Novel neoclerodane diterpene derivatives from the smoke of salvinorin A

Salvinorin A is a naturally occurring potent and selective kappa opioid receptor agonist, and smoking salvinorin A produces the most intense hallucinogenic effects in human. Eight neoclerodane diterpene derivatives were isolated from the smoke of salvinorin A, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods. The major structural changes include epimerizations, eliminations, and rearrangements.     

Revised structure of deacetyl-1,10-didehydrosalvinorin G

In comparison with the NMR data of salvinorin A and its 8-epimer, the published structure of deacetyl-1,10-didehydrosalvinorin G was revised to its 8-epimer. The stereochemistry of 8-epi-deacetyl-1,10-didehydrosalvinorin G was further confirmed by NOESY and chemical synthesis.     

A combined ligand-based and target-based drug design approach for G-protein coupled receptors: application to salvinorin A,a selective kappa opioid receptor agonist

Combined ligand-based and target-based drug design approaches provide a synergistic advantage over either method individually. Therefore, we set out to develop a powerful virtual screening model to identify novel molecular scaffolds as potential leads for the human KOP (hKOP) receptor employing a combined approach. Utilizing a set of recently reported derivatives of salvinorin A, a structurally unique KOP receptor agonist, a pharmacophore model was developed that consisted of two hydrogen bond acceptor and three hydrophobic features. The model was cross-validated by randomizing the data using the CatScramble technique. Further validation was carried out using a test set that performed well in classifying active and inactive molecules correctly. Simultaneously, a bovine rhodopsin based “agonist-bound” hKOP receptor model was also generated. The model provided more accurate information about the putative binding site of salvinorin A based ligands. Several protein structure-checking programs were used to validate the model. In addition, this model was in agreement with the mutation experiments carried out on KOP receptor. The predictive ability of the model was evaluated by docking a set of known KOP receptor agonists into the active site of this model. The docked scores correlated reasonably well with experimental pK _i values. It is hypothesized that the integration of these two independently generated models would enable a swift and reliable identification of new lead compounds that could reduce time and cost of hit finding within the drug discovery and development process, particularly in the case of GPCRs.Electronic supplementary material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at and is accessible for authorized users.     

Molybdenum amido complexes with single Mo-N bonds: synthesis,structure, and reactivity

Reactions of the complex [MoCl(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(2)(phen)] (1) (phen=1,10-phenanthroline) with potassium arylamides were used to synthesize the amido complexes [Mo(N(R)Ar)(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(2)(phen)] (R=H, Ar=Ph, 2 a; R=H, Ar=p-tolyl, 2 b; R=Me, Ar=Ph; 2 c). For 2 b the Mo-N(amido) bond length (2.105(4) A) is consistent with it being a single bond, with which the metal attains an 18-electron configuration. The reaction of 2 b with HOTf affords the amino complex [Mo(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(NH(2)(p-tol))(CO)(2)(phen)]OTf (3-OTf). Treatment of 3-OTf with nBuLi or KN(SiMe(3))(2) regenerates 2 b. The new amido complexes react with CS(2), arylisothiocyanates and maleic anhydride. A single product corresponding to the formal insertion of the electrophile into the Mo-N(amido) bond is obtained in each case. For maleic anhydride, ring opening accompanied the formation of the insertion product. The reaction of 2 b with maleimide affords [Mo(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)[NC(O)CH=CHC(O)](CO)(2)(phen)] (7), which results from simple acid-base metathesis. The reaction of 2 b with (p-tol)NCO affords [[Mo(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)(CO)(2)(phen)](2)(eta(2)-MoO(4))] (8), which corresponds to oxidation of one third of the metal atoms to Mo(VI). Complex 8 was also obtained in the reactions of 2 b with CO(2) or the lactide 3,6-dimethyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione. The structures of the compounds 2 b, 3-OTf, [Mo(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)[SC(S)(N(H)Ph)](CO)(2)(phen)] (4), [Mo(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)[SC(N(p-tol))(NH(p-tol))](CO)(2)(phen)] (5 a), and [Mo(eta(3)-C(3)H(4)-Me-2)[OC(O)CH=CHC(O)(NH(p-tol))](CO)(2)(phen)] (6), 7, and 8 (both the free complex and its N,N'-di(p-tolyl)urea adduct) were determined by X-ray diffraction.     

Total synthesis of trifluoromethylated analogs of macrosphelide A

Trifluoromethylated analogs of macrosphelide A 1 and 2 were designed and synthesized. The key segment 6 was efficiently constructed via a series of high stereoselective transformations from trifluoromethylated diol 8. Methoxymethylation of compound 9 with 1.0 equiv of sodium hydride gave optically pure compound 23a in 73% yield. From 23a a novel route was developed to prepare key segment 7. The condensation and macrolactonization were smoothly proceeded under our modified Keck's protocol.     

First efficient synthesis of novel oxophenyl-arcyriaflavin analogs

New oxophenylarcyriaflavins were synthesized in a few efficient steps. The key steps involved at first a palladium cross-coupling between the 3-bromo-4-(1H-indol-3-yl)1-methylpyrrole-2,5-dione and the 2-formylphenylboronic acid or a methyl 2-trialkylstannylbenzoate, followed by an intramolecular acylation in a C-2 indolic position. All the sequence was carried out without any indolic protective group.     

Short-step synthesis and structure-activity relationship of cortistatin A analogs

An improved method for synthesizing structurally simplified analogs of cortistatin A (1), a novel anti-angiogenic steroidal alkaloid from a marine sponge, was developed. In contrast to previous methods, step- and redox-economical synthesis was achieved using a known α-bromoketone as the starting material. The structure-activity relationship study revealed that the isoquinoline portion was strictly recognized by the target molecule. Surprisingly, the introduction of the acetamide moiety on the A-ring structure dramatically enhanced the selective antiproliferative activity against endothelial cells. This new method can be easily applied to gram-scale synthesis and enabled us to prepare various analogs, which were focused on the participation of the side chain and A-ring structure.     

Preparation of a new hydrophilic copolymer from a polylactone and the structure analyses

A new hydrophilic copolymer having three kinds of hydroxyl groups, i.e. primary OH on -hydroxy allyl alcohol component, secondary OH on cyclic hemiacetal component and tertiary OH on -hydroxy acrylate component, was prepared by reducing a ‘polylactone’, poly(1-oxa-2-oxobutane-1,4:3,3-tetrayl), with NaBH₄ in mixed solvents containing an alcohol. The structural analyses were performed by the solution ¹H NMR and the solid state ¹³C NMR spectroscopies of the reduced samples. The composition of the three components turned out to be variable to the alcohol species used for the mixed solvent.     

A novel synthesis of carbacyclin analogs via a stereoselective introduction of 15α-hydroxy group

(+/-)-6,9α-Methanoprostaglandin I₃, ($\text{2}$) and (+/-)-5,6-dihydro-6,9α-methano-6β-prostaglandin I₃, ($\text{4a}$) have been synthesized using a new method for the stereoselective introduction of the 15α-hydroxy group via a stereoselective electrophilic addition of phenyl-sulfenyl chloride to the enol ether ($\text{6}$) and ($\text{23}$) respectively.     

Asymmetric synthesis of passifloricin A: a correction in structure

The structure reported in the literature for the pharmacologically active, natural lactone passifloricin A (δ-lactone of 2Z,5R*S*,7R*,9S*,11S*-tetrahydroxyhexacos-2-enoic acid) is incorrect not only as regards stereochemical issues, but also in the placement of one of the hydroxyl groups of the side chain. By means of an unambiguous synthesis, passifloricin A is shown to be the δ-lactone of 2Z,5R,7S,9S,12S-tetrahydroxyhexacos-2-enoic acid. All of the stereogenic centres were created with the aid of Brown's asymmetric allylation methodology. The lactone ring was made via ring-closing metathesis.     

A novel method for the synthesis of sulfur substituted-cyclopyrophosphate of cADPR analogs

A facile and efficient protocol for the synthesis of sulfur substituted-cyclopyrophosphate of cIDPRE(P_S~1-cIDPRE) was developed.The key step was the cyclization process which was completed by the sulfur substituted cyclization precursor 1b via the one-pot phosphoramidite strategy.     

Synthesis of binzindene prostaglandins: a novel potent class of stable prostacyclin analogs

The phenols $\text{13}$, $\text{16}$, and $\text{21}$, produced with remarkable regioselectivity by the cyclization of compounds $\text{10}$ and $\text{12}$, have been converted to the benzindene prostaglandin analogs $\text{25}$, $\text{20}$, and $\text{24}$, respectively. Compounds $\text{24}$ and $\text{25}$ are potent prostacyclin mimics.     

A novel di-iron(III) structure based on an ageless ligand

Salen-type Schiff base ligands possess a N₂O₂ coordination site able to chelate transition metal ions. Reaction of such a ligand with FeCl₃·6H₂O leads to the formation of a genuine dinuclear L₃Fe₂ complex in which the ligand plays a double role. The structural determination confirms that each iron ion is wrapped up by a chelating tetradentate ligand while the third one ensures a bridge in between the two Fe ions and completes to six the metal coordination sphere. Such a bridge implies a non planar coordination of the chelating ligands and induces helicity around each metal ion. Crystals are true racemates made of homochiral Λ–Λ and Δ–Δ pairs. The magnetic study confirms the absence of a spin exchange interaction through the saturated diamino chain and the presence of an axial single ion zero field splitting (ZFS) D equal to −0.7 cm⁻¹. The Mössbauer spectra show a unique asymmetric quadrupole-split doublet with isomer shift values, δ, of 0.342(2), 0.438(2) and 0.450(2) mm s⁻¹, and quadrupole splittings, ΔE_Q, of 0.826(4), 0.836(4) and 0.827(4) mm s⁻¹ at 293, 80 and 4.5 K, respectively. These values are in agreement with a high-spin iron(III) site in a N₃O₃ ligand environment.     

Design and synthesis of novel type somatostatin analogs with antiproliferative activities on A431 tumor cells

It was reported that the somatostatin analog TT-232, d-Phe-c(Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Lys-Cys)-Thr-NH₂, exhibited a highly potent antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Using pyrazinone analogs and aliphatic amino acids instead of the disulfide bond, we prepared novel type somatostatin analogs including the sequence essential for antitumor activities, Tyr-d-Trp-Lys. These analogs exhibited antiproliferative effect on A431 tumor cells.     

A two-step synthesis of aminopropylpiperidines via aminopropargylpyridines, suitable for the synthesis of a new class of 5-HT4 ligands

A rapid and flexible synthetic approach to {[bis(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]propyl}piperidines 5 and related compounds is described. The key step is a three-component coupling process of 2-, 3- or 4-bromopyridine, propargyl bromide and potassium di-tert-butyliminodicarbonate under palladium-copper catalysis leading to 2-, 3- or 4-{[bis(tert-butoxycarbonyl)amino]-propargyl}pyridines 4 followed by a catalytic reduction step.     

Synthesis and structure of mononuclear copper(II) complexes with acyclic Schiff-base ligands containing organotellurium substituents: a comparative study with selenium analogs

Tellurium-bearing acyclic Schiff bases, 2,6-bis({N-[2-(phenyltellurato)ethyl]}benzimidoyl)-4-methylphenol (HL³ ) and 2,6-bis({N-[3-(phenyltellurato)propyl]}benzimidoyl)-4-methylphenol (HL⁴ ) of the Te₂N₂O type have been prepared by condensation of 4-methyl-2,6-dibenzoylphenol (mdbpH) with the appropriate phenyltellurato(alkyl)amine. HL³ and HL⁴ have been characterized by mass spectrometry, IR, electronic and ¹H-NMR spectroscopies and cyclic voltammetry. Their reactions with Cu(II) acetate monohydrate in a 2?:?1 molar ratio in methanol yield [(C₆H₂(O)(Me){(C₆H₅)C=N(CH₂)_nTe(C₆H₅)}{(C₆H₅)C=O})₂Cu] (3 (n?=?2), 4 (n?=?3)) as suggested by analytical and spectroscopic data and single crystal X-ray crystallography of 3. In both complexes, one arm of the ligand undergoes hydrolysis at the C=N position and two molecules of the partially hydrolyzed ligand coordinate to Cu(II) through imido nitrogen and the phenolic oxygen. The telluriums do not form part of the copper(II) distorted square planar coordination sphere which has a trans-CuN₂O₂ core. Electrochemical studies of 3 and 4 indicate quasi-reversible reductions (E°′?=??1.113?V (3) and ?1.149?V (4)) corresponding to the reduction of copper(II) to copper(I). The interactions of 3 and 4 with calf thymus DNA, investigated by spectrophotometry and cyclic voltammetry, indicate that 3 and 4 bind to DNA via intercalation, and the binding affinity of 3 is lower than that of its selenium analog.