Autoxidation of isotachysterol

Isotachysterol, the acid-catalyzed isomerization product of vitamin D₃, produces seven previously unknown oxygenation products in a self-initiated autoxidation reaction under atmospheric oxygen in the dark at ambient temperature. They are (5R)-5,10-epoxy-9,10-secocholesta-6,8(14)-dien-3β-ol (6a), (5S)-5,10-epoxy-9,10-secocholesta-6,8(14)-dien-3β-ol (6b), (10R)-9,10-secocholesta-5,7,14-trien-3β,10-diol (7a), (10S)-9,10-secocholesta-5,7,14-trien-3β,10-diol (7b), (7R,10R)-7,10-epoxy-9,10-secocholesta-5,8(14)-dien-3β-ol (8), 5,10-epidioxyisotachysterol (9) and 3,10-epoxy-5-oxo-5,10-seco-9,10-secocholesta-6,8(14)-dien-10-ol (10). The formation of these products is explained in terms of free radical peroxidation chemistry.     

Synthesis of imidazo[5,1-b]thiazoles or spiro-β-lactams by reaction of imines with mesoionic compounds or ketenes generated from N-acyl-thiazolidine-2-carboxylic acids

New mesoionic compounds (2H, 3H-thiazolo[3,2-c]oxazol-7-ones) (β) or ketenes ((3-acyl-1,3-thiazolidin-2-ylidene)methanone) (β′) were generated from N-acetyl and N-benzoyl-thiazolidine-2-carboxylic acids (7a,b) using different methods, and their reactivity towards N-(phenylmethylene)benzenesulfonamide (2) and N-(phenylmethylene)aniline (3) was tested. When (7a,b) were treated with (2) and acetic anhydride in refluxing toluene solution, only imidazo[5,1-b]thiazoles (8a,b) were obtained from the mesoionic compound intermediates (β). When the ketene intermediates (β′) were generated from (7a,b) by means of Mukaiyama's reagent, only spiro-β-lactams (9a,b) were isolated.     

Some new ring-D seco steroids

The Beckmann fragmentation product, 3-methoxy-17-oxo-16,17-secoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-16-nitrile (2) has been reduced by LAH giving the expected 3-methoxy-17-hydroxy-16,17-secoestra-1,3,5(10-trien-16-amine hydrochloride (3) and 3-methoxy-17-oxa-D-homoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-16-ol (4), by a presumed neighbouring group participation of 17-OH group in the intermediary formed 16-imino derivative (A). The structure of 4 has been proved by an alternative synthetic route by reducing 3-methoxy-17-oxa-D-homoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-16-one (7) with di-iso-butylaluminium hydride.     

Some new ring- seco steroids

The Beckmann fragmentation product, 3-methoxy-17-oxo-16,17-secoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-16-nitrile (2) has been reduced by LAH giving the expected 3-methoxy-17-hydroxy-16,17-secoestra-1,3,5(10-trien-16-amine hydrochloride (3) and 3-methoxy-17-oxa- -homoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-16-ol (4), by a presumed neighbouring group participation of 17-OH group in the intermediary formed 16-imino derivative (A). The structure of 4 has been proved by an alternative synthetic route by reducing 3-methoxy-17-oxa- -homoestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-16-one (7) with di-iso-butylaluminium hydride.     

Synthesis of threo-β-aminoalcohols from aminoaldehydes via chelation-controlled additions. Total synthesis of l-threo sphingosine and safingol

Chelation-controlled addition of organocuprates to N-carbamoyl aminoaldehydes, prepared from functionalized amino acids, generated predominately the threo-β-amino alcohol derivatives through chelation with the carbamoyl moiety. The carbamate group is a stronger chelating group than other potentially good chelators, for example ethers, esters, thioethers, and gives good diastereoselectivity with cuprates. Thus addition of lithium divinylcuprate to the aldehyde generated from the serine derivative 25 in the presence of extra copper for chelation afforded the threo compound 26 in 83% yield. Cross-metathesis and cleavage of the protecting groups furnished l-threo sphingosine 21. In addition the lyso-sphingolipid protein kinase C inhibitor, safingol, 22, was prepared from commercially available O-benzyl N-BOC serine 28 in six steps and 56% overall yield by this method.     

Design and synthesis of an aminobenzo-15-crown-5-labeled estradiol tethered with disulfide linkage

A novel measuring method (electroimmunoassay) of 17β-estradiol (E₂) in urine or blood was proposed on the basis of a competition between E₂ and a labeled E₂ against an immobilizing antibody. To evaluate the principle, 3-{4-[17β-hydroxy-1,3,5(10)-estratrien-3-yloxy]butyldisulfanyl}-N-(6,7,9,10,12,13,15,16-octahydro-5,8,11,14,17-pentaoxabenzocyclopentadecen-2-yl) succinamic acid (1) was designed and synthesized as a novel aminobenzo-15-crown-5-containing E₂ tethered with disulfide linkage. Two thiol-intermediates 5b and 19c were efficiently synthesized from mercaptosuccinic acid 7 and 4,4′-dithiodibutyric acid 12, respectively. Formations of disulfide linkages from less reactive thiols were examined and 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione (PTAD) could be employed for the formation of an unsymmetrical disulfide 20c from 5b and 19c. Then, removal of TMS- and allyl-protecting groups in 20c successfully afforded the crown ether-containing E₂1.     

Synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)- and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin

A convergent synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)-rollicosin (1) and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin (2) was accomplished. Hydroxy lactone 6a and/or 6b were synthesized from 4-pentyn-1-ol, and α,β-unsaturated lactone 7 was synthesized from γ-lactone 8 and 5-hexen-1-ol. Inhibitory activity of these compounds was examined with bovine heart mitochondrial complex I.     

Synthesis of water-soluble 2-alkylcyclodextrin-C60 conjugates and their inclusion complexation in aqueous solution

Two β-cyclodextrin-C₆₀ conjugates (3 and 4) with a flexible linker at the secondary face of cyclodextrin are synthesized by a single reaction of 2-(ω-azidoundecanyl)-2-O-heptakis (2,3,6-tri-O-methyl)-β-cyclodextrin (2) and C₆₀, both of which display satisfactory water solubility. Structural analyses show that 3 is a closed [5,6] aziridinofullerene, whereas 4 is a bis-adduct derivative. Using rhodamine B (RhB) as a guest molecule, the inclusion complexation behavior of 3 was investigated in aqueous solution.     

Specific oxidation of C-14 oxygenated 4(20),11-taxadienes by microbial transformation

Three C-14 oxygenated taxanes, 2α,5α,10β,14β-tetraacetoxytaxa-4(20),11-diene (1), 2α,5α,10β-triacetoxy-14β-(2-methylbutyryloxy)taxa-4(20),11-diene (2), and yunanaxane (3), major products of callus cultures of Taxus spp., were regio- and stereoselectively hydroxylated at the 7β position by a fungus, Absidia coerulea IFO 4011. Intriguingly, when 1 was co-administered with β-cyclodextrin and incubated with the fungus cell cultures, three other compounds 5α,9α,10β,13α-tetraacetoxytaxa-4(20),11-dien-14β-ol (7), 5α,9α,10β,13α-tetraacetoxytaxa-4(20),11-dien-1β-ol (8) and 5α,9α,10β,13α-tetraacetoxy-11(15→1) abeotaxa-4(20),11-dien-15-ol (9) were obtained.     

Synthesis and reactions of sulfur-substituted indolizidinones

An aza-Diels-Alder reaction product 2 was readily converted to a tetrahydropyridine derivative 6, but its N-benzyl group was unexpectedly difficult to cleave under various conditions. On the other hand, the N-tosyl α,β-unsaturated ester 14 was transformed in one step by Mg/MeOH/Et₃N to a thio-substituted indolizidinone 3. This method was also extended to a methyl-substituted diene 16, which stereoselectively provided the cis-2,6-disubstitutedproduct 17. Further synthetic transformations yielded indolizidinones 20-24, including a formal synthesis of the natural product monomorine I.     

Synthesis of α-trifluoromethyl-α-amino-β-sulfone hydroxamates: novel nanomolar inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases

The racemic α-trifluoromethyl-α-amino-β-sulfone hydroxamates 1 were synthesized by means of a nucleophilic addition of sulfur-stabilized carbanions to a N-Cbz imine of trifluoropyruvate (4). The free amino derivative 1a was the most potent inhibitor of both MMP-3 (stromelysin-1) and MMP-9 (gelatinase-B), showing an IC₅₀ = 14 nM and 1 nM, respectively, and excellent selectivity versus MMP-1 (>5000-fold difference in inhibitory capacity). The N-Me derivative 1b was the most selective for MMP-3 with respect to MMP-9 (62-fold difference).     

A novel and stereoselective synthesis of 7α-alkynylestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17β-estradiol

Different stereoselective synthetic routes for the preparation of 7α/β-substituted estradiol derivatives, that is, 7α-alkynylestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17β-estradiol (13) and its 17β-acetate derivative (14), are explored. These steroids are key starting materials for Pd-catalyzed Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions to yield potential estrogen receptor (ER) antagonists, ER-based imaging ligands and other multi-functional agents. Initial preparation of 7α-alkynyl nortestosterone derivatives followed by various approaches to aromatize the A-ring, failed. Instead, stereoselective 7α-cyanation before A-ring aromatization, followed by 7α-cyano reduction to the 7α-aldehyde, dibromomethylenation and dehydrobromination of the aldehyde, gave the desired 7α-alkynyl derivatives 13 and 14 in good yield.     

Preparation of β-fluoro- and β,β-difluoro-histidinols

Nucleophilic attack of azide on 2-bromo-3-fluoro-3-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-propan-1-ol (1a) in aprotic solvent occurs on the 2-position to give the 2-azido derivative (2a). Reduction of azide and removal of the trityl group produces β-fluorohistidinol (6a). Elimination of HBr from 1a followed by “FBr” addition to the resulting double bond gives 2-bromo-3,3-difluoro-3-(1-trityl-1H-imidazol-4-yl)-propan-1-ol (1b). Nucleophilic attack of azide followed by reduction and removal of the trityl group, as for the preparation of 6a, gives β,β-difluorohistidinol (6b). Initial attempts, under a variety of conditions, to oxidize the fluorinated histidinol precursors to carboxylic acids have not been successful.     

Highly enantioselective fluorescent recognition of amino acid derivatives by unsymmetrical salan sensors

Novel unsymmetrical salan fluorescent sensors 2a and 2b have been designed and synthesized. The chiral recognition of N-Boc-protected amino acids by 2a and 2b has been investigated. Sensor 2a possesses higher sensitivity and enantioselectivity than sensor 2b does. Job analysis and nonlinear regression results show that 2a can form a 1:1 stoichiometric complex with a N-Boc-protected amino acid. The obtained response selectivities and the association constants indicate that 2a is a highly enantioselective and sensitive fluorescent sensor toward N-Boc-protected amino acids.     

A new route for synthesizing cholesterol analogs with fluorocarbon side chains and their liquid-crystalline aliphatic esters

A new and efficient route has been developed to synthesize 17β-(1-methyl-3-perfluoroalkyl)propyl-3β-androsterol (1) in nine steps from hyodeoxycholic acid via selective addition of 1-perfluoroalkyl iodide to 24-norchola-5,22-dien-3β-ol. From (1), the first series of steroidal liquid crystalline aliphatic esters (smectic A) with fluorocarbon side chains has been prepared.     

Oxidation of natural targets by dioxiranes. Part 6: on the direct regio- and site-selective oxyfunctionalization of estrone and of 5α-androstane steroid derivatives

Using methyl(trifluoromethyl)dioxirane (1b), 3β,6α,17β-triacetoxy-5α-androstane (6) could be selectively transformed into its C-14 hydroxy derivative (7) and into the valuable C-12 ketone steroid (8), in high yields under mild reaction conditions. Similarly, the oxidation of 3α-estrone acetate (4) with 1b was carried out to yield selectively the steroid C-9 hydroxy derivative (5). The high regio- and site-selectivity attained demonstrates that the powerful dioxirane 1b is the reagent of choice to synthesize valuable oxyfunctionalized steroid derivatives.     

Enantioselective alkylation and protonation of prochiral enolates in the asymmetric synthesis of β-amino acids

Achiral 1-benzoyl-3-methylperhydropyrimidin-4-one (1) was deemed a useful, potential precursor for the enantioselective synthesis of α-substituted β-amino acids. Pyrimidinone 1 was prepared from inexpensive β-aminopropanoic acid in 62% overall yield. Prochiral enolate derivative 1 -Li was alkylated in good yield and moderate enantioselectivity in the presence of chiral amines (S)-8, (S,S)-9, (S,S)-10, or (−)-sparteine. The enantioselectivity of the alkylation process is highest in toluene as the solvent and in the presence of lithium bromide as additive. The racemic alkylated derivatives 2 and 3 were readily metallated with LDA to give prochiral enolates 2-Li and 3-Li, that were reprotonated with novel chiral phenolic acids (S)-11, (S,S)-12, (S)-13, and (S,S)-14 in moderate enantioselectivity in the case of 2-Li and good enantioselectivity in the case of 3-Li. The acid (6N HCl) hydrolysis of enantioenriched 2 and 3 proceeded in good yield and without racemization to afford α-alkyl-β-amino acids 4 and 5, respectively.     

Biotransformation of two stemodane diterpenes by Mucor plumbeus

The microbiological transformation of 13α,17-dihydroxy-stemodane (2) by the fungus Mucor plumbeus afforded 13α,17,19-trihydroxy-stemodane (3), 3β,13α,17-trihydroxy-stemodane (5), 3-oxo-13α,17-dihydroxy-stemodane (7), 7α,13α,17,19-tetrahydroxy-stemodane (8), 3β,11α,13α,17-tetrahydroxy-stemodane (10), 3β,7α,13α,17-tetrahydroxy-stemodane (12), 3β,8β,13α,17-tetrahydroxy-stemodane (14), 2α,13α,17-trihydroxy-stemodane (16), 2α,13α,17,19-tetrahydroxy-stemodane (17), 2α,3β,13α,17-tetrahydroxy-stemodane (20) and 3β,11β,13α,17-tetrahydroxy-stemodane (22), whilst the incubation of 13α,14-dihydroxy-stemodane (25) gave 3β,13α,14-trihydroxy-stemodane (28), 2α,13α,14-trihydroxy-stemodane (29) and 13α,14,19-trihydroxy-stemodane (30). Preference for hydroxylations of ring A at C-2(α), C-3(β) and C-19 were observed in both incubations. An interesting rearrangement of 13α,14α-dihydroxy-stemodanes to 14-oxo derivatives with an unusual carbon framework has been observed under acetylation conditions. We have named this skeleton prestemodane, which, as a hydrocarbon ion, had been postulated as a biogenetic precursor of stemodane.     

Synthesis and application of monoterpene-based chiral aminodiols

Primary, secondary and tertiary aminodiols were synthetized regio- and stereoselectively from (−)-α-pinene 1 via α-pinene oxide 2, (−)-trans-pinocarveol 3 and key intermediate epoxy alcohol 4. N-Benzyl derivative 5 was transformed to spiro-fused oxazolidine 13 in a highly regioselective ring closure. Aminodiols and their derivatives 5-13 were applied as chiral catalysts in the enantioselective addition of diethylzinc to benzaldehyde, resulting in chiral 1-phenyl-1-propanol. The substituent effect on the nitrogen was studied in detail and the best enantioselectivity was observed in the case of N-methyl-N-benzyl-substituted derivative 8. The phenomenon was interpreted by using molecular modelling at an ab initio level.     

N-(15,16-Dihydroxylinoleoyl)-glutamine and N-(15,16-epoxylinoleoyl)-glutamine isolated from oral secretions of lepidopteran larvae

N-(15,16-Dihydroxylinoleoyl)-glutamine (1) and N-(15,16-epoxylinoleoyl)-glutamine (2) and were identified in the regurgitant of lepidopteran larvae (Spodoptera exigua and Spodoptera frugiperda) by LC-MS. After methanolysis and derivatisation with MSTFA, the positions of the hydroxy groups of 1 were identified by GC-MS. The structures of both conjugates were confirmed by synthesis.