A synthetic approach to palmerolides via Negishi cross coupling. The challenge of the C15–C16 bond formation

The esterification of fragment C1–C8 (2) with fragment C16–C23 (3) to give iodo derivative 4, followed by a Pd-catalysed coupling with a C9–C15 fragment (7 or 8), may provide a common precursor of most palmerolides. Ligands and reaction conditions were exhaustively examined to perform the C15–C16 bond formation via Negishi reaction. With simple models, pre-activated Pd–Xantphos and Pd–DPEphos complexes were the most efficient catalysts at RT. Zincation of the C9–C15 fragment (8) and cross coupling with 4 required 3 equiv of t-BuLi, 10 mol % of Pd–Xantphos and 60 °C.     

Synthesis of new tetracyclic 7-oxo-pyrido[3,2,1-de]acridine derivatives

A series of (±)3-hydroxyl- and 2,3-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydro-7-oxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridines were synthesized for antitumor evaluation. These agents can be considered as analogues of glyfoline or (±)1,2-dihydroxyacronycine derivatives. The key intermediates, 3,7-dioxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridines (15a,b or 24a,b), for constructing the target compounds were synthesized either from 3-(N,N-diphenylamino)propionic acid (14a,b) by treating with Eaton’s reagent (P₂O₅/MsOH) (Method 1) or from (9-oxo-9H-acridin-10-yl)propionic acid (23a-c) via ring cyclization under the same reaction conditions (Method 2). Compounds 15a,b and 24a,b were converted into (±)3-hydroxy derivatives (25a-d), which were then further transformed into pyrido[3,2,1-de]acridin-7-one (28a-d) by treating with methanesulfonic anhydride in pyridine via dehydration. 1,2-Dihydroxylation of 28a-d afforded (±)cis-2,3-dihydroxy-7-oxopyrido[3,2,1-de]acridine (29a-d). Derivatives of (±)3-hydroxy (25a,b) and (±)cis-2,3-dihydroxy (29a-d) were further converted into their O-acetyl congeners 26a,b and 30a-d, respectively. We also synthesized 2,3-cyclic carbonate (31, 32, and 33) from 29a-c. The anti-proliferative study revealed that these agents exhibited low cytotoxicity in inhibiting human lymphoblastic leukemia CCRF-CEM cell growth in culture.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines. Part 4: Synthesis from d-fructose of protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-d-galactitol derivatives

The readily available 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulfonyl-β-d-fructopyranose (5) was straightforwardly transformed into its d-psico epimer (8), after O-debenzoylation followed by oxidation and reduction, which caused the inversion of the configuration at C(3). Compound 8 was treated with lithium azide yielding 5-azido-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-l-tagatopyranose (9) that was transformed into the related 3,4-di-O-benzyl derivative 10. Cleavage of the acetonide in 10 to give 11, followed by regioselective 1-O-pivaloylation to 12 and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation gave (2R,3S,4R,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)-2′-O-pivaloylpyrrolidine (13). Stereochemistry of 13 could be determined after O-deacylation to the symmetric pyrrolidine 14. Total deprotection of 14 gave 2,5-imino-2,5-dideoxy-d-galactitol (15, DGADP).     

Photoreactions of β-aziridinylacrylonitriles and acrylates with alkenes: the substituent effects on the formation of [3+2] cycloadducts

The photochemical C,C-bond cleavage of trisubstituted aziridines 3-6 and consequent [3+2] cycloaddition with electron-deficient alkenes afforded the novel head-to-head adducts (1,2,3,5-tetrasubstituted pyrrolidines) selectively and efficiently. The aziridines 3 and 5 reacted with molecular oxygen, affording dioxazolidine 26 and cleaved products, respectively. The results may suggest that the C,C-bond of aziridine cleaves biradically. The photoreactions of N-tritylaziridines 7-9 possessing diester, dinitrile, and butadiene groups in the side chain with electron-deficient alkenes yielded 2,3-cis-pyrrolidine derivatives 29, 30, and 33 exclusively. In particular, the dinitrile 8 also reacted with non-electron-deficient alkenes. The formal synthesis of the indolizidine fragment 10 of stellettamides starting from the pyrrolidine (E)-33 was achieved in a convenient manner.     

Unusual α-glycosylation with galactosyl donors with a C2 ester capable of neighboring group participation

Glycosylation of 4-methoxyphenyl 2,3,6-tri-O-benzoyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) with isopropyl 3-O-allyl-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl- (9) or 6-O-allyl-2,3,4-tri-O-benzoyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (7) as the donor, afforded an α- and β-linked mixture, whereas with isopropyl 3-O-chloroacetyl-2-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene- (13) and isopropyl 3-O-allyl-2-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (15) as the donor, glycosylation of 2 gave α-linked products only, indicating that 4,6-O-benzylidenation led to α-stereoselectivity in spite of the C2 ester capable of neighboring group participation. Using 15 as the donor, glycosylation of mannose derivatives with 2- or 3-OH's, glucose with 2- or 3-OH's, galactose with 2-, or 3-, or 4-OH's, glucosamine and glucuronic acid with a 4-OH, and a lactose derivative with a 4-OH, also furnished α-linked products. However, when using 15 as the donor, glycosylation of aglycon alcohol or sugars with 6-OH's yielded normal β-linked products.     

Studies on the Synthesis of Reidispongiolide A: Stereoselective Synthesis of the C(22)-C(36) Fragment

A highly stereoselective synthesis of the C(22)-C(36) fragment 2 of reidispongiolide A is described. This synthesis features the highly stereoselective mismatched double asymmetric crotylboration reaction of the aldehyde derived from 5 and the new chiral reagent (S)-(E)-7 that provides 12 with >15:1 dr. Subsequent coupling of the derived vinyl iodide 3 with aldehyde 16 provided allylic alcohol 17, that was elaborated by three steps into the targeted reidispongiolide fragment 2.     

Separation and identification of three epimeric pairs of new C-glucosyl anthrones from Rumex dentatus by on-line high performance liquid chromatography–circular dichroism analysis

Six C-glucosyl anthrones were characterized as three pairs of epimers by on-line high performance liquid chromatography–circular dichroism (HPLC–CD) analysis and isolated from the roots of Rumex dentatus by column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated by mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic spectroscopy and HPLC–CD analysis. They are 10R-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxyemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide E, 1) and 10S-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxyemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide F, 2), 10R-C-β-d-glucosylemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide G, 3) and 10S-C-β-d-glucosylemodin-9-anthrone (rumejaposide H, 4), 10S-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxychrysophanol-9-anthrone (cassialoin, 5) and 10R-C-β-d-glucosyl-10-hydroxychrysophanol-9-anthrone (rumejaposide I, 6). Rumejaposides F–I (2–4 and 6) were new C-glucosyl anthrones. Rumejaposide E (1) and cassialoin (5) were isolated for the first time in Rumex plants. On-line HPLC–UV–CD analysis was a useful tool for structure elucidating epimeric C-glycosides anthrones 3–6 because of the poor stability of the pure isomers (3 and 4) and the minute quantity of 5 and 6 in the mixture.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines, III. Synthesis of new protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-iminohexitols from d-fructose

The readily available 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (6) was straightforwardly transformed into 5-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (8), after treatment under modified Garegg's conditions followed by reaction of the resulting 3-O-benzoyl-4-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-5-iodo-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-l-sorbopyranose (7) with lithium azide in DMF. O-debenzoylation at C(3) in 8, followed by oxidation and reduction caused the inversion of the configuration to afford the corresponding β-d-psicopyranose derivative 11 that was transformed into the related 3,4-di-O-benzyl derivative 12. Cleavage of the acetonide of 12 to give 13 followed by O-tert-butyldiphenylsilylation afforded a resolvable mixture of 14 and 15. Compound 14 was transformed into (2R,3R,4S,5R)- (17) and (2R,3R,4S,5S)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′,5′-di-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (18) either by a tandem Staudinger/intramolecular aza-Wittig process and reduction of the resulting intermediate Δ²-pyrroline (16), or only into 18 by a high stereoselective catalytic hydrogenation. When 15 was subjected to the same protocol, (2S,3S,4R,5R)- (21) and (2R,3S,4R,5R)-3,4-dibenzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (22) were obtained, respectively.     

Stereo-controlled approach to pyrrolidine iminosugar C-glycosides and 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-l-allitol using a d-mannose-derived cyclic nitrone

Intramolecular N-alkylation of 2,3-O-isopropylidene-5-O-methanesulfonyl-6-O-t-butyldimethylsilyl-d-mannofuranose-oxime 7 afforded a five-membered cyclic nitrone 9, which on N-O bond reductive cleavage followed by deprotection of -OTBS and acetonide functionalities gave 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-l-allitol (DIA) 3. Addition of allylmagnesium chloride to nitrone 9 afforded α-allylated product 10a in high diastereoselectivity providing an easy entry to N-hydroxy-C1-α-allyl-substituted pyrrolidine iminosugar 4a after removal of protecting group, while N-O bond reductive cleavage in 10a afforded C1-α-allyl-pyrrolidine iminosugar 4b.     

Synthesis of acyclic nucleoside analogues based on 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones by one-step Vorbrüggen glycosylation

New acyclovir analogues were obtained by reaction of 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-7-ones 4a–i with (2-acetoxyethoxy)methyl acetate 5 in the presence of trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf) as catalyst (Vorbrüggen procedure). Coupling between compounds 4a–f and 5 led to a mixture of N3- and N4-isomers 6 and 7, respectively. On the contrary, the reaction of compounds 4g–i with 5 proceeded selectively with formation of N3-isomers only. It was found that the ratio of 6a–f and 7a–f depends on the presence or the absence of N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)acetamide (BSA). Glycosylated products 6a–f and 7a–f underwent reversible isomerization under TMSOTf treatment. The ratio of glycosylated products of the coupling reaction between 4 and 5 was thermodynamically controlled. A similar reaction occurred if ZnCl₂ was chosen as a catalyst, although lower yields of the acyclic analogues of nucleosides were observed. The glycosylation of other purines (adenine and guanine) can be achieved via the non-BSA modification of the Vorbrüggen procedure.     

Synthesis of several novel 14-membered ketolides bearing modified 5-O-4′-[1,2,3] triazol desosamine side chain

4-Azido modified desosamine 4a was synthesized and coupled to erythronolide 9. Using trichloroacetimidate donor in the presence of TMSOTf was considered as the most efficient condition for the glycosylation reaction. Five novel 14-membered ketolides 12a–e bearing modified 5-O-4′-[1,2,3] triazol desosamine side chain were synthesized by the azide/alkyne click chemistry method.     

Polyhydroxylated pyrrolidines: synthesis from d-fructose of new tri-orthogonally protected 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-iminohexitols

The readily available 3-O-benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (2) was transformed into its 5-O- (3) and 4-O-benzoyl (4) derivative. Compound 4 was straightforwardly transformed into 5-azido-4-O-benzoyl-3-O-benzyl-5-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-β-d-fructopyranose (7) via the corresponding 5-deoxy-5-iodo-α-l-sorbopyranose derivative 6. Cleavage of the acetonide in 7 to give 8, followed by regioselective 1-O-silylation to 9 and subsequent catalytic hydrogenation gave a mixture of (2S,3R,4R,5R)- (10) and (2R,3R,4R,5R)-4-benzoyloxy-3-benzyloxy-2′-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2,5-bis(hydroxymethyl)pyrrolidine (12) that was resolved after chemoselective N-protection as their Cbz derivatives 11 and 1a, respectively. Stereochemistry of 11 and 1a could be determined after total deprotection of 11 to the well known DGDP (13). Compound 2 was similarly transformed into the tri-orthogonally protected DGDP derivative 18.     

Simple synthesis of phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside congeners based on Mizoroki-Heck type reaction of organoboron reagents

Palladium(II)-catalyzed carbon-carbon bond formation between allyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) and phenylboronic acid congeners gave the phenylpropenoid 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (4a-f) in good yield. Among them, compounds 4a-c were converted to the naturally occurring phenylpropenoid β-d-glucopyranoside analogues (1a-c).     

Synthesis,structural analysis,and thermal and spectroscopic studies of methylmalonate-containing zinc(II) complexes

The synthesis, crystal structure, thermal analysis and spectroscopic studies of five zinc(II) complexes of formulae [Zn(Memal)(H₂O)]_n (1) and [Zn₂(L)(Memal)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (2-5) [H₂Memal = methylmalonic acid, and L = 4,4′-bipyridine (4,4′-bpy) (2), 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (bpe) (3), 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethane (bpa) (4) and 4,4′-azobispyridine (azpy) (5)] are presented here. The crystal structure of 1 is a three-dimensional arrangement of zinc(II) cations interconnected by methylmalonate groups adopting the μ₃-κ²O:κO’:κO”:κO”’ coordination mode to afford a rare (10,3)-d utp-network. The structures of the compounds 2-5 are also three-dimensional and they consist of corrugated square layers of methylmalonate-bridged zinc(II) ions which are pillared by bis-monodentate 4,4′-bpy (2), bpe (3), bpa (4) and azpy (5) ligands. The Memal ligand in 2-5 adopts the μ₃-κO:κO′:κO′′:κO′′′ coordination mode. Each zinc(II) ion in 1-5 is six-coordinated with five (1)/four (2-5) methylmalonate-oxygen atoms, a water molecule (1-5) and a nitrogen atom from a L ligand (2-5) building distorted octahedral environments. The rod-like L co-ligands in 2-5 appear as useful tools to control the interlayer metal-metal separation, which covers the range 8.4311(5) Å (2) – 9.644(3) Å (5). The influence of the co-ligand on the fluorescence properties of this series of compounds has been analyzed and discussed by steady-state and time resolved spectroscopy on all five compounds in the solid state.     

Synthesis of novel photolabile glycosides from methyl 4,6-O-(o-nitro)benzylidene-α-d-glycopyranosides

Novel photolabile sugar derivatives bearing a 4- or 6-O-(o-nitro)benzyl group have been prepared from the corresponding methyl 4,6-O-(o-nitro)benzylidene α-d-glycopyranosides. Regioselective cleavage with BF₃·Et₂O/Et₃SiH led to the methyl 6-O-(o-nitro)benzyl gluco- and manno-α-d-glycopyranosides 3 and 6. Inversion of configuration at 4-OH position of gluco and manno derivatives offered the otherwise inaccessible methyl 6-O-(o-nitro)benzyl galacto- and talo-α-d-glycopyranosides 4, 5, and 7. Careful reaction with PhBCl₂/Et₃SiH (3 equiv of reagents, 10 min at −78 °C) led to the desired methyl 4-O-(o-nitro)benzyl gluco- and manno-α-d-glycopyranosides 8 and 9 in very good yield. However, prolonged reaction with 6 equiv of PhBCl₂/Et₃SiH transformed the methyl 4,6-O-(o-nitro)benzylidene α-d-glucopyranoside 11 into the reduced d-glucitol derivative 15. Oxidative cleavage of 5,6-diol function of 15 gave the corresponding photolabile l-xylose 17. The photolabile glucosides 3 and 8 have been further transformed into the photolabile α-C-allyl d-glucopyranosides 20 and 22.     

Montamine, a unique dimeric indole alkaloid, from the seeds of Centaurea montana (Asteraceae), and its in vitro cytotoxic activity against the CaCo2 colon cancer cells

Reversed-phase HPLC analysis of the methanol extract of the seeds of Centaurea montana afforded a flavanone, montanoside (4), six epoxylignans, berchemol (7), berchemol 4′-O-β-d-glucoside (5), pinoresinol (10), pinoresinol 4-O-β-d-glucoside (8), pinoresinol 4,4′-di-O-β-d-glucoside (6), pinoresinol 4-O-apiose-(1→2)-β-d-glucoside (9), two quinic acid derivatives, trans-3-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid (1), cis-3-O-p-coumaroylquinic acid (2), and eight indole alkaloids, tryptamine (3), N-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)-5-hydroxytryptamine (11), cis-N-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)-5-hydroxytryptamine (12), centcyamine (16), cis-centcyamine (17), moschamine (13), cis-moschamine (14) and a dimeric indole alkaloid, montamine (15). While the structures of two new compounds, montanoside (4) and montamine (15), were established unequivocally by UV, IR, MS and a series of 1D and 2D NMR analyses, all known compounds were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic data with literature data. The antioxidant properties of these compounds were assessed by the DPPH assay, and their toxicity towards brine shrimps and cytotoxicity against CaCo-2 colon cancer cells were evaluated by the brine shrimp lethality and the MTT cytotoxicity assays, respectively. The novel dimer, montamine (15), showed significant in vitro anticolon cancer activity (IC₅₀=43.9 μM) while that of the monomer, moschamine (13), was of a moderate level (IC₅₀=81.0 μM).     

A common approach to the total synthesis of l-arabino-, l-ribo-C18-phytosphingosines, ent-2-epi-jaspine B and 3-epi-jaspine B from d-mannose

A common strategy for the total syntheses of the protected l-arabino- and l-ribo-C₁₈-phytosphingosine (8 and 9, respectively), HCl salts of ent-2-epi-jaspine B (ent-6) and 3-epi-jaspine B (7) with efficient use of both flexible building blocks 26 and 27 was achieved. The key step of this approach was [3,3]-sigmatropic rearrangement of allylic trichloroacetimidate 21 and thiocyanate 22, which were derived from the known 2,3:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-d-mannofuranose 18 as the source of chirality. The side chain functionality was installed utilizing a Wittig reaction.     

A search for kinase inhibitors and antibacterial agents: bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles from a deep-water Great Australian Bight sponge, Axinella sp.

Biological screening of a deep-water Great Australian Bight marine sponge, Axinella sp., detected inhibition against the neurodegenerative disease kinase targets CDK5/p25, CK1δ, and GSK3β, as well as significant levels of antibacterial activity. Chemical fractionation returned 18 secondary metabolites identified by detailed spectroscopic analysis as three new bromopyrrolo-2-aminoimidazoles, 14-O-sulfate massadine (1), 14-O-methyl massadine (2), and 3-O-methyl massadine chloride (3), together with the known metabolites massadine chloride (4), massadine (5), stylissadine B (6), axinellamines A-C (7-9), hymenin (10), stevensine (also known as odiline) (11), tauroacidin A (12), hymenidin (13), taurodispacamide A (14), oroidin (15), debromohymenialdisine (16), hymenialdisine (17), and aldisin (18). Armed with this focused natural product chemical diversity library, we re-established that 16 and 17 were nM kinase inhibitors, and determined that 3, 6, and 12-15 were sub μM antibacterials.     

Total synthesis of reblastatin: convenient preparation of coupling partners and scaled assembly

Potentially scalable total synthesis of reblastatin was achieved based on Panek's previous study. Novel and convenient synthetic routes were developed for the known C8–C20 and C1–C7 coupling partners. The challenging C8–C20 fragment was prepared from TBS protected (S)-5-(hydroxymethyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (6) in nine steps (20% overall yield), and the C1–C7 fragment was synthesized from commercially available 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-d-glucal (9) in eight steps (35% overall yield). On a larger scale, Panek's eight-step assembly of the target molecule from the two partners was also slightly modified, giving 45 mg reblastatin (19% overall yield) in the first batch synthesis. Notable feature of our study is the settlement of the C14 chirality through a diastereoselective α-alkylation of 6 followed by a three-step full reduction of the lactone carboxyl, making vastly available 6 a universally applicable C11–C14 synthon for benzenoid/benzoquinone ansamycins.     

Nitrosation of hydrochlorothiazide and the modes of binding of the N-nitroso derivative with two macrocycles possessing an 18-membered crown ether cavity

The hydrochlorothiazide, 6-chloro-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-7-sulfonamide-1,1-dioxide, (HCTZ), widely used as a diuretic and anti-hypertensive drug, was transformed into its N-nitroso-derivative, 6-chloro-4-nitroso-3,4-dihydro-2H-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-7-sulfonamide-1,1-dioxide (ON-HCTZ) by sodium nitrite in an acidic medium. The crystalline complexes of ON-HCTZ with 18-crown-6 (18C6) and cis-anti-cis-dicyclohexyl-18C6 (DCH6B) demonstrated different H-bonding modes from those present in the co-crystals of HCTZ with the same crown ethers. The influence of the nitroso-group on the binding mode and crystal packing is discussed.