First Total Synthesis of (±)-Ponganone Ⅲ

In recent years, the synthesis and pharmacology of pyranoflavanoids have been extensively investigated due to their wide range of pharmacological properties^[1-3]. Ponganone Ⅲ^[4],a new natural pyranoflavanone isolated from the Pongamia pinnala, was identified as (2S)-3',4'-dimethoxy-6',6"-dimethylpyrano-[2",3":7,8]-flavanone (2) on the basis of spectra data. Its precursor,3,4-dimethoxy-2'-hydroxy-6",6"-dimethylchromeno-[2",3":4',3']-chalcone (1) is also a new natural product^[5] isolated from the roots of Lonchocarpus subglaucescent. Their total synthesis have not been reported. Herein, we wish to report the first total synthesis of compounds 1 and 2 in order to confirm the proposed structure and further more to evaluate its biological activities.     

Synthesis of 6-aryl-3-cinchophenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles

In recent years, fused heterocycles have been found to possess many unique properties in synthesis and pharmacology. Especially, 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles derivatives have been attracting much attention of chemists and pharmacologists because of their broad-spectrum biological activities such as antibacterial¹, hypotensive and CNS depressant² activities. We have prepared some 3,6-substituted 1,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-1,3,4-thiadiazoles and found that these compounds exhibited antimacrobial, insecticidal and promote plant growth.^3-5 Cinchophen had been used widely as medicine in clinic,but has been obsolete in recent years due to its by-effect. In order to seek for other uses of cinchophen, as a continuation of our preceeding studies, we used cinchophen as the starting material to synthesize ten new 6-aryl-3-cinchophenyl-l,2,4-triazolo[3,4-b]-l,3,4-thiadiazoles 5a-j. Compound 1 was prepared by the reaction of cinchophen and ethanol in the presence of sulfuric acid. 1 then reacted with hydrazine hydrate in absolute ethanol to give 2 which yielded 3 on treatment with CS₂ and KOH. On refluxing of 3 with excess hydrazine hydrate, 4 was obtained. 4 reacted with various substituted benzoic acids in the presence of POCl₃ to afifort 5a-j.     

First Total Synthesis of (-)-4-O-(6'-Hydroxy-7'(9')-Dehydro-6',7,-Dihydrogeranyl)-Coniferyl Alcohol

Some Ligularia species have long used as folk remedies due to their antibiotic, antiphlogistic and antitumor activities.¹ Compound 1,² a novel coniferyl alcohol, was isolated from ligularia duciformis(Compoitae). The geometrical structure of 1,determined by spectroscopic techniques, was corresponded to 4-o-(6,-hydroxy-7'(9')-dehydro-6',7'-dihydrogeranyl)-coniferyl alcohol. But its absolute configuration at C-₆,has not yet been determined. Herein, we report the total synthesis of (6'S)-(-)-1 from Geraniol 2 through 9 steps (Scheme 1).     

Synthesis of Allobetulin, 28-Oxyallobetulin and Related Biomarkers from Betulin and Betulinic Acid Catalysed by Solid Acids

Betulin (1a) is an abundant natural product in the birch bark. Betulin itself currently has little usage. However, allobetulin (2a) has been used as an important intermediate in the further transformation of triterpenoids and as a sample for biological studies.¹ For example, allobetulin was further transformed to a highly active antifeedant for heliothis zea larvae. Some biomarkers (3a,b; 4a,b) with the same or similar structure as ring-E of 2a were identified in a brown coal.³ Consequently, the conversion of 1a to synthetically, biologically and geochemically more important 2a is of great significance. The transformation of 1a to 2a was reported as early as 1922 by Schulze et al in which betulin was isomerized by formic acid, involving formation and hydrolysis of allobetulin formate, to give 2a in moderate yield.⁴     

Facile Total Synthesis of Three Natural 1,7-Diaryl-4-hepten-3-ones

Linear 1,7-diarylheptanoids (Ar¹-C₇-Ar²) are a large group of interesting natural products isolated from plants belonging to Alinia,Curcuma, Zingiber, Alnua,Centridobium and Acer genera used as traditional medicines in some oriental countries¹. Pharmacological experiments exhibited that some of them had many physiological actions such as anti-inflammatory, antifungicial, antioxidative,antihepatotoxic activities and so on². Three natural compounds 1³, 2⁴ and 3⁵ (gingerone C) having 1,7-diaryl-4-hepten-3-one skeleton were isolated from the rhizomes of Alpinia offocinarum, the wood of Alnus japonica and the rhizomes of Zingiber officinale respectively. Their structures were elucidated as 1,7-diphenylhept-4-en-3-one(1), 1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)hept-4-en-3-one(2) and 1-(3-hydroxyl-4-methoxyphenyl)-7-(4-hydroxyphenyl)hept-4-en-3-one(3) by spectral method. Herein, we wish to report facile total synthesis of these three natural compounds. Their synthetic routes were shouwn in scheme.     

Anionic Cyclization Approach to Hexahydrobenzo[b] furan-3-one and Hexahydro-1H-3-indolone:Application to Total Syntheses of Natural Products

Hexahydrobenzo[b]furan-3-one(3) and hexahydro-1H-3-indolone (4) are potentially useful intermediates for total synthesis of natural products, such as the hexahydrobenzofuran unit (5) of avermectins and pancracine (6). Anionic cyclization approach toward (3) and (4) have been developed. Their application to the total synthesis of (5) and (6) will be presented.     

Facile Synthesis of (±)-2,6-Dimethethyl-6-hydroxy-2,7-octadienoic Acid and its Methyl Ester and Amide (Acacialactam)

The monoterpenoid acid 1, which is a component of some traditional medicine such as Gymnocladus chinensis baillon in glycoside form,¹ was recently isolated from Artemisia sieberi in Iran in free form.². Its structure has been established to be (E)-2,6-dimethyl-6-hydroxy-2,7-octadienoic acid (1) by chemical and spectroscopic analysis. Its methyl ester derivative 2,was isolated from the antibacterial extracts of the leaves of Piper aduncum³ as well. Acacialactam, a natural product isolated from the seeds of Acacia concinna DC.(Legunninosae) used in folk medicine of several tropical countries for treating some skin diseases, was assigned structure 4 by Sekine et al⁴ on the basis of its physical and spectral properties.     

The Chlorination of O-Alkyl S-Alkyl(aryl) Thiophosphoric(-nic) Acid Derivatives with Phosphorus Oxychloride——A New Convenient Method for Synthesis of Chiral S-Alkyl(aryl) Thiophosphoro(-no) Chloridates

In our laboratory, the isomerization/chlorination of a variety of O,O-dialkyl phosphoro(-no)thionates 1 with phosphorus oxychloride have been systematically studied. It was found that when R' equals aryloxy^[1], alkylthio^[2], arylthio^[2], dialkylamino^[3], phenyl^[4], methyl^[5],and nitrogen heterocyclic group^[6] in 1,respectively, this reaction can proceed smoothly and gives the desired products ² and ³. Hence, it provides a general synthitic method for S-alkyl thiophosphoro(-no)chloridates, especially for the asymmetric ones.     

Synthesis,Chemistry and Applications of Heterocyclic Cage Compounds (V)

The synthesis and chemistry of polycyclic cage compounds have attracted considerable attention in recent years.¹ The vast majority of the work reported in this area has dealt with caybocyclic cage compounds. On the other hand, the synthesis and chemistry of heterocyclic cage compounds have received less attention. Recently, we have accomplished the synthesis of a series of oxa-cage compounds and performed the chemical transformations of these oxa-cage compounds.² As part of a program that involves the synthesis,chemistry and applications of heterocyclic cage compounds we report here the synthesis of heterocyclic cage compounds 1-12. We also wish to report the applications of compounds 7-12 on the π-facial selectivities. Studies on the cation-binding properties of compounds 1 and 2 and other oxa-cages are undertaken.     

Solvothermal Syntheses and Characterization of Three One-dimension Cadmium Selenidoarsenates [Ni(1,2-dap)3][As2CdSe4],[Zn(1,2-dap)3][As2CdSe4] and [Ni(en)3][As2CdSe4]

Three new cadmium selenidoarsenates,[Ni(1,2-dap)3][As2CdSe4](1)(1,2-dap=l,2-diaminopropane),[Zn( 1,2-dap)3][As2CdSe4](2) and [Ni(en)3][As2CdSe4](3)(en=ethylenediamine), were synthesized under solvothermal conditions. And they are isostnictural and monoclinic crystalls. As seen from their structures, they exhibited one-dimensional(1D) chains composed of [As2CdSe4]^2- anions and [TM(amine)3]^2+(TM=Ni,Zn;amine=1,2-dap, en) cations. Their absorption edges are 2.32, 1.84 and 2.38 eV and they show the properties of the semiconductor. These compounds were also characterized by means of single-crystal X-ray ditlraction(XRD), powder X-ray diflraction (PXRD), solid-state optical absorption spectrometry, and so on.     

K3PO4-promoted Cyclopropanation of Electron-deficient Alkenes with 2-Bromo-1,3-propanedione Compounds

An easy and efficient method for the synthesis of multisubstituted cyclopropane derivatives from electron-deficicent alkenes with 2-bromo-1,3-propanedione compounds was described. For this method, ethyl α-cyanocinnamate derivatives 1 and β,β-dicyanostyrene derivatives 4 can all smoothly react with 2-bromo-1,3-propanedione compounds 2 to afford the corresponding multisubstituted cyclopropane derivatives 3 and 5 in good to excellent yields(up to 100%) promoted by anhydrous K₃PO₄ in DMF at room temperature, respectively. A possible mechanism of this reaction was proposed. Structures of all the products were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HRMS.     

A Luminescent Metal-Organic Framework with LON Topology for Highly Effective Fluorescence Sensing of Fe3+ and TNP

Aluminescent Ag-based metal-organic framework(1) has been synthesized and its structure has been characterized. Compound 1 was fabricated using the Ag⁺ and bbimb^2‒ ligands and manifestes a rare LON topology. Compound 1 is selective not only in detecting traces of Fe³⁺ and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol(TNP) via luminescence quenching, but also demonstrates high selectivity in the presence of other competitors. Compound 1’s K_sv values towards Fe³⁺ can reach as high as 9.3×10³ L/mol, which is higher than those of several other MOF materials. It is also a recyclable luminous sensor with the potential to be utilized for detecting TNP. Hence, based on its characteristics, compound 1 can be regarded as a prospective luminescence sensor for detecting Fe³⁺ and TNP.     

Study on the α-Thiocarbonylthioformamide Ⅰ-Comparison with α-carbonylthioformamide

α-Carbonylthioformamide 1 and α-thiocarbonylthioformamide 1 were synthesized by Adiwidjaja in 1980¹. However, there is no report of these compounds related their properties and reaction activities². Compound 1 has two possible sites for nucleophilic attack. In our previous works., it was used to synthesize a lot of heterocyclic compounds (Scheme l)^3-6.     

Regioselective Synthesis of Two Novel 2-geranyloxyacetophenones

The phenols containing geranyl units¹ are a large group of interesting natural products exhibited many physiological actions as antiflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidative activities². Two novel acetophenones 1 and 2 were recently isolated from the fruits of Evodia merrillii, a small folk medicinal tree widely distributed in Taiwan³. Their structures were elucidated as 2-(1'-geranyl)-4,6-dihydroxyacetophenone 1 and 2-(1'-geranyloxy)-2,6,α-trihydroxyacetophenone 2 by means of spectroscopic data. So far as we know, the total synthesis of them have not been reported yet. Herein, we wish to report the first total synthesis of 1 and 2,starting from 2,4,6-trihydroxyacetophenone.     

AN EFFICIENT SYNTHESIS OF ALIPHATIC α-ORGANOTHIO ALDOXIME

The importance of the aliphatic α-organothio aldoxime compound 3 in the preparation of various pesticides is well established. Molecules comprising the α-organothio oxime moiety have been reported to exhibit insecticidal,nematocidal,miticidal activities.^[1-2] In the synthesis of the compound 3,the chlorination of the corresponding aliphatic aldoxime 1 is the key step.In conventional methods, the aliphatic aldoxime 1 is chlorinated by chlorine,then the resulting hydroxime acid chloride 2 is treated with sodium alkyl mercaptide to obtain the desired compounds 3^[3]. Although free Cl₂ is the most common chlorinating agent,it is laborious to determine the accurate amount that has been absorbed,and the high reactivity of Cl₂ always leads to side reactions. In connection with an our ongoing research project, we require an efficient and simple method for the synthesis of the compound 3.An improved synthesis process according to the following scheme is reported in this paper.     

Two New Alkaline Metal Borates with Supramolecular Framework Constructed from 1D {B5}/{B6} Helical Chains

Two new alkaline metal borates containing 1D{B5}/{B6}oxoboron helical chains,namely Na0.5[B5O8(OH)2]0.5[B5O6(OH)2]0.5·0.5H3O(1)and NaKCs[B6O9(OH)3](2)were synthesized under solvothermal conditions.Compound 1 contains the interesting alternative left-and right-handed helical{[B5O8(OH)2][B5O6(OH)2]}2-({B5}-1 and{B5}-2)1D chains and compound 2 possesses the similar[B6O11(OH)3]7-({B6})chains.Their 1D chains are further assembled into 2D layers and 3D supramolecular frameworks through O-H…O hydrogen bonds.In addition,the UV cutoff edge of compounds 1 and 2 is both below 190 nm.     

A Novel Cyclization of Squalene Initiated by Radical Cation

Squalene 1 is recognized as the precursor of sterols and polycyclic triterpenoids that play important roles in numerous life processes¹. In view of the fact that the cyclization of hexa-1, 5-diene by γ-irradiation² and some isoprenoid polyenes by photochemical method³ through radical cation intermediates have been reported and that tris (p-bromophenyl)ammoniumyl hexachloroantimonate (TBPA⁺SbCl₆, 2) could oxidize olfines to the corresponding radical cations that underwent pericyclic reactions⁴, we thought it might be worthwhile to try the biomimetic cyclization of squalene initiated by radical cations. Previously we⁵ have reported the cyclization of geraniol and nerol to cis-p-mentha-2,8-dien-l-ol by reaction with 2. Herein, we report the cyclization of 1 initiated by 2 in dry dichloromethane to give 20-R-protosta-5,24-diene 3a and 20-S-protosta-5,24-diene 3b in the ratio of 1:1 with the total yield of 20%(Scheme 1).     

Synthesis of p-Aminophenyl Heteroaromatic Pyrroles

Three general methods for synthesis of heteroaromatic pyrroles were reported recently from our laboratory.¹ Application of these methods to the preparation of p-aminophenyl heteroaromtic pyrroles 3 will be discussed. Potential use of p-aminophenyl substituted heteroaromatic pyrroles 3 as electroluminescent materials is under current investigation.     

Novel Oxidative Coupling of 2-Naphthols to 1,1'-Bi-2-naphthols Catalysed by Solid Lewis Acids Using Atmospheric Oxygen as Oxidant

l,l'-Bi-2-naphthol derivatives have wide applications as chiral inducing agents for asymmetric synthesis.¹ There are many good methods for resolution of racemic binaphthols to give enantiomeric binaphthols.² Therefore, it is essential to established simple, convenient, economically and environmental-friendly methods for preparation of racemic l,l'-binaphthol derivatives. A number of methods have been developed for the oxidative coupling of 2-naphthols usually by using Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺ or Mn³⁺ as oxidants. The reaction were carried out in organic solvent,^3a in solid state^3b and in aqueous Fe³⁺ solution.^3c However, all those cases by employing excess, usually 2 equivalents of oxidant. The excess Fe³⁺, Cu²⁺ and the resulted Fe²⁺, Cu⁺ and HCl were not acceptable from a view point of environmental protection. Recently, Sakamoto et at⁴ and Kantam et at⁵ independently reported two catalytic oxidative coupling procedure for preparation of l,l'-binaphthols using aerial oxygen as oxidant and Cu²⁺-exchanged montmorillonite as catalysts. However, both procedures were by using some toxic chlorobenzene as solvent and long reaction time (>2 h) and high temperature(>140℃) were needed. Consquently, there is still a great demand for catalytic oxidative coupling 2-naphthols to generate binaphthols under mild conditions, environmentally friendly procedure and rapid process. Herein we report novel oxidative coupling of to 1,1-bi-2-naphthols (2a, 2b) catalysed by a number of supported reagents using aerial oxygen as oxidant. The results are listed in Table 1.     

Unexpected Products from the Reaction of Naphthols with Cholesterol Catalysed by Montmorillonite K 10

Under catalysis of montmorillonites, arenes could be cholesterylated by cholesterol (1) via a Friedel-Crafts alkylation.¹ When phenols were employed as substrates for that reaction, aryl cholesteryl ethers were obtained instead of aryl cholestenes.² However, β-naphthol (2a) and α-naphthol (2b) gave obviously different products. We report here the identification of these unexpected products from the reaction of 2 with 1 catalysed by montmorillonite K 10.