Pheromone synthesis. Part 255: Synthesis and GC–MS analysis of pheromonal triacylglycerols of male Drosophila fruit flies

Pheromonal triacylglycerols and their analogs, 1A, 1B, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, and 3C, of male Drosophila fruit flies were synthesized and analyzed by GC–MS. Their GC retention times were found to be a reliable measure to analyze and identify these triacylglycerols with acetyl, oleoyl and tigloyl groups, although the stereo- and regioisomers of 1 (1A and 1B), 2 (2A and 2B), and 3 (3A, 3B, and 3C) could not be distinguished from each other by MS alone.     

Ternary complex formation of copper(II) with 5-fluorosalicylate and 3-pyridylmethanol in aqueous solutions and solid state

The [CuA₂B₂] complex (A = 5-fluorosalicylate, B = 3-pyridylmethanol) – has been crystallized from the solutions with different initial component concentration ratios. For the first time a 1-D chain polymeric structure is described for such a system. The A ligand is coordinated through its carboxylate-oxygen in a monodentate manner, while B is forming ligand bridges between the copper(II) centers. The latter ligand binds with the non-deprotonated alcoholic OH to one and with the pyridyl-nitrogen to the other metal ion. Being a complex with potential biological activity it is of interest to study the ternary complex formation between copper(II), A and B in aqueous solution. Combined pH-potentiometric and spectrophotometric titrations were performed to obtain the composition and stabilities of the complexes. The formation of different ternary complexes was demonstrated both by the pH and absorbance effects. The [CuA₂B₂] complex dominates around pH 5 with the coordination of the carboxylic oxygens of two A ligands and pyridyl nitrogens of two B ligands. With increasing pH first the deprotonation of the phenolic-OH between pH 6 and 7 occurred leading to [CuH₋₁AB₂] complex. In alkaline pH range the formation of a mixed hydroxido species of composition [CuH₋₂AB]⁻ was proposed.     

Gold and platinum catalyzed cascade reaction of propargyl acetates bearing terminal alkynes or methyl ketones

A gold (III)-catalyzed cascade reaction of propargyl acetates bearing an extra terminal alkyne (1) afforded γ-keto esters 3 and lactones 4. These products should be generated through allenyl ketone intermediate B via a 1,2-acyloxy cyclization/fragmentation/cycloisomerization/hydrolysis sequence. On the other hand, the cascade reaction of α-acetoxy ketones bearing terminal alkynes 5 afforded lactone 6 via allenyl ketone intermediate A. This reaction involves a [3,3]-sigmatropic acyloxy rearrangement/cycloisomerization/hydrolysis sequence.     

A comparison of carboxypyridine isomers as sensitizers for dye-sensitized solar cells: assessment of device efficiency and stability

Three novel organic dyes (DF13A–C) carrying regioisomeric carboxypyridine anchoring groups were synthesized by means of a multistep synthetic sequence involving a Pd-catalyzed Stille coupling as the key step. The new compounds underwent full spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational characterization, and their properties were compared with those of a reference compound endowed with a classic cyanoacrylic acid acceptor (DF15). Photovoltaic measurements showed that dye-sensitized solar cells built with dyes DF13A–C as photosensitizers yielded power conversion efficiencies corresponding to 54–63% of those obtained with the reference compound. Determination of desorption pseudo-first order rate constants indicated that isomers DF13B–C, having the nitrogen atom in neighboring position relative to the carboxylic moiety, were removed from TiO₂ more slowly than isomer DF13A or cyanoacrylic derivative DF15, suggesting a possible cooperative effect of the two functional groups on semiconductor binding: such hypothesis was supported by device stability tests carried out on transparent, larger area cells.     

Dibromomethane as one-carbon source in organic synthesis: a versatile methodology to prepare the cyclic and acyclic α-methylene or α-keto acid derivatives from the corresponding terminal alkenes

Ozonolysis of mono-substituted alkenes A-1 followed by reacting with a preheated mixture of CH₂Br₂-Et₂NH affords α-substituted acroleins A-2 in good yields. Under very mild reaction conditions, these α-substituted acroleins A-2 can be easily converted to α-methylene esters A-4, which could be further converted to the corresponding α-keto esters A-5. This methodology can be also applied to the preparation of α-methylene lactones B-4, α-methylene lactams, and α-keto lactones B-5 with various ring sizes.     

Synthesis of double D–A branched organic dyes employing indole and phenoxazine as donors for efficient DSSCs

Four novel metal-free organic sensitizers bearing double donor–acceptor (D–A) branches with indole and phenoxazine units as donors (SDD1–4) and cyanoacrylic acid as electron acceptor were synthesized and characterized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Dyes SDD1–3 were designed with indole as a donor and 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene), 1,4-butylene and 1,6-hexylene as a linker, respectively, while the dye SDD4 was designed with phenoxazine as a core donor. Their photophysical, electrochemical, and DSSCs characteristics were investigated. The results show that the architecture structure of the linkage affects the performance of the cells slightly. The DSSCs based on SDD4 shows much higher η than the DSSCs based on SDD1–3, which indicated that phenoxazine is a better donor than indole. Under standard global AM 1.5 solar condition (100 mW cm⁻²), the SDD4 dye-sensitized cell gave the highest η of 4.33% with chenodeoxycholic acid as a coadsorbent, reaching 82% of N719-based DSSCs.     

Synthesis of new compounds containing the 2,3-dihydro[1,4]dioxino[2,3-b]pyridine heterocyclic system as a substructure

2,3-Dihydro-spiro[1,4]dioxino[2,3-b]pyridine-3,3′-pyrrolidine (8A) and 2,3-dihydro-spiro[1,4]dioxino[2,3-b]pyridine-3,4′-piperidine (9A) have been synthesized from 2-chloro-3-pyridinol. The corresponding 2,3′ (8B) and 2,4′ (9B) isomers were obtained via the Smiles rearrangement, while 9B was also selectively synthesized from 2-nitro-3-pyridinol. The separation of the isomers A and B under the sulfamide form was carried out by flash column chromatography. Subsequent transformations of the corresponding dioxinopyridine derivatives were described.     

Thieno[2,3-a]carbazole-based donor–π–acceptor organic dyes for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

New donor–π–acceptor organic dyes K-1 and K-2 containing thieno[2,3-a]carbazole as an electron donor were designed and synthesized for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs). Photophysical and electrochemical properties of K-dyes were investigated. DSCs based on K-dyes showed a high conversion efficiency of 6.6–6.7% with a J_sc of 12.40–12.49 mA cm⁻² and a V_oc of 0.70–0.71 V. The molecular geometry calculation indicated that the existence of thienocarbazole donor in K-dyes enhanced the molecular planarity compared to the carbazole analogue dye MK-3. As a result, DSCs based on K-dyes showed high IPCEs, perhaps due to efficient intramolecular charge transfer and electron injection from excited dye to TiO₂ conduction band.     

Scalable synthesis of an integrin-binding peptide mimetic for biomedical applications

A scalable, solution-phase synthesis of the selectively protected non-peptide RGD (arginine-glycine-aspartic acid) mimetic 6 is described. This synthesis serves as an alternative to the previously described solid-phase synthesis of this compound, thereby making this important integrin-binding mimetic readily accessible. The free carboxylic acid of 6 was conjugated to a protected diamine, followed by global deprotection to give a derivative 27, suitable for immobilization onto amine-reactive surfaces. The RGD mimetic 28 demonstrated superior biological activity in comparison to a native linear RGD peptide and the semi-synthetic cyclic cRGDfK peptide in a cell attachment inhibition assay.     

Trimethyl borate/magnesium halide complex-induced one-pot homologation reactions of isoquinoline with dialkyl-TMP-zincate

Novel one-pot homologation reactions of isoquinoline with lithium dialkyl-TMP-zincate⋅2MgBrCl/trimethyl borate are described. 1-Alkylisoquinolines (2, 3A, 4A, 5A, 6, and 7) and 1-alkyl-3,4-dihydroisoquinolines (3B, 4B, and 5B) are easily prepared under the presented reaction conditions. The role of the B(OMe)₃/MgBrCl complex is examined in these homologation reactions. The specific reaction mechanisms, including 1,2-migration of the alkyl ligands from 1-isoquinolylzincates, are proposed. The migratory aptitudes of ligands of 1-isoquinolylzincates are also discussed.     

2-Substituted thiazole-4-carboxamide derivatives as tiazofurin mimics: synthesis and in vitro antitumour activity

Tiazofurin analogues bearing a 5-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl-tetrahydrofuro[2,3-d][1,3]dioxol-6-ol moiety as a sugar mimic (2 and 3), and two novel thiazole-based acyclo-C-nucleosides 4 and 16 have been synthesized in multistep sequences starting from d-xylose (compounds 2 and 3) or from d-arabinose (compounds 4 and 16). All synthesized analogues showed potent in vitro antitumour activities against a panel of human tumour cell lines. Flow cytometry data suggest that cytotoxic effects of analogues 2–4 and 16 in the culture of K562 cells might be mediated by apoptosis. It was also found that these analogues induced changes in cell cycle distribution of K562 cells. Results of western blot analysis (upregulation of Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2, activation of caspase-3 and the presence of a PARP cleavage product) suggest that tiazofurin mimics (2–4 and 16) in K562 cells induced apoptosis in a caspase-dependent way.     

Synthesis of polymeric antioxidants based on ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) and their antioxidant ability for preventing polypropylene (PP) from thermal oxidation degradation

Norbornene derivatives 1-5 bearing hindered phenol groups were synthesized and undergone ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) with Grubbs 1st generation catalyst to prepare the corresponding polymeric antioxidants. After hydrogenation with p-toluenesulfonylhydrazide (TSH), polymeric antioxidants with saturated polymer chain were prepared. The resulting polymeric antioxidants were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), ¹H NMR and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). As to polymerization activity, monomer 1 had the highest ROMP activity, while monomer 5 could not undergo homopolymerization due to the steric hindrance. The antioxidant ability of these polymeric antioxidants which was determined by oxidation induction temperature (OIT) in polypropylene (PP) system is to protect PP against thermal oxidation. Results showed that the OIT of PP increased obviously when PP was stabilized by the adding of polymeric antioxidants.     

Synthesis and conformation studies of rubiyunnanin B analogs

Five new analogs 4–8 of rubiyunnanin B (1), mainly modified on the tetrapeptide subunit, were synthesized. These agents 4–8 were substituted d-Ala-l-Ala-l-Tyr(OMe)-l-Ala, d-Ala-l-Ala-l-Phe-l-Ala, d-Ala-l-Ala-l-Try-l-Ala, d-Ala-l-Ala-l-Pro-l-Ala, and d-Ala-l-Ala-l-Ala for the d-Ala-l-Ala-l-N-Me-Tyr(OMe)-l-Ala tetrapeptide subunit. Unlike the natural product, the synthetic agents 4–8 adopt only a single solution conformation, and the central peptide bond in the cyclodityrosine subunit of compounds 4–8 adopt trans stereochemistry. Cytotoxic activities of analogs 4–8 against three human cancer cell lines including A549, BGC-823, and HeLa were evaluated and all the five synthesized peptides exhibited no effects against the test cell lines. These compounds were also evaluated for their antiinsulin resistance and insulin sensitizing activities and none of them showed activity in these assays.     

Synthesis and crystal structures of magnesium complexes with NNO Schiff base ligands bearing quinolyl pendant donors

A series of ketoimines bearing quinolyl pendants was prepared through Schiff base condensation of 1,3-diketones (2,4-pentanedione, benzoylmethane, and 1-benzoylacetone) and 8-aminoquinoline or 8-amino-2-methylquinoline. The ketoimines were isolated in 46–90% yield and characterized spectroscopically and crystallographically. Reaction of the ketoimines with magnesium 4-methylbenzylalkoxide yielded octahedral magnesium complexes in 67–90% yield. The spectroscopic and crystallographic properties of the magnesium complexes were explored. Structures of 1, 4, 8, 10, and 11 are reported.     

Stereodivergent synthesis of the 2,3,5,6-tetrasubstituted piperidine ring system: an application to the synthesis of alkaloids 223A and 205B from poison frogs

Stereodivergent synthesis of the 2,3,5,6-tetrasubstituted piperidine ring system has been achieved by sequential stereocontrolled Michael-type conjugate addition reaction of appropriate enaminoesters. This methodology has been applied to the total syntheses of the poison frog alkaloids 223A and 205B. The relative stereochemistry of natural 223A at the 6-position was revised, and the absolute stereochemistry of natural 205B was determined by the present synthesis.     

The enantioselective synthesis of poison-frog alkaloids (−)-203A, (−)-209B, (−)-231C, (−)-233D, and (−)-235B″

The enantioselective synthesis of indolizidines (−)-203A, (−)-209B, (−)-231C, (−)-233D, and (−)-235B″ has been achieved and the absolute stereochemistry of both indolizidines 203A and 233D was established as 5S,8R,9S. The relative stereochemistry of natural 231C was established by the present asymmetric synthesis.     

Partial hydrogenation of substituted pyridines and quinolines: a crucial role of the reaction conditions

Hydrogenation of pyridyl and quinolyl compounds 2-substituted with a carbonyl group (1a-c and 2b,c) using PtO₂ and 1 equiv. of HCl (conditions A) provides clean and total formation of the desired amino alcohol (hydrogenation of the heterocyclic ring and of the carbonyl) while under conditions B₁ and/or B₂ (concentrated HCl or pure CF₃CO₂H) the heterocyclic ring remains untouched and other aromatic parts are hydrogenated providing complex mixtures. When the heterocyclic ring is substituted by an alkyl group (quinaldine 3) conditions A provide mixtures while under conditions B₂ (pure CF₃CO₂H) the benzene ring is cleanly hydrogenated leading to a pure product.     

Dinuclear copper(II) complexes of a novel 3-(aminomethyl)naphthoquinone Mannich base: Synthesis,structural, magnetic and electrochemical studies

A novel versatile tridentate 3-(aminomethyl)naphthoquinone proligand, 3-[N-(2-pyridylmethyl)aminobenzyl]-2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (HL), was obtained from the Mannich reaction of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (Lawsone) with 2-aminomethylpyridine (amp) and benzaldehyde. The reactions of HL with CuCl₂·2H₂O yielded two novel dinuclear copper(II) complexes, [Cu(L)(H₂O)(μ-Cl)Cu(L)Cl] (1b), [CuCl(L)(μ-Cl)Cu(amp)Cl] (2) and a polymeric compound, [Cu(L)Cl)]_n (1a), whose relative yields were sensitive to temperature, reagents concentration and presence of base. The crystalline structures of 1b and 2 were determined by X-ray diffraction studies. The two copper atoms in complex 1b are connected by a single chloro bridge with a Cu?Cu separation of 4.1342(8) Å and Cu(1)–Cl(1)–Cu(2) angle of 109.31(4)°. In complex 2 the two copper atoms are held together by a chloro and a naphthalen-2-olate bridges [Cu(1)–Cl(2)–Cu(2) and Cu(1)–O(1)–Cu(2) angles being 83.31(3) and 109.70(9)°, respectively, and the Cu?Cu separation, 3.3476(9) Å]. As expected, variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements of complex 1b showed weak antiferromagnetic intramolecular coupling between the copper(II) centers, with J = −5.7 cm⁻¹, and evidenced for complex 2 strong antiferromagnetic coupling, with J ∼ −120 cm⁻¹. Furthermore, the magnetic behaviour of compound 1a suggested an infinite 1D coordination polymeric structure in which the copper(II) centers are connected by Cl–Cu–Cl bridges. Solution data (UV–Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry) indicated structural changes of 2 and 1a in CH₃CN, and evidenced conversion of polymer 1a into dimer 1b.     

New polyesters from Talaromyces flavus

Six new polyesters, talapolyesters A–F (1–4, 14, and 16), together with 11 known ones 15G256ν (5), 15G256ν-me (6), 15G256π (7), 15G256β-2 (8), 15G256α-2 (9), 15G256α-2-me (10), 15G256ι (11), 15G256β (12), 15G256α (13), 15G256α-1 (15), and 15G256ω (17), were isolated from the wetland soil-derived fungus Talaromyces flavus BYD07-13, and their structures were determined by NMR and MS spectroscopic data. Among them, 1–4 and 16 were assembled in a different manner from that of the known 256 polyesters. All the polyesters are composed of (R)-2,4-dihydroxy-6-(2-hydroxypropyl)benzoic acid and (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid/(S)-3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid residues. The absolute configurations of the residues were determined by alkaline hydrolysis. The cytotoxicity against five tumor cell lines of these compounds was examined, and a tight structure–activity relationship is proposed.