Coralloidolide F,the First Example of a 2,6-Cyclized Cembranolide: Isolation from the Mediterranean Alcyonacean Coral Alcyonium coralloides

The Mediterranean alcyonacean Alcyonium ( = Parerythropodium) coralloides (Pallas, 1766) is shown here to contain coralloidolide F ( = (+)-(3a-R*, 7R*, 8R*, 9R*, 12R*, 12aS*)-8,9-epoxy-1,3a,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,12a-decahydro-3a-hydroxy-12-isopropenyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-oxocyclopfintacycloundecene-9,7-carbolactone; (+)- 2 ), the first example of a 2,6-cyclized cembranolide. Structural assignments are mainly based on ID and 2D NMR and MS data.     

Coralloidolide A and Coralloidolide B,the First Cembranoids from a Mediterranean Organism,the Alcyonacean Alcyonium coralloides

The alcyonacean Alcyonium ( = Parerythropodium) coralloides (PALLAS 1766) is the first Mediterranean organism shown to contain cembranoids. These are of unusual type like coralloidolide A ( = (?)-(1R*, 2R*, 3R*, 12S*, 5Z, 7Z, 9Z)-1, 2:7, 10-diepoxy-12-isopropenyl-5, 9-dimethylcyclotetradeca-5, 7, 9-triene-1, 3-carbolactone; (?)-6) and coralloidolide B ( =(?)-(1R*,2S*,3R*,7S*,10S*,12S*,5Z,8Z,)-2, 7:7, 10-diepoxy-1, 10-dihydroxy-12-isopropenyl-5, 9-dimethylcyclotetradeca-5,8-diene-1,3-carbolactone; (?)-8). Structural assignments are mainly based on 1D- and 2D-NMR data and on chemical transformations.     

Coralloidin C,D, and E: Novel Eudesmane Sesquiterpenoids from the Mediterranean Alcyonacean Alcyonium coralloides

The Mediterranean alcyonacean Alcyonium (=Parerythropodium) coralloides (Pallas, 1766) is shown to contain the novel eudesmane sesquiterpenoids coralloidin C (=(–)?(4R,10S)-eudesma-5,7(11)-dien-15-yl acetate; (–)? 4 ), coralloidin D (=(–)?(10R*)-eudesma-4,7(11)-diene-12,13-diyl diacetate; (–)? 7 ), and coralloidin E (=(+)?(4R*,10R*)-eudesma-5,7-dien-11-ol;(+)? 8 ). The absolute configuration of (–)? 4 is derived by the exciton-coupling method, applied to deacetylcoralloidin C_p-anisate ((–)? 6 ). Coralloidin E((+)? 8 ), being also obtained on treatment of deacetylcoralloidin A (=(+)?(4R*, 8R*, 10R*)-eudesma-5,7(11)-dien-8-ol; (+)? 2 ) with (COCl)₂ in DMSO, is configurationally correlated to coralloidin A (=(+)?(4R*, 8R*, 10R*)-eudesma-5,7(11)-dien-8-yl acetate; (+)? 1 ). Under acidic conditions, (+)? 2 undergoes a complex rearrangement giving (+)-(3R*, 4S*, 5R*, 6R*, 7S*)-arist-10-(1)-en -3-ol ((+)? 9 ), which is also obtained, together with (+)? 8 , on attempts to mesylate (+)? 2 .     

Acerolide, a new cytotoxic cembranolide from the soft coral Pseudopterogorgia acerosa

A new cembranolide, acerolide (1) together with the known compound pseudopterolide (2) were isolated from the 2-propanol extract of the soft coral Pseudopterogorgia acerosa. The structure of 1 was determined on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis. Compound 1 showed moderate in vitro cytotoxicity against a panel of 14 tumor cell lines.     

Lobohedleolide and (7Z)-lobohedleolide,new cembranolides from the soft coral lobophytum hedleyi whitelegge

The structures of lobohedleolide (1) and (7Z)-lobohedleolide (2), two new cembranolides containing the α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acid system isolated from the Japanese soft coral Lobophytum hedleyi Whitelegge, were elucidated from spectral and chemical evidence, and the absolute configuration of (1) was determined by X-ray analysis of its p-bromophenacyl ester (9). Lobohedleolide (1) showed growth inhibition of the in vitro Hella cells.     

Emblide,a new polyfunctional cembranolide from the soft coral sarcophyton glaucum

From a Pacific marine coelenterate we have isolated emblide, a cembrane diterpenoid which bears acetoxy, dienoic ester, and α,β-unsaturated ?-lactone functions. Its structure (1) was deduced from spectral and X-ray crystallographic data.     

New cembranolide analogues from the formosan soft coral Sinularia flexibilis and their cytotoxicity

Using a bioactivity-guided fractionation procedure, five cembranolides, 11-epi-sinulariolide acetate (1), 11-dehydrosinulariolide (2), sinulariolide (3), dihydrosinularin (4), and 3,4:8,11-bisepoxy-7-acetoxycembra-15(17)-en-1,12-olide (5), along with two nucleosides, 2'-deoxyadenosine and thymidine, were isolated from the Formosan soft coral Sinularia flexibilis. Moreover, 7,8-epoxy-11-epi-sinulariolide acetate (1a), 11-sinulariolide acetate (3a), dihydrosinulariolide (3b), 3,4:8,11-bisepoxy-7-hydroxycembra-15(17)-en-1,12-olide (3c), 11-acetoxyl-15(17)-dihydrosinulariolide (3d), 7,8-epoxy-11-sinulariolide acetate (3e), and 3,4:8,11-bisepoxy-7-hydroxycembra-15(17)-dihydro-1,12-olide (3f) were derived from compounds 1 and 3, respectively. These structures were deduced on the basis of physical and chemical evidence. Among them, 1a, 3d, 3e, and 3f are new cembranolide analogues. The structure of compound 1 was further confirmed by X-ray analysis. In addition, the isolated cembranolides and the analogues under went a cytotoxicity assay, and the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of these compounds was studied.     

Paesslerins A and B: novel tricyclic sesquiterpenoids from the soft coral Alcyonium paessleri

[structure: see text] In the course of our search of new bioactive metabolites from marine invertebrates, paesslerins A and B, sesquiterpenoids with an unprecedented tricyclic skeleton, were isolated from the subAntarctic soft coral Alcyonium paessleri collected at a depth of 200 m near the South Georgia islands, and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic techniques. These compounds show moderate cytotoxicity in preliminary assays.     

Denticulatolide,an ichthyotoxic peroxide-containing cembranolide from the soft coral lobophytum denticulatum

Denticulatolide, an ichthyotoxic cembranoid diterpene bearing acetoxy, α-methylene γ-lactone, and cyclic peroxide functions, has been isolated from the soft coral Lobophytum denticulatum. The structure (1) has been determined by spectral and chemical evidence and X-ray crystallographic method.     

Durumolides A-E, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial cembranolides from the soft coral Lobophytum durum

Chemical investigations on the acetone extract of the soft coral Lobophytum durum have afforded five new cembranoids with a trans-fused α-methylene-γ-lactone, durumolides A-E (1, 6, and 8-10), and five previously characterized cembrane-based diterpenoids (2-5 and 7). The structures of the isolated metabolites were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analyses, while the relative stereochemistry of 4 was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analyses. Moreover, the absolute configurations of 3-5 and 8 were established by application of modified Mosher's method. The anti-inflammatory effects, antibacterial activities, and inhibition assay of HCMV (Human cytomegalovirus) endonuclease activity of these isolated metabolites 1-10 were evaluated in vitro.     

3Alpha,7alpha,12alpha-triacetoxy-5beta-cholanic acid, a steroid from the Formosan soft coral Alcyonium sp. (Alcyoniidae)

Chemical investigation of the organic extract of a soft coral belonging to the genus Alcyonium furnished a steroid, 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-triacetoxy-5beta-cholanic acid (1). The structure of steroid 1 was assigned on the basis of spectroscopic evidence, particularly in 1D and 2D NMR experiments. The configuration of steroid 1 was further supported by molecular mechanics calculations.     

Chemical studies of marine invertebrates—XI : Sinulariolide,a new cembranolide diterpene from the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis (coelenterata,octocorallia, alcyonacea)

Sinulariolide, a novel diterpene lactone has been isolated from the alcyonarian Sinularia flexibilis. Its structure [1] has been determined by using spectroscopic and chemical methods. Its relative and absolute configuration was established by X-ray diffraction as depicted in 10.     

Cloning and Expression of a Novel Xylanase Gene (Auxyn11D) from Aspergillus usamii E001 in Pichia pastoris

A full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) of Auxyn11D, a gene that encodes a novel endo-??-1,4-d-xylanase of Aspergillus usamii E001 (abbreviated to AuXyn11D), was obtained using 3??- and 5??-rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) methods. The cDNA sequence is 855?bp in length, containing 5??- and 3??-untranslated regions and a 696-bp open reading frame (ORF) that encodes a 32-aa signal peptide and a 199-aa mature peptide (namely AuXyn11D). Multiple homology alignment of amino acid sequences verified that AuXyn11D belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 11. Moreover, a mature peptide-encoding cDNA fragment of Auxyn11D was cloned and expressed in Pichia pastoris GS115. One P. pastoris transformant expressing the highest recombinant AuXyn11D (reAuXyn11D) activity of 15.0?U/mL, labeled as P. pastoris GSAuXyn4-16, was chosen by shake flask test. SDS?CPAGE assay demonstrated that the reAuXyn11D, a glycosylated protein with an apparent molecular mass of 32.0?kDa, was secreted into the medium. The purified reAuXyn11D displayed the highest activity at pH 4.5 and 55?°C. It was stable at a pH range of 3.5?C6.5 and at a temperature of 50?°C or below. Its activity was not significantly affected by most of metal ions tested and EDTA, but increased by Ca²⁺ and inhibited by Mn²⁺. The K _m and V _max of the reAuXyn11D towards birchwood xylan were 6.32?mg/mL and 391.6?U/mg, respectively.     

Stereochemistry of (3E)-3,7-dimethyl-3-octene-1,2,6,7-tetraol isolated from Passiflora quadrangularis

3,7-Dimethyl-3(E)-octene-1,2,6,7-tetraol, a monoterpene recently isolated from Passiflora quadrangularis fruit pulp, has been established to be a 12:42:14:32 mixture of (2R,6R)-, (2R,6S)-, (2S,6R)- and (2S,6S)-stereoisomers, in that order, by HPLC analysis of the corresponding tri-(R)-MTPA ester in comparison with stereochemically defined synthetic samples.     

Distinguishing the formation of C2D+4 ions from C2D+6 (by D2 loss) and from C2D5H+ (by HD loss) in a Reflectron spectrometer

The D₂ loss from C₂D⁺₆ ions and the HD loss from C₂D₅H⁺ ions has been investigated in a photoelectron photoion coincidence experiment employing a reflecting ion time of a flight mass spectrometer (Reflectron). The experiment is able to distinguish the metastable formation of C₂D⁺₄ ions (m/z = 32) from C₂D⁺₆ ions by D₂ loss and from C₂D₅H⁺ ions by HD loss simultaneously in a mixture of deuterated ethanes. The breakdown curves of the title reactions are presented and compared to the H₂ loss from C₂H⁺₆ ions. The HD loss from C₂D₅H⁺ is shifted by 67 meV and the D₂ loss from C₂D⁺₆ is shifted by 108 meV with respect to the H₂ loss from C₂H⁺₆. This shift reflects a strong kinetic isotope effect which is most likely due to tunneling of H/D atoms through a barrier.     

Novel Trinor-eremophilanes (Dendryphiellin B,C, and D), Eremophilanes (Dendryphiellin E,F, and G), and Branched C9-Carboxylic Acids (Dendryphiellic Acid A and B) from the Marine Deuteromycete Dendryphiella salina (SUTHERLAND) PUGHet NICOT

Further investigation of global extracts from cultures of the marine deuteromycete Dendryphiella salina leads to the isolation of three novel trinor-eremophilanes esterified by branched C₉-carboxylic acids, dendryphiellin B (= (+)-(1R*,2S*,7R*,8aR*)-1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-7-hydroxy-1,8a-dimethyl-6-oxonaphthalen-2-yl (6R*, 2E, 4E)-6-hydroxy-6-methylocta-2,4-dienoate; (+)- 2 ), dendryphiellin C (=(+)-(1R*, 2S*, 7R*, 8aR*)-1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexa-hydro-7-hydroxy-1,8a-dimethyl-6-oxonaphthalen-2-yl (6S, 2E, 4E)-6-methylocta-2,4-dienoate; (+)- 3 )), and dendryphiellin D (=(+)-(1R*, 2S*, 7R*, 8aR*)-1,2,6,7(8,8a-hexahydro-7-hydroxy-1,8a-dimethyl-6-oxonaphthalen-2-yl (6R*,2E,4E)-6-(hydroxymethyl)octa-2,4-dienoate; (+)- 4 ). An intact eremophilane, dendryphiellin E ( 5 ), and its ethanolysis product dendryphiellin F whose absolute configuration is represented by structural formula (+)- 6 are also isolated from the above extracts. Dendryphiellin E exists as an open form 5a in equilibrium with a closed form 5b . A similar equilibrium exists between the open form 8a and the closed form 8b of a non-esterified eremophilane, dendryphiellin G ( 8 ), which is isolated too from the above extracts and proves structurally related to the cyclic portion of 5 . Finally, the free, branched C₉-carboxylic acids dendryphiellic acid A ((+)- 9 ) and B ((+)- 10 ) which correspond to side chains of the above esterified terpenes are also isolated from the above extracts.     

Enantiomeric 3,7-Dimethylocta-1,7-dienes as Useful Chiral Building Blocks. A New Access to Both Optical Antipodes of Natural (E)-3,7-Dimethyloct-2-ene-1,8-diol and (E)-3,7-Dimethyloct-2-ene-1,8-dicarboxylic Acid

Ozonolysis of the easily available monoterpenoids (?)- 1 and (+)- 1 leads in high yield to the ketoaldehydes (?)- 4 and (+)- 4 , which serve as convenient intermediates for efficient new routes to both optical antipodes of the naturally occurring octenediol (E)- 2 (Monarch butterfly secretion product) and octene-dicarboxylic acid (E)- 3 (Callosobruchus chinensis sex pheromone). All steps proceed with almost complete retention of configuration, ensuring the synthesis of the target compounds with high optical purity.