Total synthesis of (9S,12R,13S)-pinellic acid

The total synthesis of (9S,12R,13S)-pinellic acid, a novel and potentially useful oral adjuvant, isolated from Pinelliae tuber has been accomplished.     

Isoeichlerianic acid from Aglaia silvestris and revision of the stereochemistry of foveolin B

A new series of 20,24-epoxy (tetrahydrofuryl) type dammarane triterpenoids were established. So far two series were described, based on the stereochemistries of the tetrahydrofurane ring linked to the D ring of the triterpenoid skeleton. Eichlerianic acid was characterised by the absolute configuration (20S,24S) and shoreic acid by (20S,24R). Foveolins A and B were correlated with these compounds and published also as (20S,24S) and (20S,24R), respectively. ¹³C NMR analysis of a further stereoisomer of the acids isolated from Aglaia silvestris allowed the conclusion that the new isoeichlerianic acid, its methyl ester and the known foveolin B belonged to the new stereochemical series (20R,24S).     

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.     

Asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction using a new chiral β-nitroacrylate for enantiopure trans-β-norbornane amino acid preparation

The main nitronorbornene adduct derived from the asymmetric Diels–Alder reaction of (S)-benzyl-4-(3-(3-nitroacryloyloxy)-4,4-dimethyl-2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl)benzoate (S)-1 and cyclopentadiene was isolated and transformed to afford the enantiopure bicyclic β-amino acid (1S,2R,3R,4R)-trans-β-norbornane amino acid 9. The enantiomer (1R,2S,3S,4S)-9 could be obtained by the same synthetic route by using the chiral auxiliary (R)-1.     

Synthetic studies on homophymine A: stereoselective synthesis of (2R,3R,4R,6R)-3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethyloctanoic acid

An efficient and highly stereocontrolled synthesis of (2R,3R,4R,6R)-3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethyloctanoic acid, the β-hydroxy acid unit that acylates the N-terminus of homophymine A, has been devised starting from iodoethane and (S,S)-pseudoephedrine propionamide in 9 steps and 36% average overall yield. Comparison of the ¹H and ¹³C NMR and optical rotation data of the resulting β-hydroxy acid with the natural fragment unambiguously verifies the configurational assignment as (2R,3R,4R,6R).     

Four new andrographolide metabolites in rats

Four new sulfonate metabolites of andrographolide, 14-deoxy-12(R)-sulfo andrographolide (Metabolite 1), 14-deoxy-12(S)-sulfo andrographolide (Metabolite 2), 14-deoxy-12(R)-sulfo-9(S)-andrographolide (Metabolite 3) and 14-sulfo isoandrographolide (Metabolite 4), were isolated from urine and feces in rats. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic analyses. These four metabolites were formed through a rare metabolic reaction and were all new compounds.     

A new dihydrobenzofuran lignan and potential α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of isolated compounds from Mitrephora teysmannii

A new dihydrobenzofuran lignan, (2R,3S)-2-(3′,4′-dimethoxyphenyl)-5-(3-hydroxypropyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-3-methyl acetate, named as mitredrusin (1), was isolated from the leaves of Mitrephora teysmannii (Annonaceae) together with 12 known compounds including a related dihydrobenzofuran lignan: (?)-3′,4-di-O-methylcedrusin (2), four polyacetylenic acids: 13(E)-octadecene-9,11-diynoic acid (3), 13(E),17-octadecadiene-9,11-diynoic acid (4), octadeca-9,11,13-triynoic acid (5) and octadeca-17-en-9,11,13-triynoic acid (6), five lignans: (?)-eudesmin (7), (?)-epieudesmin (8), (?)-phillygenin (9), magnone A (10) and forsythialan B (11) and two megastigmans: (3S,5R,6S,7E,9R)-7-megastigmene-3,6,9-triol (12) and annoionol A (13). The chemical structures of these compounds were established on the basis of their 1-D and 2-D NMR spectroscopic data. All compounds were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Among these isolates, polyacetylenic acids 3 and 4 showed more than 20-fold much higher activity compared with that of the antidiabetic drug acarbose.     

Eine Neuuntersuchung der Carotinoide aus Rosa foetida: Struktur von 12 neuen Carotinoiden; stereoisomere Luteoxanthine,Auroxanthine, Latoxanthine und Latochrome

Reinvestigation of the Carotenoids from Rosa foetida, structures of 12 Novel Carotenoids; Stereoisomeric Luteoxanthins, Auroxanthins, Latoxanthins and Latochromes From petals of the yellow Rosa foetida HERRM ., more than 35 individual carotenoids were isolated and identified. Thereof, 87% belong to the expoxycarotenes. Structures were assigned for the first time to 4 auroxanthins ((8R,8′S), 6 ; (8S,8′S), 7 ; (8R,8′R), 8 ; (9Z,8R,8′R), 12 ), to 4 luteoxanthins ((8′R), 4 ; (8′S), 5 ; (9Z,8′R), 9 ; (9Z,8′S) 10(e) ) and to novel latoxanthins and latochromes, very polar carotenoids having (3S,5R,6R)-trihydroxy β-end groups (latoxanthins 13 and 16 , latochromes 14 and 15 ).     

Synthesis and analytical properties of (S)-(+)-2-methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid

2-Methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid was synthesized as a novel chiral resolving agent. The absolute configuration of (+)-2-methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid was determined to be S by using X-ray structural analysis of the (1R,2S,5R)-menthyl ester. In the crystal, the methoxyl and carbonyl groups of the ester are in a syn-periplanar position. The syn-periplanar conformations of (1R,2S,5R)-menthyl esters were also observed by the NMR analyses in CDCl₃. The utility of (S)-(+)-2-methoxy-2-(9-phenanthryl)propionic acid was exemplified by the resolution of (±)-3-octanol.     

Efficient synthesis of 3,4- and 4,5-dihydroxy-2-amino-cyclohexanecarboxylic acid enantiomers

An efficient method for the synthesis of (1S,2R,4R,5S)- and (1R,2R,4R,5S)-2-amino-4,5-dihydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acids (?)-6 and (?)-9 and (1R,2R,3S,4R)- and (1S,2R,3S,4R)-2-amino-3,4-dihydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acids (?)-15 and (?)-18 was developed by using the OsO₄-catalyzed oxidation of Boc-protected (1S,2R)-2-aminocyclohex-4-enecarboxylic acid (+)-2 and (1R,2S)-2-aminocyclohex-3-enecarboxylic acid (+)-11. Good yields were obtained. The stereochemistry of the synthesized compounds was proven by NMR spectroscopy.     

Arylacetic acid derivatization of 2,3- and internal erythro-squalene diols. Separation and absolute configuration determination

We have studied a new approach for the resolution and absolute configuration determination of the enantiomers of squalene diols as intermediate precursors in the chemical synthesis of different squalene oxides (SOs); (3R)- and (3S)-2,3-SO, (6R,7R)- and (6S,7S)-6,7-SO, and (10R,11R)- and (10S,11S)-10,11-SO. Monoderivatization of the corresponding racemic squalene diol intermediates with pure stereoisomers of (S)-(+)-methoxyphenyl acetic acid ((S)-(+)-MPA), (S)-(+)-9-anthrylmethoxyacetic acid ((S)-(+)-9-AMA) and (S)-(+)-acetoxyphenylacetic acid ((S)-(+)-APA) afforded the diastereomeric esters which could be easily separated by column flash chromatography with silica gel. In addition, the absolute configuration for these diastereoisomers of the derivatized diols was advantageously inferred from ¹H NMR data according to the models depicted for these derivatizing chiral agents. In order to demonstrate the absolute configuration assignment of the different stereoisomers, (S)-(+)-AMA showed the larger Δδ by ¹H NMR, however, (S)-(+)-MPA esters were much more stable derivatives.     

Highly Oxygenated Triterpenoids and Diterpenoids from Fructus Rubi (Rubus chingii Hu) and Their NF-kappa B Inhibitory Effects

During a phytochemical investigation of the unripe fruits of Rubus chingii Hu (i.e., Fructus Rubi, a traditional Chinese medicine named “Fu-Pen-Zi”), a number of highly oxygenated terpenoids were isolated and characterized. These included nine ursane-type (1, 2, and 4–10), five oleanane-type (3, 11–14), and six cucurbitane-type (15–20) triterpenoids, together with five ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids (21–25). Among them, (4R,5R,8R,9R,10R,14S,17S,18S,19R,20R)-2,19α,23-trihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-1,12-dien-28-oic acid (rubusacid A, 1), (2R*,4S*,5R*,8R*,9R*,10R*,14S*,17S*, 18S*,19R*,20R*)-2α,19α,24-trihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (rubusacid B, 2), (5R,8R,9R,10R, 14S,17R,18S,19S)-2,19α-dihydroxy-olean-1,12-dien-28-oic acid (rubusacid C, 3), and (3S,5S,8S,9R, 10S,13R,16R)-3α,16α,17-trihydroxy-ent-kaur-2-one (rubusone, 21) were previously undescribed. Their chemical structures and absolute configurations were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses. Compounds 1 and 3 are rare naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenoids featuring a special α,β-unsaturated keto-enol (diosphenol) unit in ring A. Cucurbitacin B (15), cucurbitacin D (16), and 3α,16α,20(R),25-tetrahydroxy-cucurbita-5,23- dien-2,11,22-trione (17) were found to have remarkable inhibitory effects against NF-κB, with IC₅₀ values of 0.08, 0.61, and 1.60 μM, respectively.     

Two diasteoisomers of 5-hydroxy-6-methylpipecolic acid from seeds of Fagus silvatica L.

Two diastereoisomers of 5-hydroxy-6-methylpipecolic acid have been isolated from beechnuts. The configurations of the two amino acids have been assigned as (2S, 5S, 6S) (1) and (2S, 5R, 6S) (2). The determination of structure and configuration for the two new amino acids is mainly based on spectroscopic and rotatory evidence. The ¹³C-NMR and ¹H-NMR spectra of the three ionic forms of the two amino acids and of S-pipecolic acid and (2S, 5R)-5-hydroxypipecolic acid and the CD-curves of the cations and amfoions of 1, 2, and (2S, 5R)-5-hydroxypipecolic acid have been recorded.     

Synthesis of mono- and dihydroxy-substituted 2-aminocyclooctanecarboxylic acid enantiomers

(1R,2S,6R)-2-Amino-6-hydroxycyclooctanecarboxylic acid (?)-10 was synthesized from (1R,2S)-2-aminocyclooct-5-enecarboxylic acid (+)-2 via an iodolactone intermediate, while (1R,2S,3R,4S)-2-amino-5,6-dihydroxycyclooctanecarboxylic acid (?)-12 was prepared by using the OsO₄-catalyzed oxidation of Boc-protected amino ester (?)-5. The stereochemistry and relative configurations of the synthesized compounds were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy (based on 2D NOE cross-peaks and ³J(H,H) coupling constants) and X-ray crystallography.     

Biomimetic total synthesis of colneleic acid and its function as a lipoxygenase inhibitor

A biomimetic synthesis of colneleic acid (2) from 9(S)-hydroperoxy-10(E),12(Z)-octadecadienoic acid (1) is reported. The lipoxygenase of potato which converts linoleic acid to 1 was found to be strongly inhibited by acid 2 (K_i = 8μM).     

Raman optical activity of tartaric acid and related molecules

The Raman optical activity spectra of (2R, 3R) (+)- and (2S,3S) (?)-tartaric acid, (2R, 3R) (+)-dimethyl tartrate, (2R,3R) (?)-2,3-butanediol and (2S, 3S) (+)-dibenzoyl tartaric acid are presented. A large couplet at about 500cm^?1 in the first three molecules, which probably originates in deformations of a chiral structural unit, might serve as an indicator of conformation and absolute configuration.     

Prostaglandin chemistry—V : Synthesis of new prostaglandin synthons; 4(R)-(+)- and 4(S)-(−)-t-butyldimethylsiloxycyclopent-2-en-1-one

Optically active prostaglandin intermediates, 4(R)-(+)- and 4(S)-(?)-hydroxycyclopent-2-en-1-one derivatives, were synthesized from 3(R),5(R)-diacetoxycyclopent-1-ene, 3(R)-acetoxy-5(R)-hydroxycyclopent-1-ene and 3(S),5(S)-dihydroxycyclopent-1-ene obtained by microbiological hydrolysis of 3,5-diacetoxycyclopent-1-ene. The absolute configurations of all these compounds were determined by the exciton chirality method and the induced CD method. The optical purities were determined by NMR measurements of the diastereomeric esters of a versatile optically pure acid, (+)-α-methoxy-α-trifluoromethylphenylacetic acid.     

Synthesis of (2R,4S,5S)-5-acetamido-4-hydroxy-pipecolinic acid as a potential inhibitor of sialidases

(2R,4S,5S)-5-Acetamido-4-hydroxy-pipecolinic acid (2), a weak inhibitor of sialidases, was synthesized from N-BOC-D-glucosamine.     

Novel stereocontrolled synthesis of the tricyclic lactone (1R,3R,6R,9S)-6,9-dimethyl-8-oxo-7-oxatricyclo[4.3.0.03,9]nonane

The stereocontrolled synthesis of (1R,3R,6R,9S)-6,9-dimethyl-8-oxo-7-oxatricyclo[4.3.0.0^3,9]nonane 1 from (R)-(−)-carvone has been accomplished by application of a 13-step sequence with 12% overall yield. The absolute stereochemistry of the unsaturated acid 8a has been established by X-ray analysis of the chiral amide 8c.     

A novel and versatile method for the enantioselective syntheses of tropane alkaloids

A full account of the novel and flexible approach to hydroxylated 8-azabicyclo[3,2,1]octan-3-ones and 9-azabicyclo[3,3,1]nonan-3-ones is presented.Using keto-lactams as the starting materials,this two-step method consists of silyl enol ether formation with TBDMSOTf,lactam activation with Tf2O/DTBMP,and halide-promoted cyclization.Radical dechlorination of the resulting 1-halotropan-3-ones led to the corresponding hydroxylated tropan-3-ones,which can be hydrogenated to yield3,6-dihydroxytropanes.Starting from optically active keto-lactams,the method has been applied to the enantioselective syntheses of(+)-(1S,3S,5R,6S)-pervilleine C(6),(+)-(1S,3R,5S,6R)-valeroidine(3),(+)-(1S,3S,5R,6S)-dibenzoyloxytropane(8),and(+)-(1S,3S,5R,6S)-merredissine(9).