Astolides A and B,antifungal and cytotoxic naphthoquinone-derived polyol macrolactones from Streptomyces hygroscopicus

Two new natural compounds, astolides A,B, were isolated from Streptomyces hygroscopicus collected from the alkaline soil obtained from Saratov region, Russia. The structures were elucidated by interpretation of UV spectroscopic, MS, 1D and 2D NMR data. The relative configurations were determined by analysis of NOESY/ROESY spectra and coupling constants. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory activity against bacteria, fungi and yeasts and showed pronounced antifungal activity. Both compounds are noticeably cytotoxic, being active against doxorubicin-resistant human leukemia cell line.     

Challenges in the assignment of relative and absolute configurations of complex molecules: computation can resolve conflicts between theory and experiment

The configuration of (−)-brevianamides was assigned as (2S,13S) based on X-ray structure analysis and hydrolysis experiments. However, our theoretical investigation of its chiroptical properties strongly implied that the correct configuration should be (2R,13R). The reasons for the incorrect earlier assignment are analyzed by calculations of conversion energy barriers among different intermediates, starting materials and final products. This study demonstrates that conflicting theoretical and, experimental results suggest that it is premature to assign the configuration of a natural product.     

Bioactive butenolides from Streptomyces antibioticus TÜ 99: absolute configurations and synthesis of analogs

The four furanones (butenolides) 1-4, which had been isolated from the fermentation broth of Streptomyces antibioticus TÜ 99 and in preliminary tests had been shown to be biologically active, were synthesized by reaction of the readily available furanones 9 or 16 with 2-methylpropanal or 2-methylbutanal. In addition, a series of analogs was prepared in a similar way from 16 using different aldehydes. The hitherto unknown absolute configurations of the natural products 1-4 as well as those of all the analogs prepared were determined with Mosher's NMR method and/or X-ray crystallography. Some of the compounds synthesized proved to be active in the quorum sensing system of Chromobacterium violaceum.     

Enantioselective synthesis and absolute configurations of aculeatins A, B, D, and 6-epi-aculeatin D

The three naturally occurring, bioactive spiroacetals aculeatins A, B, and D, as well as the non-natural 6-epi-aculeatin D have been synthesized for the first time in enantiopure form using an asymmetric allylation as the only chirality source. A further key step was a stereoselective aldol reaction with remote induction. The absolute configurations of the natural products have been established and an erroneous structural assignment has been corrected.     

The absolute axial configurations of knipholone and knipholone anthrone by TDDFT and DFT/MRCI CD calculations: a revision

Triggered by a seemingly inconsistent twisting direction in the atroposelective ring cleavage reaction of biaryl lactones by using the ‘lactone concept’, the absolute axial configurations of the most important phenylanthraquinones, knipholone (1), and knipholone anthrone (2) were reassigned on the basis of renewed quantum chemical circular dichroism (CD) calculations using advanced, higher-level methods, viz. a time-dependent DFT (TDDFT) and a multireference configurational interaction approach (DFT/MRCI). Additional confirmation of the new configurational assignment of 1 and 2 was achieved by their stereochemically unambiguous interconversion, and further corroborated by the transformation of 1 into an ‘leuco’ phenylanthracene derivative 3, i.e., a compound with a substantially different chromophore, whose absolute configuration was independently assigned again by quantum chemical CD calculations. Accordingly, the dextrorotatory enantiomer of knipholone, (+)-1, and its anthrone, (+)-2, has the P-configuration, while the laevorotatory forms, (−)-1 and (−)-2 (which likewise exist in nature), are M-configured. From this new configurational assignment, the absolute axial stereostructures of a whole series of further naturally occurring phenylanthraquinones may now be deduced.     

Total synthesis and absolute stereochemistry of (9R,10S)-epoxyheptadecan-4,6-diyn-3-one, a diacylglycerol acyltransferase inhibitor from Panax ginseng

Asymmetric synthesis of four possible stereoisomers of (9,10)-epoxyheptadecan-4,6-diyn-3-one was accomplished, and the absolute configuration of the naturally occurring (9R,10S)-epoxyheptadecan-4,6-diyn-3-one (1) was elucidated.     

Structure elucidation of highly condensed stilbenoids: chiroptical properties and absolute configuration

We investigated the potential roles of the skeleton-based comparative study of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra for an application of absolute configuration (AC) determination of oligostilbenoids (OS). This approach was ultimately achieved followed by the isolation and elucidation of relative configuration (RC) of upunaphenol Q (1) (new compound) and vateriaphenol A (2), namely two octamers are dimeric tetramers of resveratrol (Res). The common building blocks (BB) provide further insight into how smaller OS are apparently conserved during downstream metabolites, as well as providing additional impetus to resolve AC of highly condensed stilbenoids (HCS). They also underline the importance of studies on determination of AC of common BB in the chemical library and to provide chiroptical properties.     

Identification of novel sesterterpenes by genome mining of phytopathogenic fungi Phoma and Colletotrichum sp.

Two homologous gene clusters for the biosynthesis of sesterterpenes betaestacins were identified from two phytopathogens, Phoma betae and Colletotrichum orbiculare. Heterologous expression of identified oxidation enzymes with previously-characterized PbTS1 (BtcA_Pb) resulted in the production of seven novel sesterterpenes. Although both strains possessed homologous enzymes, oxidation state of corresponding products were different from each other, suggesting that structural diversification of sesterterpene skeletons might be achieved by these homologous enzymes with different functions.     

Structural,stereochemical, and bioactive studies of cembranoids from Chinese soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum

A series of highly oxidative new cembranoids with diverse structural features such as a dienoate moiety (sarcophytonolides S – U, 1–3) or an α,β-unsaturated ε-lactone (sartrolides H – J, 4–6) were obtained from Hainan soft coral Sarcophyton trocheliophorum, along with known related analogues 7–13. It is an extremely challenging work to determine the absolute configurations of these metabolites. For compounds 1, 3 and 4, solution TDDFT calculation of ECD and specific rotation were applied in combination with conformational analysis and NMR data to determine their relative and absolute configurations, leading to the revision of relative configuration of 14. The absolute configurations of compounds 8–10 were determined by the solid-state TDDFT-ECD approach, and that of 8 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiment with Cu Kα radiation. In the bioassays, compound 8 exhibited not only moderate protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activity (IC₅₀?=?15.4?μM) but also moderate antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus Newman strain (MIC₅₀?=?250?μM).     

Enantioselective synthesis and absolute configuration of the sex pheromone of Hedypathes betulinus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

The male-produced sex pheromone of Hedypathes betulinus was identified as a mixture of (E)-6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-one (geranylacetone) (1) and its respective alcohol (2) and acetate (3). Kinetic resolution of alcohol (2) promoted by CAL-B in organic media provided both, (R)-(−)-(E)-6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-yl acetate (3) and (S)-(+)-(E)-6,10-dimethyl-5,9-undecadien-2-ol (2) in high enantiomeric purity. Comparative GC analysis using a chiral column revealed the natural constituents as being (R)-(3) and a mixture of (R)- and (S)-(2) in a ratio of 82.3% and 17.6%, respectively.     

Structure and absolute configuration of penicilliumine,a new alkaloid from Penicillium commune 366606

Penicilliumine (1), a new structure was isolated from the fermentation Penicillium commune 366606, a marine-derived fungus isolated from the sea water collected at Qingdao, China. HPLC chiral separation of 1 afforded two enantiomers (−)-penicilliumine and (+)-penicilliumine, respectively. The structure of 1 was established by comprehensive spectroscopic data, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The absolute configuration of enantiomers was determined by quantum mechanical computation of electronic circular dichroism (ECD).     

Diverse prieurianin-type limonoid derivatives from the fruits of Aphanamixis grandifolia and their absolute configuration determination

Twenty-five new highly oxygenated prieurianin-type limonoids, zaphaprinins A–Y (1–25), were isolated from the fruits of Aphanamixis grandifolia. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Absolute configurations for the key structures like 1 were assigned by a comprehensive method, such as comparing the calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD) with the experimental one, single-crystal X-ray and Mosher ester method were also involved for other compounds' study. The solid data from X-ray diffraction allowed revision of the stereochemistry of the C₁–C₁₄ tetrahydropyran ring-type limonoid. The insecticidal activities of all the limonoids were evaluated.     

Total synthesis of marine bisindole alkaloids, (+)-hamacanthins A, B and (−)-antipode of cis-dihydrohamacanthin B

The total synthesis of the marine bisindole alkaloids, (+)-hamacanthins A (2a) and B (2b), and (−)-antipode of cis-dihydrohamacanthin B (2e) was achieved by transamidation-cyclization of N-(2-aminoethyl)-2-oxoethanamide 18 derived from (S)-indolylglycinol 10.     

Structure determination and absolute configuration of cannabichromanone derivatives from high potency Cannabis sativa

Three new cannabichromanone derivatives were isolated from high potency cannabis, along with the known cannabichromanone. Full spectroscopic data, including the use of electronic circular dichroism and Mosher ester analysis to determine the absolute configuration of these compounds, are reported. All isolates were tested for antimicrobial, antimalarial, antileishmanial, and anti-oxidant activities.     

First total synthesis and determination of the absolute configuration of 1-N-methyl-3-methylamino-[N-butanoicacid-3-(9-methyl-8-propen-7-one)-amide]-benzo[f][1,7]naphthyridine-2-one, a novel benzonaphthyridine alkaloid

The first total synthesis of benzonaphthyridine alkaloid (1), a unique diazaphenathrene alkaloid isolated from mangrove-derived Streptomyces albogriseolus, was accomplished. The core structure was unequivocally constructed via several key transformations, such as Knoevenagel condensation, Curtius rearrangement, and cyclic carbamate formation-reduction sequence. The chiral unsaturated ketone acid moiety was synthesized from N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-l-glutamic acid gamma-tert-butyl ester (15). The absolute configuration was determined.     

Genome-inspired search for new antibiotics. Isolation and structure determination of new 28-membered polyketide macrolactones, halstoctacosanolides A and B, from Streptomyces halstedii HC34

During the search for polyketide synthase (PKS) in the genome of Streptomyces halstedii HC34, we found clustered new genes which appeared to encode typical Type 1 PKSs beyond the cluster harboring the genes for the biosynthesis of antitumor antibiotic vicenistatin. The deduced domain configuration of these putative PKS genes allowed to predict a corresponding partial structure of polyketide, which was in turn materialized by isolation of new polyketide macrolactone halstoctacosanolides A and B from the fermentation broth of S. halstedii HC34. The structures of these metabolites were determined by spectroscopic means to have a novel 28-membered macrolactone structure. The partial structure deduced from the genetic data was completely compatible to the structures of halstoctacosanolides A and B. This success clearly demonstrates the present new approach of genome-inspired search for new antibiotics promising. Halstoctacosanolides A and B showed moderate antimicrobial activity against several microorganisms.     

Cytotoxic dimeric sesquiterpenoids from Curcuma parviflora: isolation of three new parviflorenes and absolute stereochemistry of parviflorenes A, B, D, F, and G

Three novel dimeric sesquiterpenoids, named parviflorenes G-I (1-3), have been isolated from Curcuma parviflora (Zingiberaceae), and their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic studies. Absolute stereochemistry of parviflorene G (1) as well as previously isolated related compounds, parviflorenes A (4), B (5), D (6), and F (7), was revealed by CD spectral data and chemical means. Parviflorenes G (1) and I (3) were cytotoxic against HeLa cells, while parviflorenes A (4) and F (7) were cytotoxic against all tested tumor cell lines in the human cancer cell line panel assay.     

Structure and absolute configuration of 3-alkylpiperidine alkaloids from an Indonesian sponge of the genus Halichondria

Chemical analysis of an Indonesian sponge sample has provided three new 3-alkylpiperidine alkaloids, tetradehydrohaliclonacyclamine A, its mono-N-oxide derivative, and a 2-epi isomer. The absolute structure of tetradehydrohaliclonacyclamine A has been established by X-ray crystallography from anomalous dispersion effects using Cu radiation, which determined that the absolute configuration is 2S, 3S, 7S, 9S while an HPLC study revealed that the alkaloid is enantiomerically pure.     

Aplysiols A and B, squalene-derived polyethers from the mantle of the sea hare Aplysia dactylomela

Two novel triterpenoids, aplysiols A (5) and B (6), have been isolated, together with structurally related known metabolites, from a South China Sea collection of the anaspidean mollusc Aplysia dactylomela. The structures of 5 and 6 were determined mainly by spectroscopic NMR techniques. The absolute stereochemistry of compound 5 was deduced by Mosher's method as well as by biogenetical consideration, whereas the absolute stereochemistry of compound 6 was established also using an integrated NMR-QM (Quantum Mechanical) approach, based on the combination of ¹³C NMR chemical shifts and ^2,3J_C-H coupling constant DFT (density functional theory) calculations.