Polyoxygenated anti-inflammatory biscembranoids from the soft coral Sarcophyton tortuosum and their stereochemistry

Five novel biscembranoids,ximaolides H-L(1-5),along with four known related compounds(6-9) were isolated from the Hainan soft coral Sarcophyton tortuosum.The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis,quantum chemical calculations,and/or by comparing their CD spectra with those of the known compounds.Compounds 1 and 2 are the first examples of biscembranoids bearing a 1,35-bridged lactone moiety,4 is the first biscembranoid comprising an uncommon oxetane ring,and 5 represents the first 36-peroxyl biscembranoid.Ximaolides Ⅰ(2),K(4) and F(9) exhibited interesting anti-inflammatory activity by the inhibition of LPS-induced TNF-α protein release in RAW264.7 macrophages.     

Copper-sulfide cluster assembled architecture via in situ reaction

A new copper-thiolate cluster assembled framework [Cu₂(μ₄-SCH₃)Cl]_n (1), has been solvothermally synthesized through in situ reaction viz., in situ ligand generation and metal reduction. Compound 1 represents the first 3D framework based on Atlas-sphere functionalized by single μ₂-Cl^- groups. DOS calculation reveals the interaction of electronic structures. It is found that the HOMO is mainly distributed on Cl, Cu and S bonding orbitals, while the LUMO is dominated by Cu-Cl antibonding orbitals.     

Carbon-carbon double bond in pillar[5]arene cavity: Selective binding of cis/trans-olefin isomers

The binding behavior of pillar[5]arenes (P5As) towards a series of olefin guests ((E)-1,4-dichlorobut-2-ene (1E), (Z)-1,4-dichlorobut-2-ene (1Z), (E)-but-2-ene-1,4-diol (2E), and (Z)-but-2-ene-1,4-diol (2Z), as well as an alkyne derivative 1,4-dichlorobut-2-yne (3)) have been studied in organic solution. P5As exhibit considerable selectivities for the trans-olefin isomers (1E and 2E) over their cis-isomers (1Z and 2Z). The cis/trans-selective interactions hold the potential of utilizing P5As to separate olefin isomers.     

A gram-scale laboratory synthesis of Annonaceous acetogenin mimic AA005

AA005(1),a potent anticancer mimicking molecule of natural Annonaceous acetogenin,features a central C₂-symmetric triglycol moiety and three stereogenic centers.To support ongoing animal studies,a scalable 10-step synthesis of AA005(1) has been studied,optimized and accomplished in this work,starting from commercially available economic materials ethylene glycol and(R)-epichlorohydrin.A regio-and stereo-controlled BF₃·Et₂O-promoted epoxide opening of(R)-epichlorohydrin with ethylene glycol was investigated,optimized and successfully applied to the scalable preparation of the crucial fragment 6 a with C₂-symmetry.Further successive epoxide openings elaborated both two side chains and the whole skeleton with proper nucleophiles and electrophiles.Comparison and optimization of the reaction sequences finally led to completion of a new multi-gram synthesis ofAA005(1) with satisfactory enantiomeric and diastereomeric purity.     

5＇-Hydroxyzearalenol,a new β-resorcylic macrolide from Fusarium sp. 05ABR26

A new β-resorcylic macrolide, 5＇-hydroxyzearalenol （1）, was isolated from the culture broth of a marine-derived fungus Fusarium sp. 05ABR26. Three known compounds, zearalenone （2）, 8＇-hydroxyzearalenone （3） and zearalenol （4） were also isolated. The structure and relative stereochemistry of 1 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Compound 2 displayed potent inhibitory activity against Pyricularia oryzae with a MIC value of 6.25 μg/mL, while compound 3 was much less active; however, 1 and 4 showed no obvious activity.     

Synthesis and properties of optically active 1,3-diols and their derivatives as chiral dopants for ferroelectric liquid crystals

New chiral dopants β-hydroxy ketones 1, 1,3-diols 2, 1,3-dioxanes 3 and 1,3-dioxan-2-ones 4 were designed and synthesized. Reaction of (R)-1,2-epoxyoctane with carbanions derived from 2-(4-substituted phenyl)-1,3-dithianes followed by hydrolysis of the resulting hydroxy dithianes afforded 1. Reduction of 1 gave the diols 2, which yielded 3 upon acetalization and 4 upon carbonation. The syn isomers of 2, 3, and 4 exhibited larger spontaneous polarizations, when applied as chiral dopants, than the anti isomers or hydroxy ketones 1.     

Synthesis of di-and tetrasaccharide containing 6-deoxytalose from the O-antigenic polysaccharide of B. pseudomallei strain 304b

Synthesis of the disaccharide β-D-Glup-(1→3)-6-deoxy-α-L-Talp Ⅱ,and its dimer Ⅲ from the O-antigenic polysaccharide of Burkholderia pseudomallei strain 304b,were achieved through assembly of suitably synthesized building blocks,4-methoxylphenyl 6-deoxy-2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-L-talopyranoside (7),3-O-allyl-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-α,β-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (8) and 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzoyi-α,β-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (Ⅱ).The total yield of Ⅲ from 4-methoxyiphenyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1) was 18%.     

A new cycloartane nortriterpenoid from Quercus variabilis Blume

The leaves and stems of Quercus variabilis Blume afforded a new cycloartane nortriterpenoid,3α-acetyloxy-4α,14α-dimethyl-9β, 19-cycloergost-24-oic acid(1),along with five known compounds(2-6).The structure of 1 was elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectroscopy.     

A new spirostanol saponin from the rhizomes of Paris mairei

A new spirostanol steroidal saponin,named maireioside A(1),together with three known steroidal saponins,hypoglaucin G(2), parisaponin I(3),and diosgenin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→4)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)]-β-D-glucopyranoside(4),were isolated from the rhizomes of Paris mairei.The structure elucidation was accomplished by 1D and 2D NMR methods,HR-ESI-MS, and hydrolysis.     

Synthesis ofα-D-GlcpNAc-（1→2）-[α-D-ManpNAc-（1→3）-]α-L-Rhap-（1→2）-α-L-Rhap-（1→3）-α-L-Rhap,the repeating unit of O10 antigen from Acinetobacter baumannii

An efficient synthesis ofα-D-GlcpNAc-（1→2）-[α-D-ManpNAc-（1→3）-]α-L-Rhap-（1→2）-α-L-Rhap-（1→3）-α-L-Rhap（1）, the repeating unit of the O10 antigen from Acinetobacter baumannii was achieved via sequential assembly of the building blocks,p- methoxylphenyl 2,4-di-O-benzoyl-α-L-rhamnopyranoside（2）;2-O-allyloxycarbonyl-3,4-di-O-bcnzoyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl tri- chloroacetimidate（3）;4-methoxylphenyl 3-O-allyloxycarbonyl-4-O-benzoyl-α-L-rhanmopyranoside（4）;2-azido-3-O-benzoyl-2- deoxy-4,6-O-isopropylidene-α-D-mannopyranosyl trichloroacetirnidatc（5）;2-azido-3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-α,β-D-glucopyr- ano syl trichloroacetimidatc（6）.The total yield of 1 from 4 was 4.7%.     

A comparison of mesogenic properties of p-carborane-1,12-dicarbaldehyde schiff's bases with their terephthaldehyde analogues

A homologous series of carborane-containing Schiff's bases 1A[n] (n = 1-10) was prepared and compared with the analogous series 1B[n] derived from terephthaldehyde. An exponential fit of the T _NI values for both series yielded a quantitative assessment of the effect of ring structure on mesophase stability. This includes the T _NI value for n→∞ (86°C for 1A[n] and 209°C for 1B[n]) and steepness of descent (0.135 for 1A[n] and 0.095 for 1B[n]). The difference in behaviour of the two series was attributed, largely, to conformational properties of the central rings A and B. Electronic interactions between the central rings and the π-substituents were investigated by UV spectroscopy and by quantum-mechanical calculations. The effect of replacement of O with CH₂ in the terminal chain of 1[n] on the namatic phase stability was assessed for n = 5-7.     

Cytotoxic triterpenoid saponins from Ardisia pusilla

A new triterpenoid saponin,3-O-{β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-[β-D-ghcopyranosyl-(1→2)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl }-3β,16α,28α-trihydroxy-1313,28-epoxy-oleanan-30-al(ardipusilloside Ⅲ,1),together with two known sapo-nins,ardisiacrispins A(2)and B(3),were isolated from the whole plants ofArdisia pusilla A.DC.Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectral analysis and chemical evidences.Saponins 1 and 3 exhibited significant cytotoxicity against human glioblastoma U251MG cells.     

A novel cytotoxic neophysalin from Physalis alkekengi var.francheti

A new neophysalin,named 5α-hydroxy-25,27-dihydro-4,7-didehydro-7-deoxyneophysalin A(1),along with three other known neophysalins(2-4) were isolated from the calyxes of Physalis alkekengi L.var.francheti(Mast.) Makino.The structure of 1 was determined by means of 1D and 2D NMR,UV,IR and mass spectra.Compound 1 displayed potent cytotoxicities in vitro against PC- 3 and LNCaP cell lines.     

Synthesis of Allobetulin, 28-Oxyallobetulin and Related Biomarkers from Betulin and Betulinic Acid Catalysed by Solid Acids

Betulin (1a) is an abundant natural product in the birch bark. Betulin itself currently has little usage. However, allobetulin (2a) has been used as an important intermediate in the further transformation of triterpenoids and as a sample for biological studies.¹ For example, allobetulin was further transformed to a highly active antifeedant for heliothis zea larvae. Some biomarkers (3a,b; 4a,b) with the same or similar structure as ring-E of 2a were identified in a brown coal.³ Consequently, the conversion of 1a to synthetically, biologically and geochemically more important 2a is of great significance. The transformation of 1a to 2a was reported as early as 1922 by Schulze et al in which betulin was isomerized by formic acid, involving formation and hydrolysis of allobetulin formate, to give 2a in moderate yield.⁴     

The synthesis and liquid crystalline behaviour of 2-(4-n-alkoxyphenyl)-5-methylpyridines

We have synthesized a new series of polyphenylene compounds with a pyridine ring, 2-(4-n-alkoxyphenyl)-5-methylpyridines (CH₃C₅H₃NC₆H₄OC_iH_2i1) (1a-i; the carbon number, i, of the alkoxy group is 1-9), and studied their phase transitions and mesogenicity using DSC and polarizing microscopy. In the homologous series of 1a-i, no mesomorphic phase appeared for i=1-5 and only a monotropic nematic phase was observed for i=6-9. The mesomorphic potential is relatively weaker for the 1a-i than for the 2a-i and 3a-i homologues, which are pyridine-containing three- and four-ring similar systems. This lowering of the mesogenicity may be due to the lack of a phenyl ring between the pyridine ring and the methyl group in the 1a-i homologues.     

Recent Progress in the Synthetic Applications of Substituted Furans and Pyrroles

In this lecture, I would like to present efficient synthetic routes towards the total synthesis of syringolide 1 (2)^1,2 and secosyrin 1 (3),¹ employing 2,4-disubstituted furan 1 as a common precursor. A modified total synthesis of prehispanolone (6)³ from (S)-(+)-Wieland-Miescher ketone (4) via hispanolone (5) will also be discussed. Our methodology for the synthesis of 3,4-disubstituted-lH-pyrroles⁴ and for the generation of 3,4-didehydrothiophene⁵ has also guided us to the successful identification of 1-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3,4-didehydro-1H-pyrrole (7),which is presumably the most strained heterocyclic cumulene ever recorded.     

Two Zinc(Ⅱ) Complexes Based on 7rany-(1R,2R)-cyclohexanediamine: Molecular Structure Analyses and Preparation of Composite Membrane

Two novel complexes Zn2(chda)2(TPA)Cl2(1) and [Zn(chda)2(H2O)2](TPAXH2O)2(2)[chda is a chiral ligand of trans-(1R,2R)-cyclohexanediamine, H2TPA is terephthalic acid] were synthesized at room temperature. The molecular structures of complexes 1 and 2 were identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurement. The results showed that complex 1 had a binuclear structure, each Zn(Ⅱ) ion was four coordinated by two N atoms of chda, one O atom of TPA and one Cl atom, to construct a distorted tetrahedral geometry. For complex 2, the Zn(Ⅱ) ion was six coordinated by two chda molecules and two water molecules to form a ZnN4O2 octahedral geometry. Complexes 1 and 2 further extended into three-dimensional supramolecular frameworks by hydrogen-bonding interactions. Hirshfeld surface analysis and fingerprint plots were used to further analyze the contribution of diflerent intermolecular interactions. Further, a composite membrane [Zn(chda)2(H2O)2](TPA)(H2O)2/CA was prepared by adding 10%(mass fraction) of complex 2 into cellulose acetate using acetone/chloroform( V:V-1:1) as solvent.     

Supramolecular Assemblies of Three New Metronidazole Derivatives Constructed with Various Dihydroxy-benzoic Acids via Hydrogen Bonds

Metronidazole(MTZ) is an important antibiotic, which has been widely applied to cure protozoal and bacterial diseases for human beings or animals. Herein, three novel drug supramolecular crystals constructed by MTZ with 2,5-dihydroxy-benzoic acid(2,5-DHBA)(1), 2,6-dihydroxy-benzoic acid(2,6-DHBA)(2) and 3,5-dihydroxy-benzoic acid(3,5-DHBA)(3), respectively, have been discovered. The hydrogen bonds of N-H···O(O-H···N), C-H···O and O-H···O play important roles in the 3D supramolecular framework formation for crystals 1-3. Interestingly, due to the vary locations of the substituent groups, the two-dimensional layers in crystals 1 or 2 are constructed via intermolecular hydrogen bonds between MTZ and 2,5-DHBA or 2,6-DHBA, while in crystal 3 water molecules play a significant role except the intermolecular hydrogen bonds between MTZ and 3,5-DHBA. In addition, five synthons of I R₂²(8), II R₃³(9) in crystal 1, III R₁²(4), IV R₂²(8) in crystal 2 and V R₂²(7) in crystal 3 formed through various hydrogen bonds are founded in this work. Systematic studies of syntheses, crystal structures and thermal analysis are reported.     

Two new acetylated ginsenosides from the roots of Panax quinquefolium

Two new acetylated ginsenosides, 20（S）-protopanaxatriol-6-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl （1 → 2）-β-D-6＇-O-acetylglucopyranoside （1） and 20（R）-protopanaxatrol-6-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl （1 → 2）-β-o-6＇-O-acetylglucopyranoside （2）, were isolated from the roots of Panax quinquefolium. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic techniques and chemical means.     

A new glycoside from the leaves of Neoalsomitra integrifoliola

A new ionone glycoside （6R,9R）-blumenyl α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-（1 → 6）-β-D-gluco-pyranoside （1）, together with a new natural product 2-methoxyl-4-trans-pmpenyl-phenol α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-（1 → 6）-β-D-glucopyranoside （2）, was isolated from the leaves ofNeoalsomitra integrifoliola. Their structures were elucidated by chemical and spectral analysis. Compound 1 showed weak anti-inflammatory and low-level antioxidant activities.