Amadori ketoses with calcium hydroxide and the Kiliani reaction on 1-deoxy ketoses: two approaches to the synthesis of saccharinic acids

Saccharinic acids (2-C-methyl aldonic acids) may be formed by treatment of Amadori ketoses with calcium hydroxide or by the Kiliani reaction of 1-deoxy ketoses with cyanide. Thus (i) N,N-dibenzyl or N,N-dimethyl-1-amino-1-deoxy-d-fructose with aqueous calcium hydroxide afforded 2-C-methyl-d-ribono-1,4-lactone under green conditions and (ii) reaction of methyl magnesium bromide with 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-erythronolactone gave 1-deoxy-3,4-O-isopropylidene-d-ribulose, which on subsequent treatment with aqueous sodium cyanide and hydrolysis, formed 2-C-methyl-d-arabinono-1,4-lactone. Such branched sugar lactones are likely to be of value as chirons containing branched carbon chains.     

Synthesis of 1,2- and 1,4-amino alcohols from 1,3-dienes via oxazines. Rearrangements of 1,4-amino alcohol derivatives to oxazolines

Conjugated dienes were converted to 1,2-oxazines by reaction with an acyl nitroso dienophile. The oxazines were reduced to 1,4-N-acetylamino alcohols, which were rearranged to the corresponding oxazolines upon treatment with methanesulfonyl chloride or anhydride. The oxazolines yielded 1,2-N-acetylamino alcohols upon hydrolysis. Thus either 1,4- or 1,2-N-acetylamino alcohols are available from 1,3-dienes via this methodology. Experimental and spectral data are provided for all new compounds.     

o-Phosphinophenole durch 1,3-carbanionische umlagerungen o-metallierter aroxyphosphine

Phosphinous acid o-bromoaryl esters or phosphorus acid o-haloaryl ester diamides react with sodium under mild conditions to give the corresponding sodium aryls which undergo rapid 1,3-carbanionic rearrangements to give o-phosphinophenolates. These may be worked up to the free phenoles or silylated by treatment with Me₃SiCl.     

Practical one-pot conversion of aryl bromides and β-bromostyrenes into aromatic nitriles and cinnamonitriles

Various aryl bromides were efficiently converted into the corresponding aromatic nitriles in good yields by the treatment with Mg turnings and subsequently DMF, followed by treatment with molecular iodine and aq NH₃. The same treatment of aryl bromides, which are weakly reactive to Mg turnings, with ⁱPrMgCl·LiCl and subsequently DMF, followed by the treatment with molecular iodine and aq NH₃ also afforded the corresponding aromatic nitriles in good yields. On the other hand, when N-formylpiperidine was used instead of DMF, p-substituted β-bromostyrenes were converted into the corresponding p-substituted cinnamonitriles, i.e., α,β-unsaturated nitriles, in good to moderate yields by the same procedure. The reactions were carried out by means of a simple experimental procedure and did not require any toxic metal cyanides or expensive rare metals. Therefore, the present reactions are practical and environmentally benign one-pot methods for the preparation of aromatic nitriles, cinnamonitriles, and aliphatic nitriles from aryl bromides, β-bromostyrenes, and alkyl bromides, respectively, through the formation of Grignard reagents and their DMF or N-formylpiperidine adducts.     

Synthetic transformations of higher terpenoids: XIV. Synthesis of pyrrololabdanoids from lambertianic acid

Treatment of lambertianic acid methyl ester with lead tetraacetate gave terpenoid 2,5-diacetoxydihydrofuran which reacted with primary amines to yield 3-terpenyl-substituted pyrrol-2(5H)-ones; the reaction with hydrazine led to the corresponding pyridazine derivative. The obtained furanoterpenoids underwent oxidative methoxylation by the action of N-chlorobenzenesulfonamide or N-bromosuccinimide in methanol. 2,5-Dimethoxydihydrofurans thus formed were smoothly converted into 3-substituted furan-2(5H)-one in acid medium. Hydrogenation of 2,5-dimethoxydihydrofurans, followed by treatment with amines, gave 1,3-disubstituted pyrroles.     

Synthesis of LH-RH using a new phenolic polymer as solid support and “BOP” reagent for fragment coupling

p-Hydroxyphenyl propionic resin (Table I, compound 4) was used to prepare the 1–6 protected fragment of LH-RH which was then condensed with “BOP” (benzotriazolyl N-oxytrisdimethylaminophosphonium hexafluorophosphate) as coupling reagent to the 7–10 residue synthesized on the same resin. Peptidylresin was divided into two aliquots in order to obtain LH-RH after aminolysis and treatment with liquid hydrogen fluoride, LH-RH-COOH after saponification followed by hydrogenation, or treatment with liquid hydrogen fluoride. The resulting hormones were rapidly purified by the sole means of two gel filtrations.     

Sonogashira/N-acyliminium ion aromatic π-cyclisation processes: access to tetra- and pentacyclic lactams

Application of the Sonogashira reaction of N-alkynylimides with 2-iodophenol or 2-iodo-N-tosylaniline affords 2-(N-alkylimino)-benzofurans and indoles in good yield. Selective partial reduction of the latter followed by treatment with TsOH generates N-acyliminium ions, which cyclise to afford tetra- and pentacyclic lactams in good yield. The latter are reduced to the analogous cyclic amines by BH₃.     

The influence of Ni2+ lons on the distribution of Mg2+ and Cu2+ lons in spinel ferrites

Cation distribution in quenched and furnace-cooled samples of composition Ni_xM_1?xFe₂O₄ (where M is either Mg²⁺ or Cu²⁺) has been studied through magnetization measurements. It has been found that cation distribution in these mixed ferrites cannot be predicted by site preference energies. In magnesium-nickel ferrites, cation distribution is controlled by heat treatment up to x = 0.5, beyond which the effect of heat treatment diminishes. Addition of Ni²⁺ ions in copper ferrite reduces the diffusibility of Cu²⁺ ions and the distribution tends toward inverse spinel in the high-nickel region.     

The N-vinyl group as a protection group of the preparation of 3(5)-substituted pyrazoles via bromine-lithium exchange

Treatment of 3,4,5-tribromopyrazole with 1,2-dibromoethane and triethylamine gave 3,4,5-tribromo-1-vinylpyrazole, which underwent regioselective bromine-lithium exchange at the 5-position. Subsequent addition of an electrophile gave 5-substituted 3,4-dibromo-1-vinylpyrazoles. These underwent bromine-lithium or bromine-magnesium exchange predominantly at the 4-position, with the regioselectivity between the 3- and 4-positions being influenced by the nature of the metal and the 5-substituent. The 5-substituted products were de-vinylated by mild treatment with KMnO₄ affording 3-substituted pyrazoles. Alternatively, the 1-vinyl group could be used in ring-closing metathesis. Thus, 5-allylthio-1-vinylpyrazole produced 5H-pyrazolo[5,1-b][1,3]thiazine upon treatment with Grubbs' second-generation catalyst.     

The Antimicrobial Activity of Origanum vulgare L. Correlated with the Gastrointestinal Perturbation in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

(1) The metabolic syndrome (MS) promotes acute and chronic infections, due to the pro-inflammatory condition given by TNFα and IL6 or by affecting the microbiota. MS is also correlated with insulin resistance, causing inflammation and infections throughout the organism. (2) The purpose of this study was to track the effect of using the essential oil of Origanum vulgare L. (EOO) as an antibacterial treatment, compared to allopathic treatment with antibiotics in MS patients. A group of 106 people with MS was divided into four subgroups: L1—staphylococcal infection group, L2—Escherichia coli infection group, L3—streptococcal infection group with EOO treatment, and CG—control group without infection or treatment. (3) EOO is responsible for the antibacterial effect, and reduced minor uncomplicated infections. After a 10-day treatment, intestinal side effects were absent, improving the phase angle. (4) The results suggest that EOO may exhibit an antibacterial effect, similar to the antibiotic treatment, without promoting MS-specific dysbiosis, and it also improves the phase angle in patients, which is used as an index of health and cellular function.     

Conformational analysis of a quinolonic ribonucleoside with anti-HSV-1 activity

The infections caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus are one of the most common sources of diseases in adults and several natural nucleoside analogues are currently used in the treatment of these infections. In vitro tests of a series of quinolonic ribonucleosides derivatives synthesized by part of our group indicated that some of them have antiviral activity against HSV-1.The conformational analysis of bioactive compounds is extremely important in order to better understand their chemical structures and biological activity. In this work, we have carried out a nuclear relaxation NMR study of 6-Me ribonucleoside derivative in order to determine if the syn or anti conformation is preferential. The NMR analysis permits the determination of inter-atomic distances by using techniques which are based on nuclear relaxation and related phenomena. Those techniques are non-selective longitudinal or spin-lattice relaxation rates and NULL pulse sequence, which allow the determination of distances between pairs of hydrogen atoms. The results of NMR studies were compared with those obtained by molecular modeling.     

Antioxidant Response of Stevia rebaudiana B. to Polyethylene Glycol and Paclobutrazol Treatments Under In Vitro Culture

This investigation was carried out with the aim of determining the effect of paclobutrazol (PBZ) (0 and 2 mg l^?1) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) (0, 2, 4 and 6 %?w/v of PEG 6000) treatments on antioxidant system of Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni under in vitro condition. Analysis of data showed that PEG treatment significantly increased hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and phenolic contents, while PBZ treatment limited the effect of PEG on them. Our data revealed that PEG treatment significantly increased total antioxidant capacity, catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) activity, while it inversely decreased glutathione reductase (GR) activity. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity was not affected by PEG treatment. PBZ treatment induced significantly higher levels of CAT and GR activity and lower levels of SOD activity in PEG-treated plants. PBZ in combination with PEG resulted in no significant difference on APX activity with PEG treatment alone. PBZ treatment prevented the effect of PEG on the PPO activity. PEG (with or without PBZ) treatment increased the ascorbate pool, whereas total glutathione level was not affected by PEG. Our finding indicated that PBZ reduced the negative effect of PEG treatment by quenching H₂O₂ accumulation and increasing the CAT activity. Collectively, the antioxidant capacity of S. rebaudiana in PEG treatment condition was associated with active enzymatic and non-enzymatic defence systems which partly could be improved by the PBZ treatment. In addition, a higher accumulation of phenolic compounds leads to a more potent reactive oxygen species scavenging activity in S. rebaudiana.     

Synthesis of spirane-bridged rigidified oxalkyl cyclopentadienyl ligands

Methods for the preparation of constrained spirane-bridged oxalkyl indenyl ligands are described. The cis,cis-α,α′-spirane derivatives were synthesised in several steps from spiro[4.4]nonane-1,6-dione. Carbylation was achieved by Wittig methenylation. A subsequent stereoselective hydroboration by 9-BBN followed by peroxide treatment furnished the corresponding cis-methanol. Further manipulations provided the cis-carboxylic ester, which in a double Grignard reaction with α,α′-dichloro-o-xylene, furnished the corresponding indenyl derivative. The final products were cis,cis-α-(2-indenyl)-α′-(methoxy or methoxymethyl)spiro[4.4]nonanes.     

Efficient sulfonation of 1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-pyrroles and 1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-indoles using chlorosulfonic acid in acetonitrile

The sulfonation of various 1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-pyrroles and 1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-indoles using chlorosulfonic acid in acetonitrile has been studied, leading to the development of a clean and operationally simple protocol allowing direct synthesis of the corresponding 1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-pyrrole-3-sulfonyl chlorides and 1-phenylsulfonyl-1H-indole-3-sulfonyl chlorides, respectively, both of which may be easily converted to various sulfonamide derivatives by treatment with nitrogen nucleophiles. Efficient and selective removal of the phenylsulfonyl- or tosyl groups in the sulfonamide series may be achieved under mild conditions.     

Differential survival of Escherichia coli uvrA,uvrB, and uvrC mutants to psoralen plus UV-A (PUVA): Evidence for uncoupled action of nucleotide excision repair to process DNA adducts

The nucleotide excision repair mechanism (NER) of Escherichia coli is responsible for the recognition and elimination of more than twenty different DNA lesions. Herein, we evaluated the in vivo role of NER in the repair of DNA adducts generated by psoralens (mono- or bi-functional) and UV-A light (PUVA) in E. coli. Cultures of wild-type E. coli K12 and mutants for uvrA, uvrB, uvrC or uvrAC genes were treated with PUVA and cell survival was determined. In parallel, kinetics of DNA repair was also evaluated by the comparison of DNA sedimentation profiles in all the strains after PUVA treatment. The uvrB mutant was more sensitive to PUVA treatment than all the other uvr mutant strains. Wild-type strain, and uvrA and uvrC mutants were able to repair PUVA-induced lesions, as seen by DNA sedimentation profiles, while the uvrB mutant was unable to repair the lesions. In addition, a quadruple fpg nth xth nfo mutant was unable to nick PUVA-treated DNA when the crude cell-free extract was used to perform plasmid nicking. These data suggest that DNA repair of PUVA-induced lesions may require base excision repair functions, despite proficient UvrABC activity. These results point to a specific role for UvrB protein in the repair of psoralen adducts, which appear to be independent of UvrA or UvrC proteins, as described for the classical UvrABC endonuclease mechanism.     

Platycodin D,a natural component of Platycodon grandiflorum,prevents both lysosome- and TMPRSS2-driven SARS-CoV-2 infection by hindering membrane fusion

An ongoing pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is now the greatest threat to global public health. Herbal medicines and their derived natural products have drawn much attention in the treatment of COVID-19, but the detailed mechanisms by which natural products inhibit SARS-CoV-2 have not been elucidated. Here, we show that platycodin D (PD), a triterpenoid saponin abundant in Platycodon grandiflorum (PG), a dietary and medicinal herb commonly used in East Asia, effectively blocks the two main SARS-CoV-2 infection routes via lysosome- and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2)-driven entry. Mechanistically, PD prevents host entry of SARS-CoV-2 by redistributing membrane cholesterol to prevent membrane fusion, which can be reinstated by treatment with a PD-encapsulating agent. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of PD are recapitulated by the pharmacological inhibition or gene silencing of NPC1, which is mutated in patients with Niemann–Pick type C (NPC) displaying disrupted membrane cholesterol distribution. Finally, readily available local foods or herbal medicines containing PG root show similar inhibitory effects against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our study proposes that PD is a potent natural product for preventing or treating COVID-19 and that briefly disrupting the distribution of membrane cholesterol is a potential novel therapeutic strategy for SARS-CoV-2 infection.Subject terms: Viral infection, Lipid signalling     

Preparation et epoxydation de trienes-1,2,4 ynes-6 (allenenynes)

A general method for the preparation of allenenynes 1 involves the dehydration with variable yields of α-allenic β'-acetylenic alcohols by basic elimination of their sulfonic esters. The treatment of these allenenynes with p-nitro or m-chloro-penbonzoïc acids leads in several cases to 4-ethynyl cyclopent-2-enones, which are quantitatively isomerized to 4-vinylidene-cyclopent 2-enones by aqueous sodium carbonate.     

Synthesis and properties of a novel redox driven chemiluminescent material built on a terthienyl system

A novel redox driven chemiluminescent material built on a terthienyl system, namely 5,7-di-ethylenedioxythiophen-2-yl-2,3-dihydro-thieno[3,4-d]pyridazine-1,4-dione (ETE-Lum), which is soluble in both organic media and basic aqueous solution was synthesized and characterized. Furthermore, its polymer, PETE-Lum, which is one of the most rare examples of chemiluminescent polymeric materials bearing a pyridazine unit, was obtained successfully by electrochemical means. Both of the materials give chemiluminescence either by treatment with oxidants (H₂O₂ and/or KMnO₄) or by the application of a potential pulse.     

Microwave assisted green chemical synthesis of novel spiro[indole-pyrido thiazines]: a system reluctant to be formed under thermal conditions

Spiro [3H-indole-3,2′-[4H] pyrido [3,2-e]-1,3-thiazine]-2,4′ (1H) diones, a class of previously unknown compound which does not form under conventional conditions, can be prepared by treatment of ‘in situ’ generated 3-indolylimine derivatives with 2-mercaptonicotinic acid under microwave irradiation in absence of any solvent or solid support in 85-92% yields in 3-8 min. The facile one pot reaction is generalized for a variety of ketones and amines to give pure pyrido [3,2-e] thiazine derivatives, which do not require further purification processes.     

Dihydro-3-(triphenylphosphoranylidene)-2,5-thiophendione: A Convenient Synthon for the Preparation of Substituted 1,4-Thiazepin-5-ones and Piperidinones via the Intermediacy of Thioacids

Reaction of thiomaleic anhydride with triphenylphosphine gives the title compound, which undergoes reaction with a variety of aldehydes to give a range of alkylidene thiomaleic anhydrides (substituted monothioitaconic anhydrides). Subsequent treatment with tert-butoxycarbonylamino-substituted thiols, or under radical conditions with tert-butoxycarbonylamino-substituted alkyl halides results in a series of substituted monothiomaleic anhydrides, that on exposure to trifluoroacetic acid and then base lead to thiocarboxyl substituted 1,4-thiazepin-5-ones and piperidinones, respectively, that are ultimately trapped by reaction with 2,4-dinitrobenzenesulfonamides to give the corresponding amides.