Intermolecular Michael addition of substituted amines to a sugar-derived alpha,beta-unsaturated ester: synthesis of 1-deoxy-D-gluco- and -L-ido-homonojirimycin, 1-deoxy-castanospermine and 1-deoxy-8a-epi-castanospermine

The synthesis of polyhydroxylated piperidine alkaloids, namely, 1-deoxy-D-gluco-homonojirimycin 3a, 1-deoxy-L-ido-homonojirimycin 3b, and indolizidine alkaloids 1-deoxy-castanospermine 5a and 1-deoxy-8a-epi-castanospermine 5b, has been achieved. The key step involved is the intermolecular Michael addition of benzylamine to alpha,beta-unsaturated ester 1, derived from D-glucose, which afforded diastereomeric mixture of beta-amino esters 6a and 6b with D-gluco- and L-ido- configuration at C5, respectively. Attempts were made to increase and/or alter the diastereoselectivity at the newly generated stereocenter. The high stereoselectivity, in favor of L-ido-isomer 6b, was achieved under kinetically controlled conditions by using lithium N-benzyl amide as a Michael donor. The beta-amino esters 6a and 6b represent common intermediates to target molecules. Thus, LAH reduction of 6a and 6b, individually, gave beta-amino alcohol 7a and 7b. Sequential hydrogenolysis, selective protection of the amino group, followed by hydrolysis of the 1,2-acetonide functionality, and hydrogenation gave 3a and 3b, respectively. On the other hand, the beta-amino ester 6a was converted to gamma-amino ester 13a by Arndt-Eistert synthesis, which on hydrogenolysis and treatment with sodium acetate gave gamma-lactam 14a. The LAH reduction afforded pyrrolidene. The N-protection-hydrolysis-hydrogenation cascade successfully executed, and 1-deoxy-castanospermine 5a was obtained in good yield. The same sequence of reactions was applied to beta-amino ester 6b, which afforded 1-deoxy-8a-epi-castanospermine 5b.     

Anti-α-Glucosidase and Antiglycation Activities of α-Mangostin and New Xanthenone Derivatives: Enzymatic Kinetics and Mechanistic Insights through In Vitro Studies

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia that promotes ROS formation, causing severe oxidative stress. Furthermore, prolonged hyperglycemia leads to glycation reactions with formation of AGEs that contribute to a chronic inflammatory state. This research aims to evaluate the inhibitory activity of α-mangostin and four synthetic xanthenone derivatives against glycation and oxidative processes and on α-glucosidase, an intestinal hydrolase that catalyzes the cleavage of oligosaccharides into glucose molecules, promoting the postprandial glycemic peak. Antiglycation activity was evaluated using the BSA assay, while antioxidant capacity was detected with the ORAC assay. The inhibition of α-glucosidase activity was studied with multispectroscopic methods along with inhibitory kinetic analysis. α-Mangostin and synthetic compounds at 25 µM reduced the production of AGEs, whereas the α-glucosidase activity was inhibited only by the natural compound. α-Mangostin decreased enzymatic activity in a concentration-dependent manner in the micromolar range by a reversible mixed-type antagonism. Circular dichroism revealed a rearrangement of the secondary structure of α-glucosidase with an increase in the contents of α-helix and random coils and a decrease in β-sheet and β-turn components. The data highlighted the anti-α-glucosidase activity of α-mangostin together with its protective effects on protein glycation and oxidation damage.     

酚类衍生物的美白和抗氧化活性

一系列酚类衍生物被合成,采用傅里叶变换红外光谱仪(FTIR)、核磁共振波谱仪(NMR)和电喷雾质谱(ESI-MS)等波谱技术对其进行了结构表征,并对其进行美白活性测试。 结果表明,HB-1(0.229±0.026)、HB-3a(0.829±0.135)、HB-3b(0.446±0.047)、HMB-3a(1.747±0.215)、HMB-3b(1.307±0.058)和HPE-4b(2.501±0.261)对酪氨酸酶抑制作用明显优于阳性对照物α-熊果苷(3.60±0.029)。 对显示出美白活性的化合物的抗氧化活性测试结果表明,HB-3b和HMB-3a抗氧化活性与阳性对照物槲皮素和番茄红素相当。 因此该类化合物今后可作为美白剂和抗氧化剂加以开发利用。     

Interaction and Interfacial Molecular Recognition of Calix[4] arene Derivatives Bearing Nucleobases for Complementary Nucleoside

The p-tert-butyl calix[4] arene derivatives la with uracils and 1b with adenines at the lower rim were synthesized.The Interaction between 1a and 1b in CDCl3 solution was demonstrated by ^1H NMR spectra.The interfacial molecular recognitions of la and 1b for the complementary nucleosides in aqueous subphases were investigated by Langmuir-Blodgett technique.     

α-Linolenic Acid Suppresses Proliferation and Invasion in Osteosarcoma Cells via Inhibiting Fatty Acid Synthase

Fatty acid synthase (FASN) is highly expressed in multiple types of human cancers and is recognized as one of the targets for treating cancer metastasis. α-Linolenic acid is an omega-3 essential fatty acid and it possesses various biological activities. The present study was designed to reveal the effects of α-linolenic acid on osteosarcoma and to reveal whether the mechanism of α-linolenic acid in anticancer activity may be related to FASN inhibition. The cytotoxicity of α-linolenic acid was assessed in osteosarcoma MG63, 143B, and U2OS cells. Cell viability was detected by the MTT assay. The protein expression level was detected by western blotting. Flow cytometry, Annexin V/propidium iodide dual staining, and Hoechst 33258 staining were performed to assess the apoptotic effects. Wound healing assay was applied to detect the inhibitory effect of α-linolenic acid on osteosarcoma cells migration. The results showed that α-linolenic acid downregulated FASN expression. α-Linolenic acid inhibited osteosarcoma cell proliferation and migration in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, α-linolenic acid regulated endoplasmic reticulum transmembrane receptors and signal protein expression in osteosarcoma cells. The findings of the present study suggested that α-linolenic acid suppresses osteosarcoma cell proliferation and metastasis by inhibiting FASN expression, which provides a basis as a potential target for osteosarcoma treatment.     

Separation of flavanone enantiomers and flavanone glucoside diastereomers from Balanophora involucrata Hook. f. by capillary electrophoresis and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography on a C18 column

A pair of flavanone glucoside diastereomers, (2R)- and (2S)-eriodictyol-5-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside (1a, 1b), was successfully separated by RP-C(18) high-performance liquid chromatography from Balanophora involucrata Hook. f. Some other compounds, including a pair of flavanone enantiomers, (2R)- and (2S)-eriodictyol (2a, 2b), and a pair of flavanone glucoside diastereomers, (2R)- and (2S)-eriodictyol-7-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside(3a, 3b), were separated by capillary electrophoresis from the same plant. The absolute configurations at C-2 of 1a and 1b were determined based on their circular dichroism spectra. Enzymatic hydrolysis of 1a and 1b by beta-d-glucosidase afforded (2R)- and (2S)-eriodictyol, respectively, which were used as the authentic standards for co-elution to determine the migration order of the enantiomers, 2a and 2b. We also report the first example of identifying the migration order of 2a and 2b and resolving the separation of 3a and 3b by capillary electrophoresis. In addition, 1a was unambiguously characterized for the first time by NMR spectra.     

C---H bond activation by rhodium(I) and the mechanism of the olefin isomerization: new synthesis of β,γ-unsaturated ketones via η- or η-alkylallylrhodium(III) complexes by reductive elimination

Acylrhodium(III)-η³-1-ethylallyl complex (7) was prepared by the reaction of 8-quinolinecarboxaldehyde (3) and 1,4-pentadienerhodium(I) chloride (2) by C---H bond activation, followed by hydrometallation, and double bond migration. Higher concentrations of pyridine as coordinating ligand transforms η³-1-ethylallylrhodium(III) complexes (8a,8b) into η¹-pent-2-enylrhodium(III) complex (11a). Acylrhodium(III)-η³-syn,anti-1,3-dimethylallyl complex (14) was also prepared from 1,3-pentadienerhodium(I) chloride (16) and 3. The reductive elimination of acylrhodium(III)-η¹- and -η³-1-alkylallyl complexes by trimethylphosphite gives various β,γ-unsaturated ketones.     

Preparation of phthalocyanines with eight benzylchalcogeno substituents from 5,6-dibromo-4,7-diethylbenzo[1,2,3]trichalcogenoles

Benzo[1,2,3]trichalcogenoles with two bromine atoms on the benzene ring, 5,6-dibromo-4,7-diethylbenzo[1,2,3]trichalcogenoles (1a) and (1b) (chalcogen: 1a = S; 1b = Se), were first prepared by treating 2,3,5,6-tetrabromo-1,4-diethylbenzene (TBDEB) with elemental sulfur or amorphous selenium in DBU at 140 degrees C (for 1a) and 100 degrees C (for 1b) for 24 h. The structures of 1a and 1b were verified by NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. X-ray crystallographic analysis ultimately showed that the substitution reactions of TBDEB proceeded at the two adjacent bromine atoms. To apply 1a and 1b to construction of phthalocyanine derivatives with sulfur or selenium functional groups, 4,5-bis(benzylchalcogeno)-3,6-diethylphthalonitriles (5a) and (5b) as key intermediates were prepared by way of introduction of alkyl groups (2-cyanoethyl or 4-nitrophenethyl groups) on two chalcogen atoms, substitution of two bromine atoms with nitrile groups, and subsequent exchange of alkyl groups with benzyl groups. Compound 5a was treated with lithium in n-pentanol at 100 degrees C for 1 h to produce 2,3,9,10,16,17,23,24-octakis(benzylthio)-1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octaethylphthalocyanine (6a). A similar treatment of 5b in n-hexanol at 100 degrees C for 2 h gave phthalocyanine 6b. The structures of 6a and 6b were determined by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOFMS. X-ray crystallographic analysis of 6a was also performed. The Q-band absorptions (lambda(max)) for 6a and 6b in UV-vis spectra were observed at 755 nm (log epsilon = 5.1) and 757 nm (log epsilon = 5.1), respectively, and their electrochemical properties were verified by cyclic voltammetry in dichloromethane with Ag/AgNO(3) as a reference electrode. Compounds 6a and 6b were further treated with lithium in THF/NH(3) at -78 degrees C and then with dibutyltin dichloride to produce phthalocyanine derivatives 8a and 8b with four dichalcogenastannole rings by way of octachalcogenate phthalocyanines 7a and 7b.     

Chiral magnetic metal-organic frameworks of Mn(II) with achiral tetrazolate-based ligands by spontaneous resolution

The enantiomers of complex 1 (1a and 1b) have been obtained by spontaneous resolution upon crystallization in the absence of a chiral source. The enantiomeric nature of 1a and 1b was confirmed by circular dichroism (CD) spectra and theoretical investigation.     

Cytochrome b6/f complex as an indigenous photodynamic generator of singlet oxygen in thylakoid membranes

Possible association of photodynamic sensitization by cytochrome b6/f complex (cyt b6/f) via singlet oxygen (1O2) mechanism with photoinhibition damage to photosystem II (PS II) was studied using such subthylakoid preparations as photosystem I (PS I) particles, PS II core complex and cyt b6/f from spinach leaves. Upon exposure to bright light, PS II core complex lost photosynthetic electron transport activity to a certain extent, whose-spectral dependence implied that pheophytin a is likely involved in photoinactivation of PS II core complex in itself. The presence of PS I particles exerted virtually no effect on PS II core photoinactivation. However, the inclusion of cyt b6/f in samples resulted in a marked exacerbation of the photoinactivation, particularly in UV-A and blue light. Such effect of cyt b6/f was suppressed by azide and enhanced by the medium deuteration. Photogeneration of 1O2 from cyt b6/f was confirmed by ESR and spectrophotometry, chemically trapping 1O2. Action spectra for both 1O2 photoproduction and PS II core photoinactivation by cyt b6/f bore a close resemblance to each other, seemingly carrying the absorption characteristics of the Rieske Fe-S protein. A complex deficient in the Rieske protein prepared from intact cyt b6/f showed virtually no generation of 1O2 in light, whereas an efficient photoformation of 1O2 was seen in the Rieske protein preparation. The results suggest that cyt b6/f, rather specifically the Rieske center, may play a prominent role in photoinhibition processes through type II photosensitization in thylakoids.     

S-Adenosyl-L-methionine ameliorates TNF��-induced insulin resistance in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

An association between inflammatory processes and the pathogenesis of insulin resistance has been increasingly suggested. The IκB kinase-β (IKK-β)/ nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway is a molecular mediator of insulin resistance. S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) has both antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the effects of SAM on the glucose transport and insulin signaling impaired by the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. SAM partially reversed the basal and insulin stimulated glucose transport, which was impaired by TNFα. The TNFα-induced suppression of the tyrosine phosphorylation of the insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and Akt in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was also reversed by SAM. In addition, SAM significantly attenuated the TNFα-induced degradation of IκB-α and NF-κB activation. Interestingly, SAM directly inhibited the kinase activity of IKK-β in vitro. These results suggest that SAM can alleviate TNFα mediated-insulin resistance by inhibiting the IKK-β/NF-κB pathway and thus can have a beneficial role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.     

Transamination-Like Reaction Catalyzed by Leucine Dehydrogenase for Efficient Co-Synthesis of α-Amino Acids and α-Keto Acids

α-Amino acids and α-keto acids are versatile building blocks for the synthesis of several commercially valuable products in the food, agricultural, and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, a novel transamination-like reaction catalyzed by leucine dehydrogenase was successfully constructed for the efficient enzymatic co-synthesis of α-amino acids and α-keto acids. In this reaction mode, the α-keto acid substrate was reduced and the α-amino acid substrate was oxidized simultaneously by the enzyme, without the need for an additional coenzyme regeneration system. The thermodynamically unfavorable oxidation reaction was driven by the reduction reaction. The efficiency of the biocatalytic reaction was evaluated using 12 different substrate combinations, and a significant variation was observed in substrate conversion, which was subsequently explained by the differences in enzyme kinetics parameters. The reaction with the selected model substrates 2-oxobutanoic acid and L-leucine reached 90.3% conversion with a high total turnover number of 9.0 × 10⁶ under the optimal reaction conditions. Furthermore, complete conversion was achieved by adjusting the ratio of addition of the two substrates. The constructed reaction mode can be applied to other amino acid dehydrogenases in future studies to synthesize a wider range of valuable products.     

Complexation and fluorescence behavior of diazacrown ether carrying two anthryl pendants

Photoinduced electron transfer (PET) fluoroionophores (1b, 2b) that consist of diazacrown and two 9-anthryl pendants show fluorescent enhancement with various guest salts. The diaza-12-crown-4 derivative (2b) exhibited Zn(2+) selectivity and in the presence of this cation the host fluorescence intensity was increased by a factor of 182. The guest cation-induced fluorescence enhancement of 2b was larger than the diaza-18-crown-6 derivative (1b).     

Synthesis and properties of hexakis(6-octyl-2-azulenyl)benzene as a multielectron redox system with liquid crystalline behavior

[structure: see text] This paper describes the cyclotrimerization reaction of di(2-azulenyl)acetylenes (2a,b) catalyzed by Co2(CO)8 to produce hexa(2-azulenyl)benzene derivatives (1a,b). The cyclooligomerization of 2a and 2b utilizing CpCo(CO)2 as a catalyst produced (eta5-cyclopentadienyl)[tetra(2-azulenyl)cyclobutadiene]cobalt complexes (3a,b). The redox behavior of hexakis(6-octyl-2-azulenyl)benzene (1b), bis(6-octyl-2-azulenyl)acetylene (2b), and the cobalt complexes 3a and 3b along with 6-octyl-2-phenylazulene (19) was examined by cyclic voltammetry (CV). The reduction of compound 1b exhibited multiple-electron transfers in one step upon CV with a reduction potential similar to that of compound 19. However, the CVs of compounds 2b, 3a, and 3b were characterized by stepwise waves because of the reduction of each azulene ring. The mesomorphic behaviors of 1b, 2b, and 19 were also studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. A new series of azulene derivatives, 1b, 2b, and 19, substituted by a long alkyl chain at the 6-position shows mesomorphism with crystalline polymorphs. Compound 1b showed a large temperature range of hexagonal columnar mesophases (Col(ho)) from 115.5 to 199.9 degrees C. Compound 2b has rectangular columnar (Col(ro)), smectic E (S(E)), and nematic (N) mesophases. Compound 19 exhibited an S(E) mesophase.     

Interaction of protonated merocyanine dyes with amines in organic solvents

2,6-Diphenyl-4-(2,4,6-triphenylpyridinium-1-yl)phenolate (1a) and 4-[(1-methyl-4(1H)-pyridinylidene)-ethylidene]-2,5-cyclohexadien-1-one (2a) were protonated in organic solvents (dichloromethane, acetonitrile, and DMSO) to form 1b and 2b, respectively. The appearance of the solvatochromic bands of 1a and 2a was studied UV-vis spectrophotometrically by deprotonation of 1b and 2b in solution in the presence of the following amines: aniline (AN), N-methylaniline (NMAN), N,N-dimethylaniline (NDAN), n-butylamine (BA), diethylamine (DEA), and triethylamine (TEA). Titrations of 1b and 2b with the amines were carried out and the binding constants were determined from the titration curves in each solvent, using a mathematical model adapted from the literature which considers the simultaneous participation of two dye: amine stoichiometries, 1:1 and 1:2. The data obtained showed the following base order for the two compounds in DMSO: BA>DEA>TEA, while aromatic amines did not cause any effect. In dichloromethane, the following base order for 1b was verified: TEA>DEA>BA?NDAN, while for 2b the order was: TEA>DEA>BA, suggesting that 1b is more acidic than 2b. The data in acetonitrile indicated for 1b and 2b the following order for the amines: DEA>TEA>BA. The diversity of the experimental data were explained based on a model that considers the level of interaction of the protonated dyes with the amines to be dependent on three aspects: (a) the basicity of the amine, which varies according to their molecular structure and the solvent in which it is dissolved, (b) the molecular structure of the dye, and (c) the solvent used to study the system.     

二苯并[b,f][1,5]二氮杂芳辛四烯衍生物的合成及拆分

以邻氨基二苯甲酮为原料,经自身缩合环化合成了3种二苯并[1,5]二氮杂芳辛四烯衍生物(1a~1c);以邻苯二甲酸酐和溴苯为原料经傅-克反应制得中间体2-(4-溴苯甲酰溴)苯甲酸(M1);M1经叠氮化后自缩合制得6,12-二(4-溴苯基)二苯并[b,f][1,5]二氮杂环辛四烯(1d);以邻氨基苯甲酸甲酯为原料,经自身缩合环化制得中间体二苯并[b,f][1,5]二氮杂环辛四烯-6,12(5H,11H)-二酮(M2);M2经氯化合成6,12-二氯二苯并[b,f][1,5]二氮杂环辛四烯(1e),化合物1a~1e的结构经~1H NMR,~(13)C NMR和ESI-MS表征,其中化合物1c为新化合物。利用超临界色谱(SFC)技术对化合物1a~1e实现了手性拆分,获得5对具有高旋光度的光学活性异构体(ee99%)。     

TICT state formation in the 4′-dimethylaminoacetophenone–α-cyclodexdtrin inclusion complex

Fluorescence properties of excited 4′-dimethylaminoacetophenone (DMAAP) complexed with α-cyclodextrin (CD) were studied. The complex exhibited dual fluorescence in neutral aqueous solutions and no TICT fluorescence was observed in alkaline solutions. The dependence of TICT emission intensity on pH and α-CD concentration suggested that a 1:2 DMAAP–α-CD complex, which was formed by the association of the 1:1 complex and α-CD, was responsible for the TICT fluorescence.     

Construction of a Tandem Repeat Peptide Sequence with Pepsin Cutting Sites to Produce Recombinant α-Melanocyte-Stimulating Hormone

The production of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH), a peptide hormone composed of 13 amino acids, is attempted by recombinant expression using E. coli as the host. To achieve this aim, a synthetic gene containing eight tandem repeats of msh gene (8msh) was designed for ribosomal synthesis of 8 α-MSH. The merit of the strategy is to diminish the peptide toxicity against the host cell and to achieve a higher production yield. Pepsin cleavage sites are introduced between the peptides for enzymatic proteolysis to obtain the monomeric peptide of α-MSH. The constructed plasmid was transformed into different strains of E. coli hosts, and E. coli XL1-Blue with gene 8msh revealed the highest yield of 8 α-MSH. Although 8 α-MSH was fractionalized in the insoluble pellets after cell lysis, pepsin cleavage was able to produce soluble α-MSH peptide, as analyzed and confirmed by mass spectrometry and peptide activity assays. The production of α-MSH was quantified using HPLC with a yield of 42.9 mg/L of LB culture. This study demonstrates the feasibility of producing α-MSH using recombinant expression of tandem repeat gene. The production procedure involves minimal post-treatment and processing and can be scaled up for industrial application.     

Large substituent effect on the photochemical rearrangement of 1,6-(N-Aryl)aza-[60]fulleroids to 1,2-(N-Arylaziridino)-[60]fullerenes

Large substituent effects were observed in the rates and reaction mechanisms of the photochemical rearrangement of N-arylaza-[60]fulleroid 1 to N-arylaziridino-[60]fullerene 2, in which the difference of the rates between the fastest and the slowest (>2160-fold) was attained only by changing the aryl group from 1-naphthyl to 2-naphthyl. The decreasing order of the reaction rates in relation to the substituents was 1-naphthyl (1b) > 1-pyrenyl (1d) > phenyl (1a) > 2-naphthyl (1c). The reactions proceeded via triplet states of the fulleroids and a triplet sensitization of the reaction by rearranged product 2b was observed in the case of 1b. The slow reactions of 1a,c were interpretated by the participation of charge-separated species in the excited triplet states, which was supported by nanosecond transient absorption spectra.