One-pot synthesis of macrocyclic compounds possessing two cyclobutane rings by sequential inter- and intramolecular [2+2] photocycloaddition reactions

Sensitized photocycloaddition reactions of 6,6′-dimethyl-4,4′-[1,3-bis(methylenoxy)phenylene]-di-2-pyrone (1) with electron-poor α,ω-diolefins such as ethylene diacrylate (2a) and polyoxyethylene dimethacrylates (2b-d) afforded site- and stereoselective macrocyclic dioxatetralactones (3a-d) and (4b) having 18- to 25-membered rings across the C5-C6 and C5′-C6′ double bonds, or C5-C6 and C3′-C4′ double bonds in 1, respectively. Similar photoreactions of 1 with electron-rich α,ω-diolefins such as poly(ethylene glycol)divinyl ether (2e and 2f) afforded crown ether-type macrocyclic compounds (5e and 5f) having 18- and 21-membered rings across the C3-C4 and C3′-C4′ double bonds in 1, respectively. The stereochemical features of 3b, 5e-xx, and 5e-nn were determined by the X-ray crystal analysis. The reaction mechanism was inferred by MO methods.     

A simple synthesis of 4-(2-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazoles

A simple four-step synthesis of 4-(2-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazoles 8 (or their 1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-one tautomers 8′) as the pyrazole analogues of histamine was developed. First, enamino lactam 3 was prepared as the key intermediate in two steps from 2-pyrrolidinone (1). Next, acid-catalysed ‘ring switching’ transformations of 3 with monosubstituted hydrazines 4 gave N-[(1-substituted 5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)ethyl]benzamides 7a-k and N-[2-(2-heteroaryl-3-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)ethyl]benzamides 7′l-o. Benzamides 7a-k and 7′l-o were finally hydrolysed by heating in 6 M hydrochloric acid to furnish 1-substituted 4-(2-aminoethyl)-5-hydroxy-1H-pyrazoles 8a-k and 4-(2-aminoethyl)-2-heteroaryl-1H-pyrazol-3(2H)-ones 8′l-o in good overall yields.     

Aigialomycins and related polyketide metabolites from the mangrove fungus Aigialus parvus BCC 5311

Reinvestigation of the secondary metabolites from the marine mangrove fungus Aigialus parvus BCC 5311 led to the isolation of six new nonaketide metabolites, aigialomycins F (4) and G (5a/5b), 7′,8′-dihydroaigialospirol (7), 4′-deoxy-7′,8′-dihydroaigialospirol (8), and rearranged macrolides 9 and 10, along with six previously described compounds, hypothemycin (1), aigialomycins A (2) and B (3), aigialospirol (6), 4-O-demethylhypothemycin (11), and aigialone (12). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by analyses of the NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data in combination with chemical means.     

Synthesis of novel 4′-C-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane pyrimidine nucleosides and evaluation of its anti-HIV-1 activity

The key glycosyl donor for the target molecule 12 was prepared by two-step sequences; (1) acetalization of tert-butyldimethylsilyloxyacetaldehyde with 3-bromopropanediol, (2) DBN-initiated β-elimination of the resulting 2-(tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy)methyl-4-bromomethyl-1,3-dioxolane 11. Electrophilic glycosidation between 12 and silylated pyrimidine nucleobase proceeded efficiently to provide a mixture of β- and α-anomers of the respective glycosides 14 and 15. Tin radical-mediated reduction of the bromomethyl functional group of 14 and 15 gave protected 4′-C-methyl-dioxorane uracil- 16 and thymine nucleoside 17. The respective cytosine nucleoside 18 was synthesized from 16. De-silylation of 4′-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane pyrimidine nucleosides 16–18 gave the target molecules. Evaluation of the anti-HIV-1 activity of the β- and α-anomers of the novel 4′-C-methyl-1′,3′-dioxolane nucleosides 22β,α–24β,α revealed that none of the nucleoside derivatives possess anti-viral activity against HIV-1 and show cytotoxicity against MT-4 cells at 100 μM.     

S-Transalkylation/ring closing metathesis as a route to azathiamacrocycles incorporating 2,2′-bipyridine subunits

A new route to cyclophanes 6a,b incorporating 2,2′-bipyridine subunits has been elaborated using as the key steps (1) S-transalkylation of 6,6′-bis(methylsulfanyl)-2,2′-bipyridines 2a,b with ethyl bromoacetate resulting in the formation of 6,6′-bis[(ethoxycarbonyl)methylsulfanyl]-2,2′-bipyridines 3a,b and (2) ring-closing metathesis of the corresponding alkenyl ethers 5a,b.     

A convenient synthesis of 1′-H-spiro-(indoline-3,4′-piperidine) and its derivatives

A simple synthetic route has been developed to prepare 1′-H-spiro(indoline-3,4′-piperidine) (1d). Dialkylation of 2-fluorophenylacetonitrile with N-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-bis(2-chloroethyl)amine (5) gave 6. Deprotection of Boc followed by cyclization resulted 1d in 67% overall yield. Selective Boc or Cbz protection of 1′-N gave 1a or 1b with 90 and 85% yield, respectively. Thus, in a five-step procedure, 1a and 1b were synthesized from commercially available reagents in over 50% overall yield. All 3 compounds (1a, 1b and 1d) can be utilized as templates to synthesize compounds for GPCR targets.     

A practical and expeditious method for the preparation of the potential anticancer agent 5,6,11,12,17,18,23,24-octahydrocyclododeca[1,2-b:4,5-b′:7,8-b″:10,11-b?]tetraindole (CTet)

A new synthetic method to obtain the potential anticancer agent 5,6,11,12,17,18,23,24-octahydrocyclododeca[1,2-b:4,5-b′:7,8-b′′:10,11-b′′′]tetraindole (CTet), starting from 1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde and sulfamide, is described. Although a mixture of CTet and cyclic indole trimer (CTr) is formed, higher CTet/CTr ratio (4:6) and CTet yield (15%) make our protocol more favorable than those reported in the literature. A discussion on the possible reaction mechanism is reported.     

Neomacrophorin I,II, and III,novel drimenyl cyclohexanes with hydroxylated butanoates from Trichoderma sp. 1212-03

Neomacrophorins I (1), II (2), and III (3) were isolated from the culture broth of Trichoderma sp. 1212-03, which was collected at Shirakami Mountainous area in Japan. Structural analyses disclosed that these resemble known macrophorins but possess axial-hydroxy group at C3 as well as different side chains at C7′. These are diastereomeric forms of macrophorins for 5′,6′-epoxide functionality. The NMR analyses suggested their relative configurational relationship between the C1–C15 drimene and C1′–C7′ epoxyquinone moieties. ECD spectral discussions verified them particularly for C5′,C6′-epoxyquinone (1), C5′,C6′-epoxysemiquinone (2 and 3), and 2″,3″-dihydroxybutanoate moiety in 1 and 2. The configuration of C3″-stereocenter of 3 was determined by chiral GC–MS after converting into methyl (S)-3″-hydroxybutanoate by basic of 3 methanolysis. Biological assays disclosed that 1 induces hyphal branching of Cochliobolus miyabeanus as well as cytotoxicity against human colorectal cancer COLO 201.     

Acyclic tertiary diamines and 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane with fluorine-containing β-diketones: Leading to low melting ionic adducts

N,N,N′,N′-Tetramethylmethanediamine (1a), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylethanediamine (1b), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,3-propanediamine (1c), and N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine (1d) were reacted at 25 °C with 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione (2a), 2,2-dimethyl-6,6,7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-3,5-octanedione (2b), 2-thenoyltrifluoroacetone (2c), and 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-furyl)-1,3-butanedione (2d) to form the ionic adducts 3-18. 1,4,7,10-Tetraazacyclododecane (1e) reacted at 25 °C with β-diketones (2a-d) and 1,1,1-trifluoro-2,4-pentanedione (2e) to give ionic solids 19-23 in good yields. Some of the products are liquid at 25 °C and are thermally stable over long liquid ranges as determined by thermal gravimetric analyses. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations show that compounds 9 and 21 crystallize in the monoclinic space groups P2(1)/c and P2(1)/n, respectively. All the new compounds were characterized by ¹H, ¹⁹F and ¹³C NMR, electrospray MS and/or elemental analyses.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-4′-thioribonucleosides: substrates for the synthesis of novel modified RNAs

We report herein the synthesis of appropriately protected 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-4′-thiouridine (5), -thiocytidine (7), and -thioadenosine (35) derivatives, substrates for the synthesis of novel modified RNAs. The synthesis of 5 and 7 was achieved via the reaction of 2,2′-O-anhydro-4′-thiouridine (3) with HF/pyridine in a manner similar to that of its 4′-O-congener whereas the synthesis of 35 from 4′-thioadenosine derivatives was unsuccessful. Accordingly, 35 was synthesized via the glycosylation of the fluorinated 4-thiosugar 25 with 6-chloropurine. The X-ray crystal structural analysis revealed that 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-4′-thiocytidine (8) adopted predominately the same C3′-endo conformation as 2′-deoxy-2′-fluorocytidine.     

Synthesis of 1′-fluorouracil nucleosides as potential antimetabolites

The first synthesis of 1′-fluoronucleosides, which has long been synthetic targets as the potential antimetabolites, was achieved. Electrophilic fluorination of the 1′-position occurred to form an anomeric mixture of 1′-fluorouridine derivatives, when the lithium enolate, prepared from 3′,5′-O-tetraisopropyldisiloxane-1,3-diyl (TIPDS)-protected 2′-ketouridine (10) and LiHMDS, was treated with an electrophilic fluorinating agent such as NFSI (13). Subsequent reduction of the 2′-keto-moiety of the resulting β-nucleoside gave the protected 1′-fluorouridine 16 and its arabino-type congener 17. Alternatively, nucleophilic fluorination was also successful. Thus, treatment of 2′,3′,5′-tri-O-acetyl-1′-phenylselenouridine (20) with DAST/NBS produced the 1′-fluorouridine triacetate (21) and its α-anomer 22.     

Asymmetric Friedel-Crafts alkylation of activated benzenes with methyl (E)-2-oxo-4-aryl-3-butenoates catalyzed by [Pybox/Sc(OTf)3]

The asymmetric Friedel-Crafts reaction between methyl (E)-2-oxo-4-aryl-3-butenoates (1a-c) and activated benzenes (2a-d) has been efficiently catalyzed by the Sc^III triflate complex of (4′S,5′S)-2,6-bis[4′-(triisopropylsilyl) oxymethyl-5′-phenyl-1′,3′-oxazolin-2′-yl]pyridine (pybox 3). The 4,4-diaryl-2-oxo-butyric acid methyl esters (4) are usually formed in good yields and the enantioselectivity is up to 99% ee. The sense of the stereoinduction can be rationalized with the same octahedral complex (10) between 1, pybox 3 and Sc triflate already proposed for other reactions involving pyruvates, and catalyzed by the same complex.     

Synthesis of furan 4′-thio-C-nucleosides, their methylsulfonium and sulfoxide derivatives. Evaluation as glycosidase inhibitors

A series of furan C-nucleosides having a sulfur atom in the sugar ring were synthesised. The α and β anomers of 3-ethoxycarbonyl-2-methyl-5-(4′-thio-d-erythrofuranosyl)furans 10 and 11 were obtained by acid treatment of (4′-S-acetyl-4′-thio-d-arabino-tetritol-1-yl)furan 9. Oxidation of 10 with m-chloroperbenzoic acid gave sulfoxide 12 as one epimer at the sulfur atom whereas 11 was transformed into sulfoxide 13 as an epimeric mixture. S-Methylation of 10 and 11 with methyl triflate led to sulfonium salts 14 and 15. The prepared compounds were found to be moderate inhibitors of α-l-fucosidase.     

Synthesis and characterization of polybinaphthalene incorporating chiral (R) or (S)-1,1′-binaphthalene and oxadiazole units by Heck reaction

Chiral conjugated polymers P-1 and P-2 were synthesized by the polymerization of (R)-3,3′-diiodo-2,2′-bisbutoxy-1,1′-binaphthalene ((R)-M-1) and (S)-3,3′-diiodo-2,2′-bisbutoxy-1,1′-binaphthalene ((S)-M-1) with 2,5-bis(4-vinylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (M-2) under Pd-catalyzed Heck coupling reaction, respectively. Both monomers and polymers were analysed by NMR, MS, FT-IR, UV, DSC-TG, fluorescent spectroscopy, GPC and CD spectra. The chiral conjugated polymers exhibit strong Cotton effect in their circular dichroism (CD) spectra indicating a high rigidity of polymer backbone. CD spectra of polymers P-1 and P-2 are almost identical and have opposite signs for their position. These polymers have strong blue fluorescence.     

Total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-glucopyranoside, a component of blue flower pigment of Salvia patens, and seven chiral analogues

We have succeeded in the first total synthesis of apigenin 7,4′-di-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1a), a component of blue pigment, protodelphin, from naringenin (2). Glycosylation of 2 according to Koenigs-Knorr reaction provided a monoglucoside 4a in 80% yield, and this was followed by DDQ oxidation to give apigenin 7-O-glucoside (12a). Further glycosylation of 4′-OH of 12a with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl fluoride (5a) was achieved using a Lewis acid-and-base promotion system (BF₃·Et₂O, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-methylpyridine, and 1,1,3,3-tetramethylguanidine) in 70% yield, and subsequent deprotection produced 1a. Synthesis of three other chiral isomers of 1a, with replacement of d-glucose at 7 and/or 4′-OH by l-glucose (1b-d), and four chiral isomers of apigenin 7-O-β-glucosides (6a,b) and 4′-O-β-glucosides (7a,b) also proved possible.     

Sarcanolides A and B: two sesquiterpenoid dimers with a nonacyclic scaffold from Sarcandra hainanensis

Two novel lindenane-type sesquiterpenoid dimers, sarcanolides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the whole plants of Sarcandra hainanensis. These compounds feature a new nonacyclic scaffold in which the bond formation of C-11-C-7′ imposed the five-membered lactone ring in a full β-direction. Their structures, including the absolute configuration, were determined by NMR analysis, CD exciton chirality method, and ECD calculation.     

Four new ginkgolic acids from Ginkgo biloba

Four new compounds, 2-hydroxy-6-(12′-hydroxyheptadec-13′(E)-en-1-yl)benzoic acid (1), 2-hydroxy-6-(13′-hydroxyheptadec-11′(E)-en-1-yl)benzoic acid (2), 2-hydroxy-6-(10′-hydroxypentadec-11′(E)-en-1-yl)benzoic acid (3), and 2-hydroxy-6-(11′-hydroxypentadec-9′(E)-en-1-yl)benzoic acid (4) were isolated from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba and the structures of new ginkgolic acids were deduced on the basis of spectroscopic methods and chemical means. Compounds 1 and 2, and 3 and 4 examined as an inseparable mixture of hydroxyl and double bond positional isomers, were ultimately defined by total synthesis. Compounds 1–4 showed moderate lipid droplets accumulation inhibitory activity on mouse pre-adipocyte cell line, MC3T3-G2/PA6.     

Novel optically active poly(amide-imide)s from N,N-(4,4-carbonyldiphthaloyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid chloride and aromatic diamines by microwave irradiation

3,3^′,4,4^′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (4,4^′-carbonyldiphthalic anhydride) (1) was reacted with l-phenylalanine (2) in a mixture of acetic acid and pyridine (3:2) and the resulting imide-acid [N,N^′-(4,4^′-carbonyldiphthaloyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid] (4) was obtained in high yield. The compound (4) was converted to the N,N^′-(4,4^′-carbonyldiphthaloyl)-bis-l-phenylalanine diacid chloride (5) by reaction with thionyl chloride. A new facile and rapid polycondensation reaction of this diacid chloride (5) with several aromatic diamines such as 4,4^′-diaminodiphenyl methane (6a), 2,4-diaminotoluene (6b), 4,4^′-sulfonyldianiline (6c), p-phenylenediamine (6d), 4,4^′-diaminodiphenylether (6e), m-phenylenediamine (6f), benzidine (6g) and 2,6-diaminopyridine (6h) was developed by using a domestic microwave oven in the presence of a small amount of a polar organic medium such as o-cresol. The polymerization reactions proceeded rapidly, compared with the conventional solution polycondensation, and was completed within 7 min, producing a series of optically active poly(amide-imide)s with high yield and inherent viscosity of 0.22-0.52 dl/g. All of the above polymers were fully characterized by IR, elemental analyses and specific rotation. Some structural characterization and physical properties of this optically active poly(amide-imide)s are reported.     

Synthesis of (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine using 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of a nitrone

To synthesize (3′R,5′S)-3′-hydroxycotinine [(+)-1], the main metabolite of nicotine (2), cycloaddition of C-(3-pyridyl)nitrones 3a, 3c, and 15 with (2R)- and (2S)-N-(acryloyl)bornane-10,2-sultam [(2R)- and (2S)-8] was examined. Among them, l-gulose-derived nitrone 15 underwent stereoselective cycloaddition with (2S)-8 to afford cycloadduct 16, which was elaborated to (+)-1.     

Bioactive meroditerpenes and indole alkaloids from the soil fungus Neosartorya fischeri (KUFC 6344), and the marine-derived fungi Neosartorya laciniosa (KUFC 7896) and Neosartorya tsunodae (KUFC 9213)

Two new metabolites including a new aszonalenin analogue (1c) and a new meroditerpene (3) were isolated, together with aszonalenin (1a), acetylaszonalenin (1b), 13-oxofumitremorgin B (2), aszonapyrone A (4b) and helvolic acid, from the culture of the soil fungus Neosartorya fischeri (KUFC 6344). While the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the diseased coral-derived fungus Neosartorya laciniosa (KUFC 7896) furnished aszonapyrone B (4a), aszonapyrone A (4b), tryptoquivaline L and 3′-(4-oxoquinazolin-3-yl) spiro[1H-indole-3,5′-oxolane]-2,2′-dione, the ethyl acetate extract of the culture of the marine sponge-associated fungus Neosartorya tsunodae (KUFC 9213) yielded a new analogue of chevalone C (5) and helvolic acid. The structures of the new compounds were established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis as well as HR-ESIMS. Compounds 1a–c, 2, 3, 4a, 4b and 5 were evaluated for their in vitro growth inhibitory activity on the MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and A375-C5 (melanoma) cell lines by the protein binding dye SRB method.