Antifouling and cytotoxic constituents from the South China Sea sponge Acanthella cavernosa

A bioassay-guided chemical investigation of the South China Sea sponge Acanthella cavernosa resulted in the isolation of eight new diterpenoids, kalihinols M–T (1–8), together with seven known analogues (9–15). These compounds featured a trans-decalin ring bearing a tetrahydrofuran or a tetrahydropyran ring at C-7. Compounds 1 and 2, with a formamide functionality beared at C-4, extended the structure breadth of this diterpenoid family. The absolute stereostructures of 1–14 were determined by a combination of 2D NMR and CD spectroscopic analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1 and 2 were confirmed to have the configurations of 4S, 5S, whereas 3–14 were determined as 4R, 5R. Compounds 3–14 displayed significant antifouling activity against the barnacle Balanus amphitrite larvae, and the cytotoxic activities of 3–14 were evaluated against the H1299, A549, PC3, CT-26, and HCT-116 cancer cell lines.     

Some diterpenes from the sea pen stylatula SP.

The sea pen Stylatula sp. from the Gulf of California contained one major and several minor metabolites. The structure of stylatulide (2), the major metabolite, has been reported previously. In this paper, the structural elucidations of four minor metabolites, 17-epi-stylatulide (13), the lactone 14, the primary alcohol 15 and related methyl ester 17 are described. We have described several reactions of stylatulide (2) and its derivatives which illustrate the complexity of reactions on these compounds.     

Sesterterpenes and phenolic alkenes from the Thai sponge Hyrtios erectus

Sesterterpene, erectusolide A (1), six phenolic alkenes, erectuseneols A?F (2–7) and nine known compounds, luffalactone (8), luffariolide E (9), (6E)- and (6Z)-neomanoalide 24,25-diacetates (10 and 11), 6,6-dimethylundecane-2,5,10-trione (12), threo- and erythro-cavernosines (13 and 14), (4E,6E)-dehydromanoalide (15), echinoclerodane A (16), were isolated from the marine sponge Hyrtios erectus. Compound 13 was isolated for the first time from a natural source. The structures of these compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. The phenolic alkenes 3 and 7, the sesterterpenes 8–11 and 15, and compounds 12–14 were evaluated for cytotoxic activities against six cancer cell lines, MOLT-3, HepG2, HeLa, HuCCA-1, A549, and MDA-MB-231.     

New aplysiatoxin derivatives from the Okinawan cyanobacterium Moorea producens

The marine cyanobacterium Moorea producens is a rich source of diverse compounds that possess a variety of biological activities. In the present study, eight new aplysiatoxin derivatives, namely 6, 8–13, and 15, along with aplysiatoxin (1), debromoaplysiatoxin (2), 3-methoxyaplysiatoxin (3), anhydroaplysiatoxin (4), anhydrodebromoaplysiatoxin (5), oscillatoxin B2 (7), and 30-methyloscillatoxin D (14) were isolated and identified from the Okinawan M. producens. In cytotoxicity and diatom growth inhibition tests, the fifteen compounds tested (1–15) showed moderate or no activity at a concentration of 10?μg/mL.     

A radical version of the bromine cyclization of alkenols

The scope of an alkoxyl radical version of the classical bromine cyclization was explored. Oxygen-centered radicals were generated in photochemically initiated radical chain reactions from N-alkenoxy-4-(p-chlorophenyl)thiazole-2(3H)-thiones 5a–c, N-alkenoxy-4-methylthiazole-2(3H)-thiones 13, 14, 21, rac-23, and N-alkenoxypyridine-2(1H)-thiones 6d–f, 16, rac-25. Thus, 2-(2-bromopropyl)-substituted tetrahydrofurans 4a–c, which are minor compounds (< 10 %) in NBS-mediated bromine cyclizations of corresponding alkenols 1a–c, were prepared in 87–90 % yield and with good to excellent diastereoselectivities. Further, photochemical conversions of O-alkyl thiohydroxamates 14, 16 and 21 in benzene and BrCCl₃ afforded β-oxy-functionalized bromomethyl substituted tetrahydrofurans 29, 34, and 36. The results of this study indicate, that efficient 5-exo-trig cyclizations of β-oxy-substituted 4-penten-1-oxyl radical require an electronwithdrawing substituent at the β-heteroatom substituent. In the third part of the study a synthetically useful new access to oxabicyclo〚4.3.0〛nonanes rac-38 and rac-40 is reported which takes profit from highly diastereoselective 5-exo-trig-ring closures and, in case of the formation of rac-40, stereoselective bromine atom transfer.     

Synthesis,antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of novel azetidine-2-one derivatives of 1H-benzimidazole

A series of 1-methyl-N-[(substituted-phenylmethylidene)-1H-benzimidazol-2-amines (4a–4g) were prepared via the formation of 1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-amine (3), which was prepared by the cycloaddition of o-phenylenediamine (1) with cyanogen bromide in the presence of aqueous base followed by N-methylation with methyl iodide in the presence of anhydrous potassium carbonate in dry acetonitrile. Moreover, the four-membered β-lactam ring was introduced by the cycloaddition of 4a–4g and chloroacetyl chloride in the presence of triethylamine catalyst to give 3-chloro-1-(1-methyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)-(4′-substituted)-phenylazetidin-2-one 5a–5g. A total of 14 compounds were synthesized and characterized by IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and Mass spectral technique, in addition they were evaluated for anti-bacterial and cytotoxic properties. Among the chemicals tested 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 5g exhibited good antibacterial activity and 5f, 5g shown good cytotoxic activity in vitro.     

Synthesis,anti-inflammatory,analgesic and anticonvulsant activities of some new 4,6-dimethoxy-5-(heterocycles)benzofuran starting from naturally occurring visnagin

Novel 3-(4,6-dimethoxybenzofuran-5-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carboxaldehyde (3) and 3-chloro-3-(4,6-dimethoxybenzofuran-5-yl)propenal (4) were prepared via Vilsmeier–Haack reaction of 1-(4,6-dimethoxybenzofuran-5-yl)ethanone (1) and its hydrazone derivative 2. Reaction of compound 4 with some hydrazine derivatives, namely hydrazine hydrate, phenylhydrazine and benzylhydrazine hydrochloride led to the formation of pyrazole derivatives 5–8, respectively. On the other hand, reaction of compound 4 with thiourea, urea or guanidine gave the pyrimidine derivatives 9–11, respectively. Reaction of amino compound 11 with acetic anhydride, benzoyl chloride and benzenesulphonyl chloride yielded N-substituted pyrimidine derivatives 12–14, respectively. Reaction of diazonium salt of compound 11 with sodium azide afforded azidopyrimidine derivative 15, which upon reaction with ethyl acetoacetate gave 1,2,3-triazole derivative 16. Acid catalyzed reaction of 11 with p-nitrobenzaldehyde gave Schiff base 17, which cyclized upon reaction with thioglycolic acid or chloroacetyl chloride to give thiazolidin-4-one 18 and azetidin-2-one 19, respectively. The newly synthesized compounds were tested for their anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anticonvulsant activities. Depending on the obtained results, the newly synthesized compounds possess significant anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anticonvulsant activities.     

COX-2 and JAK3 inhibitory meroterpenoids from the mushroom Ganoderma theaecolum

Ganoderma mushrooms possess antioxidant, anticancer, and immunomodulatory properties. In this study, eleven new meroterpenoids, ganotheaecolumols A-K (1–6, 10,11, 13, 14, and 17), together with nine known ones (7–9, 12, 15, 16, and 18–20) were isolated from the fruiting bodies of G. theaecolum. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and computational methods. All the new compounds and iso-ganotheaecolumol I (12) were tested for their inhibitory activities against COX-2 and JAK3 kinases, and cytotoxic effects. It was found that most meroterpenoids could inhibit COX-2 and JAK3 with compounds 3, 4, 12, 13, and 17 having IC₅₀ values of 1.05?±?0.10, 1.38?±?0.11, 2.61?±?0.79, 3.47?±?0.58, and 4.84?±?0.60?μM towards COX-2. Whereas, none of the test compounds exhibited cytotoxic effects against human cancer cells (K562, A549, and Huh-7).     

Further enantioselective syntheses of α-arylalkanamines via intermediate addition of Grignard reagents to a chiral hydrazone derived from (R)-(−)-2-aminobutan-1-ol

Reaction of various aromatic aldehydes with the chiral hydrazine (R)-(−)-2, derived from 2-aminobutan-1-ol (R)-(−)-1, gave the corresponding hydrazones 5–12. Enantioselective addition of EtMgBr or n-BuMgBr to 5–8 gave the trisubstituted hydrazines 13a–f (d.e.s=100%). Catalytic hydrogenolysis (6 bar/Pd–C/110°C/5 h) of the N–N bond of the latter afforded the enantiomerically enriched α-arylalkanamines (R)-(+)-14a–f (e.e.s=90–93%).     

Bioactive pregnane-type steroids from the soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum

Nine new steroids, sclerosteroids A-I (1, 5, 6, 8-13), along with 18 known metabolites (2-4, 7, 14-27), were isolated from the soft coral Scleronephthya gracillimum. These structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. The absolute configurations of sugar moieties in steroidal glycosides 10-13 were determined by HPLC analysis of the o-tolylthiocarbamate derivatives of the liberated sugars from hydrolysis of these steroidal giycosides. Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of these compounds were measured in vitro.     

Structural,stereochemical, and bioactive studies of cembranoids from Chinese soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum

A series of highly oxidative new cembranoids with diverse structural features such as a dienoate moiety (sarcophytonolides S – U, 1–3) or an α,β-unsaturated ε-lactone (sartrolides H – J, 4–6) were obtained from Hainan soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum, along with known related analogues 7–13. It is an extremely challenging work to determine the absolute configurations of these metabolites. For compounds 1, 3 and 4, solution TDDFT calculation of ECD and specific rotation were applied in combination with conformational analysis and NMR data to determine their relative and absolute configurations, leading to the revision of relative configuration of 14. The absolute configurations of compounds 8–10 were determined by the solid-state TDDFT-ECD approach, and that of 8 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment with Cu Kα radiation. In the bioassays, compound 8 exhibited not only moderate protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activity (IC₅₀?=?15.4?μM) but also moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus Newman strain (MIC₅₀?=?250?μM).     

Pseudoesters and derivatives. XXVI. Formation of cyclopropanes and five membered heterocycles by michael initiated ring closure reactions of 2-bromo-3-formylacrylic acid derivatives

The reaction of 3-bromo-5-methoxyfuran-2(5H)-onel with the stabilized carbanions derived from 2a–d, in a solid-liquid two-phase system in the presence of potassium carbonate and tetrabutylammonium bromide, affords the cyclopropane lactones 5a–d. With the ambident anions generated from 2e and 2f, the fused heterocyclic compounds 10 and 11, respectively, are obtained. The reaction of methyl 2-bromo-4,4-dimethoxy-2-butenoates (7, 8) with 2b–f, under similar conditions, gives rise to mixtures of the functionalized cyclopropanes 12b–f and 13b–f as mixtures of diastereoisomers; dihydrofurans 14 and 15 are also formed as minor components using ethyl acetoacetate (2f) as nucleophile.     

Lipase mediated resolution of 1,3-butanediol derivatives: chiral building blocks for pheromone enantiosynthesis. Part 3

(R,S)-1,3-Butanediol 5 was kinetically resolved by enzymatic acetylation with vinyl acetate under the presence of Chirazyme™ L-2, c–f, yielding (S)-1-O-acetyl-1,3-hydroxybutane 6 and (R)-1,3-di-O-acetyl-1,3-butanediol 7 with enantiomeric excesses of 91% (E=67.3). Compounds 6 and 7 were easily transformed into the corresponding (S)-3-O-(2-methoxyethoxymethyl)-3-hydroxybutanal 10 and (R)-3-benzyloxybutanal 19, through a protection–deprotection and functional group interchange methodology. Subsequent reaction of 10 and 19 with 3-(methoxycarbonylpropionylmethylene)triphenylphosphorane afforded methyl (E,S)-8-O-(2-methoxyethoxymethyl)-4-oxo-5-nonenoate 12 and (E,R)-8-benzyloxy-4-oxo-5-nonenoate 20. The alkenes 19 and 20 were then catalytically hydrogenated to the corresponding saturated esters 13 and 21. Treatment of 13 and 21 with 1,2-ethanedithiol/F₃B·OEt₂ afforded dithioketals 14 and 22, which were respectively reduced to (S)-1,8-dihydroxy-4-nonanone ethylidenedithioketal 15 and (R)-8-O-benzyl-1,8-dihydroxy-4-nonanone ethylidenedithioketal 23. Finally, deprotection of 15 by catalytic hydrogenation under acidic conditions gave the expected (5S,7S)-(−)-7-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane 1. The (5R,7R)-(+)-1 enantiomer was analogously prepared from 23. Both compounds were formed by this procedure with an e.e. of 91%.     

Enantioselective synthesis of β-amino acids. Part 10: Preparation of novel α,α- and β,β-disubstituted β-amino acids from (S)-asparagine

Perhydropyrimidinone (S)-1 is alkylated with very high diastereoselectivity to give trans products (2S,5R)-3, (2S,5R)–4 and (2S,5R)-5. Dialkylation of (S)-1 also proceeds with complete stereoselectivity to afford adducts (2S,5R)-6, (2S,5S)-6, (2S,5R)-7 and (2S,5S)-7. Hydrolysis (6N HCl, 100°C) of monoalkylated derivative (2S,5R)-3 gives enantiopure α-substituted β-amino acid (R)-8. Hydrolysis of dialkylated adducts 6 and 7 affords enantiopure α,α-disubstituted β-amino acids (R)- or (S)-9 and (R)- or (S)-10. Related iminoester (2S,6S)-2 is alkylated with complete diastereoselectivity to give products (2S,6S)-11–13 whose hydrolysis under relatively mild conditions (2N CF₃CO₂H, CH₃OH, 100°C) affords enantiopure N-benzoylated β,β-disubstituted β-amino acid esters (S)-14–16, with intact double bonds in the olefinic substituents.     

Steric constraints against [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic azides. A convenient approach to β-l-4-aminopent-2-enoglyceropyranosides

Starting from alkyl α-d-4-O-methanesulphonylpent-2-enoglyceropyranosides 13a–c, nucleophilic substitution carried out with polymer-supported azide ion led to regioisomeric mixtures of the azides 14a–c and 15a–c. An analogous result, due to a [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement, was observed starting from methyl α-d-hex-2-enoerythropyranoside derivatives 6a and 6b. On the contrary, starting from alkyl β-d-4-O-methanesulphonylpent-2-enoglyceropyranosides 21a–c, azides 22a–c were exclusively obtained, and subsequently converted into the corresponding amino derivatives 23a–c. The behaviour of β-anomers 21a–c was ascribed to steric interactions in the cyclic transition state, as supported by ab initio calculations.     

Untersuchungen an diazoverbindungen und aziden—LVII: Tri- und tetracyclen aus 5-(diazomethyl)-5h- benzocycloheptenen und 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolin-3,5-dion

The phosphoryl diazomethanes 10a and b undergo electrophilic diazoalkane substitution with the 7-alkylthio benzocycloheptenylium perchlorates 9a andb to the 5-(diazomethyl-5H-benzocycloheptenes 11a–11d. Even the non-dissociated 7 is suited for such a substitution process, as is shown by the reaction with 13 to give 14. Thediazo compounds 11a–11d such as 14 and 17 react with 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazolin-3,5-dione(PTAD, 2) presumably via the betaines 18 to the cyclo-adducts 19a–19f, in which the diazo function remains unchanged. In contrast the 5-(diazomethyl)-5H-benzocycloheptens 20a–20d with 2 yield the tetracycles 23a–23d under loss of nitrogen ; for 23c an X-ray structure analysis was performed. We assume that the reaction proceeds via dipole like intermediates (21,22,24).     

Grayanane diterpenoids with diverse bioactivities from the roots of Pieris formosa

During our continuing study on the roots of Pieris formosa, twelve new grayanane diterpenoids (1–12), together with eight known compounds (13–20), were obtained. Their structures with absolute configurations were characterized by a series of spectroscopic methods and X-ray diffraction. Compounds 1, 2, 4–5, 7–8, 14, and 19 exhibited significant analgesic activity in an acetic acid-induced writhing test. In particular, 7 and 14 were found to be 5 times more potent than morphine in the acetic acid-induced writhing test model. Compounds 1, 4, 9, 13, and 18 showed antifeedant activity against Plutella xylostella at 0.5 mg/mL. Compound 4 exhibited a 38.3% inhibitory effect against the KCNQ2 potassium channel at a concentration of 10 μM.     

Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory diterpenoids from the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Sinularia flexibilis

Seven new diterpenoids, namely, flexibilisolides C–G (1–5), flexibilisin C (6), and a novel 11,12-secoflexibillin (7), along with seven known compounds, 8–14, were isolated from the Dongsha Atoll soft coral Sinularia flexibilis. The structures of the new metabolites were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analysis and comparison of the NMR data with those of known analogues. Compounds 1, 8, and 11 were shown to exhibit moderate cytotoxic activity against HeLa and B16 cancer cell lines, and compound 10 was found to exhibit more potent cytotoxic activity against SK-Hep1 and B16 cancer cell lines. Moreover, compounds 1, 2, 8, 9, and 11–14 could significantly inhibit the accumulation of the pro-inflammatory iNOS protein and 1, 8, 11, and 14 could reduce the accumulation of COX-2 protein in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells.     

Acidic ent-kauranoids from the metabolism of ent-kaura-2,16-dien-19-ol in gibberella fujikuroi

Three acidic ent-kauranoid metabolites have been obtained as the methyl esters (7, 8, and 9) from incubation of the [17-¹⁴C]-labelled dienol (1) with Gibberella fujikuroi. Spectroscopic studies of the triol ester (7) and chemical degradation of B-ring cleaved products establish the assigned structure (7). The structures of the other two metabolite esters are indicated to be 8 and 9 from the spectroscopic data.