Preparative isolation of neomangiferin and mangiferin from Rhizoma anemarrhenae by high‐speed countercurrent chromatography using ionic liquids as a two‐phase solvent system modifier

A preparative high‐speed countercurrent chromatography method for isolation and purification of neomangiferin and mangiferin from Rhizoma anemarrhenae was successfully established by using ionic liquids as the modifier of the two‐phase solvent system. Neomangiferin and mangiferin were purified from the crude extract of R. anemarrhenae by using ethyl acetate‐water‐[C₄mim][PF₆] (5:5:0.2 v/v) as two‐phase solvent system. In total, 22.5 mg of neomangiferin and 70.6 mg of mangiferin were obtained from 150 mg of the crude extract. The purities of neomangiferin and mangiferin were 97.2 and 98.1%, respectively, as determined by HPLC. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified by ¹H‐NMR and ¹³C‐NMR.     

Synthesis of C-5-substituted resorcylates and resorcinamides via formylation–aromatization of functionalized keto-dioxinones

Efficient syntheses of diverse substituted resorcylates and resorcinamides from keto-dioxinones are described. Functionalized 6-keto-2,2-dimethyl-4H-1,3-dioxin-4-ones, generated via enolate acylation or alkylation reactions, were subsequently C-formylated and cyclized to the corresponding arenes. Further manipulations gave a wide range of structures of potential pharmaceutical interest including C-5-substituted, C-4,5-cyclo-fused and C-5,6-cyclo-fused resorcylates, as well as resorcinamides related to the Hsp90 inhibitor AT13387. The syntheses are noted for brevity with a maximum of 5 synthetic steps and without the need for protection of phenol groups.     

Synthesis of [60]fullerene-glycopyranosylaminopyrimidin-4-one conjugates

The synthesis of several C₆₀ derivatives containing a 6-(β-d-glycopyranosylamino)pyrimidin-4-one unit and a C₆₀-uridine conjugate is described. The fullerene derivatives bearing a 4-(β-d-glycopyranosylamino)pyrimidin-4-one moiety were synthesised by 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of C₆₀ with azomethine ylides generated in situ from the corresponding 5-formylpyrimidin-4-one derivatives and N-methylglycine. The synthesis of the C₆₀-uridine conjugate involved the selective protection of the 2′- and 3′-hydroxyl groups of uridine, esterification, cyclopropanation of C₆₀ and, finally, the deprotection of the hydroxyl groups. One of the fullerene-glycopyranosylaminopyrimidin-4-one conjugates was characterised by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Differentiation between pairs of diastereoisomers, for several fullerene derivatives, was achieved through the study of their gas-phase fragmentations.     

Asymmetric synthesis of cytotoxic sponge metabolites R-strongylodiols A and B

The asymmetric synthesis of the marine sponge natural products, R-strongylodiols A 1 and B 2 using a minimum protection strategy is described. The chirality of the natural products was introduced via the Noyori asymmetric reduction of ynones.     

Synthesis of (-)-callicarpenal, a potent arthropod-repellent

Callicarpenal (1), a natural terpenoid isolated from American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana), has shown significant repellent activities against mosquitoes, ticks, and imported fire ants. Here we report our efficient synthetic approach to this natural product, and preliminary results of the mosquito biting-deterrent effects of callicarpenal as well as its synthetic precursors and related C₈-epimers. The synthetic strategy allows rapid access to various epimers and analogues of the natural product that can be used to explore its structure-activity relationship and optimize its biological properties.     

Asymmetric synthesis of cytotoxic sponge metabolites R-strongylodiols A and B and an analogue

The asymmetric synthesis of the marine sponge natural products R-strongylodiols A R-1 and B R-2, using a minimum protection strategy, is described. Two approaches were examined and the Noyori asymmetric reduction of ynones was found to be successful for installing the chirality of the natural products. Analogue R-32 was also prepared. In addition, asymmetric alkynylation of aldehydes is briefly reviewed.     

Natural states of interacting systems and their use for the calculation of intermolecular forces. II. Natural states in the asymptotic 1/R expansion

The asymptotic natural states i.e. the natural states of the subsystems in the various terms of the asymptotic expansion of the primitive wavefunction of the supersystem are defined. Integro-differential equations are derived that allow the direct calculation of these asymptotic natural states and from them, the terms C₆, C₈ etc. in the asymptotic 1/R expansion of the interaction energy. A pictorial interpretation of these states is given and the rapid convergence of the expansion in natural states is explained. The transferability of certain matrix elements is demonstrated and a virtually exact combination rule for the calculation of the C_k coefficients between different atoms from those for like atoms is obtained- The effects of intraatomic electron correlation on the C_k as well as the justification of a core-valence separation are discussed.     

A One-Pot Approach to Novel Pyridazine C-Nucleosides

The synthesis of glycosides and modified nucleosides represents a wide research field in organic chemistry. The classical methodology is based on coupling reactions between a glycosyl donor and an acceptor. An alternative strategy for new C-nucleosides is used in this approach, which consists of modifying a pre-existent furyl aglycone. This approach is applied to obtain novel pyridazine C-nucleosides starting with 2- and 3-(ribofuranosyl)furans. It is based on singlet oxygen [4+2] cycloaddition followed by reduction and hydrazine cyclization under neutral conditions. The mild three-step one-pot procedure leads stereoselectively to novel pyridazine C-nucleosides of pharmacological interest. The use of acetyls as protecting groups provides an elegant direct route to a deprotected new pyridazine C-nucleoside.     

Oxopiperazine capping: Formation of oxopiperazine-containing peptoids via C-terminal cyclization

An unexpected side reaction was observed in peptoids containing a C-terminal carboxamide with a 2-aminoethyl side chain. The reaction proceeded via cyclization and release of NH₃, resulting in C-terminal oxopiperazine formation, analogous to pyroglutamate formation from N-terminal glutamine in peptides. Reaction conditions that promote oxopiperazine formation were developed. In particular, the addition of organic bases accelerated the cyclization, thus providing a simple strategy for the post-synthetic C-terminal capping of peptoids.     

C45- and C50-Carotenoids Part7 Total synthesis of (all-E,2R,6R,2′R,6′R)- and (all-E,2R,6S,2′R,6′S)-2,2′-Bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl)-γ,γ-carotene (sarcinaxanthin)

The synthesis of sarcinaxanthin ((2R,6R,2′R,6′R)- 1 ), a symmetrical C₅₀-carotenoid with two γ-end groups, isolated from Sarcina lutea and from Cellulomonas biazotea as major pigment, was based on the strategy C₂₀ + C₁₀ + C₂₀ = C₅₀ using camphoric acid as starting material for the C₂₀-end group 3. The key step of the synthesis is a ring enlargement of the cyclopentane derivative 10 with 2,4,4,6-tetrabromocyclohexa-2,5-dien-1-one (TBCO) to give the cyclohexane derivative 11 (Scheme 1). The spectroscopic data of the synthetic compound are in full agreement with the data of the isolated product and give the final proof for the (2R,6R,2′R,6′R) chirality of natural sarcinaxanthin.     

Total synthesis of crotophorbolone

As a natural diterpenoid, crotophorbolone possesses a challenging trans,trans-5/7/6 framework decorated with six contiguous stereogenic centers and is structurally and biogenetically related to tigliane-type diterpenoids with intriguing bioactivities such as phorbol and prostratin. Based on the convergent strategy, we completed an eighteen-step total synthesis of crotophorbolone starting from (−)-carvone and (+)-dimethyl-2,3-O-isopropylidene-l-tartrate. The key elements of the synthesis involve expedient installation of the six-membered ring and the five-membered ring with multiple functional groups at an early stage, cyclization of the seven-membered ring through alkenylation of the ketone between the five-membered ring and the six-membered ring, functional group-sensitive ring-closing metathesis and final selective introduction of hydroxyls at C₂₀ and C₄.

Convergent total synthesis of crotophorbolone was accomplished in 18 longest linear steps. Observation of unexpected thermodynamic stability of a cis,trans-5/7/6 tricycle would benefit synthetic design of tigliane- and daphnane-related diterpenoids.     

Synthesis of licoflavone-a and 6',6'-dimethylpyrano(2',3':7,8)flavone

Licoflavone-A assigned structure of 6-C-prenyl-7,4'-dihydroxyflavone 5 has been synthesized by condensing 5-C-prenyl-2-hydroxy-4-prenyloxyacetophenone 2 with p-prenyloxybenzaldehyde in the presence of alkali. The resulting chalcone 3 on cyclodehydrogenation with DDQ gave 6-C-prenyl-7,4'-diprenyloxyflavone 4 which on boiling with aqueous morpholine afforded the natural product. This synthesis uses, for the first time, protection of phenolic hydroxyls by O-prenylation and DDQ for conversion of chalcone to flavone. 6',6'-Dimethylpyrano (2',3':7,8)navone 8 has been synthesized by the Hlubucek reaction of 7-hydroxyflavone 6 with 2-chloro-2-methyl-3-butyne.     

Synthesis of stereopure acyclic 1,5-dimethylalkane chirons: building blocks of highly methyl-branched natural products

An efficient synthetic method towards stereopure acyclic 1,5-dimethylalkane building blocks from methyl (2R)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate (R)-1 (>99% ee) and methyl (2S)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate (S)-1 (>99% ee) through a series of chemical transformations, including Julia–Kocienski olefination and diimide reduction, is described. Through this strategy, two fragments of β-d-mannosyl phosphomycoketide (C₃₂-MPM) and four stereopure 1,5-dimethylalkane C₁₀ chirons are prepared. These C₃₂-MPM fragments and C₁₀ chirons have shown great potential application as building blocks for the synthesis of highly methyl-branched natural products containing chiral oligoisoprenoid-like chains.     

A new strategy for the synthesis of oligodeoxynucleotides directed towards perfect O-selective internucleotidic bond formation without base protection

Deoxyadenosine and deoxycytidine have nucleophilic amino groups so that the undesired N-phosphitylation of these amino groups occurred in the previous phosphoramidite methods without base protection. We report that the N-phosphitylation could be considerably suppressed in our new HOBt-mediated coupling strategy via phosphite intermediates as reactive species. Thus, 99.7-99.9% O-selective internucleotidic bond formation was achieved.     

Synthesis of C-2 methylene glycosides from C-2 propargyloxymethyl glycals exploiting the alkynophilicity of AuCl3

C-2 Methylene glycosides were synthesized from C-2 propargyloxymethyl glycals in a stereoselective manner using a catalytic quantity of AuCl₃. The Au-catalyzed reaction was explored using various aglycones. The current protocol enables the preparation of C-2 methylene glycosides, tolerates diverse functional groups and is fast, catalytic and mild.     

Concise synthesis of enantiopure erythro-saccharinic acid lactone and potassium (2R,3R)-2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate

A short and efficient approach was applied to the total synthesis of erythro-saccharinic acid lactone and the leaf-closing substance potassium (2R,3R)-2,3,4-trihydroxy-2-methylbutanoate from a 2-C-hydroxymethyl-d-erythrose derivative, using a combined strategy.     

Concise total synthesis of flavone C-glycoside having potent anti-inflammatory activity

The total synthesis of anti-inflammatory active flavone C-glycoside isolated from oolong tea extract is achieved. Introducing a C-glucosyl moiety to an aryl system and constructing a fused tetracyclic ring characteristic to this natural product were conducted based on the O-to-C rearrangement of sugar moiety and the successive intramolecular Mitsunobu reaction, respectively. This concise and efficient synthetic pathway is applicable to the large-scale synthesis of target flavone and for constructing a large library of related compounds.     

Synthesis of PI-88 analogue using novel O-glycosidation of exo-methylenesugars

Acid-promoted α-stereoselective O-glycosidation of 1-exo-methylenesugars was successfully applied to the synthesis of a PI-88 analogue. By using methanesulfonic acid as a promoter, 1′-C-methyl-α-disaccharides with p-methoxybenzyl protection were obtained in high yield. The sequence of selective deprotection and glycosidation provided 1-C-methyl-pentasaccharide efficiently.     

A cross-metathesis approach to the synthesis of new etretinate type retinoids, ethyl retinoate and its 9Z-isomer

Two aromatic retinoids were synthesized from styrene derivatives using a novel strategy with a cross-metathesis reaction as a key step. The biological activity of the new etretinate analogues was tested. Cross-metathesis reactions were also employed for the preparation of ethyl retinoate and its 9Z-isomer via the C₁₅ + C₅ route.     

A Rapid High-Performance Liquid Chromatographic Method for Quantitative Analysis of Antidiabetic-Active Components in Anemarrhena asphodeloides Rhizomes

Extracts of herbs with promising antidiabetic capacity, used in traditional medicine, have been analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with diode-array detection (DAD). Optimization of the chromatographic conditions is discussed. Two kinds of xanthone glycoside were successfully separated and quantified in herbs from seven regions. The neomangiferin and mangiferin content of herbs from different regions varied greatly. The sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, precision, and ruggedness of the proposed method were excellent, and the method can be used for quality control of Anemarrhena asphodeloides rhizome raw material.