugosa

A new steroid, 24xi,25-dimethyl-3alpha-hydroxyl-cholest-5-ene-2beta-ol sodium sulfate (1), together with a known steroid, 24xi,25-dimethyl-cholest-5-ene-2beta,3alpha-diol disodium sulfate (2), was isolated from the ethanol extract of marine sponge Halichondria rugosa. Their structures were elucidated on the base of spectroscopic analysis. Both compounds showed cytotoxicity to four human cancer cell lines (BEL-7402, HT-29, SPC-A1 and U-251) with IC(50) values between 6.5 and 23.1 microM.     

High-performance thin-layer chromatographic method for quantitative determination of 4alpha-methyl-24beta-ethyl-5alpha-cholesta-14,25-dien-3beta-ol, 24beta-ethylcholesta-5,9(11),22E-trien-3beta-ol, and betulinic acid in Clerodendrum inerme

A sensitive, selective, precise, and robust high-performance thin-layer chromatography method was developed and validated for analysis of two new recently isolated sterols, 4alpha-methyl-24beta-ethyl-5alpha-cholesta-14,25-dien-3beta-ol (1) and 24beta-ethylcholesta-5,9(11),22E-trien-3beta-ol (2), and a triterpene, betulinic acid (3), in Clerodendrum inerme extract. The method employed HPTLC plates precoated with silica gel 60F(254 )as the stationary phase. To achieve good separation, an optimised mobile phase consisting of toluene-acetone (94:06, v/v) was used (R(f )0.48, 0.34, and 0.22 for compounds 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Densitometric determination of the above compounds was carried out in reflection/absorption mode at 620 nm. Optimised chromatographic conditions provide well separated compact spots for the compounds 1, 2, and 3. The calibration curves were linear in the concentration range of 100-2500 ng/spot. The method was validated for precision, robustness, and recovery. The limits of detection and quantitation were 5, 6, and 10 microg/mL and 14, 18, and 29 microg/mL, respectively, for 1, 2, and 3. The method reported here is reproducible and convenient for quantitative analysis of these compounds in the aerial parts of C. inerme.     

Alpha-hydroxylation at C-15 and C-16 in cholesterol: synthesis of (25R)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,15alpha,26-triol and (25R)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,16alpha,26-triol from diosgenin

[reaction: see text] (25R)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,16alpha,26-triol 7b and (25R)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,15alpha,26-triol 10b were synthesized, via (25R)-5alpha-cholesta-3beta,16beta,26-triol 5a, from diosgenin 3 in 52% yield over six steps and 47% yield over eight steps, respectively. An efficient method for inversion of a C-16beta hydroxyl to the C-16alpha position and a short method for transposition of a C-16beta hydroxyl to the C-15alpha position via the unexpected beta-reduction of a C-15 ketone in a steroid are reported.     

Cytotoxic sterols from marine-derived fungus Pennicillium sp

A new sterol, ergosta-8(14), 22-diene-3,5,6,7-tetraol(3beta, 5alpha, 6beta, 7alpha, 22E) (1), together with four known sterols ergosta-8(9), 22-diene-3,5,6,7-tetraol (3beta, 5alpha, 6beta, 7alpha, 22E) (2), 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxy-24(S)-methylcholesta-6,22-diene-3beta-ol (3), 5alpha,8alpha-epidioxy-24(S)-methylcholesta-6,9(11), 22-triene-3beta-ol (4), 3beta,5alpha,9alpha-trihydroxyergosta-7,22-diene-6-one (5) was isolated from marine fungus Pennicillium sp. Their structures were determined based on chemical analysis and spectral methods (IR, 1D and 2D NMR, HR-FAB-MS). Compounds 1-5 were evaluated for cytotoxicity against human liver cancer cell (Hep G), and most of them exhibited potent activity. Compound 1 display the highest potency with IC50 values 10.4 microg mL-1.     

Structure Determination of the Products from the Acid-Catalyzed Condensation of Indole with Acetone

Four of the previously reported compounds obtained from the acid-catalyzed condensation of indole with acetone are now assigned the following structures: cis-4,4a,9,9a-tetrahydro-2-(1H-indol-3-yl)-4,4-dimethyl-3H-carbazole (2a), 1,1',4,4'-tetrahydro-1,1,1',1'-tetramethyl-3,3'(2H,2'H)-spirobi[cyclopent[b]indole] (4), 4,4a-dihydro-2-(3-1H-indolyl)-4,4-dimethyl-3H-carbazol-4a-ol (7), and 5-(2-aminophenyl)-1,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,1,4,4-tetramethylcyclopent[kl]acridine (8). The structure of the novel rearrangement product 8 was solved by an X-ray crystal structure determination. The two previously reported autoxidation products of 4 are now assigned the following structures: 1,3',4,4'-tetrahydro-1,1,4',4'-tetramethyl-cis-dispiro[cyclopent[b]indole-3(2H),2'(5'H)-furan-5',3"-[3H]-indol]-2"(1"H)-one (5) and 1,4-dihydro-1,1,5',5'-tetramethylspiro[cyclopent[b]indole-3(2H),3'(4'H)-1-benzazocine]-2'(1'H),6'(5'H)-dione (6).     

Sterol composition of a cultured marine dinoflagellate,Heterocapsa circularisquama

The composition of sterols was determined in a cultured marine dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama. Ten kinds of the sterol in H. circularisquama were identified by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The major sterol was a 4-methyl sterol, 4alpha,23,24-trimethyl-5alpha-cholest-22E-en-3beta-ol (dinosterol) which is the common sterol in many dinoflagellates.     

Photoaddition Reactions of 5-Fluoro-4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclopentenone

The photoaddition of 5-fluoro-4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclopentenone ( 4 ) to 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene leads specifically (in cyclohexane) and selectively (in acetonitrile) to the formation of the oxetanes 16 . The title compound is compared in its behaviour to the analogous 6-fluoro-4,4-dimethyl-2-cyclohexenone ( 1 ) and both α'-fluoro-4,4-dimethyl-2-cycloalkenones in turn are compared to the corresponding 2-cycloalkenones ( 6 and 3 ) and 4,4-dimethyl-2-cycloalkenones ( 5 and 2 ). The quantum yield for the addition of these enones to 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene and to cyclopentene are discussed.     

Herstellung und Reaktionen der valenzpolaromeren Verbindung (4,4-Dimethyl-2-thiazolin-5-dimethyliminium)-2-thiolat ⇌ (1-Dimethylthiocarbamoyl-1-methyl-äthyl)-isothiocyanat aus 3-Dimethyl-amino-2,2-dimethyl-2H-azirin und Schwefelkohlenstoff

Synthesis and reactions of the valence polaromeric compound (4,4-dimethyl-2-thiazoline-5-dimethyliminium)-2-thiolate ? 1-dimethylthiocarbamoyl-1-methyl-ethyl isothiocyanate from 3-dimethylamino-2,2-dimethyl-2H-azirine and carbon disulfide. 3-Dimethylamino-2,2-dimethyl-2H-azirine ( 1 ) reacts with carbon disulfide to give crystals which have the dipolar structure 3a [(4,4-dimethyl-2-thiazoline-5-dimethyliminium)-2-thiolate, Scheme 1]. In solution, the non-dipolar (charge-free) isomeric form 3b (1-Dimethyl-thiocarbamoyl-1-methyl-ethyl isothiocyanate) is almost exclusively populated. Reaction products are derived from both forms: Derivatives of 3a are the hydrolysis product 6 , the sodium borohydride reduction product 7 and the methylation products 9 and 10 , respectively (Scheme 2). The isothiocyanate form 3b is responsible for the various reaction products with amines (Scheme 3). One of the reaction products with ammonia, namely 20 , is also obtained by the reaction of 1 with thiocyanic acid. Thermolysis of the azirine/carbon disulfide adduct 3 leads to 2-dimethylamino-4,4-dimethyl-2-thiazoline-5-thione ( 17 ) in high yield. A possible mechanism is outlined in Scheme 4. The same compound is also formed by rearrangement of 3 under the catalytic influence of dimethylamine. Its structure has been established by X-ray crystallography (section 4). Again a rearrangement is involved in the reductive (NaBH₄) conversion of 17 to 7 , the direct reduction product of the dipolar species 3a (Scheme 5). The isothiocyanate form 3b is able to react with a second molecule of 3-dimethylamino-2,2-dimethyl-2H-azirine ( 1 ) to yield compound 25 , which in the crystalline or dissolved state appears to be almost entirely populated by the carbodiimide form with structure 25b (Scheme 7), though all reaction products of 25 (reduction with sodium borohydride, addition of water or hydrogen sulfide, Schemes 7 and 8) are derived from the dipolar form 25a , not detectable as such; here again therefore there is a dynamic equilibrium 25a ? 25b . The two forms of adduct 3 , namely 3a and 3b , are obviously very easily interconverted at room temperature and therefore can be considered as valence polaromeric forms (section 5). A classification of the dipolar (zwitterionic) form is given, which allows a comparison of various dipolar species and gives as indication of charge stabilization by delocalization. The versatile reactivity of the 3-dimethylamino-2,2-dimethyl-2H-azirine/carbon disulfide adduct is demonstrated by the fact that with simple reagents approximately 25 derivatives have been obtained, most of them being new heterocyclic compounds.     

Evaluation of the antiviral and antimicrobial activities of triterpenes isolated from Euphorbia segetalis

A phytochemical reinvestigation of the whole plant of Euphorbia segetalis yielded five tetracyclic triterpenes: 3beta-hydroxy-cycloart-25-en-24-one (1), cycloart-25-ene-3beta,24-diol (2), cycloart-23-ene-3beta,25-diol (3), lanosta-7,9(11),24-trien-3beta-ol (4) and lanosta-7,9(11),24(31)-trien-3beta-ol (5). beta-acetoxy-cycloart-25-en-24-one (1a) and glutinol (6), lupenone (7), dammaranodienol (9), cycloartenol acetate (10), 24-methylenecycloartanol acetate (11) and beta-sitosterol (12), isolated previously, were evaluated for their antiviral activities against Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and African swine fever virus (ASFV). Lupenone exhibited strong viral plaque inhibitory effect against HSV-1 and HSV-2. The in vitro antifungal and antibacterial activities of la, cycloart-23-ene-3beta,25-diol, 3-acetate (3a) and 6-12 were also investigated.     

Reactions of Methyl Esters of 1-(α-Bromoisobutyryl)cyclohexanecarboxylic or 3-(1-Bromocyclohexyl)-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxopropanoic Acids with Zinc and Arylglyoxal

Methyl esters of 1-(-bromoisobutyryl)cyclohexanecarboxylic or 3-(1-bromocyclohexyl)-2,2-dimethyl-3-oxopropanoic acids react with zinc and arylglyoxals to form 3-aroyl-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxaspiro[5.5]undecane-1,5-diones or 1-aroyl-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxaspiro[5.5]undecane-3,5-diones, respectively. The former products react with phenylhydrazine, yielding 3-[aryl(2-phenylhydrazono)methyl]-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxaspiro[5.5]undecane-1,5-diones.     

Synthesis of isoquinobenzodiazepinediones

1-(2′-Chloroacetylamino)-4,4-dimethyl-1,4-dihydro-3(2H)-isoquinolinone ( 3 ) was cyclised by treatment with sodium hydride in dimethyl sulphoxide containing 0.1 % of water to give 10,10-dimethyl-6,7,9,10-tetrahydro-5H,14bH-isoquino[2,1-d][1,4]benzodiazepine-6,9-dione ( 4 ) in a yield of 80%. In anhydrous dimethyl sulphoxide the main product of the reaction was 5-N-(4,4-dimethyl-1-phenyl-1,4-dihydro-3(2H)-isoquinolinon-1′-yl)isoquino[2,1-d][1,4]benzodiazepine-6,9-dione ( 5 ), which was also prepared by the reaction of 3 with 4 .     

Synthesis and characterization of novel dipeptide mimetics with hydantoin moiety

The synthesis of three novel 5,5-dimethylhydantoin derivatives 2-amino-N-(4,4-dimethyl-2,5-dioxoimidazolidin-1-yl)acetamide, 2-amino-N-(4,4-dimethyl-2,5-dioxoimidazol idin-1-yl)-3-phenylpropanamide, and 2-amino-4-methyl-N-(4,4-dimethyl-2,5-dioxoimidazol idin-1-yl) pentanamide, is reported. The newly synthesized compounds have been characterized by infrared (IR), MS, and NMR (¹H and ¹³C) spectra.     

Synthesis and alkylation of new functionally substituted 4,4-dimethylpiperidin-2-ones

The reaction of ethyl isopropylidenecyanoacetate with ethyl 3-amino-3-thioxopropanoate gave rise to ethyl 4,4-dimethyl-6-oxo-2-thioxo-5-cyanopiperidine-3-carboxylate whose alkylation provided ethyl 2-benzylsulfanyl-4,4-dimethyl-6-oxo-5-cyano-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-3-carboxylate, ethyl 5-benzyl-2-benzylsulfanyl-4,4-dimethyl-6-oxo-5-cyano-1,4,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-3-carboxylate, and ethyl 7,7-dimethyl-5-oxo-6-cyano-3,5,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyridine-8-carboxylate.     

Photocycloaddition of 2-Cyanocycloalk-2-Enones to 2, 3-Dimethylbut-2-Ene

Irradiation of 5,5-dimethyl-6-oxocyclohex- l-ene- l-carbonitrile ( 1 ) in the presence of 2,3-dimethylbut-2-ene afforded 3,3,4,4,7,7-hexamethyl-3,4,4a,5,6,7-hexahydroindeno[1,7-c,d]-],2-oxazole (3) in nearly quantitative yield. In contrast, 4,4-dimethyl-5-oxo-cyclopent-l-ene-l-carbonitrile ( 2 ) under the same conditions reacted not to a tricyclic isoxazole but to a 2:1 mixture of 3,3,6,6,7,7-hexamethyl-2-oxo-bicyclo[3.2.0]heptane-l-carbonitrile ( 4 ) and trans-3,3-dimethyl-2-oxo-5-(2,3-dimethylbut-3-en-2-yl)cyclopentane-l-carbonitrile ( 5 ), respectively.     

Novel Enone-benzene Rearrangement of 4,4-Dialkylcholest-5-en-3-ones to Ring-B Aromatic Steroidal Hydrocarbons Catalysed by p-Toluenesulfonic acid

Under acidic conditions, α,α-dimethyl-β,γ-unsaturated cyclohexanones undergoes an enone-benzene rearrangement leading to aromatic derivatives^1-4. We recently run an enone-benzene rearrangement of 4,4-dimethyl-cholest-5-en-3-one (1a) catalysed by montmorillonite K-10 to give 1,3,4-trimethyl-19-norcholesta-1,3,5(10)-triene (2a) in moderate yield accompanying intractable mixture of hydrocarbons as by products⁵. Repetition of this reaction by employing TsOH as a catalyst, 2a was obtained in 65% yield and a new product, 6-methyl-3-isopropyl-A,19-dinorcholesta-6,8,10(5)-triene (3a), was also isolated in 25% yield. The formation of 3a has not been reported in earlier studies^1-5. Herein we report the novel enone-benzene rearrangement of 4,4-dialkylcholest-5-en-3-ones (1a~d) leading to ring-B aromatic steroidal hydrocarbons (3a~d) catalysed by TsOH (Scheme 1).     

4,4-Dimethyl-1,4-thiasilinane and Its S-Functional Derivatives

Synthetic approaches to 4,4-dimethyl-1,4-thiasilinane and its S-functional derivatives, 4,4-dimethyl-1,4-thiasilinane S-oxide, 4,4-dimethyl-1,4-thiasilinane S,S-dioxide, 4,4-dimethyl- 1-(phenylsulfonylimino)-1,4-thiasilinane, and 1,4,4-trimethyl-1,4-thiasilinan-1-ylium iodide, were studied. The S-functional derivatives of 4,4-dimethyl-4-thiasilinane, unlike 3,3-dimethyl-3-thiasilinane, are hydrolytically stable.     

α-Lithiation and electrophilic substitution of 1,4,4-trimethyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-one

Treatment of 1,4,4-trimethyl-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2(1H)-one (2) with lithium diisopropylamide (LDA) followed by a wide range of electrophiles give the corresponding 4,4-dimethyl-3-substituted-3,4-dihydroquinolin-2-ones (3-13), providing a very mild electrophilic substitution of the 4,4-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline core.