A synthetic route to the hexahydrobenzofuran nucleus of avermectins via diazoketone cyclization

A hexahydrobenzo[AB]furan characteristic of the avermectins and certain milbemycins was synthesized via acid-catalyzed intramolecular addition of a diazoketone to a γ-lactone; subsequent transformations led to structures containing much of the functionality and stereochemistry present in the corresponding segments of these macrolides.     

Structural elucidation studies of erythromycins by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry

Erythromycin A (EryA) was studied by electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) with the aim of developing a methodology for the structural elucidation of novel erythromycins developed by biological synthetic methods. Skimmer dissociation along with sequential mass spectrometry studies (up to MS5) have been employed in this study. In the low-resolution MS/MS analysis of the polyketides, there are several fragment ions that are easily assigned to various neutral losses. These have all been confirmed by accurate-mass measurements. There is also a series of peaks due to ring opening and fragmentation that can only be assigned by high-resolution MSn analysis. Further experiments were performed in deuterated media (D2O/CD3OD 50%) which, along with the high-resolution MSn of erythromycin analogues, has enabled us to identify some of the steps in the ring fragmentation, particularly the loss of the polyketide starter acid. This is an essential step for determining structural alterations in the novel polyketides, but further labelling experiments and studies on more erythromycin analogues are required before the complete fragmentation pathway can be confirmed.     

An attempted approach to the tricyclic core of haliclonin A:Structural elucidation of the final product by 2D NMR

We describe the design and execution of a novel synthetic route to the tricyclic core of haliclonin A, a tetracyclic marine natural product. The approach features Bachi's thiol-medicated free radical cyclization of alkenyl isocyanide to build the bridged ring system, and ring-closing metathesis (RCM) reaction to form the macrocycle. Execution of the synthetic plan ultimately resulted in a diazatricyclic compound. By means of 2D NMR techniques, the structure of this compound was revealed to an unexpected product 8. Analysis of the synthetic pathways allowed concluding that the unexpected product is a result of an "unexpected" migration of olefinic bond during dioxolanation of the 2-cyclohexenone derivative 7. This investigation also resulted in a concise construction of the functionalized hexahydro-1H-isoindole-1,5 (4H)-dione 12 and the macrocyclic tricyclic ring system 8.     

Structural elucidation of O-linked glycopeptides by high energy collision-induced dissociation

O-linked glycopeptides that bear a GalNAc core with and without the presence of sialic acid have been analyzed by high energy collision-induced dissociation (CID). We show that the CID spectra from the glycosylated precursor ions contain sufficient information to identify the peptide sequence and to determine the glycosylated site(s). Asialo O-linked glycopeptides, previously prepared from a tryptic digest of bovine fetuin were studied. One of the glycopeptides contained only a single Hex (hexose)-HexNAc (N-acetylhexosamine) substitution at Thr²⁶², whereas the other exhibited Hex-HexNAc moieties at both Thr²⁶² and Ser²⁶⁴. In addition, sialo and asialo fetuin glycopeptides from a pronase digest were derivatized with t-butoxycarbonyl-tyrosine, and characterized by high energy CID analysis. The presence of a Galβ(1,3)GalNAc core structure at Ser²⁶⁴ was confirmed by using the substrate specificity of endo-α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase. These studies revealed the presence of a β-galactosidase specific for β(1,4) linkages in the endo-α-N-acetylgalactosaminidase preparation employed. Finally, the relative stability of N-and O-glycosyl bonds to high energy CID is addressed based upon comparison of the behavior of a synthetic N-linked glycopeptide with analogous O-linked structures.     

Structural elucidation of the ceramide moiety of starfish gangliosides by collision-induced dissociation of the sodium ion complex.

Collision-induced dissociation (CID) spectra of sodium ion complexes ([M+Na]+ ions), produced by FAB-MS of methyl ester derivatives of ganglioside, indicate the length of the fatty acyl chain of the ceramide moieties without chemical degradation. In the case of a genuine ganglioside, only the fission of the glycosyl linkage of sialic acid was prominently observed.     

Structural elucidation of the oxidation product of aminoethylcysteine ketimine decarboxylated dimer by peroxynitrite

Aminoethylcysteine ketimine decarboxylated dimer (2) is a natural sulfur compound with antioxidant properties. 2 Inhibits some reactions mediated by peroxynitrite, a strong oxidizing and nitrating agent that reacts with several biomolecules. This work aims to elucidate the structure of the product resulting from the interaction of 2 with peroxynitrite using 1D and 2D NMR experiments and ion trap mass spectrometry. This product is a dimerized form of 2 and is hereafter referred to as 3. During the reactions leading to 2 and during the formation of 3, no chiral selection is operated; all optical isomers are present in D₂O and have been evidenced by ¹H NMR methods in D₂O plus β- or γ-cyclodextrin.     

Structural elucidation of transition metal complex by single crystal EPR study

Single crystal EPR studies of Mn(II) doped hexaaquazincdiaquabis(malonato) zincate [Zn(H₂O)₆][Zn(mal)₂(H₂O)₂] have been carried out at room temperature using X-band spectrometer to identify the location of the dopant. Single crystal rotations along the three orthogonal axes show more than 30 line pattern EPR spectra indicating the presence of two types of dopant ions in the host lattice, with intensity ratio of 6:1. However, the latter could not be followed due to its low intensity during crystal rotations. The spin-Hamiltonian parameters, estimated from the three mutually orthogonal crystal rotations are: g_xx = 1.972, g_yy = 2.000, g_zz = 2.023, A_xx = 8.95, A_yy = 9.48, A_zz = 9.93 mT, D_xx = −34.49, D_yy = −3.26, D_zz = 37.74 mT and E = 15.6 mT. The direction cosines of one of the principal values of g match with that of Zn-O bond in the host lattice, suggesting that the Mn(II) ion entered the lattice substitutionally. The large value of E is indicative of low symmetry of the substitutional site, in accordance with the crystal structure of the isomorphous [Zn(H₂O)₆][Cu(mal)₂(H₂O)₂]. Covalency of Mn-O bond, estimated from Matamura’s plot, is 9%. Various admixture coefficients, bonding and optical parameters have also been calculated.     

Efficient cyclopropanation of active methylene compounds. A serendipitous discovery

Cyclopropanation of active methylene compounds has been achieved in good yields with ethylene carbonate as the cyclopropanating agent in the presence of a simple base.     

Structural elucidation of the tetrasaccharide pool in enoxaparin sodium

Low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) are produced from heparin by various depolymerization strategies, which result in a reduction of the average molecular weight of the polysaccharide chains, a reduction of the anti-factor IIa activity (and a concomitant increase in the anti-factor Xa/anti-factor IIa ratio), and introduction of process-related structural signatures. Numerous techniques have been developed to characterize LMWHs and to measure the type and extent of structural modifications that are introduced as a function of the depolymerization process. We present here an analysis of the tetrasaccharide pool of enoxaparin sodium, a LMWH produced by chemical β-elimination of heparin benzyl ester. We identify the predominant sequences present within the tetrasaccharide pool and demonstrate that this pool provides a sensitive, specific readout of the physicochemical process conditions used to generate enoxaparin sodium.     

Umpolung strategy for the synthesis of 2-deoxy-C-aryl glycosides: a serendipitous,efficient route for C-furanoside analogues

[reaction: see text] 2-Deoxy-C-aryl glycosides are potential synthetic targets as they form a very vital moiety of several biologically active natural products. This paper describes a synthetic route using an umpolung strategy, which has not been explored till date. Our synthetic endeavor led to a versatile intermediate aryl ketone 10, which has paved the way for two important classes of C-glycosides, viz., C-alkyl furanosides 12 and methyl 2-deoxy-C-aryl pyranosides 14.     

Structural elucidation of a new cytotoxin isolated from mussels of the Adriatic sea.

A detailed analysis of the toxic composition in the hepatopancreas of mussels from northern Adriatic sea has been performed. Along with some polyether toxins of DSP (diarrhetic shellfish poisoning) type, such as yessotoxin and its analogues, which are responsible for a variety of human seafood poisonings throughout the world, we have now isolated a new type of toxin, the chlorosulfolipid 1, which is completely different in structure from the polyether DSP-toxins isolated so far. The structural determination of the new toxin, including its absolute stereochemistry, has been performed by extensive NMR analysis and molecular mechanics and dynamics calculations.     

A facile route to cyclopentenones by friedel-crafts acylation

Various cyclopentenones are obtained in fair to high yields when ethylenic acyl bromides are condensed with cyclohexene at low temperature. With less reactive reagents, condensation occurs at 0 °C, leading to β-chloro-ketones. A muscone precursor is obtained in two steps with excellent yields.     

Structural elucidation of metabolites of ritonavir and indinavir by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

The structural elucidation of metabolites of ritonavir and indinavir, HIV-protease inhibitor drugs, by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is described. Ritonavir and indinavir were biotransformed separately by incubation with transplant quality human liver microsomes. The incubation mixture was then analyzed by HPLC coupled to ion trap (ITMS) and triple quadrupole mass analyzers. The metabolites retained most of the structural features of the parent molecules. Baseline chromatographic resolution of isobaric species by gradient elution HPLC permitted rapid structural identification of these metabolites. Both drugs were biotransformed primarily by oxidative and hydrolytic pathways to numerous metabolites that retained many of the features of the parent molecules. Triple quadrupole and ion trap mass spectrometry were applied jointly to thoroughly detect and thoroughly characterize these metabolites. Furthermore, retention-time and data-dependent scanning assured acquisition of detailed MS-MS spectra for rapid detection of metabolic pathways of ritonavir and indinavir. Comparison of the ITMS and triple quadrupole data showed qualitative and quantitative differences in the mass spectral patterns, suggesting that these instruments should be used in parallel to ensure comprehensive metabolite detection and characterization by LC-MS.     

Structural elucidation by electrospray mass spectrometry: An approach to the in vitro metabolism of the macrolide immunosuppressant SDZ RAD

SDZ RAD [40-O-(2-hydroxyethyl)rapamycin] is a macrolide immunosuppressant that is currently under clinical investigation after organ transplantation. The elucidation of its metabolic pathway is essential to improve the understanding of its therapeutic potentials and safety. In this article we describe investigations on the structural identification of some major metabolites of the drug produced by human liver microsomes in vitro. The principles described may be generally applicable for the structural elucidation of complex compound mixtures in biological matrices. Under the conditions of electron impact ionization, SDZ RAD undergoes extensive fragmentation and no information sufficient for structural elucidation is obtained. Therefore, mass spectrometry based on soft electrospray ionization (ESI) in conjunction with collision-induced fragmentation was the method of choice. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled to an ESI mass spectrometer resulted in separation and identification of 16-O-demethyl-SDZ RAD, the ring-opened form of SDZ RAD, and its dehydrate. Additionally, we characterized several demethylated and hydroxylated metabolites.