AsLn2, a luciferin-related modified tripeptide from the bioluminescent earthworm Fridericia heliota

AsLn2, an unusual modified peptide, was isolated from the bioluminescent earthworm Fridericia heliota (Enchytraeidae). Its structure, elucidated by NMR and mass spectrometry, includes residues of tyrosine, CompX (a novel tyrosine modification product, reported in the accompanying paper), and N(omega)-acylated lysine. Chromatography, UV, and ¹H NMR data imply a close structural similarity of AsLn2 with F. heliota luciferin. AsLn2 appears to be an intermediate or by-product in F. heliota luciferin biosynthesis.     

Isolation, structure elucidation, and total synthesis of two new Chimonanthus alkaloids, chimonamidine and chimonanthidine

Two new tryptamine-related alkaloids, chimonamidine and chimonanthidine, were isolated from the seeds of Chimonanthus praecox Link. and their structures including absolute configuration were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and biomimetic total synthesis from tryptamine.     

Synthesis of Latia luciferin benzoate analogues and their bioluminescent activity

The bioluminescent system of the univalve shell Latia neritoides exhibits a luciferin-luciferase reaction. We study the enol formate structure of Latia luciferin, which is expected to be important for luminescent activity. The Latia luciferin analogues with an enol substituted benzoate moiety were synthesized and their bioluminescent activity was measured. The Latia luciferin benzoate analogues delay emission for natural luciferin in bioluminescence, indicating that the Latia bioluminescent activity can be controlled by the design of the enol ester.     

Total synthesis of alboatrin, a phytotoxic metabolite from Verticillium alboatrum

A synthesis of the phytotoxic metabolite alboatrin 1 is described. An intramolecular ketene-olefin cycloaddition followed by an oxidative ring enlargement was employed to generate the tricyclic ring system.     

Concise total synthesis of (3Z,6Z,9S,10R)-9,10-epoxy-1,3,6-heneicosatriene, sex pheromone component of Hyphantria Cunea

The total synthesis of (3Z,6Z,9S,10R)-9,10-epoxy-1,3,6-heneicosatriene, sex pheromone component of Hyphantria cunea, using a convergent synthetic strategy, was achieved through the regioselective coupling of the two fragments, chiral epoxy tosylate and 1,4-diyne. The former fragment was synthesized in two efficient and convenient approaches starting from the same available material using Sharpless AE kinetic resolution as the key step.     

The first total synthesis of acutifolone A, a pinguisane-type sesquiterpenoid isolated from the Japanese liverwort Porella acutifolia subsp. tosana

The first total synthesis of acutifolone A, a sesquiterpenoid carrying the bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane structure 1, was successfully achieved from the intermediate 6 produced by the intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction.     

A new isochroman-4-one derivative from the peel of Musa sapientum L. and its total synthesis

A new isochroman-4-one,7,8-dihydroxy-3-methylisochroman-4-one was isolated from water soluble fraction of Musa sapientum L.Its structure was determined by spectroscopic evidences and its total synthesis has also been reported.The compound showed potent antihypertensive activity.     

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.     

A transition metal-free approach to a regioselective total synthesis of the natural product derivative 6-methylellipticine,a potent anticancer agent

A transition metal-free and regioselective total synthesis of 6-methylellipticine, a potent anticancer agent, was developed. This synthetic approach mainly involved two key reactions: a direct amination of multi-functional phenol via an alkylation-Smiles rearrangement protocol, and an intramolecular C–H bond arylation reaction promoted by potassium tert-butoxide. These reactions resulted in the formation of two key intermediates, diarylamine and carbazole derivative, under transition metal-free conditions. The last cyclization afforded the target product 6-methylellipticine.     

A stereoselective approach for the total synthesis of (5R,7R,9R)-7,9-dihydroxy-5-decanolide#

A stereoselective approach for the total synthesis of lactone (5R,7R,9R)-7,9-dihydroxy-5-decanolide is described. The sequence of synthetic reactions involves a Keck asymmetric allylation, diastereoselective iodo-carbonate cyclization, regioselective ring-opening reaction, oxidative lactonization.     

Total synthesis of (+)-xyloketal D, a secondary metabolite from the mangrove fungus Xylaria sp.

(+)-Xyloketal D was prepared in a one-pot multistep domino reaction by heating optically active 5-hydroxy-4-methyl-3-methylenepentan-2-one (R) in toluene with 2,4-dihydroxyacetophenone. The absolute configuration of the natural product was confirmed by preparation of the starting enone from a lactone of established absolute configuration.     

Isolation and total syntheses of two new alkaloids, dubiusamines-A, and -B, from Pandanus dubius

Chemical investigation of the crude base of Pandanus dubius led to the isolation of two new alkaloids, dubiusamine-A (1) and dubiusamine-B (2). The structures of the two alkaloids including their absolute configuration were unambiguously confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR analysis and asymmetric total synthesis.     

A simple and efficient total synthesis of (±)-danshexinkun A, a bioactive diterpenoid from Salvia miltiorrhiza

An efficient 12-step route for the synthesis of the diterpenoid quinone (±)-danshexinkun A in 23% overall yield from the corresponding highly substituted stilbene using a photocyclization strategy is described.     

Structure elucidation and stereoselective total synthesis of pavettamine, the causal agent of gousiekte

The structure elucidation of a novel natural product pavettamine (1), the causal agent of the plant toxicosis gousiekte, is reported. The structure was defined by analysis of NMR and MS data and the relative configuration followed from the ¹³C NMR data of the acetonide derivative. The absolute stereochemistry was established by total synthesis from (2S)-malic acid using chiral sulfoxide methodology as (2S,4R,8R,10S)-1,11-diamino-6-aza-undecane-2,4,8,10-tetraol.     

Total synthesis of (9S,12R,13S)-pinellic acid

The total synthesis of (9S,12R,13S)-pinellic acid, a novel and potentially useful oral adjuvant, isolated from Pinelliae tuber has been accomplished.     

Total synthesis of a dienynone from Echinacea pallida

The first total synthesis of (8Z,13Z)-pentadeca-8,13-dien-11-yn-2-one is described. This dienynone was recently isolated from the n-hexane extract of Echinacea pallida roots and displayed a selective cytotoxic activity toward cancer cells, thus featuring as a potential anticancer lead. The product was obtained in 11 steps in 25% overall yield.     

Structure and synthesis of a derivative of fasciculiferin,a novel peltogynoid from Acacia fasciculifera

The structure and synthesis of the 5-O-ethyl-2,3,10-tril-O-methyl derivative of fasciculiferin (5-hydroxypeltogynin) a natural peltogynoid which exhibits an intermediate oxidation state of the C-5 methylene function in the D-ring are described.     

Total synthesis of (3S,4S,2′S)- and (3R,4R,2′S)-viridiofungin A triester

The total synthesis of an alkylcitrate secondary metabolite from the fungi Trichoderma viride is described. An ester dienolate [2,3]-Wittig rearrangement and a S. Julia-Kocienski olefination served as key C/C-connecting transformations. The highly convergent synthesis consists of a longest linear sequence of 17 steps.     

First total synthesis of the anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediator 16(R),17(S)-diHDHA

The first total synthesis of the anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving lipid mediator 16(R),17(S)-diHDHA, derived from docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and its 16-epimer have been achieved. Two synthetic approaches are described for the synthesis of 16(R),17(S)-diHDHA. The first strategy started from DHA and used an enzymatic reaction, a vanadium catalyzed allylic epoxidation and a base-promoted epoxide isomerization. The second approach utilized a chiral pool strategy starting from 2-deoxy-d-ribose to establish the chiral centers; Wittig reactions, mild acetonide cleavage and ester hydrolysis were the key steps in the synthesis.     

Syntheses and evaluation of the bioluminescent activity of (S)-Cypridina luciferin and its analogs

Cypridina luciferin is the substrate in the bioluminescence of a luminous ostracod Cypridina (Vargula) hilgendorfii. Cypridina luciferin contains a chiral center in the sec-butyl moiety. Here, we report a convenient method for the preparation of (S)-Cypridina luciferin by the condensation of (S)-1,1-diethoxy-3-methylpentan-2-one with ethioluciferin. The light yield of the synthesized (S)-luciferin in the presence of Cypridina luciferase was about 1.7 times as active as that of racemic form. Furthermore, several luciferin analogs prepared by the same condensation with different α-ketoacetal derivatives showed moderate light yield with Cypridina luciferase. These readily available Cypridina luciferin and analogs are applicable to the bioluminescent detection of Cypridina luciferase.