New briaranes from the octocorals Briareum excavatum (Briareidae) and Junceella fragilis (Ellisellidae)

Six 12-hydroxybriaranes, including four new diterpenoids, briaexcavatins I-L (1-4), and two known metabolites, excavatolides C (5) and E (6), have been isolated from the cultured scleraxonia Briareum excavatum. In addition, the gorgonian coral Junceella fragilis yielded a new chlorinated briarane, fragilide C (10). The structures of above compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods and the structures of 5 and 6 were further confirmed by X-ray data analysis for the first time. The absolute configuration of 6 was elucidated by chemical conversion. Some of these briaranes have displayed inhibitory effects on superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils.     

New 8-hydroxybriarane diterpenoids from the gorgonians Junceella juncea and Junceella fragilis (Ellisellidae)

Four new 8-hydroxybriarane diterpenoids, including junceols A-C (1-3) and fragilide D (4), have been isolated from the gorgonian corals Junceella juncea and Junceella fragilis, respectively. The structures of briaranes 1-4 were elucidated by the interpretations of spectral data analysis. Briaranes 1-3 have displayed inhibitory effects on superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils.     

Discovery of novel sesquiterpenoids from a gorgonian Menella sp.

A novel sesquiterpenoid, menelloide A (1), which was found to possess a new carbon skeleton, and a new guaiane-type sesquiterpenoid, menelloide B (2), along with (+)-chloranthalactone B (3), an enantiomer of the known sesquiterpenoid, chloranthalactone B (4), were isolated from a gorgonian coral identified as Menella sp. The structures of sesquiterpenoids 1-3 were established by spectroscopic methods and by comparison of the data with those of related metabolites. Sesquiterpenoids 1 and 3 displayed inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anion by human neutrophils.     

Excavatoids A-D, new polyoxygenated briaranes from the octocoral Briareum excavatum

Three polyoxygenated briaranes, including two new compounds, excavatoids A (1) and B (2), and a known metabolite, briaexcavatin I (3), were isolated from the cultured octocoral Briareum excavatum. Moreover, the wild type B. excavatum, collected off southern Taiwan coast, yielded two new 5,6-epoxybriaranes, excavatoids C (4) and D (5). The structures of new compounds 1, 2, 4, and 5 were determined by spectroscopic methods and the structure of 1 was further confirmed by X-ray diffraction data analysis. The X-ray structure for briaexcavatin I (3) was also reported for the first time. Excavatoid A (1) is the first briarane which possesses six hydroxy groups and a 17-methoxy group. Excavatoid C (4) is the first 12,13-secobriarane which possesses a novel pentacyclic skeleton with an ?-lactone. Excavatoid D (5) displayed moderate inhibitory effects on superoxide anion generation and elastase release by human neutrophils.     

Isolation and synthesis of N-acyladenine and adenosine alkaloids from a southern Australian marine sponge, Phoriospongia sp.

Chemical fractionation of the southern Australian marine sponge Phoriospongia sp. (CMB-03107) yielded phorioadenine A (1) as a nematocidal agent and the first reported example of a 6-N-acyladenine natural product. The structure of 1 was confirmed by spectroscopic analysis and the chemical synthesis of racemic (1a) and enantiomeric (1b) analogues. HPLC–ESIMS analysis of the crude sponge extract with comparisons to the synthetic 6-N-acyladenosine 2a provided evidence that the biosynthetically related adenosine, phorioadenosine A (2), was present as a trace co-metabolite. The rare starfish metabolite asterubine (3) was also isolated as a co-metabolite, and its structure confirmed by spectroscopic analysis and chemical synthesis. Biological investigations confirmed that natural products 1–3 and synthetic analogues 1a–e and 2a were not cytotoxic to multiple mammalian cancer cell lines, or Gram-positive or -negative bacteria. Nematocidal activity (inhibition of larval development of Haemonchus contortus) detected in the Phoriospongia sp. extract was attributed to 1 (LD₉₉ 31 μg/mL), with preliminary structure–activity relationship investigations confirming the importance of the N-acyl side chain.     

Salviatalin A and salvitrijudin A, two diterpenes with novel skeletons from roots of Salvia digitaloides and anti-inflammatory evaluation

Salviatalin A (1) and salvitrijudin A (2), two diterpenes with novel skeletons, were isolated from the roots of Salvia digitaloides. Their structures were determined using 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESI-MS spectroscopic analyses. Salviatalin A (1) from bioassay-guided fractionation showed a potent inhibitory effect on superoxide anion production in GMLP/CB-activated human neutrophils as well as other anti-inflammatory effects. A plausible biosynthetic pathway is also discussed.     

Lyconadins C and F, new Lycopodium alkaloids from Lycopodium complanatum

New Lycopodium alkaloids, lyconadins C (1) and F (2), were isolated from the club moss Lycopodium complanatum. Lyconadin C (1) is a new C₁₆N₂-type Lycopodium alkaloid possessing unique fused-tetracyclic ring system consisting of a cycloheptene ring fused to a decahydroquinoline and pyridone rings. Lyconadin F (2) possesses a primary amide moiety in its molecular, which is the first example of Lycopodium alkaloids. Biogenetically, lyconadins C (1) and F (2) might be related to lyconadins A (4) and B (5). The structures and relative stereochemistry of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The absolute stereochemistry of 2 was elucidated by chemical correlations with lyconadin B (5) through hemiaminal form of lyconadin F (3).     

Five novel norcembranoids from Sinularia leptoclados and S. parva

Three new norcembrane-based diterpenoids, leptocladolides A (1), B (4) and C (5), along with five known metabolites 6-10, have been isolated from the dichloromethane extract of a Taiwanese soft coral Sinularia leptoclados. Furthermore, a chemical investigation on the dichloromethane extract of S. parva has resulted in the isolation of two new related isomers, 1-epi-leptocladolide A (2) and 7E-leptocladolide A (3), in addition to 1 and 7. The structures of new metabolites 1-5 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses and their relative stereochemistries were determined by NOESY experiments. The new metabolites 1 and 3 have been shown to exhibit significant cytotoxic activity against KB and Hepa59T/VGH cancer cell lines.     

Stabilization of (N-methyleneamino)imidoylketenes: synthesis of dipyrazolo[1,2-a;1′,2′-d][1,2,4,5]tetrazines

Thermolysis of substituted methyl 1-methyleneamino-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates 2a,b led to substituted dimethyl 3,9-dioxo-1,5,7,11-tetrahydro-1H,7H-dipyrazolo[1,2-a;1′,2′-d][1,2,4,5]tetrazine-1,7-dicarboxylates 4a,b and methyl 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylates 5a,b as minor products. The structure of compound 4a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The proposed mechanism of this conversion includes generation of (N-methyleneamino)imidoylketenes 6a,b and its intramolecular transformation to azomethine imines—5-oxo-2,5-dihydropyrazole-1-methylium-2-ides 7a,b, which undergo dimerization in head-to-tail manner yielding products 4a,b and partially hydrolyse to compounds 5a,b.     

Briarenolide J,the first 12-chlorobriarane diterpenoid from an octocoral Briareum sp. (Briareidae)

A novel 6,12-dichlorobriarane diterpenoid, briarenolide J (1), was isolated from an octocoral identified as Briareum sp. The structure of briarane 1 was elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Briarenolide J (1) is the first metabolite of a briarane-related natural product found to possess a chlorine atom at C-12 and this compound was found to display inhibitory effects on the generation of superoxide anions and the release of elastase by human neutrophils with IC₅₀ values of 14.98 and 9.96 μM, respectively.     

Asymmetric synthetic study of macrolactin analogues

We designed two aromatic analogues 1a and 1b of macrolactin A with expectation of enhancing biological activity and metabolical stability. As a result of retrosynthetic analysis of these compounds 1a-b, two synthetic strategies have been examined. The first strategy includes the enantioselective addition of nonadienyl anion, derived from 3, to aldehyde 4 as a key step. The second one includes epimerization of ynone 7 to (E,E)-conjugated dienone 31 and subsequent diastereoselective hydride-reduction of 31. Although the former route furnished no desired target, the latter one was revealed to work well for the synthesis of 1. Unfortunately, the aimed (2Z,4E)-analogue 1a could not be synthesized due to an epimerization of the (2Z)-olefin into the (2E)-olefin. However, these methods could be applied to the total asymmetric synthesis of the (2E,4E)-analogue 1b. Overall, control of all of the four stereocenters was achieved by means of asymmetric and diastereoselective reactions without using any chiral natural sources.     

Reaction of (1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-ylidene)propanedinitrile with N-arylisoindolines

In a multistep reaction, 3,3′-(2-aryl-2H-isoindol-1,3-ylene)-di-(1,4-naphthoquinone-2-carbonitriles) 13a-f have been formed in 25-61% yield from a series of N-arylisoindolines 8a-f with (1,3-dioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-inden-2-ylidene)propanedinitrile (1) in aerated pyridine. The structure of one of these products (13f) has been unambiguously confirmed by a single crystal X-ray structure analysis. Under otherwise the same conditions, 2-(3-methoxyphenyl)-isoindoline (8g) and 1 gave 38% of [4-(2,3-dihydro-1H-isoindol-2-yl)-2-methoxyphenyl]-1,3-dioxoindan-2-ylidene)acetonitrile (15). Rationales for these conversions involving the known rearrangement of the radical anion of 1 into the radical anion of 1,4-naphthoquinone-2,3-dicarbonitrile (3) are presented.     

Polyketide derivatives of endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. isolated from the Chinese mangrove plant Rhizophora mucronata

A detailed chemical investigation of the minor metabolites produced by the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. isolated from the Chinese mangrove Rhizophora mucronata afforded sixteen new compounds of polyketide origin, including pestalotiopyrones A-H (1-8), pestalotiopisorin A (10), pestalotiollides A-B (11-12), pestalotiopin A (13), and four amides pestalotiopamides A-D (14-17), along with three known compounds, nigrosporapyrone D (9), 2-anhydromevalonic acid (18), and p-hydroxy benzaldehyde (19). The structures of all compounds were unambiguously established from their spectroscopic data that included HR-ESIMS and 1- and 2-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, and by comparison with the literature.     

Feroniellins A-C, novel cytotoxic furanocoumarins with highly oxygenated C10 moieties from Feroniella lucida

Three new furanocoumarins, named feroniellins A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from the roots of Feroniella lucida. Compounds 1-3 are novel structures having an oxolane, oxane, and oxepane moiety. Their overall structures and configurations were determined by spectral and chemical methods. The cytotoxicities of 1-3 were evaluated against human KB and HeLa carcinoma cells.     

Absolute stereostructures of inoterpenes A-F from sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus

Six new lanostane-type triterpenes, inoterpenes A (1), B (2), C (3), D (4), E (5), and F (6), were isolated from the sclerotia of Inonotus obliquus together with six known constituents. The chemical structures of new triterpenes 1-6 were characterized on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence including the application of the modified Mosher's method.     

Cycloaddition of methyl 2-(2,6-dichorophenyl)-2H-azirine-3-carboxylate to electron-rich 2-azadienes

tert-Butyldimethylsililoxy-2-aza-1,3-butadienes react with 2H-azirine 3 leading to Diels-Alder cycloadducts in moderate yields. The reactions are endo- and regioselective with the azirine being added by its less hindered face. There is only one product in the case of 1b, 4b. There are two isomers (4 and 5) from 1a, 1c and 1d. A different result was obtained with the diene 1e. Diene 1e formed products 4e and 8. Some of compounds 4 and 5 have been hydrolysed leading to functionalised aziridines 7. Compound 8 gave aziridine 9.     

Photoinduced cycloadditions of N-methyl-1,8-naphthalenedicarboximides with alkynes

Photoinduced cycloadditions of N-methyl-1,8-naphthalenedicarboximide 1 with phenylacetylenes 2a-2c, cyclopropylacetylene 2d, diphenylacetylenes 2e-2f and 1-phenylpropyne 2g were investigated. In the case of phenylacetylenes 2a, 2b and cyclopropylacetylene 2c, photoreaction with 1 takes place at the naphthalene C(1)C(2) bond to give the cyclobutene products. For 4-methoxyphenylacetylene 1c, the cyclobutene 3c is obtained together with the 4-benzo[a]thebenidinone 4c derived from a primary oxetene product formed by [2+2] addition of the imide carbonyl with the alkyne. Similar to 2c, photocycloaddition of 1 with 2e and 2f gave the cyclobutenes 7e, 7f, 8f and the 4-benzo[a]thebenidinone products 9e, 9f and 10f, respectively, derived from the corresponding oxetenes. Photoreaction of 1 with 2g gave cyclobutene 7g and benzo[a]thebenidinone 9g. Sensitization experiment and internal heavy atom effect study showed that these reactions proceed from the ππ* singlet excited state of 1. Estimation of the free energy change for electron transfer between ¹1* and the alkynes and the calculation of charge and spin density distribution in the anion radical of 1 and the cation radical of the alkynes suggested that the cyclobutene products are formed by direct [2+2] cycloaddition of ¹1* with the alkyne, while the formation of the oxetene products is the result of electron transfer interaction between ¹1* and the alkyne. The regioselectivity in the oxetene formation is accounted for by charge and spin density distribution in the anion radical of 1 and the cation radical of the alkyne.     

Cytotoxic dimeric sesquiterpenoids from Curcuma parviflora: isolation of three new parviflorenes and absolute stereochemistry of parviflorenes A, B, D, F, and G

Three novel dimeric sesquiterpenoids, named parviflorenes G-I (1-3), have been isolated from Curcuma parviflora (Zingiberaceae), and their structures were elucidated by means of spectroscopic studies. Absolute stereochemistry of parviflorene G (1) as well as previously isolated related compounds, parviflorenes A (4), B (5), D (6), and F (7), was revealed by CD spectral data and chemical means. Parviflorenes G (1) and I (3) were cytotoxic against HeLa cells, while parviflorenes A (4) and F (7) were cytotoxic against all tested tumor cell lines in the human cancer cell line panel assay.     

Orthidines A-E, tubastrine, 3,4-dimethoxyphenethyl-β-guanidine, and 1,14-sperminedihomovanillamide: potential anti-inflammatory alkaloids isolated from the New Zealand ascidian Aplidium orthium that act as inhibitors of neutrophil respiratory burst

In addition to the known dihydroxystyrylguanidine alkaloid tubastrine (1), five new dimers, orthidines A-E (2-6) and the biosynthetically unrelated 1,14-sperminedihomovanillamide (orthidine F, 7) were isolated from the New Zealand ascidian Aplidium orthium. The structures of the new compounds, elucidated by interpretation of spectroscopic data, encompass benzodioxane neolignan-type scaffolds (2-5) and a 1,2,3,4-tetrasubstituted cyclobutane (6), the latter likely having arisen via [_π2_s+_π2_s] dimerization of tubastrine. The subunit head-to-tail orientation of dimer 6 was established unambiguously by interpretation of data from a ²J,³J-HMBC NMR experiment. The structure of 7 was also confirmed by facile synthesis. Compounds 1-4, 6, and 7 inhibited the in vitro production of superoxide by PMA-stimulated human neutrophils in a dose-dependent manner with IC₅₀s of 10-36 μM and this was associated with inhibition of superoxide production by neutrophils in vivo in a murine model of gouty inflammation.     

Senepodines B-E, new C22N2 alkaloids from Lycopodium chinense

Four new C₂₂N₂Lycopodium alkaloids, senepodines B-E (2-5), consisting of an octahydroquinoline ring and a quinolizidine ring have been isolated together with senepodine A (1) from the club moss Lycopodium chinense. The relative and absolute stereochemistry of 2-5 were determined by combination of NOESY correlations and chemical transformation, while the absolute configuration of 1 was assigned by exciton chirality method.