Synthesis of homologously pure bacteriochlorophyll-e and f analogues from BChls-c/d via transformation of the 7-methyl to formyl group and self-aggregation of synthetic zinc methyl bacteriopheophorbides-c/d/e/f in non-polar organic solvent

Homologously pure methyl bacteriopheophorbides-e and f (BPhes-e/f_M) were prepared from modification of naturally occurring bacteriochlorophylls-c and d (BChls-c/d), respectively, by transformation of the methyl to formyl group at the 7-position. The absolute configuration of the 1-hydroxyethyl group at the 3-position of (Zn-)BPhes-e/f_M was determined from comparison with structurally known BChl-c/d epimers. Visible spectra of synthetic (Zn-)BPhe-c/d/e/f_M showed that the 7¹-oxidation and the 8²/12¹/20-methylation affected Soret, Q_x and Q_y bands of both the monomeric (in a polar organic solvent) and oligomeric species (in a non-polar solvent).     

Synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)- and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin

A convergent synthesis of (4R,15R,16R,21S)-rollicosin (1) and (4R,15S,16S,21S)-rollicosin (2) was accomplished. Hydroxy lactone 6a and/or 6b were synthesized from 4-pentyn-1-ol, and α,β-unsaturated lactone 7 was synthesized from γ-lactone 8 and 5-hexen-1-ol. Inhibitory activity of these compounds was examined with bovine heart mitochondrial complex I.     

Three new Lycopodium alkaloids from Huperzia carinata and Huperzia squarrosa

Eleven Lycopodium alkaloids with lycodine-type, lycopodine-type, and fawcettimine-related skeletons were isolated from the whole plants of Huperzia carinata (Desv. Ex. Poir.) Trevis and Huperzia squarrosa (G. Forst) Trevis (Huperziaceae). Among them, 8,15-dihydrohuperzine A (2), lycocarinatine A (3), and lycoposerramine U N-oxide (11) are new compounds. The structures of these new alkaloids were elucidated on the basis of 2D NMR correlations. Some of these isolated alkaloids were assayed for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity.     

Athrotaxis alkaloids. Part II. Alkaloids of a. selaginoides and a. laxifolia

The taxodeaceous plant A. Selaginoides contains six known homoerythrina-type alkaloids and selaginoidine, which has a furan ring replacing the benzene ring of the latter type. Selaginoidine and five of the six above-mentioned alkaloids also occur in A. laxifolia.     

Unprecedented N(H)-bridged tetraaza[1.1.1.1]m,p,m,p-cyclophanes

The first uncatalyzed preparation of tetraaza[1.1.1.1]m,p,m,p-cyclophanes (symmetrical and unsymmetrical) gave access to previously unknown N(H)-bridged derivatives that could be further substituted. NMR studies and theoretical calculations show that these macrocycles adopt an 1,3-alternated conformation.     

(6Z,9Z,12Z)-6,9,12-Octadecatriene and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z)-3,6,9,12-icosatetraene, the novel sex pheromones produced by emerald moths

(6Z,9Z,12Z)-6,9,12-Octadecatriene and (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z)-3,6,9,12-icosatetraene, hydrocarbons unsaturated more highly than usual lepidopteran Type II pheromones, were identified from geometrid females of Hemithea tritonaria and Thalassodes immissaria intaminata, respectively. The triene was synthesized by a double Wittig reaction between hexanal and an ylide derived from (Z)-1,6-diiodo-3-hexene, and the tetraene was synthesized by a coupling between (Z)-3-undecenal and an ylide derived from (3Z,6Z)-1-iodo-3,6-nonadiene. Each synthetic compound attracted males of the corresponding emerald moths in a field.     

Conformational analysis of bridgehead-substituted bicyclo[m.m.m]alkanes and bicyclo[8.8.n]alkanes

Conformational analyses of bicyclo[m.m.m]alkanes where m=1-10 and of bicyclo[8.8.n]alkanes where n=1-7 bearing methyl groups on the bridgeheads were carried out using a Monte Carlo search strategy. In the bicyclo[m.m.m]alkane series, greater variability was observed for the inter-bridgehead distance for larger values of m. This suggests that properly substituted bicyclo[8.8.8]hexacosanes or larger ring systems might serve as molecular springs.     

Stereospecific preparation of (2E, 4Z)-monofluorodienyl esters by the Heck reaction of high E/Z ratio 1-bromo-1-fluorostyrenes

High E/Z ratio (E/Z>75:25) 1-bromo-1-fluorostyrenes, which were prepared by isomerization of 1-bromo-1-fluorostyrenes (E/Z≈1:1), underwent the Heck reaction with methyl acrylate, and (2E, 4Z)-methyl 5-aryl-4-fluoropenta-2,4-dienoates were successfully isolated. Heck reactions of (Z)-1-bromo-1-fluorostyrenes also occur. However, the products are difficult to separate in a pure form, since they have an obvious tendency to isomerize on a silica gel column.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of cyclometallated palladium (II) compounds containing difunctional ligands with [P,P], [As,As], [N,N], [P,As], [P,N] and [P,O] donor atoms

Treatment of the chloro-bridged dinuclear complex [Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)N(Cy)-C6,N}(μ-Cl)]₂ (1) with homobidentate [P,P], [As,As], [N,N], and heterobidentate [P,As], [P,N] ligands in a 1:1 molar ratio gave the dinuclear complexes [{Pd[3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)N(Cy)-C6,N](Cl)}₂{μ-L}] (L = Ph₂PC₄H₆(NH)CH₂PPh₂ (2); Ph₂As(CH₂)₂AsPh₂ (3); 1,3-(NH₂CH₂)₂C₆H₄ (4); Ph₂P(CH₂)₂AsPh₂ (5); Ph₂P(CH₂)₂NH₂ (6)), with the bidentate ligands bridging the two cyclometallated fragments.The reaction with the homobidentate ligands in a 1:2 molar ratio in the presence of NaClO₄ afforded the mononuclear compounds [[Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)N(Cy)-C6,N}{L-P,P}][ClO₄] (L = Ph₂PC₄H₆(NH)CH₂PPh₂ (7); (o-Tol)₂P(CH₂)₂P(o-Tol)₂ (8)), [Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)N(Cy)-C6,N}{Ph₂As(CH₂)₂AsPh₂-As,As}][ClO₄] (9) and [Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)N(Cy)-C6,N}{L-N,N}][ClO₄] (L = NH₂(CH₂)₃NH₂ (10); NH₂(C₆H₈)CH₂(C₆H₈)NH₂ (11); 1,3-(NH₂CH₂)₂C₆H₄ (12); 1,3-(NH₂)₂C₅H₃N (13); NH₂(C₆H₄)O(C₆H₄)NH₂ (14); NMe₂(CH₂)₂NMe₂ (15)), in which the chloro ligands are absent and the bidentate ligands are chelated to the palladium atom.Reaction of 1 with Ph₂P(CH₂)₂AsPh₂ in 1:2 molar ratio in acetone in the presence of NH₄PF₆ afforded the analogous mononuclear compound [Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)N(Cy)-C6,N}{Ph₂P(CH₂)₂AsPh₂-P,As}][PF₆] (16); whereas reaction with Ph₂P(CH₂)₃NH₂ gave [Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)N(Cy)-C6,N}{Ph₂P(CH₂)₃N(CMe₂)-P,N}][PF₆] (17), derived from intermolecular condensation between the aminophosphine and acetone. Condensation of the NH₂ group was precluded by change of solvent, using dichloromethane.Iminophoshines also reacted with 1 in 1:2 molar ratio in acetone to give a new series of mononuclear cyclometallated complexes: [Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)N(Cy)-C6,N}{L-P,N}][ClO₄] (L = Ph₂PC₆H₄C(H)NCy (20); Ph₂PC₆H₄C(H)NC(CH₃)₃ (21); Ph₂PC₆H₄C(H)NNMe₂ (22); Ph₂PC₆H₄C(H)NNHMe (23); Ph₂PC₆H₄C(H)NNHPh (24)). Analogous complexes with a stable P,O-chelate were obtained using bidentate [P,O] donor ligands: [Pd{3,4-(MeO)₂C₆H₂C(H)N(Cy)-C6,N}{L-P,O}][Cl] (L = 2-(Ph₂P)C₆H₄CHO (25); Ph₂PN(Me)C(O)Me (26)).The crystal structures of compounds 1, 5, 15, 16, 18, 20 have been determined by X-ray crystallography.     

Domino pericyclic reactions of acyclic conjugated (E,Z,E,E)-tetraenes

Acyclic conjugated (E,Z,E,E)-tetraenes, upon thermolysis, undergo a domino pericyclic process involving 6π electrocyclisation of the (E,Z,E)-triene moiety to give the corresponding cis-disubstituted 5-vinyl-1,3-cyclohexadienes, followed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction with the vinyl side chain to give tricyclo[3.2.1.0^2,7]oct-3-enes.     

Lycogladines A-H,fawcettimine-type Lycopodium alkaloids from Lycopodium complanatum var. glaucum Ching

Five new fawcettimine-type alkaloids (1–5) and three new natural products (6–8), along with four known analogues, fawcettimine (9), fewcettidine (10), lycopoclavamine B (11), and lycopladine B (12), were isolated from the whole plant of Lycopodium complanatum var. glaucum Ching. The structures of lycogladines A-H (1–8) were determined based on HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, as well as single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 possesses a new ring system that is formed through the linkage of C-13-OC-2, which is rarely present in Lycopodium alkaloids (LAs). Compounds 1–8 were tested for their β-site amyloid precursor protein (APP)-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities.     

Concise and practical synthesis of (2S,3R,4R,5R) and (2S,3R,4R,5S)-1,6-dideoxy-1,6-iminosugars

The syntheses of (2S,3R,4R,5R) and (2S,3R,4R,5S)-1,6-dideoxy-1,6 iminosugars 1a and 1b, respectively, from d-glucose are described. The key transformations in this reaction sequence include regio-selective epoxide ring opening with N-benzylamine followed by intramolecular reductive amination of amino-aldehyde.     

From N,N-diphenyl-N-naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl-amine to propeller-shaped N,N,N-tri(naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl)-amine: syntheses and structures

Three unique propeller-shaped helicenyl amines compounds: N,N-diphenyl-N-naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl-amine (1), N-phenyl-N,N-di(naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl)amine (2), and N,N,N-tri(naphtho[2,1-b]thieno[2,3-b:3′,2′-d]dithiophene-5-yl)amine (3) were efficiently synthesized by Wittig reaction and oxidative photocyclization. The crystal structures of 1, 2 and molecular configuration optimization (DFT-B3LYP/6-31+G(d)) of 3 reveal that the steric hindrance from the moiety of trithia[5]helicene effectively forces the nitrogen atom and the three bonded carbon atoms to coplanar and the interplanar angles of the facing terminal thiophene ring and benzene ring becoming larger when the helical arm increased from 1 to 3. Electrochemical properties and UV–vis absorption behaviors of 1, 2, 3 were primarily determined by the moiety of trithia[5]helicene.     

E/Z Isomerization of 3,3-disubstituted allylic thioethers

Allylic thioethers of the general structure 1 underwent E/Z isomerization during both basic and acidic hydrolysis of the ester moiety at the remote end of the molecule. The isomerization was dependent on the substitution of the allylic moiety. The presence of a 5-membered heterocycle on the double bond supported the isomerization. However, analogous oxy-ethers were stable.     

A convergent synthesis of (17R,5Z,8Z,11Z,14Z)-17-hydroxyeicosa-5,8,11,14-tetraenoic acid analogues and their tritiated derivatives

17(R)-OH-AA and 14,15-dehydro-17(R)-OH-AA were synthesized from a common tetraacetylenic precursor and their azide derivatives were obtained in moderate yields via the corresponding p-toluenesulfonates. Since the azido group remained stable during tritiation procedure on Lindlar's catalyst in benzene, both 14,15-dehydro-17(S)-N₃-AA and 14,15-dehydro-17(R)-OH-AA constitute useful intermediates in the synthesis of radio-labelled 17(S)-N₃-AA and 17(R)-OH-AA. In contrast, reduction of azide in methanol afforded 17(S)-NH₂-AA with 95% yield.     

Bis-cephalezomines A-E from Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. nana

Five new dimeric Cephalotaxus alkaloids, bis-cephalezomines A-E (1-5), have been isolated from the leaves of Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. nana, and the structures and stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data including 2D NMR and FABMS/MS spectra, and chemical means.     

Synthesis of 2E,4E,6E,11Z-octadecatetraenoic acid of the Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae Nod factor

2E,4E,6E,11Z-Octadecatetraenoic acid was synthesized in a good yield and in a stereospecific manner by coupling a vinylborane compound and ethyl trans-3-iodoacrylate. The trienic system (E,E,E) was obtained by successive use of metal-catalyzed coupling and hydro-metallation reactions.     

Electrochemical genosensing of Salmonella, Listeria and Escherichia coli on silica magnetic particles

A magneto-genosensing approach for the detection of the three most common pathogenic bacteria in food safety, such as Salmonella, Listeria and Escherichia coli is presented. The methodology is based on the detection of the tagged amplified DNA obtained by single-tagging PCR with a set of specific primers for each pathogen, followed by electrochemical magneto-genosensing on silica magnetic particles. A set of primers were selected for the amplification of the invA (278 bp), prfA (217 bp) and eaeA (151 bp) being one of the primers for each set tagged with fluorescein, biotin and digoxigenin coding for Salmonella enterica, Listeria monocytogenes and E. coli, respectively. The single-tagged amplicons were then immobilized on silica MPs based on the nucleic acid-binding properties of silica particles in the presence of the chaotropic agent as guanidinium thiocyanate. The assessment of the silica MPs as a platform for electrochemical magneto-genosensing is described, including the main parameters to selectively attach longer dsDNA fragments instead of shorter ssDNA primers based on their negative charge density of the sugar-phosphate backbone. This approach resulted to be a promising detection tool with sensing features of rapidity and sensitivity very suitable to be implemented on DNA biosensors and microfluidic platforms.     

Demethoxycarbonylation and oxidation of 13(S/R)-hydroxy-chlorophyll a to 13-demethoxycarbonyl-13-oxo-chlorophyll a and Mg-purpurin-18 phytyl ester

The conversion of 13²(S/R)-hydroxy-chlorophyll (Chl) a to 13²-demethoxycarbonyl-13²-oxo-Chl a in a yield of 40%, utilizing a simple pyrolysis technique, is described. About 10% of the phytyl ester of Mg-purpurin-18 was formed as a side product. The completely assigned ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra are presented for 13²-demethoxycarbonyl-13²-oxo-Chl a and a likely mechanism for its formation is proposed. A slight extension of this mechanism also explains the formation of the Mg-purpurin-18 side product. The proposed mechanism has several features comparable with those previously suggested for the allomerization of 13²(R/S)-Chl a. Attempts to apply the same pyrolysis method to prepare 13²-demethoxycarbonyl-13²-oxo-Chl b from 13²(S/R)-hydroxy-Chl b were unsuccessful.     

Two novel tricyclic diterpenoids from Isodon rubescens var. taihangensis

Two novel tricyclic diterpenoids rubescensins U (1) and V (2) were isolated from the leaves of Isodon rubescens var. taihangensis. They were elucidated as a 8,15-seco-ent-kauranoid and an ent-abietanoid, respectively, by 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and single crystal X-ray analysis. Compound 1 is the first example of an 8,15-seco-ent-kaurane from the plants genus Isodon. A discussion of their biogenesis is described.