A convenient enantioselective synthesis of 3-asymmetrically substituted oxindoles as progesterone receptor antagonists

A convenient enantioselective synthesis of 3-asymmetrically substituted oxindoles is reported. Compound (2) prepared by radical cyclisation of (1) was used for the synthesis of racemic and enantiomerically pure 3-asymmetrically substituted oxindoles. Desulfurisation of (2) using Raney Ni yielded the racemate (5). Addition of (S)-1-phenylethanol to compound (2) yielded the diastereoisomer (21) the structure of which was determined using X-ray crystallography. Using a sequence of steps (21) was converted to the enantiomer (8). The enantiomer (9) was similarly prepared from (2) using (R)-1-phenylethanol.     

Preparation of a new 1,2,3-trithiolane, trans-9,10,11-trithiabicyclo[6.3.0]undecane, and its oxidation reactions

The reaction of trans-cyclooctene with S₈O yielded a novel bicyclic 1,2,3-trithiolane and trans-9,10,11-trithiabicyclo[6.3.0]undecane (7). Oxidation of the trithiolane with dimethyldioxirane yielded three monoxides, which are assigned to two isomeric 9-oxides, rel-(1R,8R,9S)-9-oxide (15) and rel-(1R,8R,9R)-9-oxide (16), and 10-oxide (17). Further oxidation of rel-(1R,8R,9S)-9-oxide (15) provided rel-(1R,8R,9S,11S)-9,11-dioxide (18) and rel-(1R,8R,9R,11S)-9,11-dioxide (19), while that of rel-(1R,8R,9R)-9-oxide (16) gave rel-(1R,8R,9R,11S)-9,11-dioxide (19) and rel-(1R,8R,9R,11R)-9,11-dioxide (20). The structures of 18 and 19 were determined by X-ray crystallography. The structures of other oxides were elucidated by the spectroscopic data and results of further chemical transformations. Two isomers, 15 and 16, isomerized to one another. A 9,11-dioxide 20 isomerized to 19, which is in equilibrium with 18, where 18 is thermodynamically the most stable isomer.     

Synthesis of ‘thianthrene dimer’ by the coupling reaction of stannylthianthrenes in the presence of copper catalysts

The coupling reaction of 1-tributylstannylthianthrene (5) and 2-tributylstannylthianthrene (7) in the presence of copper catalysts at rt afforded the thianthrene dimer 1,1′-bithianthrene (3), 2,2′-bithianthrene (8), and 1,2′-dithianthrene (9) in high yields. Also we obtained thianthrene oxide dimer (R,R) (S,S)-1-(10-S-monoxythianthrene-1-yl)thianthrene-10-S-monoxide (12) and (R,S) (S,R)-1-(10-S-monoxythianthrene-1-yl)thianthrene-10-S-monoxide (13) from 1-tributylstannyl-10-S-monoxythianthrene (10) under the same reaction condition. The final structural conformation of 3, 8, 9, and 12 was performed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. Further, the solvent effects in the coupling reactions were also examined.     

Convenient synthesis of a marine cyclopentanoid: untenone A

(±)-Untenone A, one of the marine cyclopentanoids, has been conveniently synthesized via (±)-cis-1-hexadecylcyclopent-2-en-1,4-diol 9 which has been produced from 1-hexadecylcyclopenta-1,3-diene 6 via photo-oxidation and the following reduction. The key step of the present synthesis is the selective alkylation of cyclopenta-1,3-diene to form 6. Optically active (−)- and (+)-untenone A have been prepared from (−)- and (+)-9, respectively, after enzymatic kinetic resolution of (±)-9.     

Separation and identification of three epimeric pairs of new C-glucosyl anthrones from Rumex dentatus by on-line high performance liquid chromatography–circular dichroism analysis

Six C-glucosyl anthrones were characterized as three pairs of epimers by on-line high performance liquid chromatography–circular dichroism (HPLC–CD) analysis and isolated from the roots of Rumex dentatus by column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic spectroscopy and HPLC–CD analysis. They are 10R-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxyemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide E, 1) and 10S-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxyemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide F, 2), 10R-C-β-d-glucosylemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide G, 3) and 10S-C-β-d-glucosylemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide H, 4), 10S-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxychrysophanol-9-anthrone (cassialoin, 5) and 10R-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxychrysophanol-9-anthrone (rumejaposide I, 6). Rumejaposides F–I (2–4 and 6) were new C-glucosyl anthrones. Rumejaposide E (1) and cassialoin (5) were isolated for the first time in Rumex plants. On-line HPLC–UV–CD analysis was a useful tool for structure elucidating epimeric C-glycosides anthrones 3–6 because of the poor stability of the pure isomers (3 and 4) and the minute quantity of 5 and 6 in the mixture.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 1-deoxynojirimycin and its congeners from a common chiral building block

A new, promising chiral building block 9 for the synthesis of 1-deoxy-4,5-trans-oriented azasugars such as 1-deoxynojirimycin (1) was prepared in only four steps from the Garner aldehyde 10 using catalytic ring-closing metathesis (RCM) for the construction of the piperidine ring. In practical test, the first synthesis of all four isomers (1 and 6-8) of trans-4,5-orientated 1-deoxyiminosugars using 9 as a common chiral building block was demonstrated.     

Preparation of new pyrido[3,4-b]thienopyrroles and pyrido[4,3-e]thienopyridazines

Two new types of pyrido-fused tris-heterocycles (1a,b and 2a,b) have been prepared from 3-aminopyridine in five/six steps. A synthetic strategy for the preparation of the novel pyrido[3,4-b]thieno[2,3- and 3,2-d]pyrroles (1a,b) and pyrido[4,3-e]thieno[2,3- and 3,2-c]pyridazines (2a,b) has been studied. The Suzuki cross coupling of the appropriate 2- and 3-thienoboronic acids (3,4) and 4-bromo-3-pyridylpivaloylamide (9) afforded the biaryl coupling products (10,11) in high yields (85%). Diazotization of the hydrolysed (2-thienyl)-coupling product (12) and azide substitution gave the 3-azido-4-(2-thienyl)pyridine intermediate (72%, 14). 3-Azido-4-(3-thienyl)pyridine (15) was prepared by exchanging the previous order of reactions. The desired β-carboline thiophene analogues (1a,b) were obtained via the nitrene by thermal decomposition of the azido precursors (14,15). By optimising conditions for intramolecular diazocoupling, the corresponding pyridazine products (72-83%, 2a,b) were afforded.     

Photobehaviour of 2- and 3-heteroaryl substituted o-divinylbenzenes; formation of fused 2,3- and 3,2-heteroareno-benzobicyclo[3.2.1]octadienes and 3-heteroaryl benzobicyclo[2.1.1]hexenes

New β-3-thienyl (8) and β-3-furyl derivatives of o-divinylbenzene (9) have been synthesised and their photochemical behaviour compared with 2-thienyl (7) and 2-furyl derivatives (2). Whereas the β-(2-heteroaryl) substituted o-divinylbenzenes (7 or 2) give only bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene structure (14 or 1) by 1,6-ring closure of the biradical intermediate, β-(3-heteroaryl) substituted o-divinylbenzenes (8 or 9) give bicyclo[3.2.1]octadiene structure (23 or 24) and bicyclo[2.1.1]hexene structure (25 or 26) by 1,6- and 1,4-ring closure, respectively. This photochemical approach provides a simple method to 2,3- and 3,2-fused thiophene and furan polycyclic compounds.     

Ring transformation of chromone-3-carboxamide

4-Hydroxycoumarin-3-carboxaldehyde (5) was obtained from chromone-3-carboxaldehyde (1) via chromone-3-carboxamide (2) and 3-aminomethylene-2H-chroman-2,4-dione (3). 3-Alkylaminomethylenechroman-2,4-diones (7,8) were obtained from the reaction of primary aliphatic amines with chromone-3-carboxamide (2). Treatment of chromone-3-carboxamide with sodium methoxide gives 3-(2-hydroxybenzoyl)-2H-chromeno[2,3-b]pyridine-2,5(1H)-dione (9).     

Syntheses and bioactivities of tricyclic pyrones

In search of compounds that ameliorate the toxicity of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides, new derivatives of tricyclic pyrones (1-7) were synthesized and their biological activities evaluated. The carboxylic ester and amide derivatives 1-4 were synthesized from a selective carboxylation of C3 methyl of (5aS,7S)-{7-Isopropenyl-3-methyl-1H,7H-5a,6,8,9-tetrahydro-1-oxopyrano[4,3-b][1]benzopyran (8) with LDA followed by benzyl chloroformate or carbon dioxide to provide ester 1 and carboxylic acid 9, respectively. Three isomeric tricyclic pyrone, 5-7, containing adenine moiety at C7 side chain were synthesized from the alkylation of mesylate 13 with adenine, and displacement of chloropurine 15 with amine 14. Although C3-benzyloxycarbonylmethyl analogs 1-3 have marginal ACAT and CETP activities, their modified aspartate analog 4 and C3-methyl-C7-(N3-adeninyl)-2-propyl analog 6 show a significant effect in protecting against neuron-cell death from the toxicity of intracellular accumulation of Aβ or Aβ-containing C-terminal fragments (CTF) of amyloid β precursor protein (APP). N9-Adenine analog 5 is 20-fold less effective than N3-adenine derivative 6 in the protection of neuron-cell death induced by Aβ, while N10-adenine analog 7 was inactive. As a result of this study, compounds 4 and 6 will well serve as lead compounds for further studies of the mechanism of action of Aβ-and CTF-induced neuron-cell death, studies which should enhance the future development of new drugs for the prevention and treatment of AD.     

Diastereoselective route to (2R,5S)- and (2S,5S)-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane, a pheromone component of the wasp Paravespula vulgaris

A diastereoselective approach to (2R,5S)- and (2S,5S)-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane 1 and 1a is described. The route starts with an alkylation reaction among the cyclopentanone N,N-dimethylhydrazone 6 and the chiral iodides (R)-3 or (S)-3, derived from the enantiomers of ethyl β-hydroxybutyrate, controlling the estereocenter at C-2 of the molecules. The alkylated products 7 and 7a were easily transformed into the 1,8-O-TBS-1,8-dihydroxy-5-nonanones 9 and 9a in four steps, and a subsequent stereoselective spiroketalization, in acidic media, afforded a Z:E mixture (1:2) of compounds 1 and 1a.     

Highly stereoselective synthesis of para-substituted (E)-N-styrylcarbazoles via sequential silylative coupling-Hiyama coupling reaction

A series of new para-substituted (E)-(N)-styrylcarbazoles, i.e., eight (E)-9-[2-(aryl)ethenyl]-9H-carbazoles (5-12) and 1,4-bis[(E)-2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)vinyl]benzene (13), have been synthesized in high yield and stereoselectively by a sequential silylative coupling-Hiyama coupling reaction, i.e., coupling of commercially available 9-vinylcarbazole with vinyltriethoxysilane or divinyltetramethyldisiloxane in the presence of [RuHCl(CO)(PCy₃)₂] (I), followed by Pd (II) catalyzed cross-coupling with para-substituted iodobenzenes.The tandem procedure has facilitated the synthesis of 13. X-ray structures of the intermediate silylvinylcarbazole (4), as well as products 12 and 13 have been obtained.     

Efficient and regioselective chromium(0)-catalyzed reaction of 2-substituted furans with diazo compounds: stereoselective synthesis of (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters

Pentacarbonyl(η²-cis-cyclooctene)chromium(0) (1) catalyzes efficiently reactions of diazo compounds with electron-rich furans. The reaction of 2-methoxyfuran (2) with alkyl α-diazoarylacetate (3a-g) furnishes the (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters (4a-g) in excellent yields. These reactions are highly regioselective. The cyclopropanation intermediates formed from 1 and diazo compounds 3a-g always arise from a carbene addition to the less substituted CC bond of 2. The resulting cyclopropanation product undergoes a ring opening reaction to form the corresponding (2E,4Z)-2-aryl-hexadienedioic acid diesters (4a-g). The pentacarbonylchromium(0)-catalyzed reactions of 2-alkylfuran (5a-b) with ethyl α-diazophenylacetate (3a) and 9-diazo-9H-fluorene (3h) produce the 1(E),3(E)-butadienes (6a-d) in very good yields.     

Enantioselective syntheses of two 5, 9E diastereomers of 223V, an alkaloid from the poison frog Dendrobates pumilio

Enantioselective syntheses of two 5, 9E diastereomers (1 and 2) of 223V (3) are described. Neither corresponded on GC-MS and GC-FTIR analyses to alkaloid 223I, previously tentatively proposed to be a 5,8-disubstituted indolizidine of the unusual 5, 9E relative stereochemistry. Synthetic (−)-(5, 9Z)-5-n-propyl-8-n-butylindolizidine (3) corresponds on GC-MS and GC-FTIR analyses to the natural indolizidine 223V found in a pumilio from ‘Split Hill’, Panama.     

Synthesis and structural characterization of rac-2-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]ferrocenecarboxylic acid, its selected derivatives and some rhodium complexes

rac-2-[(Diphenylphosphino)methyl]ferrocenecarboxylic acid (1) was prepared in a good yield from rac-2-(N,N-dimethylaminomethyl)bromoferrocene (2) via rac-2-(hydroxymethyl)bromoferrocene (4) and rac-2-[(diphenylphosphino)methyl]bromoferrocene (5), and further converted to the respective phosphine oxide (6), phosphine sulfide (7) and methyl ester (8). The phosphines 1 and 8 were studied as ligands in rhodium complexes. The reaction of di-μ-chloro-bis[chloro-(η⁵-pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)rhodium(III)] with the stoichiometric amounts of 1 and 8 yielded the corresponding mononuclear complexes with P-monodentate ligands: [RhC₂(η⁵-C₅Me₅)(L-κP)], 9 and 10, respectively. Attempted deprotonation of 9 with LiBu or KOt-Bu gave intractable mixtures, in which the parent complex 9 as the major component was accompanied by two new compounds, likely the diastereoizomeric phosphinocarboxylate complexes. A defined O,P-chelating phosphinocarboxylate complex, [SP-4-2]-carbonyl-[rac-2-{(diphenylphosphino)methyl}ferrocenecarboxylato-κ²O,P]-tricyclohexylphosphinerhodium(I) (12), was obtained from the displacement of acetylacetonate(1−) (acac) ligand in [Rh(acac)(CO)(PCy₃)] (Cy = cyclohexyl) with acid 1. The structures of 1, 6 · CHCl₃, and 7 · 1/2 CH₂Cl₂, 10, and hydrated complexes 9 and 12 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction.     

Syntheses of methylene-bridged ansa-zirconocene complexes and copolymerization studies of ethylene and norbornene

Methylene-bridged ansa-metallocene complexes bearing substituents on the cyclopentadienyl (Cp) and fluorenyl (Flu) moieties, namely methylene[9-(2,7-di-tert-butyl)fluorenyl(2-(1,3-dimethylcyclopentadienyl))]zirconium dichloride (1a) and its analogue, methylene[(9-(2,7-di-tert-butyl)fluorenyl(2-(1-methyl-3-phenyl)cyclopentadienyl))]zirconium dichloride (2a), have been prepared from (2,7-di-tert-butyl)-9-prop-2-ynyl-9H-fluorene (2). This procedure includes the use of 3-bromo-1-propyne which affords the methylene bridging unit by way of an intermolecular Pauson-Khand reaction in which norbornadiene and a pendant alkyne cyclize to form a ring that later becomes a substituted cyclopentadienyl group. Ethylene-norbornene (E-N) copolymerization was then carried out using these new complexes (1a and 1b) in the presence of methylaluminoxane (MAO) as a cocatalyst; these activities can be compared to that of isopropylene[9-fluorenyl-cyclopentadienyl]zirconium dichloride (3a). The activity of catalyst 1a was comparable to that of 3a but much higher than that of 2a. In addition, 1a shows higher norbornene insertion performance, and gives an E-N copolymer with a higher glass transition temperature (T_g) than 2a under identical conditions; both 1a and 2a give a lower T_g polymer than 3a does.     

Synthesis of new tetracyclic 7-oxo-pyrido[3,2,1-de]acridine derivatives

A series of (±)3-hydroxyl- and 2,3-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydro-7-oxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridines were synthesized for antitumor evaluation. These agents can be considered as analogues of glyfoline or (±)1,2-dihydroxyacronycine derivatives. The key intermediates, 3,7-dioxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridines (15a,b or 24a,b), for constructing the target compounds were synthesized either from 3-(N,N-diphenylamino)propionic acid (14a,b) by treating with Eaton’s reagent (P₂O₅/MsOH) (Method 1) or from (9-oxo-9H-acridin-10-yl)propionic acid (23a-c) via ring cyclization under the same reaction conditions (Method 2). Compounds 15a,b and 24a,b were converted into (±)3-hydroxy derivatives (25a-d), which were then further transformed into pyrido[3,2,1-de]acridin-7-one (28a-d) by treating with methanesulfonic anhydride in pyridine via dehydration. 1,2-Dihydroxylation of 28a-d afforded (±)cis-2,3-dihydroxy-7-oxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridine (29a-d). Derivatives of (±)3-hydroxy (25a,b) and (±)cis-2,3-dihydroxy (29a-d) were further converted into their O-acetyl congeners 26a,b and 30a-d, respectively. We also synthesized 2,3-cyclic carbonate (31, 32, and 33) from 29a-c. The anti-proliferative study revealed that these agents exhibited low cytotoxicity in inhibiting human lymphoblastic leukemia CCRF-CEM cell growth in culture.     

Stereochemical evaluation of sesquiterpene quinones from two sponges of the genus Dactylospongia and the implication for enantioselective processes in marine terpene biosynthesis

Silver nitrate flash chromatography of the organic extract from the sponge Dactylospongia elegans has led to the isolation of three new sesquiterpene quinones isohyatellaquinone (7), 7,8-dehydrocyclospongiaquinone-2 (8) and 9-epi-7,8-dehydrocyclospongiaquinone-2 (9) together with the known quinones dictyoceratidaquinone (6), mamanuthaquinone (10), ilimaquinone (11), hyatellaquinone (12) and the sesterterpene furospinosulin (22). The relative stereochemistry of dictyoceratidaquinone (6) is assigned on the basis of NOESY analysis. A second species of Dactylospongia, thought to be new to science, was found to contain ent-(7) together with the new quinone neomamanuthaquinone (13). The isolation of antipodal sesquiterpenes from closely related species has implications for the stereochemical evaluation of terpene metabolites. The biosynthetic processes in these marine sponges may involve terpene synthases that do not discriminate chiral substrates or may result from the presence of multiple terpene synthases, each with differing enantioselectivity.     

Synthesis and peptide coupling of protected 2-pyrrolylalanine

2-Pyrrolylalanine has been synthesized in two protected forms and applied in the solution-phase synthesis of a dipeptide. (2S)-N-(Boc)-N′-(phenylsulfonyl)- and (2S)-N,N′-bis-(phenylsulfonyl)-3-(2-pyrrolyl)alanines (7 and 9) were obtained, respectively, in 14% and 13% overall yields and six and seven steps from oxazolidine β-methyl ester 1, which was derived from l-aspartic acid. Homoallylic ketone 2 was obtained from a copper-catalyzed cascade addition of vinylmagnesium bromide to 1 and converted into pyrrolylalanines 7 and 9 by a sequence featuring subsequent olefin oxidation and Paal-Knorr condensation. Protected pyrrolylalanine 9 was then introduced into a dipeptide.     

Novel cyclopropyl diketones and 14-membered macrolides from the soil fungus Hamigera avellanea BCC 17816

Two novel cyclopropyl diketones, hamavellone A (1) and B (2), and two new 14-membered nonaketide macrolactones, hamigeromycin A (3) and B (4), together with six known compounds, 89-250904-F1 (radicicol analogue A, 5), pseurotin A (6), emodin (7), ω-hydroxyemodin (8), and emodin bianthrones (9 and 10) were isolated from the soil fungus Hamigera avellanea BCC 17816. The structures of the new compounds were defined by analysis of NMR and MS data. The absolute stereochemistry of 3 was addressed by chemical correlation to 5. Hamavellone B (2) exhibited antimalarial activity with an IC₅₀ of 5.2 μg/mL, whereas it also showed comparable cytotoxicity.