Über die absolute Konfiguration der Visnagane

(+)-cis-Khellactone methyl ether ( 4 ) and (?)-trans-khellactone methyl ether ( 6 ) had earlier been assigned the absolute configurations 3′-S; 4′-S and 3′-S; 4′-R, respectively, on the basis of the FREUDENBERG , rule. Both compounds together with their defunctionalised derivatives (?)- 7 and (+)- 8 (=(+)-lomatin), obtained from a mixture of (+)-visnadin ( 1 ) and (+)-samidin ( 2 ), were investigated by the HOREAU method. A conformational analytical study showed that the optical yield should rise in the order 4 < 6 < 7 , 8. This order was found and the α-phenylbutyric acid liberated was always dextrorotatory. The centre 3′ of the khellactones and their derivatives must be R-chiral and not S. Treatment of (?)- 6 with pyridinium perbromide gave (?)-trans-3-bromokhellactone methyl ether ( 11 ) as orthorhombic crystals. The X-ray crystal structure determination was made using the anomalous scattering of the Mo-K α radiation by Br. The result, — centre 3′ R-chiral (fig. g) — showed that the HOREAU method was correct.     

Totalsynthese und absolute Konfiguration von natürlichem Multifloramin

The diphenol 1 was resolved into its antipodes and their absolute configuration was established. The levorotatory isomer R-(?)- 1 was oxidized to the dienone R-(?)- 6 , which was rearranged to afford natural (?)-multifloramine (R-(?)- 7 ), thus establishing that the latter has the R-configuration. By the same reaction sequences, the enantiomeric diphenol S-(+)- 1 was transformed to provide (+)-multifloramine (S-(+)- 7 ) of the S-configuration.     

Absolute Konfiguration von Azafrin

By using complementary and selectively acting reagents (TiCl₄ and sulfurane 16 ), azafrin, the main carotenoid in the rhizomes of Escobedia scabrifolia, has been shown to have the (5R:6R)-configuration. Reaction of azafrinaldehyde ( 4 ) with (Ph₃P)₃RhCl leads to a mixture of 5 and 6 , the latter arising probably through elimination of acetylene and recarbonylation.     

Absolute Konfiguration von Picrocrocin

By correlation with (?)-3-methoxy-β-jonone picrocrocin has been shown to have R-configuration.     

Absolute Konfiguration von Antheraxanthin, «cis-Antheraxantliirt» und der diastereomeren Mutatoxanthine

Absolute Configuration of Antheraxanthin, ‘cis-Aritheraxanthin’ and of the Stereoisomeric Mutatdxanthins The assignement of structure 2 to antheraxanthin (all-E)-(3 S, 5 R, 6 S, 3′ R)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol and of 1 to ‘cis-antheraxanthin’ (9Z)-(3 S, 5 R, 6 S, 3′ R)-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol is based on chemical correlation with (3 R, 3′ R)-zeaxanthin and extensive ¹H-NMR. measurements at 400 MHz. ‘Semisynthetic antheraxanthin’ ( = ‘antheraxanthin B’) has structure 6 . For the first time the so-called ‘mutatoxanthin’, a known rearrangement product of either 1 or 2 , has been separated into pure and crystalline C(8)-epimers (epimer A of m.p. 213° and epimer B of m.p. 159°). Their structures were assigned by spectroscopical and chiroptical correlations with flavoxanthin and chrysanthemaxanthin. Epimer A is (3 S, 5 R, 8 S, 3′ R)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol ( 4 ; = (8 S)mutatoxanthin) and epimer B is (3 S, 5 R, 8 R, 3′ R)-5,8-epoxy-5,8-dihydro-β,β-carotene-3,3′-diol ( 3 ; = (8 R)-mutatoxanthin). The carotenoids 1 – 4 have a widespread occurrence in plants. We also describe their separation by HPLC. techniques. CD. spectra measured at room temperature and at ? 180° are presented for 1 – 4 and 6 . Antheraxanthin ( 2 ) and (9Z)-antheraxanthin ( 1 ) exhibit a typical conservative CD. The CD. Spectra also allow an easy differentiation of 6 from its epimer 2 . The isomeric (9Z)-antheraxanthin ( 1 ) shows the expected inversion of the CD. curve in the UV. range. The CD. spectra of the epimeric mutatoxanthins 3 and 4 (β end group) are dissimilar to those of flavoxanthin/chrysanthemaxanthin (ε end group). They allow an easy differentiation of the C (8)-epimers.     

Über die absolute Konfiguration der Cantharsäure und des Palasonins

The absolute configurations of (+)-cantharic acid, a chiral derivative of the achiral insect defensive substance cantharidin ( 1 ), and of palasonin, a lower homologue of 1 occurring in the plant Butea frondosa, were shown to be represented by formulas 2 and 3 , respectively (scheme 1). These results were obtained by application of the Horeau method (table 1) on the (+)-cantharic acid derivatives (+)- 5 , (?)- 7 , and (?) 11 (scheme 2), and the palasonin derivatives (+)- 29 and (+)- 30 (scheme 4), as well as by comparison of the chiroptical properties (tables 2 and 3) of a number of derivatives, prepared from either cantharic acid or palasonin. – Attempts to incorporate various radioactively labelled precursors into palasonin ( 3 ), using young and adult plants, have been so far unsuccessful.