Bisindole Alkaloids from the Alstonia Species: Recent Isolation,Bioactivity, Biosynthesis,and Synthesis

Bisindoles are structurally complex dimers and are intriguing targets for partial and total synthesis. They exhibit stronger biological activity than their corresponding monomeric units. Alkaloids, including those containing C-19 methyl-substitution in their monomeric units, their synthetic derivatives, and their mismatched pairs can be attractive targets for synthesis and may unlock better drug targets. We herein discuss the isolation of bisindoles from various Alstonia species, their bioactivity, putative biosynthesis, and synthesis. The total synthesis of macralstonidine, macralstonine, O-acetylmacralstonine, and dispegatrine, as well as the partial synthesis of alstonisidine, villalstonine, and macrocarpamine are also discussed in this review. The completion of the total synthesis of pleiocarpamine by Sato et al. completes the formal synthesis of the latter two bisindoles.     

Acetal,triphenyl phosphorane,enol ether,acidic hydrolysis,nitroxyl

Two acetals were synthesised with hydroxymethyl triphenylphosphonium chloride as the alcoholic component. Reaction with ketones in the Wittig synthesis yielded enol ethers which were hydrolysed to aldehydes under acid catalysis. Tetrahydropyranyloxy compounds could be hydrolysed under milder conditions whereas, methoxymethyl ethers needed slightly more drastic conditions than the methyl ethers normally used in this synthesis.     

Triptycene as a rigid, 120° orienting, three-pronged, covalent scaffold for porphyrin arrays

The synthesis of novel porphyrin trimers covalently linked by one central, rigid triptycene unit is described. Reaction of 2,6,14-triiodotriptycene, generated in a three-step synthesis from triptycene, with borylated porphyrins under Suzuki cross-coupling conditions afforded porphyrin trimers. In addition, Sonogashira cross-coupling conditions could be successfully applied for the synthesis of trimeric porphyrin arrays as well.     

Total synthesis of maremycins A,B, C1/C2, D1, and D2

The total synthesis of maremycins A, B, C₁/C₂, D₁, and D₂ is achieved starting from the natural amino acids l-isoleucine and S-methyl-l-cysteine, in which the total synthesis of maremycins B, C₁/C₂, and D₂ is accomplished for the first time. The synthesis features a position-selective intramolecular bromination process for the synthesis of key chiral building block, a Pd-catalyzed indole synthesis for the preparation of (2S,3S)-β-methyltryptophan and hydroxylation of oxindoles by molecular oxygen. In addition, the protocol for conversion of maremycins A and B to maremycins C and D was improved.     

Synthesis of Five-Membered N,N,N- and N,N,N,N-Heterocyclic Compounds: Applications of Microwaves

The development of new strategies for the synthesis of small-sized heterocycles has remained a highly attractive but challenging proposition. An overview of the application of microwave irradiation to the synthesis of five-membered heterocyclic compounds containing three and four nitrogen atoms is presented, focusing on the developments in the past 5–10 years. This contribution covers the literature concerning the total synthesis of N,N,N- and N,N,N,N-heterocycles. The literature data are summarized based on the size and type of cycles.     

Synthesis of clausenin, xanthoxyletin, alloxanthoxyletin, xanthyletin and nor-dalbergin

The synthesis of clausenin is reported. Clausenin on methylation, NaBH₄ reduction and dehydration of the secondary alcohol gives xanthoxyletin. The angular isomer of clausenin by a similar series of reactions gives alloxanthoxyletin. A convenient synthesis of xanthyletin and nor-dalbergin has also been achieved.     

Synthesis, Chemistry, and Applications of Heterocyclic Cage Compounds (V)

The synthesis and chemistry of polycyclic of cage compounds have attracted considerable attention in recent years. The vast majority of the work reported in this area has dealt with carbocylic cage compounds. On the other hand, the synthesis and chemistry of heterocyclic cage compounds have received less attention. Recently, we envisioned that studies on the synthesis and chemistry of heterocyclic cage compounds can greatly expand the scopes and utilities of cage compounds.1 As part of a program that involves the synthesis, chemistry, and application of heterocyclic cage compounds, we report here the synthesis of new thia-oxa-cage compounds and the chemical nature of these thia-cages.     

Synthesis,Characterization, and Applications of Copper Nanoparticles

Copper nanoparticles with different structural properties and effective biological effects may be fabricated using new green protocols. The control over particle size and in turn size-dependent properties of copper nanoparticles is expected to provide additional applications. Various methods for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles have been reported including chemical methods, physical methods, biological methods, and green synthesis. Biological methods involve the use of plant extracts, bacteria, and fungi. Commendable work has been done regarding the synthesis and stability of copper nanoparticles. There is a need to summarize the behavior of copper nanoparticles in different media under various conditions. Here, a complete list of the literature on the synthesis of copper nanoparticles, their properties, stabilizing agents, factors affecting the morphology, and their applications is presented. The importance of copper nanoparticles compared to other metal nanoparticles are due to high conductivity. Methods for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles, including green protocols using plants and micro-organisms compared chemical methods, have also been reviewed.     

Cascade Multicomponent Synthesis of Indoles,Pyrazoles, and Pyridazinones by Functionalization of Alkenes

The development of multicomponent reactions for indole synthesis is demanding and has hardly been explored. The present study describes the development of a novel multicomponent, cascade approach for indole synthesis. Various substituted indole derivatives were obtained from simple reagents, such as unfunctionalized alkenes, diazonium salts, and sodium triflinate, by using an established straightforward and regioselective method. The method is based on the radical trifluoromethylation of alkenes as an entry into Fischer indole synthesis. Besides indole synthesis, the application of the multicomponent cascade reaction to the synthesis of pyrazoles and pyridazinones is described.     

Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Five-Membered O,N,N-Heterocycles

The development of new strategies for synthesis of five-membered O,N,N-heterocycles has remained a highly attractive but challenging proposition. An overview of the application of microwave irradiation in oxygen and two nitrogen atoms containing five-membered heterocyclic compounds synthesis is presented, focusing on the developments in the past 5–10 years. This contribution covers the literature concerning the total synthesis of five-membered O,N,N-heterocycles.     

Nonthermal Plasma Synthesis of Nanocrystals: Fundamentals,Applications, and Future Research Needs

Nonthermal plasma synthesis has emerged as a viable alternative to nanocrystal synthesis in the liquid phase or by other gas phase based methods. The nonequilibrium environment containing free charge carriers enables the synthesis of nanocrystals with excellent crystallinity and narrow size distributions. This paper reviews the fundamental mechanisms involved in the synthesis of nanocrystals with nonthermal plasmas. It discusses the luminescent properties of plasma-produced silicon nanocrystals and their application in devices such as light emitting diodes. The ability of plasma synthesis to generate doped nanocrystals is a particularly appealing attribute. We present boron and phosphorous doped silicon nanocrystals and review their applications as near infrared plasmonic materials. Finally, the author presents his view of some important research needs in the area of nonthermal plasma synthesis of nanocrystals.     

Synthesis, reactions, applications, and biological activity of diethanolamine and its derivatives

The review considers recent advances in using diethanolamine (DEA) in the synthesis of amides, polymerization reactions, and synthesis of heterocycles, crown ethers, Mannich bases, and ionic liquids. Biological activity of DEA and its derivatives is also reviewed.     

Synthetic studies of cyclic peptides stephanotic acid methyl ester,celogentin C,and moroidin

An account of the total synthesis of stephanotic acid methyl ester and celogentin C is presented. The present synthesis features a tandem asymmetric Michael addition/bromination sequence for the synthesis of leucine-tryptophan moiety, and an oxidative coupling reaction to form the tryptophan-imidazole linkage. Moreover, the total synthesis of moroidin had also been studied, and three different synthetic strategies for the construction of the right-hand ring of moroidin were studied.     

A short,stereocontrolled, and practical synthesis of alpha-methylomuralide,a potent inhibitor of proteasome function

An efficient and practical synthesis of alpha-methylomuralide (3), a selective inhibitor of proteasomes, has been developed as outlined in Scheme 1. Among the advantages of this route of synthesis over previously described approaches are (1) ease of scale-up and (2) high yields (28% overall yield of alpha-methylomuralide from 6) and stereocontrol (including high enantiocontrol). The synthesis is well suited to the production of 3 in the quantities needed for material-intensive in vivo investigations.     

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Onoseriolide,Bolivianine, and Isobolivianine

In this article, we describe our efforts on the total synthesis of bolivianine ( 1 ) and isobolivianine ( 2 ), involving the synthesis of onoseriolide ( 3 ). The first generation synthesis of bolivianine was completed in 21 steps by following a chiral resolution strategy. Based on the potential biogenetic relationship between bolivianine ( 1 ), onoseriolide ( 3 ), and β‐(E)‐ocimene ( 8 ), the second generation synthesis of bolivianine was biomimetically achieved from commercially available (+)‐verbenone in 14 steps. The improved total synthesis features an unprecedented palladium‐catalyzed intramolecular cyclopropanation through an allylic metal carbene, for the construction of the ABC tricyclic system, and a Diels–Alder/intramolecular hetero‐Diels–Alder (DA/IMHDA) cascade for installation of the EFG tricyclic skeleton with the correct stereochemistry. Transformation from bolivianine to isobolivianine was facilitated in the presence of acid. The biosynthetic mechanism and the excellent regio‐ and endo selectivities in the cascade are well supported by theoretical chemistry based on the DFT calculations.     

Magnetic nanoparticles: synthesis, protection, functionalization, and application

This review focuses on the synthesis, protection, functionalization, and application of magnetic nanoparticles, as well as the magnetic properties of nanostructured systems. Substantial progress in the size and shape control of magnetic nanoparticles has been made by developing methods such as co-precipitation, thermal decomposition and/or reduction, micelle synthesis, and hydrothermal synthesis. A major challenge still is protection against corrosion, and therefore suitable protection strategies will be emphasized, for example, surfactant/polymer coating, silica coating and carbon coating of magnetic nanoparticles or embedding them in a matrix/support. Properly protected magnetic nanoparticles can be used as building blocks for the fabrication of various functional systems, and their application in catalysis and biotechnology will be briefly reviewed. Finally, some future trends and perspectives in these research areas will be outlined.     

Unified total synthesis of the natural products endiandric acid A,kingianic acid E,and kingianins A,D, and F

A measure of the strength of a synthetic strategy is its versatility: specifically, whether it allows structurally distinct targets to be prepared. Herein we disclose a unified approach for the total synthesis of natural products of three distinct structural types, all of which occur naturally as racemic mixtures. The point of divergence involves the terminal alkylation of a conjugated tetrayne, and culminates in a significantly shortened synthesis of endiandric acid A (8 steps), the first total synthesis of kingianic acid E (8 steps), and a second-generation synthesis of kingianins A, D, and F (11 steps). Evidence for redox catalysis in the biosynthesis of kingianic acid E is presented.     

Chemoenzymatic asymmetric synthesis of fluoxetine,atomoxetine, nisoxetine,and duloxetine

The asymmetric synthesis of two well-known anti-depressant drugs, fluoxetine and duloxetine has been accomplished in a chemoenzymatic manner. The main highlight of the synthesis is the enantioselective cyanohydrin formation by a plant (R)-HNL (hydroxynitrile lyase). The enantiopure cyanohydrins are then synthetically manipulated into the above two drug molecules and two of their structural analogues, atomoxetine and nisoxetine.     

Heck arylation of styrenes with arenediazonium salts: short, efficient, and stereoselective synthesis of resveratrol, DMU-212, and analogues

Short, efficient, and stereoselective synthesis of the trans-stilbenes resveratrol, DMU-212, and analogues of both compounds are described. The synthesis of these important anti-cancer agents feature the palladium catalyzed Heck-Matsuda arylation of styrenes with arenediazonium tetrafluoroborates.     

Short,enantioselective, gram-scale synthesis of (−)-zephyranthine

A reasonable synthesis design by strategically integrating functional group manipulation into the ring system construction resulted in a short, enantioselective, gram-scale total synthesis of (−)-zephyranthine. The concise route includes a catalytic Michael/Michael cascade for the asymmetric synthesis of a penta-substituted cyclohexane with three contiguous stereogenic centers, a remarkable 8-step one-pot operation to easily assemble the zephyranthine tetracyclic skeleton, the regioselective construction of a double bond in the C ring and an asymmetric dihydroxylation. This synthesis is also flexible and paves a potential path to a variety of cyclohexylamine-fused tricyclic or polycyclic alkaloids.

A reasonable synthesis design by strategically integrating functional group manipulation into the ring system construction resulted in a short, enantioselective, gram-scale total synthesis of (−)-zephyranthine.