Abietane derived diterpenoids as Cav3.1 antagonists from Salvia digitaloides

Nineteen diterpenoids, including saldigitin A(1) bearing an unprecedented 10-methylated 6/7/6 carbon ring system, two new icetexanes(2, 3), and two new nor-abietanes(5, 6) were characterized from the roots of Salvia digitaloides. Their structures were elucidated by the analysis of the spectroscopic data,X-ray crystallography, and TDDFT calculations of ECD spectra. The novel architecture of 1 should be biogenetically derived through the cleavage and re-cyclization of the B/C rings from the normal...     

Two novel cassane diterpenoids from Acacia jacquemontii

The structure of two new diterpenoids (1 and 3), both of which contain the unique feature of a 7-membered hemiacetal ring B, have been established from chemical and spectroscopic (especially NMR) evidence. Single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis of 1 has confirmed the structure and allowed the relative stereochemistry to be determined.     

Rhodauricanol A,an analgesic diterpenoid with an unprecedented 5/6/5/7 tetracyclic system featuring a unique 16-oxa-tetracyclo[11.2.1.01,5.07,13]hexadecane core from Rhododendron dauricum

A novel diterpenoid with an unprecedented 5/6/5/7 tetracyclic system, rhodauricanol A (1), five new grayanane-derived diterpenoids, dauricanols A?E (2?6), and five known ones (7?11) were isolated from the flowers of Rhododendron dauricum. Rhodauricanol A (1) possesses a unique 5/6/5/7 tetracyclic ring system featuring a 16-oxa-tetracyclo[11.2.1.0^1,5.0^7,13]hexadecane core. Dauricanols A?C (2?4) are the first 1,3-dioxolane conjugates of grayanane diterpenoids and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and vanillin, respectively, and dauricanols D (5) and E (6) represent the first examples of 6-deoxy-1,5-seco-grayanane diterpenoids. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, quantum chemical calculation including ¹³C NMR-DP4+ analysis and ECD calculation, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Plausible biosynthetic pathways for 1?4 were proposed. All the isolates showed significant analgesic activities, and dauricanols B (3) and C (4) showed more potent analgesic activities than the positive control, morphine.     

Six new tigliane diterpenoids with anti-inflammatory activity from Euphorbia kansuensis

Six new tigliane diterpenoids, euphkanoids A ? F (1–6), along with 12 known diterpenoids (7–18) were isolated from the roots of Euphorbia kansuensis, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, ECD calculation and chemical methods. Compounds 1–3 represent the unusual examples of tigliane diterpenoids with a conjugated olefinic aldehyde moiety. 1–18 and two hydrolyzed analogues (1c and 4a) were screened for the inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that 1–3 and 6 markedly inhibited NO production with IC₅₀ values in the range of 4.8–11.3 μM, which were more active than the positive control quercetin (IC₅₀ = 12.3 μM).     

Vulgarisins B–D,three novel diterpenoids with a rare skeleton isolated from Prunella vulgaris Linn

Three new diterpenoids, vulgarisins B–D (1–3), have been isolated from a medicinal plant Prunella vulgaris Linn. These diterpenoids contain a rare 5/6/4/5 fused tetracyclic ring skeleton. Their structures were determined through the analysis of spectroscopic data, and the absolute configuration were further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction as well as CD analysis. All the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity activity, vulgarisins B (1) and C (2) demonstrated modest cytotoxicity activity against human lung carcinoma A549 cell line.     

Yonarolide A,an unprecedented furanobutenolide-containing norcembranoid derivative formed by photoinduced intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition

Eight polycyclic furanobutenolide-containing norcembrane diterpenoids featuring C19 frameworks (1–8) were rapidly recognized and isolated from the Hainan soft coral Sinularia sp. by the HSQC-based small molecule accurate recognition technology. Yonarolide A (1a), featuring an unprecedented 5/6/4/4/7 pentacyclic ring skeleton, was surprisingly obtained as a transformed product by leaving compound 1 under indoor natural light, and was further proved to be a [2 + 2] cycloaddition product of 1 by photochemical reaction. The absolute stereochemistry of 1a and the three known norcembrane diterpenoids 1, 4, and 7 were determined by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Further, with the aid of XRD analysis, the structure of scabrolide B (2), which was previously reported of possessing 5/6/7 tricyclic skeleton, was firmly revised as 2a with the rare inelegane skeleton featured by the highly oxygenated 5/7/6 tricyclic carbocycle.     

Convergent synthesis of the ABCDE-ring part of ciguatoxin CTX3C

Convergent synthesis of the ABCDE-ring part (2) of ciguatoxin CTX3C (1) has been achieved. A carbanion stabilized by a dimethyldithioacetal S-oxide group in the AB-ring part (4) readily reacted with an aldehyde group in the E-ring part (5). The resulting adduct was facilely converted to the corresponding β,γ-unsaturated α,ε-dihydroxy ketone (3). The subsequent reductive hydroxy-ketone-cyclization reactions constructed the CD-ring part efficiently. Thus, the ABCDE-ring part (2) was concisely synthesized in 10 steps in 11% overall yield from the AB-ring and the E-ring parts (4 and 5).     

Diterpenoids from the gum resin of Boswellia carterii and their biological activities

Seven new diterpenoids, classified as three cembrane-type diterpenoids boscartins I-K (1–3) and four prenylaromadendrane-type diterpenoids boscartols K-N (4–7), respectively, along with nine known diterpenoids, were isolated from the gum resin of Boswellia carterii. Their structure elucidations were achieved by spectroscopic examination. All isolates were evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity against nitric oxide (NO) production and antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell in vitro. 4 and 5 exhibited potent inhibitory effects on NO production (IC₅₀ of 2.22 and 1.10?μM, respectively), with 11 showing moderate inhibition (IC₅₀ of 8.63?μM), and 12 and 15 demonstrated moderate antiproliferative effects against MCF-7?cell (IC₅₀ of 9.5, and 6.3?μM, respectively).     

Reaction of 5,5-diphenyl-2-thiohydantoin with 1,3-dibromopropane : Crystal and molecular structure of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-6,6-diphenylimidazo [2, 1-b]-thiazine-7 (6H)-one

The reaction between the potassium salt of 5,5-diphenyl-2-thiohydantoin (1) and 1,3-dibromopropane carried out in DME under anhydrous conditions has been found to give two isomeric diphenylimidazothiazines 2 and 3. When the reaction of 1 with 1,3-dibromopropane was performed in protic solvents (EtOH, HOH, NaOH) 2 and 3-(3-mercaptopropyl) - 5,5 - diphenylthiohydantoin (4) were formed. The latter is the product of hydrolysis of 3 taking place under the reaction conditions. 2,3,4,5 - Tetrahydro - 6,6 - diphenylimidazo [2,1-b] - thiazine - 7 (6H) - one (2) crystallises in space group P2₁/n with a =10.812(3), b =14.905(7), c =9.885(4) Å, β = 104.91(2)°. The 5-membered ring in 2 is planar whereas the 6-membered thiazine ring adopts the sofa conformation.     

Barbatusin and cyclobutatusin,two novel diterpenoids from coleus barbatus bentham

The structure of three diterpenoids from Coleus barbatus, Bentham (Labiatae) having a spirocyclopropyl side chain have been determined: they are barbatusin (1a), 3β-hydroxy-3-deoxybarbatusin (2) and cyclobutatusin (3a). The structures of 1a and 3a were established by X-ray diffraction analysis, and the latter compound has been shown to have an unusual 4-membered ring produced by a bond across C(1) to C(11). Chemical transformations and interconversions are presented, together with spectroscopic studies.     

Dichotellides A-E, five new iodine-containing briarane type diterpenoids from Dichotella gemmacea

Five new briarane type diterpenoids, dichotellides A−E (1−5), were isolated from the South China Sea gorgonian Dichotella gemmacea together with four known analogues (6−9). Compounds 1−5 represent the first examples of iodine-containing briarane type diterpenoids from nature. The structures of these diterpenoids were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including 1D, 2D-NMR, and HRESIMS, and the absolute configuration of 1 was further confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. All the isolates were evaluated for cytotoxicity activity against four human tumor cell lines, and only 3 exhibited marginal activity against SW1990 (human pancreatic cancer).     

Ring contraction mechanisms in substituted cyclohexylium cations

The effect of an electron donating or withdrawing group on the ring contraction mechanism of a cyclohexylium (cyclohexane-derived) cation has been studied using density functional theory. The barrier to rearrangement of the parent cyclohexane cation (1) was previously calculated to be 7.7 kcal/mol using PBE/6-311++G(2d, 2p). We show in this work that addition of an electron withdrawing group (CF₃) lowers the average barrier to ring contraction, while an electron donating group (CH₃) increases the average barrier, relative to the parent, unsubstituted, cyclohexane cation. Calculated barrier heights for going from a 6-membered to 5-membered ring range from 4.3 to 23.3 kcal/mol for methyl-cyclohexylium (2), but only from 0.6 to 14.0 kcal/mol for trifluoromethyl-cyclohexylium (3). The lower barriers for 3 can be explained by (a) the starting structures involved, and (b) the use of dative bonding as a catalyst in stabilizing intermediates and transition states. For 1 and 3 the reaction involves starting from secondary cations and going downhill in energy through secondary intermediates to a tertiary product. However, 2 does not benefit from such favorable energetics since it more likely starts from a tertiary cation and has to first rearrange to secondary intermediates to derive the tertiary methyl-cyclopentane-type product.     

Six insecticidal isoryanodane diterpenoids from the bark and twigs of Itoa orientalis

Four rare isoryanodane diterpenoids namely itols A-D (1-4) and two isoryanodane glucosides (5 and 6) were isolated from the bark and twigs of Itoa orientalis. Their structures were determined by NMR and MS techniques and the structure of 1 was confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray diffraction. These six diterpenoids obviously showed insecticidal activity against Spodoptera exigua, with LC₅₀ 28.62 ppm for 1 and 52.76 ppm for 2, respectively. In anti-inflammatory assay, compounds 1 and 4-6 showed anti-COX-2 activity, with inhibitory rates of 54.7-78.3% at 10 μM.     

Reaction of 5,5-diphenyl-2-thiohydantoin with 1,3-dibromopropane under phase transfer catalytic conditions : Crystal and molecular structure of 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7,7-diphenylimidazo-[2,1-b]-thiazine -6(7H)-one

The reaction of the potassium salt of 5,5-diphenyl-2-thiohydantoin with 1,3-dibromopropane and triethylamine carried out under phase transfer catalytic conditions gave almost quantitatively two isomeric diphenylimidazothiazine 2 and 3 in a ratio ca 1:2. 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,7-diphenylimidazo- [2,1-b]-thiazine-6(7H)-one (3) crystallises from DMSO in the space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a = 8.488(3), b = 11.682(4), c = 15.522(5)Å. The 6-membered thiazine ring in 3 adopts a sofa conformation.     

Interesting transformations of naturally occurring cassane diterpenoids and bioevaluation of the products

Two cassane diterpenoids, pulcharrin G (1) and 6β-cinnamoyl-7β-hydroxy-voucapen-5-α-ol (2), the constituents of Caesalpinia pulcherrima, were treated with BF₃·OEt₂ to furnish two olefinic products 3 and 4, respectively. The products were formed by elimination of water and migration of a methyl group from C-4 to C-5. The cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of 3 and 4 were examined.     

Isolation,structure elucidation,and antibacterial evaluation of the metabolites produced by the marine-sourced Streptomyces sp. ZZ820

New indole alkaloids streptoprenylindoles A–C (1–3) and diterpenoids 18-acetyl-cyclooctatin (8), 5,18-dedihydroxy-cyclooctatin (9), and 5-dehydroxy-cyclooctatin (10) were isolated from the culture of marine-derived Streptomyces sp. ZZ820, along with known 3-cyanomethyl-6-[3-methyl-2-butenyl]indole (4), N-(2-(1H-indol-3-yl)ethylacetamide (5), 1-acetyl-β-carboline (6), indole-3-methylethanoate (7), cyclooctatin (11), and chromomycin A₃ (12). Their structures were elucidated by a combination of extensive spectroscopic analyses, ECD calculation, and the Mosher's method. Streptoprenylindoles A (1) and B (2) are enantiomers that were separated through the preparation of their Mosher esters. Three new diterpenoids (8–10) showed antibacterial activities against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Escherichia coli with MIC values of 24.11–55.12?μM, while chromomycin A₃ (12) showed potent antibacterial activities against MRSA (MIC: 0.59?μM) and E. coli (MIC 0.04?μM).     

Facile synthesis and structural characterization of μ4-oxo tetrazinc clusters of beyerenoic and kaurenoic acids

The naturally occurring diterpenoids beyerenoic (1) and kaurenoic acids (2) extracted from Perymenium buphthalmoides DC., were treated with NaOH and reacted with ZnCl₂ to afford two μ₄-Oxo tetrazinc clusters (μ₄-oxo)-hexakis(μ₂-beyerenate)-tetra-zinc(II) (5) and (μ₄-oxo)-hexakis(μ₂-kaurenate)-tetra-zinc(II) (6). Both species were unequivocally characterized and their structures in the solid state determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques.     

Addition of selenium dibromide to divinyl sulfide: spontaneous rearrangement of 2,6-dibromo-1,4-thiaselenane to 5-bromo-2-bromomethyl-1,3-thiaselenolane

Synthesis of the novel selenium heterocycles 1, 2, and 3 based on the addition reaction of selenium dibromide to divinyl sulfide is described. The reaction proceeded in CCl₄ at room temperature to give the thiaselenane 1. Even at low temperature in chloroform solution, the 6-membered thiaselenane 1 underwent spontaneous rearrangement to the 5-membered thiaselenolane 2. In turn, the thiaselenolane 2 underwent spontaneous dehydrobromination to the thiaselenole 3 in chloroform.     

5-Endo-Trigonal ring closures of unsaturated sulfones.

The γ -functionalized unsaturated sulfones 5a-5d, 8, 11 and 15 respectively cyclize to the 5-membered heterocycles 6a-6d, 9, 14 and to the 5-membered carbocycle 16 in good yields. These ring closures are all 5-Endo-Trig processes.     

A structural study of dimethylaluminum carboxylato and hydrazonato complexes

The reaction of trimethylaluminum with 2,4,6-triphenylbenzoic acid and the isoelectronic fluoren-9-one phenylhydrazone results in the formation of the dialkylaluminum complexes [(CH₃)₂Al{μ-O₂CPh(Ph₃)}]₂ (4) and [Me₂AlN(C₆H₅)NC₁₃H₈]₂ (5). The synthesis of these complexes, as well as their spectroscopic and structural characterization are reported. X-ray crystallographic studies show that the carboxylato complex 4 adopts a dimeric structure containing an 8-membered O-Al-O-C core whereas the hydrazonato complex 5 likewise is dimeric in the solid state, but exhibits a 6-membered N-Al-N heterocyclic ring.