Two New Endiandric Acid Analogs,a New Benzopyran,and a New Benzenoid from the Root of Beilschmiedia erythrophloia

Phytochemical investigation of the root of Beilschmiedia erythrophloia led to the isolation and structural elucidation of two new endiandric acid analogs, endiandric acids I and J ( 1 and 2 , resp.), a new benzopyran, dehydrooligandrol methyl ether ( 3 ), and a new benzenoid, farnesylol ( 4 ), together with six known compounds. Their structures were established on the basis of extensive 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses in combination with HR‐MS experiments.     

Reaction of Hydantoin with Boronic Acids

We have examined the reaction of hydantoin (=imidazolidine‐2,4‐dione) with (formylphenyl)boronic acids, where the addition of a boronic acid group is hoped to increase bioactivities. Addition of (2‐formylphenyl)boronic acid to hydantoin gave an unexpected azaborine compound, which presumably arises by initial formation of the (phenylmethylidene)hydantoin, with subsequent loss of H₂O to give the cyclized product. Reactions of (3‐formylphenyl)‐ and (4‐formylphenyl)boronic acids with hydantoin gave the corresponding [(Z)‐phenylmethylidene]hydantoins in good‐to‐excellent yields. Attempts to use (3‐formylthiophen‐2‐yl)boronic acid gave a product where the boronic acid group has been cleaved.     

Synthesis of Derivatives of the Optically Active β‐Amino Acids from (+)‐Car‐2‐ene

The reaction of (+)‐car‐2‐ene ( 4 ) with chlorosulfonyl isocyanate (=sulfuryl chloride isocyanate; ClSO₂NCO) led to the tricyclic lactams 6 and 8 corresponding to the initial formation both of the tertiary carbenium and α‐cyclopropylcarbenium ions (Scheme 2). A number of optically active derivatives of β‐amino acids which are promising compounds for further use in asymmetric synthesis were synthesized from the lactams (see 16, 17 , and 19 – 21 in Scheme 3).     

ent‐Kaurane Diterpenes and Further Constituents from Wedelia trilobata

Two new ent‐kaurane diterpenes, wedelidins A ( 8 ) and B ( 9 ), together with eighteen other constituents, including the sesquiterpenoids 1 and 2 , ent‐kaurane diterpenes 3 – 7 , triterpenoids 10 and 11 , steroids 12 – 14 , and flavonoids 15 – 17 as well as benzene derivatives 18 – 20 , were isolated from the aerial parts of Wedelia trilobata. The structures of wedelidins A ( 8 ) and B ( 9 ) were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses (including UV, IR, NMR, and MS). Furthermore, the structures of compounds 2 and 3 were confirmed by X‐ray single‐crystal diffraction analyses.     

2‐Amino‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydro‐6‐oxocyclopenta[c]fluorene‐2‐carboxylic Acid (FlAib), a Completely Rigidified,Fluoren‐9‐one‐Based α‐Amino Acid

The synthesis, optical resolution, determination of absolute configuration and conformational preference, and spectroscopic characteristics of terminally protected (blocked) derivatives and short peptides of 2‐amino‐1,2,3,6‐tetrahydro‐6‐oxocyclopenta[c]fluorene‐2‐carboxylic acid (FlAib), a novel, rigid, chiral, cyclized C^α,α‐disubstituted glycine are described.     

New Orsellinic Acid Esters from Fungus Chaetomium globosporum

Seven new orsellinic acid esters, 1 – 7 , and four known compounds were isolated from the solid, fermented rice culture of Chaetomium globosporum (cib‐132). Their structures were elucidated by 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR spectra, and the relative configuration of compound 1 was determined by X‐ray crystallographic analysis.     

Synthesis of the Naphthalenone,Dihydroquinoline, and Dihydrofuran Derivatives

The reactions of enaminones with dimethyl diazomalonate were investigated in the presence of copper(II) acetylacetonate. From the reaction of (E)‐3‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]‐1‐phenylprop‐2‐en‐1‐one ( 6c ), dimethyl 2‐[methyl(phenyl)amino]‐4‐oxonaphthalene‐1,1‐(4H)‐dicarboxylate, was unexpectedly obtained as the major product. Quinoline derivatives were formed as the major products in the case of N‐methyl‐p‐anisidino and N‐methyl‐p‐toluidino enaminones. The reactions of acetyl enaminones were also realized, and quinoline derivatives were isolated as the major products. 3H‐ and 5H‐dihydrofurans were also formed as side products in these reactions. These results differ from those reported earlier on the reactions of tertiary enaminones with carbenes/metal carbenes.     

Synthesis and Selected Transformations of 1H‐Imidazole 3‐Oxides Derived from Amino Acid Esters

A series of new optically active 1H‐imidazole 3‐oxides 5 with a substituted acetate group at N(1) as the chiral unit were prepared by the reaction of α‐(hydroxyimino) ketones, α‐amino acid methyl esters, and formaldehyde. In an analogous reaction, ethyl 2‐(hydroxyimino)‐3‐oxobutyrate and 1,3,5‐trialkylhexahydro‐1,3,5‐triazines gave 3‐oxido‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylates 14 , which easily rearranged into the 2‐oxo derivatives 15 . Selected examples of N‐oxides 5 could be transformed into the corresponding 2,3‐dihydro‐1H‐imidazole‐2‐thione derivatives 10 via a ‘sulfur‐transfer reaction’, and the reduction of the histidine derivative 5i with Raney‐Ni yielded the optically active 2,3‐bis(imidazolyl)propanoate 12 . Furthermore, reaction of the (1H‐imidazol‐1‐yl)acetates with primary amines yielded the corresponding acetamides.     

X‐Ray Structure Analyses of syn/anti‐Conformers of N‐Furfuroyl‐, N‐Benzoyl‐, and N‐Picolinoyl‐Substituted (2R)‐Bornane‐10,2‐sultam Derivatives

The synthesis and the X‐ray structure of the three new N‐(arylcarbonyl)‐substituted derivatives 2a – 2c of (2R)‐bornane‐10,2‐sultam are presented and discussed. Direct comparison of the solid‐state analyses shows that the dipole‐directed SO₂/C?O anti‐/syn‐conformations may be very sensitive to weak electronic/electrostatic repulsions of the heteroatom lone pairs. The optimum interactions are reached when the lone pair of the β‐positioned heteroatom is oriented in the O(3)?C(11)? N(1) plane. Such rare syn‐conformations may be observed with at least up to 1.8 kcal/mol higher energy as compared to their ground states. Additionally, these anti/syn‐conformations are also very sensitive to external influences such as, for example, the crystal‐packing forces.     

Synthesis and Selected Reactions of Hydrazides Containing an Imidazole Moiety

The preparation of two types of imidazole derivatives bearing a hydrazide group was achieved by treatment of the corresponding esters with NH₂NH₂?H₂O in MeOH at room temperature. In the case of 4‐(ethoxycarbonyl)‐1H‐imidazole 3‐oxides 3 , hydrazides of type 1 were formed with retention of the N‐oxide structure (Scheme 1). Interestingly, due to a strong H‐bonding, no deoxygenation of the N→O function could be achieved even by treatment of 3 with Raney‐Ni. The second type, 2‐[(1H‐imidazol‐2‐yl)sulfanyl]acetohydrazides 2 , was obtained from 1H‐imidazole‐2(3H)‐thiones 4 in two steps via S‐alkylation with methyl bromoacetate, followed by treatment with NH₂NH₂?H₂O (Scheme 2). An imidazole 7 , containing both types of hydrazide groups, was prepared analogously from ethyl 2,3‐dihydro‐2‐thioxo‐1H‐imidazole‐4‐carboxylate 4d (Scheme 4). Both types of hydrazides, 1 and 2 , were transformed successfully to the corresponding acylhydrazones 8 and 9 , respectively (Scheme 5). Furthermore, it has been shown that hydrazides of type 1 are useful starting materials for the synthesis of 1,2,4‐triazole‐3‐thiones 11 and 1,3,4‐thiadiazole‐2‐amines 12 , bearing an imidazole 3‐oxide moiety (Scheme 7).     

Highly Constrained Linear Oligopeptides Containing Heterocyclic α‐Amino Carboxylic Acids

Two spiroheterocyclic 2H‐azirin‐3‐amines, 1f and 1g , were shown to be useful synthons for the dipeptides N‐(4‐aminotetrahydro‐2H‐pyran‐4‐yl)prolinate (Thp‐Pro) and the corresponding thiopyran derivative, Tht‐Pro, respectively. By coupling of 4‐bromobenzoic acid with 1f or 1g and saponification, followed by repeating the coupling and saponification steps, oligopeptides of type 4‐BrBz‐(Thp‐Pro)_n‐OMe and 4‐BrBz‐(Tht‐Pro)_n‐OMe were prepared, and their conformations were evaluated in solution by NMR techniques and in the crystalline state by X‐ray crystallography. All of these sterically highly congested oligopeptides adopt fairly rigid helical conformations. It is interesting to note that the hexapeptide with Thp forms a 3₁₀‐helix, whereas the Tht analog has a β‐bend ribbon spiral confirmation.     

Alkaloids from the Leaves and Stems of Daphniphyllum calycinum

One new alkaloid, named caldaphnidine H ( 1 ), together with eight known ones, daphnioldhanin G ( 2a ), methyl homosecodaphniphyllate ( 3 ), daphnezomine M ( 4 ), daphniyunine A ( 5 ), calyciphylline A ( 6 ), deoxycalyciphylline B ( 7 ), deoxyisocalyciphylline B ( 8 ), and calyciphylline B ( 9 ) was isolated from the leaves and stems of Daphniphyllum calycinum. The structure of 1 was established by spectral methods, especially 2D‐NMR techniques. The structure of daphnioldhanin G ( 2b ) reported previously was revised to 2a mainly by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and spectral analysis.     

Selenium‐Containing Heterocycles from Isoselenocyanates: Synthesis of 1,3‐Selenazinane and 1,3‐Selenazinanone Derivatives

The reaction of the intermediate ketene N,Se‐hemiacetal 3 , prepared from cyanomethylene derivatives 1 by treatment with Et₃N and aryl isoselenocyanates 2 , with bis‐electrophiles 6, 7, 9 , and 11 in DMF affords tetrahydro‐1H‐1,3‐selenazine (=1,3‐selenazinane) derivatives 8, 10 , and 12 in good yield (Scheme 2 and Tables 1–3). Chemical and spectroscopic evidence for the structures of the new compounds are described. The structures of 8d and 12e are established by X‐ray crystallography (Figs. 1 and 2).     

Reactions of Acid Chlorides/Ketenes with 2‐Substituted 4,5‐Dihydro‐4,4‐dimethyl‐1,3‐thiazoles: Formation of Penam Derivatives

Addition reactions of acid chlorides with various 2‐substituted 4,5‐dihydro‐4,4‐dimethyl‐5‐(methylsulfanyl)‐1,3‐thiazoles under basic conditions were studied. Two kinds of products were obtained from these additions, β‐lactams and non‐β‐lactam adducts. When the reaction was carried out with 4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐thiazoles with a Ph substituent at C(2), the reaction proceeded via formal [2+2] cycloaddition and led to the correspoding β‐lactam. On the other hand, acid chlorides and 4,5‐dihydro‐1,3‐thiazoles bearing an α‐H‐atom at the C(2)‐substituent underwent C(α)‐ and/or N‐addition reactions and furnished non‐β‐lactam adducts, i.e., C(α)‐ and/or N‐acylated 1,3‐thiazolidines. The attempted transformations of sulfonyl esters of exo‐6‐hydroxy penams to endo‐6‐azido penams failed, although they were successful with mono‐β‐lactams under the same conditions.     

Selenium‐Containing Heterocycles from Isoselenocyanates: Use of Hydrazine for the Synthesis of 1,3,4‐Selenadiazine Derivatives

Aryl isoselenocyanates 1 react with different phenacyl halides 2 in the presence of hydrazine hydrate in a one‐pot reaction to give selenadiazines 3a – 3f in good‐to‐excellent yields.     

Selenium‐Containing Heterocycles from Isoselenocyanates: 4‐Methylselenazole Derivatives from the Reaction with Malononitrile and Propargyl Chloride

Aryl isoselenocyanates 1 react with malononitrile ( 6a ) and propargyl chloride ( 8 ) in DMF in the presence of Et₃N to give the corresponding 2‐(3‐aryl‐2,3‐dihydro‐4‐methyl‐1,3‐selenazol‐2‐ylidene)malononitriles 12 as major products. The analogous reaction takes place with benzoylacetonitrile ( 6f ) instead of 6a . In some cases, the corresponding noncyclic 2‐[(arylamino)(prop‐2‐ynylselanyl)methylidene]malononitriles 9 were obtained as minor products. The structures of 9e and 11a have been established by X‐ray crystallography.     

Yunnandaphninines F and G,New C30 Alkaloids from Daphniphyllum yunnanense

Eight C₃₀ Daphniphyllum alkaloids, including two new ones, yunnandaphninines F and G ( 1 and 2 , resp.), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Daphniphyllum yunnanense. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of the spectroscopic data.     

One‐Pot,Four‐Component Synthesis of Fully Substituted 1,3,4‐Oxadiazole Derivatives from (Isocyanoimino)triphenylphosphorane,a Primary Amine,an Aromatic Carboxylic Acid,and Chloroacetone

The 1 : 1 imine intermediate 7 generated by the addition of a primary amine 2 to chloroacetone ( 1 ) is trapped by (isocyanoimino)triphenylphosphorane ( 4 ) in the presence of an aromatic carboxylic acid 3 and leads to the formation of the corresponding iminophosphorane intermediate 9 (Scheme 2). The 1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives 5 are then formed via an intramolecular aza‐Wittig reaction of the iminophosphorane intermediate 9 . The reactions were completed under neutral conditions at room temperature. The fully substituted 1,3,4‐oxadiazole derivatives 5 were produced in high yields (Table).     

Stellarins F and G, two new cyclopeptides from Stellaria yunnanensis

In the previous papers,we reported the structural elucidation of stellarins A-E,fivenew cyclopeptides from the fresh roots of Stellaria yunnanensis Franch.Further chemical study on this plant led to the isolation of two other new cyclopeptides named stellarins F(l) and G(2).By a combination of 2D-NMR,enzymatic degradation and FABMS,their structures were established to be cyclo(Gly-Ala-Gly-Ser-Pro-Trp-Phe-Pro) and cyclo(Gly-Ala-Tyr-Leu-Ala),respectively.     

Formation of Dimers of Some 2‐Substituted Indan‐1‐one Derivatives during Base‐Mediated Cross‐Aldol Condensation

Unexpected dimers of some 2‐substituted indan‐1‐one derivatives were isolated during aldol condensation of indan‐1‐one with various aldehydes in the presence of KOH (see Scheme). Monomeric products, usually expected from aldol condensation, further underwent a base‐catalyzed nucleophilic addition reaction to their dimeric form in some cases. The structures of these dimers were characterized by using various spectral techniques and in one case, structural details were determined from a high‐resolution crystallographic analysis.