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.     

Asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-dihydrofurans and of unsaturated bicyclic tetrahydrofurans through alpha-elimination and migratory cyclization of silyloxy alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salts. Generation and intramolecular O,Si-bond insertion of chiral disubstituted beta-silyloxy alkylidene carbenes

Treatment of the bis(allylsulfoximine)titanium complexes derived from the beta-methyl-substituted acyclic allylic sulfoximines 13a and 13b with aldehydes gave with high selectivities the corresponding sulfoximine-substituted homoallylic alcohols which were isolated as the silyl ethers 15a-h. Methylation of sulfoximines 15a-h afforded the aminosulfoxonium salts 5a-h which upon treatment with LiN(H)tBu gave in high yields the enantio- and diastereomerically pure silyl-substituted 2,3-dihydrofurans 4a-h. Treatment of the titanium complexes derived from the cyclic allylic sulfoximines 17a, 17b, and ent-17c with p-MeOC(6)H(4)CHO delivered with high selectivities the corresponding sulfoximine-substituted cyclic homoallylic alcohols which were isolated as the silyl ethers 18a, 18b, and ent-18c, respectively. Methylation of sulfoximines 18a, 18b, and ent-18c furnished the aminosulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c, respectively, whose treatment with LiN(H)t-Bu gave the enantio- and diastereomerically pure fused bicyclic 2,3-dihydrofurans 6a, 6b, and ent-6c, respectively, in good yields. It is proposed that the 1-alkenyl aminosulfoxonium salts 5a-h, 8a, 8b, and ent-8c react with the base under alpha-elimination and formation of the acyclic and cyclic beta-silyloxy alkylidene carbenes 2a-h, 7a, 7b, and ent-7c, respectively, which then undergo a 1,5-O,Si-bond insertion and 1,2-silyl migration. The cyclic aminosulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c upon treatment with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]-7-undecene did not undergo an alpha-elimination but suffered a novel migratory cyclization with formation of the enantio- and diastereomerically pure bicyclic tetrahydrofurans 9a, 9b, and ent-9c, respectively. It is proposed that the 1-alkenyl sulfoxonium salts 8a, 8b, and ent-8c are isomerized to the allylic aminosulfoxonium salts 10a, 10b, and ent-10c, respectively, which then suffer an intramolecular substitution of the (dimethylamino)sulfoxonium group by the silyloxy group followed by a desilylation. The syntheses of the 2,3-dihydrofurans 4a-h, 6a, and 6b and of the tetrahydrofurans 9a and 9b are accompanied by the formation of sulfinamide 16 of >or=98% ee, which can be converted via sulfoxide 28 of >or=98% to the starting sulfoximine 11 of >or=98% ee.     

Asymmetric total synthesis of ent-(-)-roseophilin: assignment of absolute configuration

An asymmetric total synthesis of ent-(-)-roseophilin (1), the unnatural enantiomer of a novel naturally occurring antitumor antibiotic, is described. The approach enlists a room temperature heterocyclic azadiene inverse electron demand Diels-Alder reaction of dimethyl 1,2,4,5-tetrazine-3,6-dicarboxylate (7) with the optically active enol ether 6 bearing the C23 chiral center followed by a reductive ring contraction reaction for formation of an appropriately functionalized pyrrole ring in a key 1,2,4,5-tetrazine --> 1,2-diazine --> pyrrole reaction sequence. A Grubbs' ring closing metathesis reaction was utilized to close the unusual 13-membered macrocycle prior to a subsequent 5-exo-trig acyl radical-alkene cyclization that was used to introduce the fused cyclopentanone and complete the preparation of the tricylic ansa-bridged azafulvene core 32. Condensation of 32 with 33 under the modified conditions of Tius and Harrington followed by final deprotection provided (22S,23S)-1. Comparison of synthetic (22S,23S)-1 ([alpha](25)(D), CD) with natural 1 established that they were enantiomers and enabled the assignment of the absolute stereochemistry of the natural product as 22R,23R. Surprisingly, ent-(-)-1 was found to be 2-10-fold more potent than natural (+)-1 in cytotoxic assays, providing an unusually rewarding culmination to synthetic efforts that provided the unnatural enantiomer.     

Enantioselective [6pi]-photocyclization reaction of an acrylanilide mediated by a chiral host. Interplay between enantioselective ring closure and enantioselective protonation

The [6pi]-photocyclization of the anilides 1a and 5 was studied in the absence and in the presence of the enantiomerically pure chiral lactam 4. The relative configuration of the products was unambiguously established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and by NMR spectroscopy. A significant enantiomeric excess was observed upon reaction of compound 1a to its photocyclization products at -55 degrees C employing lactam 4 as a chiral complexing agent in toluene as the solvent (66% yield). The trans product ent-3a was obtained in 57% ee, and the minor diastereoisomer (trans/cis = 73/27), cis product ent-2a, was obtained in 30% ee. DFT calculations were conducted modeling the complexation of intermediates 8 and ent-8 to host 4. In agreement with steric arguments concerning the conrotatory ring closure of 1a, the formation of ent-8 is favored leading to the more stable complex 4.ent-8 as compared to 4.8. Whereas the enantioselectivity in the photocyclization to trans compound ent-3a increased upon reduction in the reaction temperature, the enantiomeric excess in the formation of cis compound ent-2a went through a maximum at -15 degrees C (45% ee) and decreased at lower temperatures. Deuteration experiments conducted with the pentadeuterated analogue of 1a, d(5)-1a, revealed that the protonation of the intermediates 8 and ent-8 is influenced by chiral amide 4. In the formation of ent-3a/3a, both the enantioselective ring closure and the enantioselective protonation by amide 4 favor the observed (6aS,10aS)-configuration of the major enantiomer ent-3a. In the formation of ent-2a/2a, the enantioselective ring closure (and the subsequent diastereoselective protonation) favors the (6aR,10aS)-configuration that is found in compound 2a. Contrary to that, the enantioselective protonation by amide 4 shows a preference for ent-2a with the (6aS,10aR)-configuration.     

Total synthesis of optically active monocrotaline, a carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloid possessing an eleven-membered retronecine dilactone

A total synthesis of the natural enantiomer of monocrotaline (1), a representative of carcinogenic pyrrolizidine alkaloids having an 11-membered retronecine dilactone was achieved through regioselective coupling of (+)-retronecine (3) and the optically active protected necic acid 8, the latter being prepared enantioselectively from the meso-diester 11.     

A short enantioselective pathway for the synthesis of the anti-influenza neuramidase inhibitor oseltamivir from 1,3-butadiene and acrylic acid

A short synthetic pathway has been developed for the synthesis of oseltamivir (1) or the enantiomer (ent-1). The intermediates and conditions for this process are summarized in Scheme 1. The synthesis provides a number of advantages: (1) use of inexpensive and abundant starting materials; (2) complete enantio-, regio-, and diastereocontrol; (3) avoidance of explosive, azide-type intermediates; (4) good overall yield (ca. 30%, still not completely optimized); and (5) scalability.     

Cytotoxic diterpenoids from Vietnamese medicinal plant Croton tonkinensis GAGNEP

Six new ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids were isolated from the leaves of the endemic Vietnamese medicinal plant Croton tonkinensis GAGNEP. (Euphorbiaceae) together with three known ent-11alpha-acetoxy-7beta,14alpha-dihydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (1), ent-kaur-16-en-15-one 18-oic acid (5) and ent-18-hydroxykaur-16-ene (7). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic analyses to be ent-7beta-acetoxy-11alpha-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (2), ent-18-acetoxy-11alpha-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (3), ent-11alpha-acetoxykaur-16-en-18-oic acid (4), ent-15alpha,18-dihydroxykaur-16-ene (6), ent-11alpha,18-diacetoxy-7beta-hydroxykaur-16-en-15-one (8), and ent-(16S)-1alpha,14alpha-diacetoxy-7beta-hydroxy-17-methoxykauran-15-one (14). ent-Kaurane-type diterpenoids from Croton tonkinensis 2-4, 6, and 9-13, were tested for toxicity in the brine shrimp lethality assay. Compounds 9, 10, and 12 demonstrated significant activity, compounds 2, 3, 6, and 11 showed weak activity, and compounds 4 and 13 were inactive.     

Efficient, scalable asymmetric synthesis of an epoxy quinol via Noyori desymmetrization of a meso diketone

Epoxy quinol 1a was prepared on a multi-gram scale by Noyori transfer hydrogenative desymmetrization of the readily available meso epoxy diketone 4. Although the intrinsic enantioselectivity for the desymmetrization was modest (82:18 er at 4% conversion), a highly enantiopure product (99.6:0.4 er) could be obtained in one operation in 44% yield via kinetic resolution of the minor enantiomer with long reaction times (48 h), or in 73% yield by combination with an enzymatic resolution of a 93:7 er mixture.     

Enzymatic resolution, desymmetrization, and dynamic kinetic asymmetric transformation of 1,3-cycloalkanediols

An efficient desymmetrization of cis-1,3-cyclohexanediol to (1S,3R)-3-(acetoxy)-1-cyclohexanol ((R,S)-2a) was performed via Candida antarctica lipase B (CALB)-catalyzed transesterification, in high yield (up to 93%) and excellent enantioselectivity (ee's up to >99.5%). (R,R)-Diacetate ((R,R)-3a) was obtained in a DYKAT process at room temperature from (1S,3R)-3-acetoxy-1-cyclohexanol ((R,S)-2a), in a high trans/cis ratio (91:9) and in excellent enantioselectivity of >99%. Metal- and enzyme-catalyzed dynamic transformation of cis/trans-1,3-cyclohexanediol using PS-C gave a high diastereoselectivity for cis-diacetate (cis/trans = 97:3). The (1R,3S)-3-acetoxy-1-cyclohexanol (ent-(R,S)-2a) was obtained from cis-diacetate by CALB-catalyzed hydrolysis in an excellent yield (97%) and selectivity (>99% ee). By deuterium labeling it was shown that intramolecular acyl migration does not occur in the transformation of cis-monoacetate to the cis-diacetate.     

Total synthesis of plakortide E and biomimetic synthesis of plakortone B

The total synthesis of plakortide E (1a) is reported. A novel palladium-catalyzed approach towards 1,2-dioxolanes as well as an alternative substrate-controlled route leading exclusively to cis-highly substituted 1,2-dioxolanes have been developed. A lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution was employed to provide optically pure 1,2-dioxolane central cores. Coupling of the central cores and side chains was achieved by a modified Negishi reaction. All four isomeric structures of plakortide E methyl ester, namely, 26a-d were synthesized. One of the structures, 26d, was shown to be identical with the natural plakortide E methyl ester on the basis of (1)H, (13)C NMR spectra and specific rotation comparisons. With the plakortide E methyl ester (4S,6R,10R)-(-)-cis-26d and its other three isomers in hand, we successfully converted them into (3S,4S,6R,10R)-plakortone B (2a), and its isomers ent-2a, 2b and ent-2b via an intramolecular oxa-Michael addition/lactonization cascade reaction. Finally, saponification converted 1,2-dioxolane 26d into plakortide E (1a) whose absolute configuration (4S,6R,10R) was confirmed by comparison of spectral and physical data with those reported.     

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.     

Super acid-induced Pummerer-type cyclization reaction: improvement in the synthesis of chiral 1,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines

Improved synthesis of four stereoisomeric chiral 1,3-dimethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines (1a, b, ent-1a, b) was achieved via the super acid-induced cyclization of chiral N-[1-methyl-2-(phenylsulfinyl)ethyl]-N-(1-phenylethyl)formamides (4a, b, ent-4a, b) using the Pummerer-type cyclization reaction as a key step. The cyclization leading to the isoquinoline ring proceeded in a quantitative manner when trifluoromethane sulfonic acid (TFSA) was used as the super acid, although Friedel-Crafts-type alkylation of 4-phenylsulfanyl TIQ derivatives (5) with benzene used as the solvent accompanied cyclization to yield the 4-phenyl-TIQs (7). The byproduct (7) was exclusively formed when a large excess amount of TFSA was used.     

Photochemical deconjugation of chiral 3-methyl-2-butenoates derived from carbohydrate-based alcohols: the influence of the sugar backbone on the facial diastereoselectivity

The photodeconjugation of the alpha-(4-trimethylsilyl-3-butynyl)-substituted senecio acid esters 7 was studied. Chiral alcohols ROH (9) were employed as auxiliaries to control the facial diastereoselectivity of the protonation step. The conversion of the four sugar alcohols diacetone-D-glucofuranose, diacetone-D-allofuranose, diacetone-D-gulofuranose, and diacetone-D-fructopyranose (9a-d) to the esters 7 was achieved in four steps employing 4-iodo-1-trimethylsilylbut-1-yne (3) as the alkylating agent (27-45% yield overall). Their photodeconjugation gave the corresponding beta,gamma-unsaturated (R)-esters 14a-d with moderate to excellent diastereomeric excess. The best results were achieved with diacetone-D-glucofuranose and diacetone-D-fructopyranose as the auxiliary (>95% de). To achieve the synthesis of the target compound 1 which has the (S)-configuration, the deconjugation was conducted with the diacetone-L-fructopyranose (ent-9d) derived ester ent-7d. L-Fructose (20) was prepared from L-sorbose (15) in a modified procedure that allowed for the isolation of intermediates. The 2-fold inversion of configuration worked nicely, and the fructofuranose 19 was obtained in 19% yield from L-sorbose. The conversion of L-fructose to the ester ent-7d was conducted in full analogy to the synthesis of its enantiomer 7d. Deconjugation of ester ent-7d yielded the product 2d (70% yield), which was reduced to the alcohol 1 (85% yield).     

New building block for polyhydroxylated piperidine: total synthesis of 1,6-dideoxynojirimycin

(3R,4S)-3-Hydroxy-4-N-allyl-N-Boc-amino-1-pentene 10, an important precursor for the synthesis of polyhydroxylated piperidines, has been achieved as a single diastereomer without racemization via vinyl Grignard addition to N-Boc-N-allyl aminoaldehyde 9, which was derived from an enantiopure natural amino acid. Having forged a tetrahydropyridine ring scaffold 13 from 10 in 85% yield via RCM using Grubbs II catalyst, we were able to effect its stereodivergent dihydroxylation, via a common epoxide intermediate to yield a range of interesting hydroxylated piperidines, including ent-1,6-dideoxynojirimycin (ent-1,6-dDNJ) 1 (28% overall yield) and 5-amino-1,5,6-trideoxyaltrose 2 (29% over all yield) in excellent dr. To the best of our knowledge, our synthesis of ent-1,6-dDNJ 1 is the most expeditious to date.     

Stereoisomeric sugar-derived indolizines as versatile building blocks: synthesis of enantiopure di- and tetrahydroxyindolizidines.

The synthesis of the sugar-derived (1S,2R,8aR)-1,2-di-O-isopropylidene-1,2,3,5,6,8a-hexahydro-5-oxoindolizine (8) and by analogy of the corresponding stereoisomers ent-8 and ent-7, an epimer at C2 of ent-8, has been accomplished in a straightforward manner. The carbon-carbon double bond and the carbonyl functionalities on the six-membered ring make these nitrogen-containing heterocycles useful building blocks for the efficient preparation of a variety of enantiopure polyhydroxylated indolizidines of interest for their glycosidase inhibitory activity. We report here the synthesis of 2,8a-diepilentiginosine 12 from 8 and the preparation of stereoisomeric 1,2,7,8-tetrahydroxyindolizidines 9-11 performed by OsO4-catalyzed double bond syn dihydroxylation of 7 and 8, followed by deoxygenation of the amide group.     

Enantioselective Norrish-Yang cyclization reactions of N-(omega-oxo-omega-phenylalkyl)-substituted imidazolidinones in solution and in the solid state

The four N-(omega-oxo-omega-phenyl-alkyl)-substituted imidazolidinones 5-8 were prepared from N-acetylimidazolidinone (4). Upon irradiation, these substrates underwent Norrish-Yang cyclization to the racemic products rac-9-rac-12 (51-75%). The reactions of the N-2-oxoethylimidazolidinones 5 and 6 were conducted in tBuOH, and yielded 1:1 mixtures of exo/endo diastereoisomers rac-9a/rac-9b and rac-10a/rac-10b, accompanied by Norrish type II cleavage products. The reactions of the N-3-oxopropylimidazolidinones 7 and 8 were performed in toluene. The exo diastereoisomers rac-11a and rac-12a were the major diastereoisomers (d.r. approximately equal to 4:1). In the presence of the chiral compounds 1-3, the photocyclization of substrate 8 proceeded with significant enantiomeric excess (5-60% ee). The more sophisticated complexing agents 3 and ent-3 provided better enantiofacial differentiation (up to 60% ee) than the lactams 1 and 2 (up to 26% ee). Low temperatures and an excess of the complexing agent helped to increase the enantioselectivity. The absolute configuration of the major exo product 12a obtained from compound 8 in the presence of complexing agent 3 was unambiguously established by single-crystal X-ray crystallography of its chiral N-methoxyphenylacetyl derivative 15a. In a similar fashion, the absolute configurations of the endo products 12b and ent-12b were established. The N-2-oxoethylimidazolidinone 5, which crystallized in a chiral space group, was irradiated in the solid state. At low levels of conversion, the product 9a/ent-9a was formed with high enantiomeric excess (78% ee). The enantioselectivity deteriorated at higher levels of conversion.     

Isolation and biological activity of new and known isolation and biological activity of new and known diterpenoids from Sideritis stricta Boiss. & Heldr

Nine known and one new ent-kaurene diterpenoid were isolated from the acetone extract of Sideritis stricta Boiss & Heldr. The new compound, identified as ent-1 beta-hydroxy-7 alpha-acetyl-15 beta,16 beta-epoxykaurane (1) by IR, 1D and 2D NMR techniques and mass spectra, was isolated along with sideroxol (2), 7-acetyl sideroxol (3), 7-epicandicandiol (4), linearol (5), ent-7 alpha,15 beta,18-trihydroxy-kaur-16-ene (6), ent-7 alpha-acetyl,15,18-dihydroxy-kaur-16-ene (7), foliol (8), sideridiol (9) and siderol (10). The antibacterial and antifungal activities of these compounds and the whole crude acetone extract were evaluated against E. coli, S. aureus, K. pneumeonia and C. albicans.     

C(2)-Symmetric bis-sulfoxide: A novel chiral auxiliary for asymmetric desymmetrization of cyclic meso-1,2-diols

A new heterocyclic compound, C(2)-symmetric bis-sulfoxide 1, has been found to be an efficient chiral auxiliary for asymmetric desymmetrization of cyclic meso-1,2-diols via diastereoselective acetal fission. Both (R,R)- and (S,S)-1 are readily synthesized with high optical purity via asymmetric oxidation of 1, 5-benzodithiepan-3-one (2). After acetalization of meso-1,2-diols 6a-e and a mono-TMS ether 6f with this chiral auxiliary 1, the resulting acetals 7a-f were subjected to base-promoted acetal fission upon treatment with potassium hexamethyldisilazide (KHMDS) followed by acetylation or benzylation to give the desymmetrized diol derivatives 8a-f with high diastereoselectivity. The chiral auxiliary 1 is readily removed by acid-promoted hydrolysis and can be recovered without a loss in enantiomeric excess.     

Stereoselective synthesis of 7,11-guaien-8,12-olides from santonin. Synthesis of podoandin and (+)-zedolactone A

Photochemical rearrangement of hydroxy ester 2, easily obtained from santonin (1), afforded butenolide 4, a good starting material for the synthesis of 7,11-guaien-8,12-olides. Compound 4 has been transformed into compound 10, which has been used for the synthesis of podoandin (5) and (+)-zedolactone A (ent-6). Regioselective elimination of the acetyl group on C10 afforded directly podoandin (5). For the synthesis of ent-6, a hydroxyl group has been regio- and stereoselectively introduced at the 4alpha-position through the 3alpha,4alpha-epoxide 15. The basic hydrolysis of the 10-acetyl group in compound 18 took place with concomitant intramolecular conjugated addition of the alkoxide to the butenolide moiety to give ether 19. Cleavage of the 7,10-oxido bridge via the lactone enolate afforded (+)-zedolactone A (ent-6). This synthesis has allowed for the establishment of the absolute stereochemistry of natural zedolactone A as the enantiomer of our synthetic product.     

Regulated expressions of MMP-2, -9 by diterpenoids from Euphorbia formosana Hayata

Two new abietane type diterpenoids, namely seco-helioscopinolide (1) and 3b,7b-dihydroxy-ent-abieta-8,13-diene-12,16-olide (2) were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia formosana Hayata together with helioscopinolide A (3), helioscopinolide B (4), helioscopinolide C (5) and ent-(5b,8a,9b,10a,12a)-12-hydroxyatis-16-ene-3,14-dione (6). The structures of compounds 1-6 were elucidated by analyzing their spectroscopic data and comparison with the literature. Further biological tests by gelatin zymographic analysis revealed that 3-5 significantly up-regulated the expressions and activation of MMP-2 and -9 in human fibrosarcoma cell line HT1080.