New antimitotic bicyclic peptides, celogentins D-H, and J, from the seeds of Celosia argentea

Six new bicyclic peptides, celogentins D-H (1-5) and J (6) have been isolated from the seeds of Celosia argentea, and the structures including its absolute stereochemistry were determined by using extensive NMR methods and chemical means. Celogentins E-H (2-5) and J (6) showed potent inhibition of tubulin polymerization, while the inhibitory activity of celogentin D (1) was modest. Structure-activity relationship study indicates that ring size of the bicyclic ring system including unusual β^s-Leu, Trp, and His residues would be important for their biological activity.     

Celogentin K, a new cyclic peptide from the seeds of Celosia argentea and X-ray structure of moroidin

A new cyclic peptide with a 3-hydroxyoxindole ring, celogentin K (1), has been isolated from the seeds of Celosia argentea and the structure including its absolute stereochemistry was assigned by using extensive NMR, MS/MS, and CD spectra. The stereostructure of a known related bicyclic peptide, moroidin (2), was confirmed by a single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Strained, stable 2-aza-1-phosphabicyclo[n.1.0]alkane and -alkene Fe(CO)4 complexes with dynamic phosphinidene behavior

The synthesis of highly strained bicyclic phosphirane and phosphirene iron-tetracarbonyl complexes, that is, complexes with 2-aza-1-phosphabicyclo[n.1.0]alkanes and -alkenes (n = 3-5), is explored by using intramolecular cycloaddition of an in situ generated electrophilic phosphinidene complex, [R(iPr)NP=Fe(CO)(4)], to its C=C- and C[triple chemical bond]C-containing R substituent. Saturated bicyclic complexes 7 a-c with n = 4-2 are remarkably stable, as illustrated by the X-ray crystal structure for 7 b (n=3), yet all readily undergo retroaddition to react with phenylacetylene. Shuttling of the phosphinidene iron complex between two equivalent C=C groups is demonstrated for a 1-butene-substituted 2-aza-1-phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hexane by selective (1)H NMR magnetization transfer from the phosphirane protons to the olefinic protons. Even the more strained unsaturated bicycles 17 a,b (n = 4,3) are surprisingly stable as illustrated by the X-ray crystal structure for 17 a (n = 4), but the smaller phosphabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-5-ene (17 c, n = 2) dimerizes to tricyclic 19 with a unique ten-membered heterocyclic ring; an X-ray crystal structure is reported. Like their saturated analogues also the bicyclic phosphirenes readily undergo retroaddition as shown by the reaction of their phosphinidene iron moiety with phenylacetylene.     

A stable silicon congener of highly strained bicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-1,3,6-triene

A silicon-containing fused bicyclic compound with a highly strained bridgehead double bond, 2,3,6,7-tetra-tert-butyl-4-(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-5-(tert-butyldimethylsiloxy)-5-silabicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-1,3,6-triene (2), was synthesized quantitatively by the reaction of 1,2-bis-tert-butyl-4,4-bis(tert-butyldimethylsilyl)-4-silatriafulvene (3) with di-tert-butylcyclopropenone (4) at 80 degrees C. An X-ray crystallographic analysis for 2 not only confirmed a bicyclic structure having a silacyclopentadiene (silole) ring fused with a silacyclobutene ring but also the remarkable deformation around the double bonds; the sum of the bond angles around the unsaturated bridgehead carbon was 333 degrees . The strain energy of a model 5-silabicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-1,3,6-triene was calculated at the MP2/6-31+G(d,p)//B3LYP/6-31+G(d) level (30.2 kcal/mol) to be comparable to that for parent bicyclo[3.2.0]hepta-1,3,6-triene (30.7 kcal/mol). Despite the high steric strain, 2 was stable enough to be kept intact for several months in the air. The high stability is ascribed to the effective steric protection of the ring system by the bulky substituents.     

Concise formal synthesis of (+)-pyripyropene A

A concise enantioselective synthesis of A/B bicyclic segment of naturally occurring α-pyrone meroterpenoid pyripyropene A is achieved in 9 steps (LLS) and 7.5% yield starting from R-(?)-carvone. The significant points of the synthesis include: (1) an intramolecular 1, 3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction to construct the A ring and assemble C4 quaternary carbon stereocenter as well; (2) reductive cleavage of the oxazole motif utilized Raney Ni/B(OCH₃)₃.     

Ab initio calculation of carbon clusters. II. Relative stabilities of fullerene and nonfullerene C24

Chemical stabilities of six low-energy isomers of C24 derived from global-minimum search are investigated. The six isomers include one classical fullerene (isomer 1) whose cage is composed of only five- and six-membered rings (56-MRs), three nonclassical fullerene structures whose cages contain at least one four-membered ring (4-MR), one plate, and one monocyclic ring. Chemical and electronic properties of the six C24 isomers are calculated based on a density-functional theory method (hybrid PBE1PBE functional and cc-pVTZ basis set). The properties include the nucleus-independent chemical shifts (NICS), singlet-triplet splitting, electron affinity, ionization potential, and gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (HOMO-LUMO) gap. The calculation suggests that the neutral isomer 2, a nonclassical fullerene with two 4-MRs, may be more chemically stable than the classical fullerene (isomer 1). Analyses of molecular orbital NICS show that the incorporations of 4-MRs into the cage considerably reduce paratropic contributions from HOMO, HOMO-1, and HOMO-2, which are mainly responsible for the sign change in NICS from positive for isomer 1 (42) to negative (-19) for isomer 2, although C24 clusters satisfy neither 4N+2 nor 2(N+1)2 aromaticity rule. Anion photoelectron spectra of four cage isomers, one plate, one monocyclic ring, and one tadpole isomer, as well as three bicyclic ring isomers are calculated. The simulated photoelectron spectra of mono- and bicyclic rings (with C1 symmetry) appear to match the measured HOMO-LUMO gap (between the first and second band in the experimental spectra) [S. Yang et al., Chem. Phys. Lett. 144, 431 (1988)]. Nevertheless, the nonclassical fullerene isomers 3 and 4 apparently also match the measured vertical detachment energy (2.90 eV) reasonably well. These results suggest possible coexistence of nonclassical fullerene isomers with the mono- and bicyclic ring isomers of C24(-) under the experimental conditions.     

Mechanism for the cyclotrimerization of alkynes and related reactions catalyzed by CpRuCl

A complete catalytic cycle for the cyclotrimerization of acetylene with the CpRuCl fragment has been proposed and discussed based on DFT/B3LYP calculations, which revealed a couple of uncommon intermediates. The first is a metallacyclopentatriene complex RuCp(Cl)(C(4)H(4)) (B), generated through oxidative coupling of two alkyne ligands. It adds another alkyne in eta(2) fashion to give an alkyne complex (C). No less than three successive intermediates could be located for the subsequent arene formation. The first, an unusual five- and four-membered bicyclic ring system (D), rearranges to a very unsymmetrical metallaheptatetraene complex (E), which in turn provides CpRuCl(eta(2)-C(6)H(6)) (F) via a reductive elimination step. The asymmetry of E, including Cp ring slippage, removes the symmetry-forbidden character from this final step. Completion of the cycle is achieved by an exothermic displacement (21.4 kcal mol(-)(1)) of the arene by two acetylene molecules regenerating A. In addition to acetylene, the reaction of B with ethylene and carbon disulfide, the latter taken as a model for a molecule lacking hydrogen atoms, has also been investigated, and several parallels noted. In the case of the coordinated alkene, facile C-C coupling to the alpha carbon of the metallacycle is feasible due to an agostic assistance, which tends to counterbalance the reduced degree of unsaturation. Carbon disulfide, on the other hand, does not coordinate to ruthenium, but a C=S bond adds instead directly to the Ru=C bond. The final products of the reactions of B with acetylene, ethylene, and carbon disulfide are, respectively, benzene, cyclohexadiene, and thiopyrane-2-thione, the activation energies being lower for acetylene.     

Unusual intramolecular [2 + 2] cycloaddition of allyl and vinylidene C=C bonds under mild conditions: a theoretical analysis

A theoretical analysis allows for the rationalization of the recently reported unusual formation under mild conditions of a cyclobutylidene ring from a diastereoselective [2 + 2] intramolecular cycloaddition of two C=C systems. The reaction takes place by heating in dichloromethane the vinylidene complexes [Ru((eta(5),eta(3)-C(9)H(7))[=C=C(R)H][kappa(1)-(P)-PPh(2)(C(3)H(5))](PPh(3))][BF(4)] (R = Ph, p-Me-C(6)H(4)) (1) yielding the bicyclic alkylidene complexes [Ru((eta(5),eta(3)-C(9)H(7))[kappa(2)-(P,C)-(=CC(R)HCH(2)CHCH(2)-PPh(2)](PPh(3))][BF(4)] (2). The proposed mechanism represents an alternative to the classical Woodward-Hoffmann's supra-antara approach.     

Enantioselective Synthesis of a Polyfunctionalized Tetracycle Related to Pentacyclic Triterpenes by Using an Anionic Cycloaddition Reaction

Herein we report a convergent enantioselective synthesis of a polyfunctionalized ABCD tetracycle by using an anionic cycloaddition reaction between a chiral bicyclic CD Nazarov intermediate (see 6 ), derived from the (?)‐Weiland–Mischer ketone, and an achiral cyclohexenone (see 5 ) adequately functionalized to furnish the ring A of pentacyclic triterpenes (Scheme 5). The chiral bicyclic CD Nazarov intermediate forms ring B upon cycloaddition with the achiral cyclohexenone to yield an ABCD tetracycle with a cis‐anti‐trans‐anti‐trans configuration (see 4 ). Further transformations on this adduct allowed reduction of the angular aldehyde function at C(10) to a Me group (→ 17 ) and introduction of an unsaturation at C(5)? C(6) by using the ketone function at C(7) (→ 3 ; Scheme 6).     

Cyclic homooligomers of furanoid sugar amino acids

Cyclic homooligomers of mannose-derived furanoid sugar amino acid 1 [H-Maa(Bn(2))-OH] were synthesized by using BOP reagent in the presence of DIPEA under dilute conditions that converted the sugar amino acid monomer directly into its cyclic homooligomers 3a and 4a. The glucose-based sugar amino acid 2 [H-Gaa(Bn(2))-OH] under the same reaction conditions gave a bicyclic lactam 5a as the major product. Cyclic homooligomers of 2 were prepared by cyclizing their linear precursors 6 and 7 leading to the formation of cyclic peptides 8a and 9a, respectively. Conformational analysis by NMR and constrained MD studies revealed that all the cyclic products, 3, 4, 8, and 9, had symmetrical structures. The deprotected cyclic trimer of Maa 3b displayed a conformation in which all the C=O and the N-H bonds of the molecule point in opposite directions. In the deprotected cyclic tetramer of Maa 4b, the COs and NHs were in the plane of the ring with the former pointing to outside and the latter inside the ring. The structure of the cyclic Gaa dimer 8b displayed an unusual six-membered intramolecular hydrogen bond between NH(i)() --> C3-O(i)()(-)(1) and a syn orientation between the C2-H and CO. In this molecule, the C2-hydrogens and the COs can be seen on one side of the ring while the NHs point to the other side. Addition of the bicyclic lactam 5b resulted in the influx of Na(+) ions across the lipid bilayer leading to the dissipation of valinomycin-mediated K(+) diffusion potential.     

Competitive reaction pathways of C2Cl3 + NO via four-membered ring and bicyclic ring intermediates

The products and mechanisms of the atmospherically and environmentally important reaction, C(2)Cl(3) + NO, are investigated comprehensively by step-scan time-resolved Fourier transform infrared emission spectroscopy and the CCSD(T)/6-311+G(d)//B3LYP/6-311G(d) level of electronic structure calculations. Vibrationally excited products of Cl(2)CO, ClNCO, CCl(3)NCO and NCO have been observed in the IR emission spectra. Cyclic intermediates are found to play important roles leading to the rich variety of the chemical transformations of the reaction. Mainly two competitive reaction pathways are revealed: the four-membered ring intermediate pathway leading to the products Cl(2)CO + ClCN which is essentially barrierless and the bicyclic ring intermediate pathway leading to the product channels of ClNCO + CCl(2,) CCl(3)NCO and CCl(3) + NCO which is rate-limited by a barrier of 42.9 kJ mol(-1) higher than the reactants. By photolyzing the precursor at 248 and 193 nm, respectively, C(2)Cl(3) radicals with different internal energy are produced to observe the product branching ratios as a function of reactant energy. The Cl(2)CO channel via the four-membered ring intermediate pathway is shown to be overwhelmingly dominant at low energy (temperature) but become less important at high energy while the ClNCO and CCl(3)NCO channels via the bicyclic ring intermediate pathway are greatly enhanced and compete effectively. The experimental observation of the products and their branching ratios varying with reactant energy is well consistent with the calculated potential energy profiles.     

Synthesis and pharmacological properties of naturally occurring prenylated and pyranochalcones as potent anti-inflammatory agents

An efficient approach has been developed for the synthesis of naturally occurring prenylated chalcones viz. kanzonol C(1), stipulin(2), crotaorixin(3), medicagenin(4), licoagrochalcone A(5) and abyssinone D(6) along with the pyranochalcones paratocarpin C(7), anthyllisone(8) and 3-O-methylabyssinone A(9).The key step of the synthesis is a Claisen–Schmidt condensation. Subsequently, their anti-inflammatory effects were investigated in lipopolysaccharides(LPSs)-induced RAW-264.7 macrophages. Of the synthesized chalcones, compounds 5(IC_(50)= 10.41 μmol/L), 6(IC_(50)= 9.65 μmol/L) and 8(IC_(50)= 15.34 μmol/L) show remarkable activity with no cytotoxicity. Compound 9(IC_(50)= 4.5 μmol/L)exhibits maximum(83.6%) nitric oxide(NO) inhibition, but shows slight cytotoxicity. The results reveal that the chalcones bearing the prenyl group at 3- and/or 5-position on ring A(acetophenone moiety), i.e.,1–4 and 7 show weak, or no inhibition activity, whereas chalcones having the prenyl group only on ring B(aldehyde part), i.e., 5, 6 and 8 show significant activity on the production of inflammatory mediated NO with no cytotoxicity.     

Synthesis and 5α-reductase inhibitory activity of C₂₁ steroids having 1,4-diene or 4,6-diene 20-ones and 4-azasteroid 20-oximes

The synthesis and evaluation of 5α-reductase inhibitory activity of some 4-azasteroid-20-ones and 20-oximes and 3β-hydroxy-, 3β-acetoxy-, or epoxy-substituted C?? steroidal 20-ones and 20-oximes having double bonds in the A and/or B ring are described. Inhibitory activity of synthesized compounds was assessed using 5α-reductase enzyme and [1,2,6,7-3H]testosterone as substrate. All synthesized compounds were less active than finasteride (IC??: 1.2 nM). Three 4-azasteroid-2-oximes (compounds 4, 6 and 8) showed good inhibitory activity (IC??: 26, 10 and 11 nM) and were more active than corresponding 4-azasteroid 20-ones (compounds 3, 5 and 7). 3β-Hydroxy-, 3β-acetoxy- and 1α,2α-, 5α,6α- or 6α,7α-epoxysteroid-20-one and -20-oxime derivatives having double bonds in the A and/or B ring showed no inhibition of 5α-reductase enzyme.     

Total synthesis and biological evaluation of neodysiherbaine A and analogues

Dysiherbaine (1) and its congener neodysiherbaine A (2) are naturally occurring excitatory amino acids with selective and potent agonistic activity for ionotropic glutamate receptors. We describe herein the total synthesis of 2 and its structural analogues 3-8. Advanced key intermediate 16 was employed as a branching point to assemble a series of these analogues 3-8 with respect to the C8 and C9 functionalities, which would not have been accessible through manipulations of the natural product itself. The synthesis of key intermediate 16 features (i) stereocontrolled C-glycosylation to set the C6 stereocenter, (ii) concise synthesis of the bicyclic ether skeleton through chemo- and stereoselective dihydroxylation of the exo-olefin and stereoselective epoxidation of the endo-olefin, followed by epoxide ring opening/5-exo ring closure, and (iii) catalytic asymmetric hydrogenation of enamide ester to construct the amino acid appendage. A preliminary biological evaluation of analogues for their in vivo toxicity against mice and binding affinity for glutamate receptors showed that both the type and stereochemistry of the C8 and C9 functional groups affected the subtype selectivity of dysiherbaine analogues for members of the kainic acid receptor family.     

Ringerweiterungen und Ringverengungen bei der Umsetzung von 1, 3-Oxazolidin-2, 4-dionen und 1, 3-Thiazoiidin-2, 4-dion mit 3-Amino-2H-azirinen

Ring Enlargements and Ring Contractions in the Reaction of 1, 3-Oxazolidine-2, 4-diones and l, 3-Thiazolidine-2, 4-dione with 3-Amino-2H-azirines The reaction of 3-amino-2H-azirines 1 and 1, 3-oxazolidine-2, 4-diones 2 in MeCN at room temperature leads to 3, 4-dihydro-3-(2-hydroxyacetyl)-2H-imidazol-2-ones 3 in good yield (Scheme 2, Table 1). A reaction mechanism proceeding via ring enlargement of the bicyclic zwitterion A to give B, followed by transannular ring contraction to C, is proposed for the formation of 3 . This mechanism is in accordance with the result of the reaction of 2a and the ¹⁵N-labelled 1a *: in the isolated product 3a *, only N(3) is labelled (Scheme 1). The analogous reaction of 1 and 1, 3-thiazolidine-2, 4-dione ( 5 ) is more complex (Schemes 4 and 5, Table 2). Besides the expected 3, 4-dihydro-3-(2-mercaptoacetyl)-2H-imidazol-2-ones 7, 5-amino-3, 4-dihydro-2H-imidazol-2-ones of type 8 and/or N-(1, 4-thiazin-2-ylidene)ureas 9 are formed. In the case of 2-(dimethylamino)-1-azaspiro[2. 3]hex-1-ene ( 1d ), the postulated eight-membered intermediate 6d could be isolated. Its structure as well as that of 9f has been determined by X-ray structure analysis. A reaction mechanism for the formation of the 1, 4-thiazine derivatives of type 9 is proposed in Scheme 6.     

Concise, asymmetric, stereocontrolled total synthesis of stephacidins A, B and notoamide B

Concise asymmetric total syntheses of the fungal metabolites (-)-stephacidin A, (+)-stephacidin B, and (+)-notoamide B are described. Key features of these total syntheses include (1) a facile synthesis of (R)-allyl proline methyl ester, (2) a revised route toward the pyranoindole ring system, (3) a novel cross-metathesis strategy for the introduction of important functional groups, and (4) an SN2' cyclization to form the [2.2.2] bridged bicyclic ring system. Furthermore, our synthesis has taken advantage of microwave heating to shorten reaction times as well as increase yields for the preparation of vital intermediates.     

Conformational Behaviour of Substituted 2-Methoxy-2-Oxo-1,2-Oxaphospholan-3-Ols

Abstract

Conformational behaviour of about 30 2-methoxy-2-oxo-1,2- oxaphospho l an-3-0 1 s containing various substituents was examined by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. Vicinal coupling constants J(HCCH), J(HCCP), J(HCOP), J(CCOP) and J(CCCP) were employed in this study. Conformation of the 1,2-oxaphospholane ring is governed almost exclusively by substituents at C-3, C-4 and C-5, as we l l as by their orientation. The configuration of the P atom has little or no influence on conformation of the ring in diastsreomeric pairs. Strong preference of phenyl, methyl and substituted methyl groups to occupy the equatorial or pseudoequatoria l positions was observed for all but one compounds studied. In the cis-fused bicyclic syst ems conformat ionally rigid 6-membered rings forced the 1,2-oxaphospholane rings to adopt an enve l ope-l ike (E₄) conformation. No influence of the p=o……HO-C-3 hydrogen bond on conformation of the 1,2-oxaphospholane ring was found. Preferred conformations for (2R, 3R, 4R)-3-(hydroxymethyI)-2-methoxy-2-oxo-1,2-oxaphospho lane-3,4-diol and its triacetate are shown below.     

A Chemical Study of Burley Tobacco Flavour (Nicotiana tabacum L.) VII. Identification and synthesis of twelve irregular terpenoids,related to solanone,including 7,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane and 4,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane derivatives

Twelve novel constituents isolated from Burley tobacco condensate by semi-preparative GLC. have been identified as (E)-3,4-epoxy-5-isopropyl-nonane-2,8-dione ( A ), exo-(1-methyl-4-isopropyl-7,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-yl)methyl ketone ( B ), exo-1-(1-methyl-4-isopropyl-7,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-yl)-ethanol ( C ), (E)-5-isopropyl-8-hydroxy-8-methyl-non-6-en-2-one ( D ), (E)-5-isopropyl-6,7-epoxy-8-hydroxy-8-methyl-nonan-2-one ( E ), endo-2-(1-methyl-4-isopropyl-7,8-dioxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-6-yl)-propan-2-ol ( F ), 3,3,5-trimethyl-8-isopropyl-4,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-2-ol ( G ), (E)-5-isopropyl-non-3-ene-2,8-diol ( H ), 5-isopropyl-nonane-2,8-diol ( I ), (E)-5-isopropyl-8-hydroxy-non-6-en-2-one ( J ), 5-isopropyl-8-hydroxy-nonan-2-one ( K ), and (E)-3-isopropyl-6-methyl-hepta-4,6-dien-1-ol ( L ). Compounds A–K were synthesized from norsolanadione ( 2 ), and compound L from 2-isopropyl-5-oxo-hexanal ( 15 ). The relative configuration of the bicyclic internal acetals B, C, F, G and their δ-keto-epoxide precursors A and E is discussed. All these Burley tobacco flavour components belong to a growing family of metabolites structurally related to solanone ( 1 ). They are believed to arise from the breakdown of cembrene-type precursors.     

Does the electron ionization induced fragmentation of partly saturated stereoisomeric pyrrolo‐ and isoindoloquinazolinones show stereospecificity?

The electron ionization mass spectrometric behavior of pyrroloquinazolinones (1-6) and isoindoloquinazolinones (7-14) was studied. These compounds were further classified as partly saturated pyrroloquinazolinones (1-3), benzologues (7-11), methylene-bridged derivatives (4-6, 12, 13) and a bisacyl compound (14). The mass spectra of the pyrrolo- and isoindoloquinazolinones did not exhibit stereospecific retro-Diels-Alder (RDA) fragmentations. The cyclohexane-fused compounds 7 (cis annelated) and 8 (trans annelated) did display some other ions differing in their abundances that could be used to differentiate this pair of stereoisomers. Also the cyclohexene-fused compounds 2, 3, 9 and 10 exhibited somewhat different ion abundances pairwise that could be utilized for isomeric differentiation. Earlier hypothesis of pyrrolo ring cleavage via the loss of C(3)H(5)O(.) was strengthened by the fragmentation of compounds 1-4. RDA(+/-H) fragmentation is more favorable than the formation of [M-R](+) ions (R=H, C(6)H(4)CH(3), or C(6)H(4)Cl) when an unsaturated bicyclic group is present but both RDA fragmentation and [M-R](+) formation occur for cyclohexene-fused compounds, possibly because of the lower ring strain than with norbornene-fused compounds. The [M-H](+) ion was abundant for compounds 7 and 8 as was [M-Ar](+) for 1-4 and 11. Although the compounds studied might participate in amide-imidol tautomerism, no indication of such tautomerism was detected.