Cerebrosides and a monoacylmonogalactosylglycerol from Clinacanthus nutans

A mixture of nine cerebrosides and a monoacylmonogalactosylglycerol were separated from the leaves of Clinacanthus nutans. The structures of the cerebrosides were characterized as 1-O-beta-D-glucosides of phytosphingosines, which comprised a common long-chain base, (2S,3S,4R,8Z)-2-amino-8(Z)-octadecene-1,3,4-triol with nine 2-hydroxy fatty acids of varying chain lengths (C(16), C(18), C(20-26)) linked to the amino group. The glycosylglyceride was characterized as (2S)-1-O-linolenoyl-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosylglycerol. The structures were established on the basis of the spectroscopic data and chemical reactions.     

Cerebrosides from the roots of Serratula chinensis

A new cerebroside, 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3R,8E)-2-[(2'R)-2-hydroxy- palmitoylamino]-8-octadecene-1,3-diol, along with aralia cerebroside and 1-O-beta-D- glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,8E)-2-[(2'R)-2-hydroxybehenoylamino]-8-octadecene-1,3,4-triol were isolated from the roots of Serratula chinensis S. Moore. The structure of the new cerebroside was established by spectroscopic and chemical means. Occurrence of cerebrosides in Serratula is reported here for the first time.     

Structural determination of glycosphingolipids as lithiated adducts by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry using low-energy collisional-activated dissociation on a triple stage quadrupole instrument

Structural characterization of glycosphingolipids as their lithiated adducts using low-energy collisional-activated dissociation (CAD) tandem mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI) is described. The tandem mass spectra contain abundant fragment ions reflecting the long chain base (LCB), fatty acid, and the sugar constituent of the molecule and permit unequivocal identification of cerebrosides, di-, trihexosyl ceramides and globosides. The major fragmentation pathways arise from loss of the sugar moiety to yield a lithiated ceramide ion, which undergoes further fragmentation to form multiple fragment ions that confirm the structures of the fatty acid and LCB. The mechanisms for the ion formation and the possible configuration of the fragment ions, resulting from CAD of the lithiated molecular ions ([M + Li]+) of monoglycosylceramides are proposed. The mechanisms were supported by CAD and source CAD tandem mass spectra of various cerebrosides and of their analogous molecules prepared by H-D exchange. Constant neutral loss and precursor ion scannings to identify galactosylceramides with sphingosine or sphinganine LCB subclasses, and with specific N-2-hydroxyl fatty acid subclass in mixtures are also demonstrated.     

Structural determination of cerebrosides isolated from Asterias amurensis starfish eggs using high-energy collision-induced dissociation of sodium-adducted molecules

Six cerebrosides were isolated from the eggs of the starfish Asterias amurensis using solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography, and reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography. This study demonstrated that the structures of cerebrosides could be completely characterized, based on their sodium‐adducted molecules, using fast atom bombardment (FAB) tandem mass spectrometry. The high‐energy collision‐induced dissociation of the sodium‐adducted molecule, [M + Na]⁺, of each cerebroside molecular species generated abundant ions, providing information on the compositions of the 2‐hydroxy fatty acids and long‐chain sphingoid bases, as well as the sugar moiety polar head group. Each homologous ion series along the fatty acid and aliphatic chain of the sphingoid base was useful for locating the double‐bond positions of both chains and the methyl branching position of the long‐chain base. The N‐fatty acyl portions were primarily long‐chain saturated or monoenoic acids (C16 to C24) with an α‐hydroxy group. The sphingoid long‐chain base portions were aliphatic chains (C18 or C22) with two or three degrees of unsaturation and with or without methyl branching. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biosynthesis of lipstatin. Incorporation of multiply deuterium-labeled (5Z,8Z)-tetradeca-5,8-dienoic acid and octanoic acid.

Fermentation experiments with Streptomyces toxytricini were performed using (5Z,8Z)-[10,11,12,12-(2)H]tetradeca-5,8-dienoic acid or a mixture of [2,2-(2)H(2)]- and [8,8,8-(2)H(3)]octanoic acid as supplements. (2)H NMR and mass spectroscopy confirmed the incorporation of (5Z,8Z)-[10,11,12,12-(2)H]tetradeca-5,8-dienoic acid into the C(13) side chain as well as into the C(6) side chain of lipstatin. Moreover, deuterium was incorporated into the C(6) side chain of lipstatin from the 8-position but not from the 2-position of octanoate. The data establish that the beta-lactone moiety of lipstatin is formed by condensation of a C(8) and a C(14) fatty acid with a concomitant exchange of the H-2 atoms of the C(8) fatty acid.     

Composition of the neutral lipids and their fatty acids from whale brains. II. Brains from Finnwhales (Balaenoptera physalus)

Pure lipids from 5 regions of brains from 6 whales have been separated into various fractions as cerebrosides, sphingomyelines, lecithines, ethanolamine cephalines, cholesterol and free fatty acids. The white matter contains mostly cholesterol and cerebrosides, the grey matter glycerophosphatides. The fatty acid composition of the cerebrosides from all regions is about the same. The fatty acids from sphingomyelines, lecithines, ethanolamine cephalines show significant differences in relation to their origin.     

Synthesis and characterization of some new C2 symmetric chiral bisamide ligands derived from chiral Feist's acid

The hemilabile chiral C2 symmetrical bidentate substituted amide ligands (1R,2R)-5(a-d) and (1S,2S)-6(a-d) were synthesized in quantitative yield from (1R,2R)-(+)-3-methylenecyclo-propane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (1R,2R)-3 and (1S,2S)-(-)-3-methylene-cyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid (1S,2S)-3, in two steps, respectively. The chiral Feist's acids (1R,2R)-3 and (1S,2S)-3 were obtained in good isomeric purity by resolution of trans-(±)-3-methylene-cyclopropane-1,2-dicarboxylic acid from an 8:2 mixture of tert-butanol and water, using (R)-(+)-α-methylbenzyl amine as a chiral reagent. This process is reproducible on a large scale. All these new synthesized chiral ligands were characterized by 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry, as well as elemental analysis and their specific rotations were measured. These new classes of C2 symmetric chiral bisamide ligands could be of special interest in asymmetric transformations.     

Regioselective intramolecular ring closure of 2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxyhexono-1,4-lactones to 5- or 6-membered iminuronic acid analogues: synthesis of 1-deoxymannojirimycin and 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-D-glucitol

1-Deoxymannojirimycin (8c) was synthesised from 2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-D-mannono-1,4-lactone (7) by intramolecular direct displacement of the C-6 bromine employing non-aqueous base treatment followed by reduction of the intermediate methyl ester. Likewise, using aqueous base at pH 12, ring closure took place by 5-exo attack on the 5,6-epoxide leading to 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-L-gulonic acid (9b), which was reduced to 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-D-glucitol (9b). The method was further applied to 2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-D-galacto- as well as D-talo-1,4-lactones (14 and 15). However, only the corresponding six-membered ring 1,5-iminuronic acid mimetics, namely (2R,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acid (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-D-galactonic acid, 16) and (2S,3R,4S,5R)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acid (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-D-talonic acid, 17), were obtained. The corresponding enantiomers, L-galacto- as well as L-talo-2-amino-6-bromo-2,6-dideoxy-1,4-lactones ent-14 and ent-15, reacted accordingly to give the D-galacto- and L-altro-1,5-iminuronic acid mimetics, (2S,3S,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acid (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-L-galactonic acid, ent-16) and (2R,3S,4R,5S)-3,4,5-trihydroxypipecolic acids (2,6-dideoxy-2,6-imino-L-talonic acid, ent-17), respectively.     

Synthesis of (R)-(+)-tanikolide through stereospecific C-H insertion reaction of dichlorocarbene with optically active secondary alcohol derivatives

Stereospecific alpha C-H insertion reaction of protected chiral 1,2-glycols, (S)-1,2-isopropylidenedioxytridecane (3) and ethyl (S)-4,5-isopropylidenedioxy-pentanoate (4), prepared from (R)-glyceraldehyde acetonide (2), with dichlorocarbene generated from CHCl(3)/50% NaOH/cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (as ptc.) took place with complete retention of configuration to provide (S)-4-dichloromethyl-2,2-dimethyl-4-undecyl-1,3-dioxolane (5) and ethyl (S)-3-(4-dichloromethyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)-propanoate (8), respectively. The ester (8) was transformed to 5 by elongation of the side chain. The glycol derivative (5) was converted into O-TBDPS-protected (S)-2-hydroxymethyl-2-undecyloxirane (16). Reaction of 16 with a cuprate reagent containing homoallylic carbon chain followed by oxidative manipulation of the terminal olefin afforded (R)-(+)-tanikolide (1).     

Asymmetric synthesis of four diastereomers of 3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethylheptanoic acid: proof of configurational assignment

Four unique diastereomers of 3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethylheptanoic acid--(2R,3R,4R), (2S,3R,4R), (2S,3R,4S), and (2R,3R,4S)--the fatty acid component of callipeltin A and D, have been synthesized from commercially available (+)- and (-)-pseudoephedrine propionamide in 6 steps and 59% average overall yield. Comparison of the 1H and 13C NMR and optical rotation data of the resulting isomers with the natural fragment unambiguously verifies the configurational assignment of the natural isomer as (2R,3R,4R).     

Conformationally constrained dipeptide surrogates with aromatic side-chains: synthesis of 4-aryl indolizidin-9-one amino acids by conjugate addition to a common alpha,omega-diaminoazelate enone intermediate

Four methyl 9-oxo-8-(N-(Boc)-amino)-4-phenyl-1-azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane carboxylates (11, 4-Ph-I(9)aa-OMe) were synthesized from (2S,8S,5E)-di-tert-butyl-4-oxo-5-ene-2,8-bis[N-(PhF)amino]azelate [(5E)-7, PhF = 9-(9-phenylfluorenyl)] via a seven-step process featuring a conjugate addition/reductive amination/lactam cyclization sequence. Various nucleophiles were used in the conjugate addition reactions on enone (5E)-7 as a general route for making alpha,omega-diaminoazelates possessing different substituents in good yield albeit low diastereoselectivity except in the case of aryl Grignard reagents (9/1 to 15/1 drs). 6-Phenylazelates (6S)-8d and (6R)-8d were separated by chromatography and diastereoselective precipitation and independently transformed into 4-Ph-I(9)aa-OMe. From (6S)-8d, (2S,4R,6R,8S)-4-Ph-I(9)aa-OMe 11 was prepared selectively in 51% yield. Reductive amination of (6R)-8d provided the desired pipecolates 9 along with desamino compound 10, which was minimized by performing the hydrogenation in the presence of ammonium acetate. Subsequent ester exchange, lactam cyclization, and amine protection provided three products (2R,4S,6S,8R)-, (2R,4S,6S,8S)-, and (2S,4S,6R,8S)-4-Ph-I(9)aa-OMe 11 in 10, 6, and 6% yields, respectively, from (6R)-8d. Ester hydrolysis of (2S,4R,6R,8S)-11 furnished 4-phenyl indolizidin-9-one N-(Boc)amino acid 3 as a novel constrained Ala-Phe dipeptide surrogate for studying conformation-activity relationships of biologically active peptides.     

Polymethylated DOTA ligands. 1. Synthesis of rigidified ligands and studies on the effects of alkyl substitution on acid-base properties and conformational mobility

This work describes the synthesis and the conformational properties of new polymethylated macrocyclic ligands of potential interest for magnetic resonance imaging. M4cyclen, (2S,5S,8S,11S)-2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane, was obtained by cyclotetramerization of (2S)-1-benzyl-2-methylaziridine followed by catalytic hydrogenation. The ligands M4DOTA, [(2S,5S,8S,11S)-4,7,10-tris-carboxymethyl-2,5,8,11-tetramethyl- 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl]acetic acid, and M4DOTMA, (R)-2-[(2S,5S,8S,11S)-4,7,10-tris-((R)-1-carboxyethyl)-2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl]propionic acid, were prepared by carboxyalkylation of M4cyclen in the presence of Na(2)CO(3). The triacetic ligand M4DO3A, [(2S,5S,8S,11S)-4,7-bis-carboxymethyl-2,5,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl]acetic acid, was obtained in good yields without traces of M4DOTA if NaHCO(3) was the acid scavenger when adding the carboxylic arms. In the same conditions, cyclen yielded M4DOTA in 82% yield. The difference between the reactivity of cyclen and M4cyclen is assigned to the high basicity of the substituted tetraamine as estimated by NMR titration. The one- and two-dimensional (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra of M4DOTA and M4DOTMA in the H(4)L or H(6)L(2+) forms are interpreted as arising from a slow exchange between two elongated geometries in which the methyl substituents are in one of the two possible equatorial-like positions, either close to or away from the carboxylic arms. The axial-like positions are sterically too crowded and cannot be occupied by the methyl groups. An elongated conformation is also adopted by DOTMA, (R)-2-[4,7,10-tris-((R)-carboxyethyl)-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecan-1-yl]propionic acid, in the H(6)L(2+) form. The rigidification of the polymethylated ligands allows a detailed NMR analysis that cannot be carried out on the parent unsubstituted ligand DOTA.     

Design and synthesis of chiral alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids and conformational study of their oligopeptides

alpha,alpha-Disubstituted amino acids are alpha-amino acids in which the hydrogen atom at the alpha-position of the L-alpha-amino acid is replaced with an alkyl substituent. The introduction of an alpha-alkyl substituent changes the properties of amino acids, with the conformational freedom of the side chain in the amino acids and the secondary structure of their peptides being especially restricted. The author developed a synthetic route of optically active alpha-ethylated alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids using chiral cyclic 1,2-diol as a chiral auxiliary. It was found that the preferred secondary structure of peptides composed of chiral alpha-ethylated alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids is a fully extended C5-conformation, whereas that of peptides composed of chiral alpha-methylated alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids is a 3(10)-helical structure. Also, a new chiral cyclic amino acid; (3S,4S)-1-amino-3,4-di(methoxy)cyclopentanecarboxylic acid {(S,S)-Ac5c(dOM)}, and a bicyclic amino acid; (1R,6R)-8-aminobicyclo[4.3.0]non-3-ene-8-carboxylic acid {(R,R)-Ab5,6= c}, in which the alpha-carbon atom is not the chiral center but chiral centers exist at the side-chain cycloalkane skeleton, were designed and synthesized. The (S,S)-Ac5c(dOM) hexa- and octapeptides preferentially formed left-handed (M) helices, in which the helical-screw direction is exclusively controlled by the side-chain chiral centers. Contrary to the left-handed helices of (S,S)-Ac(5)c(dOM) peptides, the (R,R)-Ab5,6= c hexapeptide formed both diastereomeric right-handed (P) and left-handed (M) helices, and the twelve chiral centers at the side chain showed no preference for helical-screw direction. Thus, the chiral environment at the side chain is important for the control of helical-screw direction. Furthermore, the author designed a new class of chiral cyclic alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids that have pendant chiral centers at the substituent of the delta-nitrogen atom. The synthetic route would provide various optically-active cyclic alpha,alpha-disubstituted amino acids bearing a pendant chiral moiety.     

Isolation and characterization of new ceramides from aerial parts of Lepidaploa cotoneaster

Two new ceramides were isolated from the bulbs of Lepidaploa cotoneaster (Willd. ex Spreng.) H. Rob. [Vernonia cotoneaster (Willd. ex Spreng.) Less.)], in addition to germanicol, beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, 3-beta-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-sitosterol, lupeol, lupeoyl acetate and tiliroside. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral techniques (MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, HSQC, HMBC, DEPT, and TOCSY) and were compared with data reported in literature, and were established as 2S*,2'R*,3S*,4R*,11E)-N-[2'-hydroxyhenicosanoyl]-2-amino-nonadec-11-ene-1,3,4-triol (1) and (2S*,2'R*,3S*,4R*,8E)-N-[2'-hydroxytricosanoyl]-2-amino-nonadec-8-ene-1,3,4-triol (2). To establish the structure and to locate the double bond, the methyl ester of the fatty acid and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) derivatives were prepared for both ceramides.     

光学活性化合物多羟基庚酸乙酯的合成

以不对称环氧化和双羟化反应为构筑手性碳的关键步骤, 首次合成了(＋)-(2R,3S,4S,5S)-6-甲基-4,5-环氧-2,3-二羟基-庚酸乙酯(5)和(－)-(2R,3S,4R,5S)-6-甲基-2,3,4,5-四羟基-庚酸乙酯(11). 找到一条适宜于该类化合物合成的简便有效且立体选择性好的合成路线. 初步生物活性测试表明, 化合物5, 11对HL60细胞具有抑制活性.     

Total synthesis of (-)-(6S,7S,8S,9R,10S,2'S)-membrenone-A and (-)-(6S,7S,8S,9R,10S)- membrenone-B and structural assignment of membrenone-C

[reaction: see text] (-)-(6S,7S,8S,9R,10S,2'S)-Membrenone-A and (-)-(6S,7S,8S,9R,10S)-membrenone-B were prepared in 11 steps (3% and 2.4% overall yield, respectively). Key steps included a tin(II)-mediated aldol followed by a syn selective reduction, giving the C7-C9 stereocenters, a second chain extending aldol coupling, and a p-TsOH-promoted cyclization/dehydration giving the common gamma-dihydropyrone precursor. We have thus established that synthetic (-)-(6S,7S,8S,9R,10S,2'S)-membrenone-A, (-)-(6S,7S,8S,9R,10S)-membrenone-B, and (-)-(6S,7S,8S,9R,10S)-membrenone-C are the enantiomers of the natural products.     

Development of versatile cis- and trans-dicarbon-substituted chiral cyclopropane units: synthesis of (1S,2R)- and (1R,2R)-2-aminomethyl-1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)cyclopropanes and their enantiomers as conformationally restricted analogues of histamine

The cyclopropane ring can be used effectively in restricting the conformation of biologically active compounds to improve activity and also to investigate bioactive conformations. We designed (1S,2R)- and (1R,2R)-2-aminomethyl-1-(1H-imidazol-4-yl)cyclopropanes (1 and 2, respectively) and their enantiomers (ent-1 and ent-2) as conformationally restricted analogues of histamine. The four types of chiral cyclopropanes bearing two differentially functionalized carbon substituents in a cis or trans relationship on a cyclopropane ring, (1S,2R)-2-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)methyl-1-formylcyclopropane (7) and (1R,2R)-2-(tert-butyldiphenylsilyloxy)methyl-1-formylcyclopropane (8) and their enantiomers (ent-7 and ent-8), were developed as the key intermediates for synthesizing 1, 2, ent-1, and ent-2. The reaction between (R)-epichlorohydrin [(R)-12] and phenylsulfonylacetonitrile (13a) in the presence of NaOEt in EtOH followed by treatment with acid gave the chiral cyclopropane lactone 11a with 98% ee in 82% yield. Compound 11a was converted into both the cis- and trans-chiral cyclopropane units 7 and 8, respectively, via reductive desulfonylation with Mg/MeOH as the key step. The corresponding enantiomers, the cis-substituted ent-7 and the trans-substituted ent-8, were also prepared starting from (S)-epichlorohydrin [(S)-12]. The four conformationally restricted target histamine analogues 1, 2, ent-1, and ent-2 were successfully synthesized from 7, 8, ent-7, and ent-8, respectively. The chiral cyclopropane units 7, 8, ent-7, and ent-8 should be useful as versatile intermediates for synthesizing various compounds having an asymmetric cyclopropane structure.     

Synthesis and glutamate-agonistic activity of (S)-2-amino-3-(2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-3-isoxazolyl)-propanoic acid derivatives.

(S)-2-Amino-3-(2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-3-isoxazolyl)propanoic acid, (3a) and its analogs (3b--h) were prepared and evaluated for glutamate receptor-agonistic and antifungal activities. Several (S)- and (R)-2-amino-3-isoxazolylpropanoic acid derivatives (3a--d) were synthesized starting with (S)- and (R)-N-tert-butoxycarbonyaspartic acid alpha-methyl esters (4, n = 1) by means of Masamune's chain extension reaction followed by isoxazolone formation with hydroxylamine and subsequent deprotection reactions. Furthermore, (S)- and (R)-N-tert-butoxycarbonylglutamic acid alpha-methyl esters (4, n = 2) were converted to (S)- and (R)-2-amino-4-isoxazolylbutyric acid derivatives (3e-h) via the same sequence of reactions.     

Composition of the neutral lipids and the fatty acids from whale brains. 3. Brains from pilot whales (Globicephala melaena)

The lipids from the brain of six pilot whales were extracted and separated into different fractions. The grey matter contains 8% cerebrosides, 6% sphingomyelines, 21% ethanolamine cephalines, 26% lecithines and 22% cholesterol; the white matter 22, 8, 17, 12 and 25%, respectively. We analysed the fatty acid composition of each fraction. In comparison to the human brain, the brain of the pilot whale contains more glycerophos-phatides and less sphingolipids, in comparison to the fin whale, more cerebrosides.     

Multifrequency electron paramagnetic resonance characterization of PpoA, a CYP450 fusion protein that catalyzes fatty acid dioxygenation

PpoA is a fungal dioxygenase that produces hydroxylated fatty acids involved in the regulation of the life cycle and secondary metabolism of Aspergillus nidulans . It was recently proposed that this novel enzyme employs two different heme domains to catalyze two separate reactions: within a heme peroxidase domain, linoleic acid is oxidized to (8R)-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid [(8R)-HPODE]; in the second reaction step (8R)-HPODE is isomerized within a P450 heme thiolate domain to 5,8-dihydroxyoctadecadienoic acid. In the present study, pulsed EPR methods were applied to find spectroscopic evidence for the reaction mechanism, thought to involve paramagnetic intermediates. We observe EPR resonances of two distinct heme centers with g-values typical for Fe(III) S = (5)/(2) high-spin (HS) and Fe(III) S = (1)/(2) low-spin (LS) hemes. (14)N ENDOR spectroscopy on the S = (5)/(2) signal reveals resonances consistent with an axial histidine ligation. Reaction of PpoA with the substrate leads to the formation of an amino acid radical on the early millisecond time scale concomitant to a substantial reduction of the S = (5)/(2) heme signal. High-frequency EPR (95- and 180-GHz) unambiguously identifies the new radical as a tyrosyl, based on g-values and hyperfine couplings from spectral simulations. The radical displays enhanced T(1)-spin-lattice relaxation due to the proximity of the heme centers. Further, EPR distance measurements revealed that the radical is distributed among the monomeric subunits of the tetrameric enzyme at a distance of approximately 5 nm. The identification of three active paramagnetic centers involved in the reaction of PpoA supports the previously proposed reaction mechanism based on radical chemistry.