New phlegmarane-type, cernuane-type, and quinolizidine alkaloids from two species of Lycopodium

Two new phlegmarane-type alkaloids, cermizines A (1) and B (2), three new quinolizidine alkaloids, cermizine C (3) and senepodines G (4) and H (5), and a new C₁₆N₂ type alkaloid consisting of a quinolizidine and a piperidine ring, cermizine D (6), as well as two new cernuane-type alkaloids, cernuine N-oxide (7) and lycocernuine N-oxide (8), have been isolated together with cernuine (9) and lycocernuine (10) from the club moss Lycopodium cernuum and L. chinense. The relative stereochemistry of 1-4 and 6, and the absolute stereochemistry of 5, 7, and 8 were elucidated by combination of NOESY correlations, modified Mosher's method, chemical transformations, and computational methods. Cermizine D (6) might be a biosynthetic intermediate of cernuane-type alkaloids such as 7-10.     

Bioactive meroditerpenes and indole alkaloids from the soil fungus Neosartorya fischeri (KUFC 6344), and the marine-derived fungi Neosartorya laciniosa (KUFC 7896) and Neosartorya tsunodae (KUFC 9213)

Two new metabolites including a new aszonalenin analogue (1c) and a new meroditerpene (3) were isolated, together with aszonalenin (1a), acetylaszonalenin (1b), 13-oxofumitremorgin B (2), aszonapyrone A (4b) and helvolic acid, from the culture of the soil fungus Neosartorya fischeri (KUFC 6344). While the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the diseased coral-derived fungus Neosartorya laciniosa (KUFC 7896) furnished aszonapyrone B (4a), aszonapyrone A (4b), tryptoquivaline L and 3′-(4-oxoquinazolin-3-yl) spiro[1H-indole-3,5′-oxolane]-2,2′-dione, the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the marine sponge-associated fungus Neosartorya tsunodae (KUFC 9213) yielded a new analogue of chevalone C (5) and helvolic acid. The structures of the new compounds were established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis as well as HR-ESIMS. Compounds 1a–c, 2, 3, 4a, 4b and 5 were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory activity on the MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and A375-C5 (melanoma) cell lines by the protein binding dye SRB method.     

An unexpected formation of pyrazolopyrimidines during the attempted to obtain 5-substituted tetrazoles from carbonitriles

In this Letter, we described the synthesis of new 5-(5-amino-1-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-yl)-1H-tetrazoles 2a–c from 5-amino-1-aryl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitriles 1a–c as well as the unexpected 1H-pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine derivatives 6a–c from 5-amino-1-aryl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitriles 4a–c, instead of 5-(5-amino-1-aryl-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-yl)-1H-tetrazoles 5a–c as desired. In an attempt to obtain these tetrazole derivatives containing the methyl group at C3-position in the pyrazole ring, the amino group in 5-amino-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbonitrile 4c was protected by the reaction with sodium hydride and di-tert-butyl-dicarbonate (Boc). The tetrazole derivative 5c was synthesized from the protected compound 7c using analogue methodology to obtain 2a–c and 6a–c.     

Self-assembly of a new series of quadruply hydrogen bonded heterotrimers driven by the donor-acceptor interaction

This paper describes the self-assembly of a new series of heterotrimers in chloroform-d by utilizing the cooperative interaction of hydrogen bonding and donor-acceptor interaction. Compounds 1 and 11, in which an 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone unit is connected to 34-crown-10 or 36-crown-10, were used as donor monomer, and 2 and 19, in which an 2-ureido-4[1H]-pyrimidinone unit is connected to NDI, were used as acceptor monomer, while linear compound 4, which contains two diamido-1,8-naphthyridines, was used as template. A large tri-p-(t-butyl)phenylmethoxyl group was introduced to 19 in order to compare its assembling behavior with that of 2. Mixing 4 with dimer 1·2 caused 1·2 to fully decompose and to afford 55% of ‘in-in’-oriented heterotrimer 1·4·2. Adding 4 to the solution of 2·11 or 11·19 in chloroform-d also led to full dissociation of the dimers. However, in these systems the ‘in-in’-arranged heterotrimer 2·4·11 or 11·4·19 could be produced exclusively.     

Five novel norcembranoids from Sinularia leptoclados and S. parva

Three new norcembrane-based diterpenoids, leptocladolides A (1), B (4) and C (5), along with five known metabolites 6-10, have been isolated from the dichloromethane extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia leptoclados. Furthermore, a chemical investigation on the dichloromethane extract of S. parva has resulted in the isolation of two new related isomers, 1-epi-leptocladolide A (2) and 7E-leptocladolide A (3), in addition to 1 and 7. The structures of new metabolites 1-5 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and their relative stereochemistries were determined by NOESY experiments. The new metabolites 1 and 3 have been shown to exhibit significant cytotoxic activity against KB and Hepa59T/VGH cancer cell lines.     

Formation of new 4-isocyanobut-2-enenitriles by thermal ring cleavage of 3-pyridyl azides

A new thermal ring cleavage of 3-pyridyl nitrenes for the formation of 4-isocyanobut-2-enenitrile products is reported. Thermolysis of 4-(thien-3-yl)-3-pyridyl azide 1 and 3-azido-4-(1-TIPS-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)pyridine 5 afforded two new isonitrile-nitrile products by ring cleavage; 4-isocyano-2-(thiophen-3-yl)but-2-enenitrile (3, 27%) and 4-isocyano-2-(1-TIPS-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)but-2-enenitrile (7, 20%), in addition to our previously reported pyrido[3,4-b]thienopyrrole (2, 29%) and pyrido[3,4-b]pyrrolo[3,2-d]pyrrole (6, 71%) products. Minor amounts of 2-(thien-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-3-carbonitrile (4, 6%), formed by ring contraction, were also isolated after thermolysis of azide 1. Isonitriles 3 and 7 underwent degradation into amine 3b and formamide 7a by acidic hydrolysis. The nature and chemistry of compounds 3, 4 and 7 were investigated.     

Seven membered ring chelates derived from γ-hydroxyamides and triphenyltin or diphenylboron

N-Benzyl-4-hydroxy-butyramide (1), 4-hydroxy-N-[(R)-1-phenyl-ethyl]-butyramide (2), and (R)-4-hydroxy-2-methyl-N-[(R)-1-phenyl-ethyl]-butyramide (3a) were used to prepare new diphenylboron and triphenyltinoxy compounds: diphenylborinic acid 3-benzylcarbamoyl-propyl ester (4), diphenylborinic acid 3-[(R)-1-phenyl-ethylcarbamoyl]-propyl ester (5) and diphenylborinic acid (R)-3-[(R)-1-phenyl-ethylcarbamoyl]-butyl ester (6), N-benzyl-4-triphenyltinoxy-butyramide (7), 4-triphenyltinoxy-N-[(R)-1-phenyl-ethyl]-butyramide (8), and (R)-4-triphenyltinoxy-2-methyl-N-[(R)-1-phenyl-ethyl]-butyramide (9). The X-ray diffraction analysis of a crystalline structure of the new γ-hydroxyamide 3a is reported, as well as that of the first example of a crystalline structure where a diphenylborinic ester forms a seven membered chelate, by a carbonyl coordination to boron (4). Structural studies of tin and boron esters were performed by NMR. The CO internal coordination to tin atoms, affording seven membered rings, was observed by ¹¹⁹Sn NMR experiments at low temperature.     

A combinatorial access to 1,5-benzodiazepine derivatives and their evaluation for aldose reductase inhibition

Aryldiazepinothiophenones 4 were prepared from the reaction of o-phenylenediamines with acetone in the presence of 2-mercaptocarboxylic acids along with thiazolobenzodiazepines 6, thiazolobenzimidazoles 7 and 1,5-benzodiazepines 5, which were obtained as by-products. The benzodiazepinothiophenones 4a-d and the benzodiazepines 5a-d were also isolated from the reaction of o-phenylenediamines 1a-c with phorone. Structural assignments of the new compounds as well as complete assignment of ¹H and ¹³C NMR signals were based on the analysis of their ¹H and ¹³C NMR (1D and 2D), IR, MS and elemental analysis data. Compounds 4 were evaluated for aldose reductase inhibition and also as antioxidants.     

Agelasines O-U, new diterpene alkaloids with a 9-N-methyladenine unit from a marine sponge Agelas sp.

New diterpene alkaloids, agelasines O-U (1-7), have been isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Agelas sp. The gloss structures and relative stereochemistries of 1-7 were elucidated from the spectroscopic data. Agelasines O-R (1-4) were the third examples of diterpene alkaloid with a 9-N-methyladenine and a pyrrole units. Agelasine O (1) has a halimane skeleton, while agelasines P-R (2-4) have a clerodane skeleton. Agelasines S-U (5-7) were new diterpene alkaloids with a 9-N-methyladenine unit consisting of a halimane skeleton, a labdane skeleton, and a clerodane skeleton, respectively. Agelasines O-R (1-4) and T (6) showed antimicrobial activities against several bacteria and fungi.     

Halichonadins A-D, new sesquiterpenoids from a sponge Halichondria sp.

A new dimeric sesquiterpenoid with two eudesmane skeletons through a urea linkage, halichonadin A (1), as well as three new eudesmane sesquiterpenoids having a carbamate, an isonitrile, or an amino functionality, halichonadins B (2), C (3), and D (4), respectively, have been isolated from a marine sponge Halichondria sp., and the gross structures and relative stereochemistry of 1-4 were elucidated on the basis of spectral data and chemical means.     

Bioactive meroterpenoids and alkaloids from the fungus Eurotium chevalieri

Five new meroterpenoids, chevalones A-D (1-4), aszonapyrone B (8), and a new sequiterpene alkaloid, eurochevalierine (5), together with four known compounds, sequiterpene (6), terpenoid pyrrolobenzoxazine named CJ-12662 (7), meroterpenoid, aszonapyrone A (9), and ergosterol were isolated from the fungus Eurotium chevalieri. The structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. The configurations of 1 and 5 were determined by X-ray analysis. The biosynthetic pathway of 1-3, 8, and 9 were proposed. Chemical transformation of aszonapyrone A (9) was also studied. Compounds 4, 5, and 7 exhibited antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, while 3, 5, and 7 showed antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In addition, compounds 2-7 showed cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines.     

Synthesis of a new class of azathia crown macrocycles containing two 1,2,4-triazole or two 1,3,4-thiadiazole rings as subunits

A series of new 1,2/1,3-bis[o-(N-methylidenamino-5-aryl-3-thiol-4H-1,2,4-triazole-4-yl)phenoxy]alkane derivatives 3a-d and bis[o-(N-methylidenamino-2-thiol-1,3,4-thiadiazole-5-yl)phenoxy]alkanes 6a-c were prepared by condensation of 4-amino-5-(aroyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazole-3-thiols 2a-b or 2-amino-5-mercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole with bis-aldehydes 1a-c. Further reaction of compounds 3a-d and 6a-c with dibromoalkanes afforded the new macrocycles 5a-f and 8a-d. The cyclization does not require high dilution techniques and provides the expected azathia macrocycles in good yields, ranging from 55% to 68%.     

Regioselective Baeyer-Villiger lactonization of 2-substituted pyrrolidin-4-one. Synthesis of statine

Nine 2-substituted pyrrolidin-4-ones 4a-i were obtained via a series of functional group transformation of known prolinol 5 by facile six kinds of methodologies. The target structure of 1,3-amino alcohols 2a-i was constructed in the regioselective Baeyer-Villiger lactonization of ketones 4a-i and reduction of the resulting 4-substituted tetrahydro-1,3-oxazin-6-ones 3a-i. A new and straightforward synthesis of (3S,4S)-statine (6) has been established starting from trans-(2S,4R)-4-hydroxyproline (1).     

The synthesis, spectroscopic properties and X-ray structure of Zn(II) complexes with amino derivatives of chromone

Three new Zn(II) complexes containing the ligands 5-amino-8-methyl-4H-chromen-4-one (1), 6- or 7-amino-2-phenyl-4H-chromen-4-one (2, 3) were prepared. The new synthesised compounds were characterised by IR, ¹H NMR and MS spectroscopy. The crystal structure of complex 4 was determined with the use X-ray diffraction. The Zn(II) centre of 4 is linked by two chlorido and two N-bound aminochromone ligands, 1, in a strongly distorted tetrahedral configuration with the dissymetric point group C₂. The protonation constants of the ligands 1, 2 and 3 corresponded to 3.68, 3.88 and 6.83, respectively. The stability constants of the Zn(II) complexes were calculated from the potentiometric titration data. The complexes were found to have the formulae ML and ML₂ for ligands 1 and 2, and ML for ligand 3. Fluorescence spectroscopic properties were also studied; the strongest fluorescence in solution was exhibited by complex 6.     

Structural characterization of a copper(II) complex containing oxidative cyclization of N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea,new ligands of 4-picolylthiourea derivatives and the precursor molecular structure of oxidative cyclization of N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea

Three new compounds of aryl thiourea derivatives, namely N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea (L1), N-2-(6-picolyl)-N′-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea (L2) and N-2-(4-picolyl)-N′-(4-nitrophenyl)thiourea (L3), and the new copper(II) complex [Cu(4PicTz4OMePh)(OAC)(EtOH)] (C1), as a result of oxidative cyclization of the ligand (L1), were synthesized. In addition, pure precursor (P1), as the product of the oxidative cyclization of N-(2-pyridyl)-N′-(4-methoxyphenyl)thiourea (L4), was isolated and characterized. Ligands (L1) and (L2) were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR and single crystal X-ray analysis. ¹H NMR spectroscopy showed strong hydrogen bonding interactions between N′H-functionalities and the pyridine nitrogen atoms as well as weak intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the thione sulfur and the NH hydrogen. Structural studies of complex (C1) showed that the copper ion is five-coordinated with a square-pyramidal environment. The oxidative cyclization of ligand (L1) results in an anionic bidentate ligand in complex (C1). Both ligand (L1) and precursor (P1) crystallize as centrosymmetric dimers.     

New antitumor sesquiterpenoids from Santalum album of Indian origin

Three new campherenane-type (1, 4, 7) and three new santalane-type (9, 11, 12) sesquiterpenoids, and two aromatic glycosides (21, 22) together with 12 known metabolites including α,β-santalols (14, 18), (E)-α,β-santalals (15, 19), α,β-santaldiols (16, 20), α-santalenoic acid (17), and vanillic acid 4-O-neohesperidoside were isolated from Santalum album chips of Indian origin. The structures of the new compounds, including absolute configurations, were elucidated by 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic and chemical methods. The antitumor promoting activity of these isolates along with several neolignans previously isolated from the same source was evaluated for both in vitro Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation and in vivo two-stage carcinogenesis assays. Among them, compound 1 exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on EBV-EA activation, and also strongly suppressed two-stage carcinogenesis on mouse skin.     

Unusual amino acid derivatives from the mushroom Pleurocybella porrigens

Three new amino acid derivatives (1-3) and three known ones (4-6) were isolated from the mushroom Pleurocybella porrigens. The structures of 1-6 were determined by the interpretation of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1, 3, 4, and 5 were toxic to mouse cerebrum glial cells.     

Isolation, structural elucidation, and chemical transformation of interconvertible 8,12-hemiketal germacranolide sesquiterpenoids from Salvia castanea Diels f. tomentosa Stib.

From the aerial parts of Salvia castanea Diels f. tomentosa Stib., four new hemiketal germacranolide sesquiterpenoids, castanins C-F (1-4), were obtained as two pairs of interconvertible forms along with their acetates, 5 and 6. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods and X-ray analysis of the uninterconvertible isomeric acetates, 5 and 6. The computational study explained that the ratios of 1 and 2, 3 and 4, and their acetates (5 and 6) in the mixtures were 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3, respectively. In addition, the semisynthesis of castanins C (1) and D (2) was conducted by the photooxidation of castanin B (8), the major constituent of this plant. Compounds 5, 6, and 8 were also tested for their inhibitory activity toward MCF-7, HeLa, and HepG2 cell lines.     

Novel multiply hydrogen-bonded heterodimers based on heterocyclic ureas. Folding and stability

A new series of multiply hydrogen-bonded heterodimers have been self-assembled in chloroform-d, with ureidopyrimidone derivatives 2 and 3 and 2,7-diamino-1,6-naphthyridine diamide 4 and ureas 5 and 6 as monomers. The self-associating behavior of the compounds and the binding modules of the new heterodimers have been investigated. New tri-center hydrogen bonds have been proposed to explain the stability of the new heterodimers. 2D-NOESY, COSY and temperature variable ¹H NMR studies revealed that all the new heterodimers are substantially more stable than the ureidopyrimidone-based quadruply hydrogen-bonded homodimers in chloroform-d. As a result, heterodimers 2·4 and 3·4 were assembled quantitatively, while heterodimers 2·5, 3·5, 2·6, and 3·6 were formed in 80-85% yields. It is also revealed that intramolecular hydrogen bonds formed in monomers 5 and 6 reduce the stability of the corresponding heterodimers.     

Synthesis of 12-aza analogs of epothilones and (E)-9,10-dehydroepothilones

N-Boc-12-aza-epothilone analog (azathilone) 1 is a potent inhibitor of human cancer cell growth and represents a structurally new class of natural product-derived microtubule-stabilizing agents. Compound 1 has been prepared employing a convergent strategy that is based on the consecutive assembly of building blocks 3, 4, and 19 into diene 20 and subsequent RCM-mediated macrocycle formation. The aldol reaction between aldehyde 3 and ketone 4 delivered the required 6R,7S diastereoisomer 5 with good selectivity and provided a reliable entry into the stereoselective synthesis of carboxylic acid 12. RCM with diene 20 was highly E-selective, thus giving efficient access to (E)-9,10-dehydro-1 (2). The latter is a key analog in SAR studies with 1.