Electrochemical transformations and evaluation of antioxidant activity of some Schiff bases containing ferrocenyl and (thio‐)phenol,catechol fragments

Electrochemical transformations and antioxidant activity of some Schiff bases 1 – 5 containing ferrocenyl group and (thio‐)phenol, catechol fragments were investigated. Compounds under investigation are: 2‐(ferrocenylmethylene)amino)phenol ( 1 ), 2‐((ferrocenylmethylene)amino)‐4,6‐di‐tert‐butylphenol ( 2 ), 2‐((ferrocenylmethylene)amino)‐thiophenol ( 3 ), 3‐((ferrocenylmethylene)hydrazonomethyl)‐4,6‐di‐tert‐butylcatechol ( 4 ) and 2‐((3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxybenzylidene)amino)thiophenol ( 5 ). In a case of compounds 1 – 3 it has shown that the sequence of electrochemical transformations leads to the products of intramolecular cyclization – 2‐ferrocenylbenzoxazole (benzothiazole). o‐Quinone formation occurs during the electrochemical oxidation of catechol‐ferrocene 4 at the first anode stage. Electrochemical oxidation of the redox‐active fragments in Schiff bases 1–4 can be achieved indirectly at a lower potential corresponding to the oxidation of ferrocenyl moiety, consequently these substances can reveal more pronounced antioxidant properties. The antioxidant activities of the compounds were evaluated using 2,2′‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) assay, the reaction of 2,2′‐azobis(2‐amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH) induced glutathione depletion (GSH), the oxidative damage of the DNA, the process of lipid peroxidation of rat (Wistar) brain homogenates in vitro. The compounds 1–4 in the antioxidant assays show effectiveness comparable with standard antioxidants (vitamin E, Trolox) and in some parameters superior to them. In the reaction of AAPH with the glutathione compounds 2–5 have a more pronounced protective activity than Trolox. Compounds 1–5 inhibit AAPH induced oxidation damage of the DNA. The more effective inhibitors of the lipid peroxidation process in vitro are molecules containing the bulky tert‐butyl groups: 2 and 4 and Schiff base 3 .     

A New Prenylated Isoflavone and a New Flavonol Glycoside from Flemingia philippinensis

A new prenylated isoflavonoid, flemiphilippinin G ( 1 ), and a new flavonol glycoside, flemiphilippininside ( 2 ), along with eleven known isoflavonoids were obtained from the roots of Flemingia philippinensis (Merr. et Rolfe) Li . Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. The in vitro cytotoxicities of compounds 1 – 13 against MCF‐7, A549, and Hep‐G2 cell lines were determined by using the MTT (=3‐(4,5‐dimethylthazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide) colorimetric assay, and their antioxidant activities were evaluated by ferric‐reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method. Compound 1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against all the tested cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 4.8–7.3 μM , and compound 2 was found to be inactive. Both compounds 1 and 2 showed weak antioxidant activities with FRAP values of 110±15 and 124±16 μmol/g, respectively.     

New Antioxidant Phenolic Glucosides from Viburnum dilatatum

Chemical investigation of the fruits of Viburnum dilatatum Thunb. resulted in the isolation and characterization of four new phenolic glycosides, jiamiziosides A–D ( 1 – 4 ), together with five known compounds. Their structures were established by spectroscopic means and by comparison with the literature values. The antioxidant activities of the new isolates were determined against 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (=2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐(2,4,6‐trinitrophenyl)hydrazinyl; DPPH) and superoxide radicals. Among the compounds tested, jiamizioside C ( 3 ) possesses the most potent inhibitory scavenging effect on DPPH and superoxide radicals with IC₅₀ values of 16.8 and 17.8 μM , respectively.     

Bisabolane‐Type Sesquiterpenoids from the Rhizomes of Glochidion coccineum

A novel bisabolane‐type sesquiterpenoid lactone, glochicoccin A ( 1 ), and three new norbisabolane sesquiterpenoids, glochicoccins B–D ( 2 – 4 ), together with two known norbisabolane sesquiterpenoids, phyllaemblic acid ( 5 ) and phyllaemblic acid methyl ester ( 6 ), were isolated from the rhizomes of Glochidion coccineum. Their structures were elucidated by different spectroscopic (IR, UV, NMR) and mass‐spectrometric (MS) techniques. The structure and relative configuration of 1 was confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction (Fig. 2). None of the compounds were found to exhibit cytotoxic or antioxidant activities.     

Itosides A – I,New Phenolic Glycosides from Itoa orientalis

Eight new benzoylated gentisyl alcohol (=2‐(hydroxymethyl)benzene‐1,4‐diol) glucosides, itosides A–H ( 1 – 8 ), together with the new pyrocatechol (=benzene‐1,2‐diol) glycoside itoside I ( 9 ) were isolated from the bark and twigs of Itoa orientalis (Flacourtiaceae). In itosides B–D ( 2 – 4 ), the gentisyl alcohol moiety was esterified by 1‐hydroxy‐6‐oxocyclohex‐2‐ene‐1‐carboxylic acid, while itosides E–H ( 5 – 8 ) contained instead an additional 2‐hydroxybenzoic acid moiety. The compounds were accompanied by the known derivatives 4‐hydroxytremulacin ( 10 ), poliothyrsoside ( 11 ), poliothyrsin ( 12 ), homaloside D ( 13 ), tremulacin, and pyrocatechol β‐D ‐glucopyranoside. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral and chemical methods.     

Synthesis,spectral characterization,and biological evaluation of imidazole‐substituted pyridine‐2‐amine and benzo‐substituted imidazole‐2‐amine

A series of new imidazole‐substituted pyridine‐2‐amine and benzo‐substituted imidazol‐2‐amine 3 – 12 were synthesized by treating various amines 1(a – d) with alkyl/aryl isothiocyanate 2(a‐c) at 60–90°C in isopropyl alcohol without using any catalyst with high yields. The structures of all the newly synthesized compounds were characterized using IR, NMR (¹H, ¹³C), mass, and elemental analyses. All the newly synthesized compounds were screened for their in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities to understand their biological potency. All the title compounds exhibited good antioxidant and antimicrobial activities in vitro when compared to the standard drugs.     

Two New Prenylated Xanthones from the Pericarp of Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen)

Two new prenylated xanthones (=9H‐xanthen‐9‐ones), garcimangosxanthones D ( 1 ) and E ( 2 ), together with the six known xanthones 3 – 8 , were isolated from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana. Their structures were determined by analysis of their spectroscopic data. All of the isolated compounds were biologically evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against A549, Hep‐G2, and MCF‐7 human‐cancer cell lines and antioxidant activity. Compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against Hep‐G2 (IC₅₀=19.2 μM ) and weak cytotoxicity against MCF‐7 (IC₅₀=62.8 μM ) cell lines, and compound 2 showed moderate cytotoxicity against A549, Hep‐G2, and MCF‐7 cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 12.5–20.0 μM (Table 2). Both compounds 1 and 2 demonstrated a weak antioxidant activity with ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values of 41±7 and 130±4 μmol/g, respectively (Table 3).     

Eupatozansins A – C,Sesquiterpene Lactones from Eupatorium chinense var. tozanense

Phytochemical investigation of Eupatorium chinense var. tozanense has resulted in the isolation of three new germacranolides, designated as eupatozansins A–C ( 1 – 3 ), along with five known compounds, (5S,6R,7R,8R)‐8‐angeloyloxy‐2‐oxoguaia‐1(10),3,11(13)‐trien‐12,6‐olide ( 4 ), costunolide ( 5 ), leptocarpin ( 6 ), 2α‐hydroxyeupatolide 8‐O‐angelate ( 7 ), and quercetin ( 8 ). The structures of the new compounds were identified by 1D and 2D NMR experiments, as well as high‐resolution mass spectrometry. The in vitro cytotoxic activities of compounds 1 – 8 were evaluated.     

Radical Cyclization Reactions via Manganese(III) Acetate Leading to 2‐Thienyl‐Substituted Dihydrofuran Compounds

The 2‐thienyl‐substituted 4,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives 3 – 8 were obtained by the radical cyclization reaction of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds 1a – 1f with 2‐thienyl‐substituted conjugated alkenes 2a – 2e by using [Mn(OAc)₃] (Tables 1–5). In this study, reactions of 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds 1a – 1e with alkenes 2a – 2c gave 4,5‐dihydrofuran derivatives 3 – 5 in high yields (Tables 1–3). Also the cyclic alkenes 2d and 2e gave the dihydrobenzofuran compounds, i.e., 6 and 7 in good yields (Table 4). Interestingly, the reaction of benzoylacetone (=1‐phenylbutane‐1,3‐dione; 1f ) with some alkenes gave two products due to generation of two stable carbocation intermediates (Table 5).     

Novel Approach for Rapid and Efficient Synthesis of 2‐(3‐(4‐Aryl)‐1‐isonicotinoyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐3‐phenylthiazolidin‐4‐one Derivatives and Screened Their Antimicrobial Activity

A series of compounds, viz. 2‐(3‐(4‐aryl)‐1‐isonicotinoyl‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐pyrazol‐4‐yl)‐3‐phenylthiazolidin‐4‐one 4 ( a – n ), have been synthesized by reaction of 3 ( a – n ) with thioglycolic acid in the presence of zinc chloride. Compounds 3 ( a – n ) have been synthesized by amination of formylated pyrazoles 2 ( A – B ), which were synthesized by formylation of 1 ( A – B ) by Vilsmeier–Haack reagent (POCl₃/DMF). Compounds 1 ( A – B ) were synthesized by condensation of hydrazide and substituted acetophenones under conventional method and microwave irradiation method. These compounds were identified on the basis of melting point range, Rf values, infrared, ¹H NMR, and mass spectral analysis. These compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity, and their minimum inhibitory concentration was determined. Among them, compound 4b and compound 4l possess appreciable antimicrobial and antifungal activities. Antibacterial activity results showed that compounds containing electron‐withdrawing groups were more active than compounds containing electron‐releasing groups.     

Three New, 1‐Oxygenated ent‐8,9‐Secokaurane Diterpenes from Croton kongensis

Three new ent‐8,9‐secokaurane diterpenes, kongensins A–C ( 1 – 3 ), were isolated from the aerial parts of Croton kongensis, together with two known compounds, rabdoumbrosanin ( 4 ) and (7α,14β)‐7,14‐dihydroxy‐ent‐kaur‐16‐en‐15‐one ( 5 ). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by HR‐MS as well as in‐depth 1D‐ and 2D‐NMR analyses. Compounds 1 – 3 showed an unusual oxygenation pattern, with an AcO or OH group at C(1), in combination with a Δ⁸⁽¹⁴⁾ unsaturation ( 1 ) or an 8,14‐epoxide function ( 2, 3 ).     

Synthesis,Structure, and Photophysical Properties of the Di‐ and Trinuclear Phosphine‐Diimine Complexes of Copper(I)

Reactions of [Cu(NCMe)₄]⁺ with stoichiometric amount of diphosphine R₂P–(C₆H₄)_n–PR₂, (R = NC₄H₄, n = 1; R = Ph, n = 1, 2, 3) or tri‐phosphine 1, 3, 5‐(PPh₂–C₆H₄–)₃–C₆H₃ ligands give the corresponding di‐ or trinuclear copper(I) acetonitrile‐phosphine complexes 1 – 5 . Substitution of the labile acetonitrile groups with chelating aromatic diimines – 2, 2′‐bipyridine (bpy), 1, 10‐phenanthroline (phen), 5, 6‐dimethyl‐1, 10‐phenanthroline (dmp), 5, 6‐dibromo‐1, 10‐phenanthroline (phenBr₂) – gives the corresponding substituted compounds 6 – 16 . In all complexes 1 – 16 each central Cu^I atom has tetrahedral configuration completed with two N‐ and two P‐donor groups. The compounds obtained were characterized using elemental analysis, ESI‐MS, X‐ray crystallography, and NMR spectroscopy. All phosphine‐diimine compounds 6 – 16 are photoluminescent at room temperature both in dichloromethane solution and in solid state (λ_ex = 385 nm). In CH₂Cl₂ solution the maxima of emission bands are found in a range 540–640 nm, and in solid in a similar range 538–620 nm. Emission of 6 – 16 is assigned to the triplet excited state dominated by the charge transfer transitions with contribution of the MLCT character.     

Pregnane‐Type Steroidal Alkaloids of Sarcococca saligna: a New Class of Cholinesterase Inhibitors

Phytochemical investigation of Sarcococca saligna by extensive bioassay‐guided fractionation resulted in the isolation of the pregnane‐type steroidal alkaloids 1 – 15 , i.e. of the five new compounds 1 – 5 and the ten known alkaloids 6 – 15 . The structures of the new alkaloids salignenamide C ( 1 ), salignenamide D ( 2 ), 2β‐hydroxyepipachysamine D ( 3 ), salignenamide E ( 4 ), and salignenamide F ( 5 ) were elucidated with the help of modern spectroscopic techniques, while the known alkaloids axillarine C ( 6 ), axillarine F ( 7 ), sarcorine ( 8 ), N³‐demethylsaracodine ( 9 ), saligcinnamide ( 10 ), salignenamide A ( 11 ), vaganine A ( 12 ), axillaridine A ( 13 ), sarsalignone ( 14 ), and sarsalignenone ( 15 ) were identified by comparing their spectral data with those reported earlier. Inhibition of electric‐eel acetylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.7) and horse‐serum butyrylcholinesterase (EC 3.1.1.8) by alkaloids 1 – 15 were investigated. These new cholinesterase inhibitors may act as potential leads in the discovery of clinically useful inhibitors for nervous‐system disorders, particularly by reducing memory deficiency in Alzheimer's disease patients by potentiating and effecting the cholinergic transmission process. These compounds were found to inhibit both enzymes in a concentration‐dependent fashion with the IC₅₀ values ranging from 5.21–227.92 μM against acetylcholinesterase and 2.18–38.36 μM against butyrylcholinesterase.     

A Simple and Convenient Strategy for the Synthesis of Novel Ten,Twelve, and Fourteen‐membered Phosphorus Macrocyclic Compounds

Synthesis of the title compounds 4(a – i) was accomplished through a two‐step process. The synthetic route involves the cyclization of equimolar quantities of 2,2′‐methylene(methyl)bis(4,6‐di‐tert‐butyl‐phenol) ( 1 ) with tris‐(2‐chloro‐ethyl) phosphite ( 2a ), tris‐(2‐bromo‐ethyl) phosphine ( 2b ), and tris‐bromo methyl phosphine ( 2c ) in the presence of sodium hydride in dry tetrahydrofuran at 45–50°C. They were further converted to the corresponding oxides, sulfides, and selenides under N₂ atmosphere by reacting them with hydrogen peroxide, sulfur, and selenium, respectively ( 4a – c , 4d – f, and 4g – i ). But the compounds 6a , b were prepared by the direct cyclocondensation of equimolar quantities of 1 with (2‐chloro‐ethyl)‐phosphonic acid dibromomethyl ester ( 5a ) and (2‐chloro‐ethyl)‐phosphonic acid bis(2‐bromo‐ethyl) ester ( 5b ) in the presence of sodium hydride in dry tetrahydrofuran at 45–50°C in moderate yields. All the newly synthesized compounds 4 ( a – i ) and 6 ( a – b ) exhibited moderate in vitro antibacterial and antifungal activities.     

Assessment of the Antioxidant Capacity of Standard Compounds and Fruit Juices by a Newly Developed Electrochemical Method: Comparative Study with Results from Other Analytical Methods

The antioxidant capacity (AOC) of some standard compounds and commercial beverages was determined using an electroanalytical method which measures the OH radical scavenging ability (OH‐RSC). It is based on the degradation of a thin polyphenol film electrodeposited on glassy carbon following the attack by OH radicals produced by hydrogen peroxide photolysis. The degradation is prevented in presence of increasing concentrations of antioxidants. The same samples were also analyzed by DPPH, ABTS, and ORAC assays. The OH‐RSC method provided AOC values highly correlated with those resulting from the application of ORAC assay for both juices (R=0.90) and standard antioxidants (R=0.96).     

Three New Indole‐Containing Diketopiperazine Alkaloids from a Deep‐Ocean Sediment Derived Fungus Penicillium griseofulvum

Three new indole‐containing diketopiperazine alkaloids, named variecolorins M–O ( 1 – 3 ), together with the eight known analogues 4 – 11 , were isolated from a deep‐ocean sediment‐derived fungus, Penicillium griseofulvum. Their structures were determined by analysis of the spectroscopic data. The 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazinyl (DPPH) radical‐scavenging activities and the cell‐proliferation inhibitory activities of the three new compounds 1 – 3 were investigated.     

Three New ent‐Labdane Diterpenoids from the Wood of Excoecaria agallocha Linn.

An extensive study of metabolites present in Excoecaria agallocha Linn . led to the isolation of three new ent‐labdane‐type diterpenoids, named agallochaexcoerins A–C ( 1 – 3 ), besides three known compounds. The skeleton present in compound 1 is rather unusual, containing of a seven‐membered lactone. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic studies and comparison with known related compounds. The isolated compounds 1 – 6 were not active against Raw 264.7 (macrophage‐like), K 562 (leukemia), and COLO 205 (colon) human carcinoma cell lines.     

4‐Hydroxy‐3‐carboxycoumarin as an efficient building block for new ruthenium(II) complexes: synthesis,characterization, antibacterial,antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities

A new 4‐hydroxy‐3‐carboxycoumarin ligand and its ruthenium(II) complexes ( 1 – 5 ) have been synthesized, characterized and screened for their in vitro antibacterial activity against a range of Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria. In addition, compounds 1 – 5 were investigated for antioxidant activities using superoxide radical, 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays, in which most of them displayed significant antioxidant activities. Furthermore, compounds 1 – 5 were evaluated for anti‐inflammatory activity using indirect haemolytic and lipoxygenase inhibition assays and revealed good activity. The new complexes were characterized using spectroscopic methods in addition to elemental analysis.     

Five New β‐Carboline‐Type Alkaloids from Stellaria dichotoma var. lanceolata

Five new β‐carboline‐type alkaloids, dichotomines F–J ( 1 – 5 , resp.), along with nine known compounds, dichotomides I, III, V, and VII ( 6 – 9 , resp.), stellarines A and C ( 10 – 11 , resp.), dichotomine B ( 12 ), glucodichotomine B ( 13 ), and 1‐acetyl‐3‐carboxy‐β‐carboline ( 14 ), were isolated from the roots of Chinese medicinal plant Stellaria dichotoma L. var. lanceolata. Their structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic means. Compounds 12 and 13 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity.     

Synthesis and antioxidant activities of novel N‐aryl (and N‐alkyl) γ‐ and δ‐imino esters and ketimines

Novel N‐aryl (and N‐alkyl) γ‐ and δ‐imino esters 2a–g ( 3a–g ) and N‐aryl (and N‐alkyl) ketimines 2h–j ( 3h–j ) were synthesized in high yields (80–99%) from their corresponding γ‐ and δ‐keto esters and ketones in this study. The structures of the synthesized compounds were clarified by Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), NMR (¹H and ¹³C), mass spectrometry, and elemental analyses. Isomerizations [E/Z] were also determined by their ¹H NMR spectra. The free‐radical scavenging activity of imines was evaluated using the 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picryl‐hydrazyl (DPPH) method. The relationships between the structure and antioxidant activity of these compounds are discussed. Among these compounds, 2a–c (at the concentration 1000 μg/mL) exhibit high antioxidant activity similar to those of the standards (butylated hydroxyanisole [ BHA], butylated hydroxytoluene [ BHT], and ascorbic acid).