A concise synthesis of (−)-cytoxazone and (−)-4-epi-cytoxazone using chlorosulfonyl isocyanate

A concise synthesis of (−)-cytoxazone and its stereoisomer (−)-4-epi-cytoxazone, novel cytokine modulators, has been accomplished each in six steps from readily available p-anisaldehyde with good diastereoselectivity. Key steps in the synthesis include the regioselective and diastereoselective amination of anti- and syn-1,2-dimethyl ethers with chlorosulfonyl isocyanate and the subsequent regioselective cyclization of the diol to construct the oxazolidin-2-one core. The diastereoselectivity of amination reaction using CSI was explained by the Cieplak electronic model via S_N1 mechanism and neighboring group effect, leading to the retention of the configuration.     

Synthesis of Δ-15-deoxy-PG-J1 methyl ester and epi-Δ-15-deoxy-PG-J1

The synthesis of racemic Δ^12,14-15-deoxy-PG-J₁ is readily achieved in six steps employing as the key transformation a one-pot conjugate addition-Peterson olefination sequence using exo-2-trimethylsilyl-3a,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,7-methanoinden-1-one. Additionally a Noyori-type three-component coupling approach is employed for the synthesis of enantioenriched epi-Δ¹²-15-deoxy-PG-J₁ from 4(S)-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxycyclopent-2-enone.     

A divergent approach for the synthesis of some polyhydroxy pyrrolidines and piperidines from ribosylamine

A simple and efficient synthesis of 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-d-ribitol, 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-l-lyxitol, N-benzyl derivative of d-ribitol, 3,4,5-trihydroxy-piperidine, l-4-epi-isofagomine and d-3-epi-isofagomine, which are glycosidase inhibitors has been described from the commercially available d-ribose as a starting material.     

Neighbouring group participation in the reaction of 7-oxo-ent-kaur-16-ene derivatives with diacetoxyiodobenzene. Synthesis of gibberellin analogues

The reaction of different 7-oxo-ent-kaur-16-ene derivatives with diacetoxyiodobenzene has been evaluated for the preparation of gibberellin analogues. Thus, the reaction of 7-oxo-ent-kaur-16-en-18-oic acid methyl ester (3) with this reagent afforded 4-epi-GA₁₂ dimethyl ester (6). This reaction constitutes a good procedure for the preparation of this type of compounds. In some cases, alternative reactions that led to the introduction in the substrate of a conjugated 5,6-double bond or to the formation of a ketal at the 6-position were also produced. The formation of these compounds, or of gibberellin analogues, depends on the neighbouring group participation of the different C-18 and C-19 substituents at C-4.     

Synthesis and elucidation of absolute stereochemistry of salaprinol, another thiosugar sulfonium sulfate from the ayurvedic traditional medicine Salacia prinoides

Synthesis and elucidation of absolute stereochemistry of salaprinol (3) isolated from the root and stems of Salacia prinoides, which has been used for the treatment of diabetes in India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia countries, is described. Compound 3 and its 2′-epimer, epi-salaprinol (epi-3) were synthesized via the coupling reaction of a cyclic sulfate, 2-O-benzylglycerol 1,3-cyclic sulfate (5), with a thiosugar, 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-epithio-d-arabinitol (6), as the key reaction, and S configuration of the asymmetric center in the side chain of 3 was elucidated by the X-ray crystallographic analysis.     

Synthesis of 2α- and 2β-substituted-14-epi-previtamin D3 and their genomic activity

2α- and 2β-Substituted analogs of 14-epi-previtamin D₃ were synthesized and isolated after thermal isomerization of 14-epi-vitamin D₃ triene at 80 °C. The VDR binding affinity and transactivation activity of osteocalcin promoter in HOS cells were tested, and the 2α-methyl-substituted analog was found to have greater genomic activity than 14-epi-previtamin D₃. We found that modification at the C2 position of the seco-steroidal skeleton afforded interesting effects for biological genomic activity for the previtamin D form as well as the natural vitamin D form.     

The first A-nor-hippuristanol and two novel 4,5-secosuberosanoids from the Gorgonian Isis hippuris

The first A-nor-hippuristanol, A-nor-22-epi-hippurin-2α-carboxylic acid (1), and two 4,5-secosuberosane sesquiterpenoids, isishippuric acids A and B (2 and 3), have been isolated from the gorgonian coral Isis hippuris. Those structures were deduced by extensive 1D and 2D NMR studies. The structure of 1 was further supported by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Isishippuric acid B has been shown to exhibit potent cytotoxicity toward a limited panel of cancer cells.     

Probing the metal complexing ability of bis-quinolizidine N-oxides: Synthesis, spectroscopy and crystal structures

New ZnX₂ (X = Cl, Br) complexes with sparteine N1-oxide, sparteine epi-N16-oxide, lupanine (2-oxosparteine) N-oxide and α-isosparteine N-oxide were obtained and characterized by spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. Complexation with N1-oxides involves inversion of the configuration at the N16 atom of sparteine, converting its C ring from a boat into a chair form, whereas the structure of sparteine epi-N16-oxide, typified by the trans boat/chair C/D quinolizidine moiety, remains unchanged upon complexation. Coordination of zinc salts in the above compounds is realized solely through the oxygen atom of the N-O group and is accompanied by protonation of the “not-N-oxide” nitrogen atom. At variance lupanine N-oxide forms bis-monodentate complexes with ZnX₂ utilizing both the N-oxide and the lactam carbonyl oxygen atoms to bridge the neighboring ZnX₂ units, while reaction of α-isosparteine N-oxide with ZnX₂ leads to formation of complex salts of the general formula [H(−)α-Sp(N-oxide)][(ZnX₃)(H₂O)].     

Structure and absolute configuration of 3-alkylpiperidine alkaloids from an Indonesian sponge of the genus Halichondria

Chemical analysis of an Indonesian sponge sample has provided three new 3-alkylpiperidine alkaloids, tetradehydrohaliclonacyclamine A, its mono-N-oxide derivative, and a 2-epi isomer. The absolute structure of tetradehydrohaliclonacyclamine A has been established by X-ray crystallography from anomalous dispersion effects using Cu radiation, which determined that the absolute configuration is 2S, 3S, 7S, 9S while an HPLC study revealed that the alkaloid is enantiomerically pure.     

Synthesis and characterization of n=5, 6 members of the La4Srn−4TinO3n+2 series with layered structure based upon perovskite

Layered compounds have been synthesized and structurally characterized for the n=5 and 6 members of the perovskite-related family La₄Sr_n−4Ti_nO_3n+2 by combining X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Their structure can be regarded as comprising [(La,Sr)₅Ti₅O₁₇] and [(La,Sr)₆Ti₆O₂₀] perovskite blocks joined by crystallographic shears along the a-axis, with consecutive blocks shifted by 1/2 [100]_p. The n=5 member is similar to the previously reported n=5 member of other A_nB_nO_3n+2-related series. The n=6 member, which has only been briefly reported in other systems previously, is also a well-behaved member of this A_nB_nO_3n+2 series.     

Synthesis and characterization of a tetraruthenium butterfly cluster containing a quadruply-bridging ligand derived from an N,N′-dipyrid-2-ylurea

The tetraruthenium cluster complex [Ru₄(μ₄-κ⁴-dmpu)(CO)₁₀], H₂dmpu = N,N′-bis(6-methylpyrid-2-yl)urea, has been prepared by treating [Ru₃(CO)₁₂] with H₂dmpu in toluene at reflux temperature. An X-ray diffraction study has determined that this cluster has a butterfly metallic skeleton hold up by a doubly-deprotonated N,N′-bis(6-methylpyrid-2-yl)urea ligand (dmpu). This ligand has the pyridine N atoms attached to the wing-tip Ru atoms and the amido N atoms spanning Ru-Ru wing-edges, in such a way that the cluster has C₂ symmetry. The donor atoms of doubly-deprotonated N,N′-dipyrid-2-ylureas seem to be appropriately arranged to hold butterfly tetranuclear clusters.     

Total synthesis of natural (+)-hyacinthacine A6 and non-natural (+)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A1 and (+)-5,7a-diepi-hyacinthacine A6

Naturally occurring (1S,2R,3R,5R,7aR)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine [(+)-hyacinthacine A₆, 2] together with unnatural (1S,2R,3R,7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpyrrolizidine [(+)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A₁, 3] and (1S,2R,3R,5S,7aS)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethyl-5-methylpyrrolizidine [(+)-5,7a-diepi-hyacinthacine A₆, 4] have been synthesized from a DALDP derivative [5, (2R,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine], as the homochiral starting material. The synthetic process employed took advantages of Wittig methodology followed by internal lactamization, in the case of (+)-7a-epi-hyacinthacine A₁ (3), and reductive amination for (+)-hyacinthacine A₆ (2) and (+)-5,7a-diepi-hyacinthacine A₆ (4).     

Cytotoxic cembranoids from the Red Sea soft coral, Sarcophyton auritum

Chemical investigation of the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton auritum led to the isolation and structure elucidation of two new diterpene cembranoids; 2-epi-sarcophine (2) and (1R,2E,4S,6E,8R,11R,12R)-2,6-cembradiene-4,8,11,12-tetrol (4), as well as two known diterpene cembranoids, reported for the first time from this species, namely sarcophine (1) and (+)-7α,8β-dihydroxydeepoxysarcophine (3). Structure elucidation was achieved using spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS. The isolated cembranoids were found to display high cytotoxicity against HepG2 (liver cancer cell line) and MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line).     

Stereoselective syntheses of 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives from 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate

A stereoselective total synthesis of naturally occurring 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives has been realized, starting from readily available 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate. The key step of these syntheses involves an ionic hydrogenation of a C-20,22-ketene dithioacetal and deoxygenation of steroidal C-20 tert-alcohols, to set up the unnatural C(20R) configuration with 100% stereoselectivity. The unnatural C-22 aldehydes with C(20R) stereocenters thus obtained were elaborated to 20-epi cholanic acid derivatives. Two derivatives of 20-epi cholanic acid were synthesized and their structures have been confirmed by single crystal X-ray analysis. Catalytic hydrogenation of 16-dehydropregnenolone acetate and 16-dehydropregnenolone in ethanol affords C-5,C-16 tetrahydro products. Crystal structure analysis of one of these products revealed C-5α and C-17α configurations of the hydrogen atoms.     

Castanolide and epi-castanolide, two novel diterpenoids with a unique seco-norabietane skeleton from Salviacastanea Diels f. pubescens Stib.

Castanolide (1) and epi-castanolide (2), two novel diterpenoids possessing a unique seco-norabietane skeleton, were isolated from Salviacastanea Diels f. pubescens Stib. Their structures and relative stereochemistry were elucidated by extensive NMR analysis and confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. A possible biosynthetic pathway of these two compounds was also proposed.     

Syntheses of (±)-9-epi-hederacine A and (±)-9-epi-hederacine B

Racemic syntheses of 9-epi-hederacine A and 9-epi-hederacine B have been achieved. Key transformations include a transannular hemiaminal formation for construction of the azabicyclo[3.2.1]octane core fused to a cyclopentane ring.     

Radical mediated stereoselective synthesis of (4R,8R)-4,8-dimethyldecanal, an aggregation pheromone of Tribolium flour beetles

(4R,8R)-4,8-Dimethyldecanal, a common aggregation pheromone of Tribolium flour beetles, has been synthesized from (R)-2,3-O-isopropylideneglyceraldehyde in 11 steps and 7% overall yield. The key step in the synthesis is the highly diastereoselective chelation-controlled radical reaction of ethyl (4S,5R)-4-benzyloxy-5,6-(isopropylidenedioxy)-2-methylenehexanoate with ethyl (R)-5-iodo-3-methylpentanoate performed in the presence of 7 equiv of MgBr₂·OEt₂.     

8-epi-erythronolide B and its metabolic fate in fermentations of Streptomyces erythreus

8-epi-erythronolide B (4) has been isolated as a product formed from the acid treatment of erythronolide B (3). When this compound was fed to a blocked mutant of the erythromycin producing organism, Streptomycetes erythreus (Abbott 2NU153), nearly quantitative yields of 3-O-(α-l-mycarosyl)-8-epi-erythronolide B (10) were obtained. The much desired 8-epi-erythromycins (2) were not realized.     

First synthesis of naturally occurring (±)-epi-conocarpan

(±)-epi-Conocarpan 1 was synthesized via the key intermediate 5-bromo-cis-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-methyl-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran 6 which was synthesized by a ruthenium(II) porphyrin-catalyzed intramolecular C-H insertion reaction using aryl tosylhydrazone salt 5 as the carbene source, starting from the commercially available 5-bromo-2-hydroxyacetophenone.     

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.