Recent advances on the synthesis of flavans,isoflavans, and neoflavans

Heterocyclic compounds are the omnipresent structural cores comprising many natural and pharmaceutical products of biological significance. Significantly, heterocyclic compounds are widely distributed in nature, and also have applications in agrochemicals, sanitizers, as dyestuff, as copolymers, etc. Among heterocyles, flavonoids are a class of compounds that are highly interesting and constitute many natural products. In general, all flavanoids contains a basic core of C₆-C₃-C₆ of phenyl-benzopyran backbone. The relative placement of the phenyl group on to the benzopyran core makes further classification into flavanoids, isoflavanoids and neoflavanoids. Flavans (2-aryl chroman) are subclass of anthoxanthanes exhibits a broad spectrum of biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-malarial properties. Some representative naturally occurring products possessing flavan core are apigenin, luteolin, tangeretin, scutellarein, etc. On the other hand, some of the notable isoflavan-based natural products are glabridin and (S)-(−)-equol. Glabridin is isolated from Licorice roots, which regulates paraoxonase (PON₂) levels. While the simple isoflavan (S)-(−)-equol, is produced from soy isoflavone intake. Also, natural products such as dalbergichromene, centchroman, and (+)-myristinin A possess neoflavan (4-aryl-3,4-dihydro-2H-chromenes) core structure. Owing to their broad biological and pharmacological properties, synthetic chemists are fascinated in developing new routes toward their synthesis. As a result, a decent number of reports have been established in the literature. Thus, for the past 5 years of time frame, many new methodologies have been witnessed, for the synthesis of various flavan systems. This review emphasizes most of the significant methods on accomplishing flavans, isoflavans and neoflavans and also focused on their applications to the synthesis of relevant natural as well as biologically active products.     

C45- and C50-Carotehoids. Part 8. Synthesis of (all-E,2S,2′S)-bacterioruberin, (all-E,2S,2′S)-monoanhydrobacterioruberin, (all-E,2S,2′S)-bisanhydrobacterioruberin, (all- E,2R,2′R)-3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydrobisanhydro- bacterioruberin,and (all-E,S)-2-isopentenyl-3,4-dehydrorhodopin

Starting from (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid ((R)- 10 ) the C₄₅- and C₅₀-carotenoids (all-E,2S,2′S)-bacterioruberm ( 1 ), (all-E,2S,2′S)-monoanhydrobacterioruberin ( 2 ), (all-E,2S,2′S)-bisanhydrobacterioruberin ( 3 ), (all-E,2R,2′R)-3,4,3′,4′-tetrahydrobisanhydrobacterioruberin ( 5 ), and (all-E,S)-2-isopentenyl-3,4-dehydrorhodopin ( 6 ) were synthesized. By comparison of the chiroptical data of the natural and the synthetic compounds, the (2S)- and (2′S)-configuration of the natural products 1–3 and 6 was established.     

Plectranthone A,B, C und D. Diterpenoide Phenanthren-1,4-dione aus Blattdrüsen einer Plectranthuus sp. (Labiatae)

Plectranthons A, B, C, and D. Diterpenoid Phenanthrene-1,4-diones from Leaf-glands a Plectranthus sp. (Labiatae) The following structures of four new 1,4-phenanthraquionones, isolated in minute amounts from the coloured leaf-glands of a Plectranthus sp. obtained from the borders of Lake Kiwu₂, Rwanda, are proposed: plectranthon A ( 1 ; 3-hydroxy-5, 7,8-trimethyl-2-(2-propenyl)phenanthrene-1, 4-dione), plectranthon B ( 2 ; 2-(2ξ-acetoxypropyl)-3-hydroxy-5,7,8-trimethylphenanthrene-1,4-dione), plextranthon C ( 3 ; 3-hydroxy- 7,8-diemethyl-2-(2-propenyl)phenanthrene-1,4-dione), and plectranthon D ( 4 ; 3-hydroxy-7,8,10-trimethyl-2-(2-propenyl)phenanthrene-1,4-dione). 2-(2ξ-Hydroxypropyl)-3,6-dihydroxy-5,7,8-trimethylphenanthrene-1,4-dione ( 11 ), a compound very similar to 1–4 , was prepared by a Wagner-Meerwein, rearrangement of coleon E (⁵). Biogenetically, the plectranthons are derived from abietanoic precursors. The compounds 1, 2 and 4 are the first natural C₂₀-phenanthrenes of diterpenoid origin.     

Leucascandrolide A,a New Type of Macrolide: The first powerfully bioactive metabolite of calcareous sponges (Leucascandra caveolata,a new genus from the coral sea)

Leucascandrolide A ((+)- 1 ), a doubly O-bridged 18-membered macrolide of a new type, i.e., showing little C₁-branching vs. extensive 1,3-dioxygenation and a peculiar side chain, was isolated from a calcareous sponge of a new genus, Leucascandra caveolata BOROJEVIC and KLAUTAU from the Coral Sea. Transesterification of (+)- 1 gave the methyl ester 3 , derived from the side chain, and the 5-hydroxy derivative (+)- 2 , derived from the macrolide portion and with the natural configuration at C(5) (axial). Mosher's MTPA esters 4 and 5 obtained from (+)- 2 showed scattered Δδ = (δ(S) ? δ(R)) data. However, inversion of the configuration at C(5) led, via ketone (+)- 6 , to the less encumbered 5-equatorial hydroxy derivative (+)- 7 , whose MTPA esters 8 and 9 gave consistent Δδ data, allowing the assignment of the absolute configuration of (+)- 7 , and hence of (+)- 1 . The structural novelty of (+)- 1 and its powerful antifungal and cytotoxic activities are likely to renew interest in calcareous sponges, previously limited to scarcely biologically active 2-aminoimidazoles.     

Syntheses of (2R,4'R,8'R)-alpha-tocopherol and (2R,3'E,7'E)-alpha-tocotrienol.

Reaction of trimethyl-hydroquinone with methyl vinyl ketone in acidic methanol gave rac.-2-methoxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-6-ol ( 8 ). This acetal was converted in four steps to rac.-(6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-2-yl)acetic acid ( 13 ). Acid 13 was readily resolved with α-methyl-benzylamine to give the (S)-enantiomer 14 . Treatment of the unwanted (2 R)-isomer with acid regenerated 13 , thus leading to an efficient use of this compound. Employing a side chain derived from phytol, 14 was converted to (2R, 4′R, 8′R)-α-tocopherol ( 1d , ‘natural’ vitamin E). A reaction sequence from 14 involving two highly stereoselective Claisen rearrangements has provided the first total synthesis of (2R,'E,7′E)-α-tocotrienol ( 2d ).     

Stereochemische Korrelationen zwischen (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-Tocopherol, (25S,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol, (–)-(1S,5R)-Frontalin und (–)-(R)-Linalol

Stereochemical Correlations between (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-Tocopherol, (25S,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol, (–)-(1S,5R)-Frontalin and (–)-(R)-Linalol The optically active C₅- and C₄-building units 1 and 2 with their hydroxy group at a asymmetric C-atom were transformed to (–)-(1S,5R)-Frontalin ( 7 ) and (–)-(3R)-Linalol ( 8 ) respectively; 1 and 2 had been used earlier in the preparation of the chroman part of (2R,4′R,8′R)-α-Tocopherol ( 6a , vitamin E), and for introduction of the side chain in (25S,26)-Dihydroxycholecalciferol ((25S)- 4 ), a natural metabolite of Vitamin D₃. The stereochemical correlations resulting from these converions fit into a coherent picture with those correlations already known from literature and they confirm our earlier stereochemical assignments. A stereochemical assignment concerning the C(25)-epimers of 25,26-Dihydroxycholecalciferol that was in contrast to our findings and that initiated the conversion of 1 and 2 to 7 resp. 8 for additional stereochemical correlations has been corrected in the meantime by the authors [26].     

Saponins with Molluscicidal Activity from Hedera helixL

Four triterpenoid saponins (1–4) have been isolated from the berries of Hedera helix L. (Araliaceae) by droplet counter-current and preparative liquid chromatography. The structures have been established by FD./MS. and ¹³C-NMR. spectroscopy. The isolated compounds were found to possess strong molluscicidal activity against the bilharziasis-transmitting snail Biomphalaria glabrata. Saponin 4 , identified as hederagenin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-β-D-glucopyranoside, is a new natural product.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (S,R)- and (R,R)-methiin stereoisomers

Abstract

An asymmetric synthesis of (+)- and (–)-methiine (S-methyl-(R)-cysteine sulfoxide) diastereomers has been developed. These natural sulfur compounds were isolated from a variety of Brassica vegetables. As the starting compound, (R)-cysteine was used, which was methylated to form (R)-S-methylcysteine. Then the oxidation of S-methylcysteine with tert-butyl hydroperoxide catalyzed by the chiral tetra(isopropylate)titanium/(S)- or (R)-Binol complex led to the formation of (1?R,2S)-(+)- or (1?R,2R)-(–)-methiin stereomers.     

Synthesis of polynucleotide analogs by grafting optically active adenine,cytosine, and hypoxanthine derivatives onto polytrimethylenimine

A new family of polynucleotide analogs were prepared by grafting nucleic acid base derivatives onto polytrimethylenimine. Several new optically pure α-nucleic acid base substituted propanoic acids were prepared as pendant groups. The (R)-ethyl adeninylpropanoate was obtained from adenine and (S)-ethyl lactate by utilizing a diethyl azodicarboxylate-triphenyl phosphine method. Subsequent hydrolysis of the ester in aqueous acid gave the (R)-adeninylpropanoic acid without racemization. The reaction of cytosine sodium salt with (S)-ethyl 2-[(methylsulfonyl)oxy] propanoate produced the 20% racemized (R)-ethyl 2-(cytosin-1-yl)propanoate. The optically pure ester was obtained by recrystallization from ethyl alcohol, which was hydrolyzed in aqueous acid to give the (R)-acid with 66% enantiomeric excess. The (R)-2-(hypoxanthin-9-yl)propanoic acid was prepared by reaction of (R)-2-(adenin-9-yl)propanoic acid with sodium nitrite. The pendant groups were allowed to react with N-hydroxy compounds in the presence of dicyclohexylcarbodiimide to give the active esters. These active esters underwent reaction with N,N-dipropylamine to provide monomer model compounds. The pendant groups were grafted onto polytrimethylenimine by using the active ester method. The racemization reactions were observed in the grafting reactions. The resulting polymers showed a range of percent grafting from 60 to 80%.     

Synthese von Plectranthonen,diterpenoiden Phenanthren-1,4-chinonen

Synthesis of Plectranthons, Diterpenoid Phenanthrene-1,4-diones The following phenanthrene-1,4-diones have been synthesized by using the photocyclization of the corresponding highly substituted stilbenes as the key step: 3-hydroxy-5,7,8-trimethyl-2-(prop-2-enyl)phenanthrene-1,4-dione ( 1 ), (RS)-, (R)-, and (S)-2-[3-hydroxy-5,7,8-trimethyl-1,4-dioxophenanthren-2-yl]-1-methylethyl acetate ( 2 , 31 , and 32 , resp.), 3-hydroxy-7,8-dimethyl-2-(prop-2-enyl)phenanthrene-1,4-dione ( 3 ), 3-hydroxy-7,8,10-tri-methyl-2-(prop-2-enyl)phenanthrene-1,4-dione ( 4 ), 5,7,8-trimethyl-2-(prop-2-enyl)phenanthrene-1,4-dione ( 17 ), and 3-hydroxy-2-methylphenanthrene-1,4-dione ( 42 ). The quinones 1 and 3 proved to be identical with the recently isolated plectranthons A and C. Compounds 2 , 31 , and 32 exhibited the same UV/VIS, IR, ¹H-NMR and mass spectra as natural plectranthon B , but had different melting points. This might be due either to crystal modifications or to diastereoisomerism caused by the helical structure of the phenanthrene-1,4-dione skeleton. The spectral data of synthetic 4 were not compatible with those of natural plectranthon D for which structure 4 had been proposed based mainly on ¹H-NMR arguments concerning the chemical shifts of H? C(9) and H? C(10) in 1–3. Extensive ¹H-NMR investigations have now revealed that the currently stated assignments of the H? C(9)/ H? C(10) AB system have to be reversed for highly substituted phenanthrene-1,4-diones: in the model compounds 2-methylphenanthrene-1,4-dione (41) and 2, H? C(10) resonates al lower field as expected (peri-position), whereas in the highly substituted congeners 1 , 2 , 3 , 31 , and 32 , H? C(9) is shifted paramagnetically, a fact which had lead to the erroneous assignment of structure 4 for natural plectranthon D .     

Isolierung von (2S, 4S)-(+)-γ-Hydroxynorvalin und (2S, 4R)-(−)-γ-Hydroxynorvalin aus Boletus satanas Lenz

We have isolated from the carpophores of Boletus satanas Lenz (Basidiomycetae) (2S,4S)-(+)-γ-hydroxynorvaline ( 1 ) and (2S,4R)-(?)-γ-hydroxynorvaline ( 2 ). The chirality of each diastereomer has been determined by chemical synthesis starting from optically active precursors and by application of different chiroptical methods. Gaschromatographic separation of the derived diastereomeric N-[(S)-α-methoxypropionyl]-lactones reveals that the optical purity of natural 2 is 88% whereas 1 exists as a partial racemate: (2S,4S): (2R,4R) = 3:2. Muscarine could not be detected in the carpophores of B. satanas, contrary to some literature data but basic substances of unknown structure are present in low concentration.     

Guignardic Acid,a Novel Type of Secondary Metabolite Produced by the Endophytic Fungus Guignardia sp.: Isolation,Structure Elucidation,and Asymmetric Synthesis

A UV‐guided fractionation of the AcOEt extract of the fermentation broth of Guignardia sp., an endophytic fungus from the leaves of the tropical tree Spondias mombin, resulted in the identification of the new metabolite (−)‐(2S,5Z)‐2‐(1‐methylethyl)‐4‐oxo‐5‐(phenylmethylene)‐1,3‐dioxolane‐2‐carboxylic acid ( 1 ), isolated as NH salt 1a . The metabolite 1 was designated (−)‐(S)‐guignardic acid. This first member of a new class of natural compounds contains a dioxolanone moiety formed by fusion of 2‐oxo‐3‐phenylpropanoic acid (phenylpyruvic acid) and 3‐methyl‐2‐oxobutanoic acid (dimethylpyruvic acid), products of the oxidative deamination of phenylalanine and valine, respectively. The structure of 1a was deduced from spectral data (UV, IR, MS, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR) and confirmed by asymmetric synthesis.     

Absolute Configuration of Multifidene and Viridiene,the Sperm Releasing and Attracting Pheromones of Brown Algae

The absolute configurations of the two algal pheromones multifidene 1 and viridiene 2 were determined as (+)-(3S, 4S)-3-[(Z)-1-butenyl]-4-vinylcyclopentene and (+)-(3R, 4S)-3-[(1Z)-1, 3-butadienyl]-4-vinylcyclopentene, respectively. The strategy involves enzyme-initiated asymmetric synthesis of the ring-saturated pheromone analogues (+)- 8a and (?)- 8b and their subsequent catalytic hydrogenation to the chiral cycloalkanes 9a and 9b , only the letter of which is also obtained from the two natural messengers (+)- 1 or (+)- 2 . Biological activity assays proved these enantiomers of 1 or 2 to be the characteristic pheromones for male gametes of the seaweeds Syringoderma, Cutleria multifida and Chorda tomentosa.     

Inhaltsstoffe des Osmanthus-Absolues 6. Mitteilung. (7S, 10S, 5E)- und (7R, 10S, 5E)-2,6,10-Trimethyl-7,10-epoxy-2,5,11-dodecatrien

Constituents of Osmanthus Absolute, 6th Communication. (7 S , 10 S , 5 E ) - and (7 R , 10 S , 5 E )-2,6,10-Trimethyl-7,10-epoxy-2,5,11-dodecatriene Two novel sesquiterpenoid oxides 1a and 1b from Osmanthus absolute have been identified. Their structural proof is based on pectral data and synthesis starting from the known methyl [5-methyl-5-vinyl-tetrahydrofur-1-yl] ketones ( 4a and 4b , respectively), whose configuration is well established. The thus obtained compounds 1a / 1b identical with the natural products, were accompanied by their corresponding 6-methylidene isomers 3a and 3b which could not be detected in the natural substrate.     

Novel Aplysinopsin-Type Alkaloids from Scleractinian Corals of the Family Dendrophylliidae of the Mediterranean and the Philippines. Configurational-assignment criteria,stereospecific synthesis,and photoisomerization

From the scleractinian coral Tubastraea sp. (Dendrophylliidae) collected at Palawan, Philippines, 3′-deimino-3′-oxoaplysinopsin ( 4 ) and 6-bromo-3′-deimino-3′-oxoaplysinopsin ( 6 ) are now isolated as 5:2 mixtures of (E/Z) stereoisomers. The 3′-deimino-2′,4′-bis(demethyl)-3′-oxoaplysinopsin ( 7 ) and 6-bromo-3′-demino-2′,4-bis(demethyl)-3′-oxoaplysinopsin ( 5 ) are isolated as 2:3 and 1:1 (E/Z) mixtures, respectively, from another dendrophylliid, Leptopsammia pruvoti, collected near Marseille, Mediterranean coast of France. Larger amounts of these and related compounds, needed for a full structural determination, are obtained by synthesis. Thus, condensations of indol-3-carboxaldehyde (9) or of its 6-bromo derivative 14 with hydantoin (15) , 3-methylhydantoin (11) , or 1,3dimethylhydantoin (10) give the prevalent natural aplysinopsins with high stereospecificity. The minor stereoisomers (Z)- 4 , (Z)- 6 , (E)- 7 , and (E)- 5 are obtained by (E/Z) photoisomerization under UV light of the condensation mixtures. The configuration is assigned from larger H? C(8)/C(5′) ¹H, ¹³C couplings in the (E) than in the (Z) isomer, and, in the case of 4 and 6 , from NOE enhancement at Me? N(2′) on irradiation at H? C(8). The stereospecificity of the condensations is attributed to steric inhibition to planarity in the rate-limiting transition states, due to N(2′)/H? C(2) repulsion with (Z)- 4 and (Z)- 6 , or to C(5′)?O/H? C(2) repulsion with (E)–7 or (E)- 5 . As the aplysinopsins undergo (E/Z ) phostoisomerization also under the daylight conditions of the laboratory, their isomeric composition in nature can not be presently assessed.     

The Synthesis of (S)-(+)-2-Amino-3-(1-adamantyl)-propionic Acid (L-(+)-Adamantylalanine,Ada) as a ‘Fat’ or ‘Super’ Analogue of Leucine and Phenylalanine

Because of its overall steric resemblance to the phenylalanine analogue, carboranylalanine, the title compound was prepared by the modified Strecker synthesis of Patel & Worsley. The use of (S)-(?)-α-methylbenzylamine in the synthesis, the positive trend of [α]_D with increasing protonation, and the thin-layer chromatographic behaviour of synthetic diastereomeric dipeptides are strong indications that the configuration at the asymmetric carbon atom is S (natural L ). Its optical purity was ascertained by purification via the quinine and ephedrine salts of t-butoxy-carbonyl-adamantylalanine. The new amino acid shall be used for studies of structure-activity relationships of phenylalanine and leucine residues in biologically active peptides. In addition, a convenient synthesis in excellent yield of the starting material, 2-(1-adamantyl)-ethanal, by Pfitzner-Moffat oxidation of 2-(1-adamantyl)-ethanol is described.     

Syntheses for 2-amino and 2-mercapto-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one and 2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-one as aza and thio analogues of the natural product blepharigenin

2-Amino-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one 3 , 2-amino-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-one 4 , 2-mercapto-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one 7 , and 2-mercapto-2H-1,4-benzothiazin-3(4H)-one 8 representing aza and thio analogues of the natural product's aglucone Blepharigenin (2-hydroxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one) from Gramineae and Acantnaceae species have been synthesized for the first time from their 2-bromo precursors 1 and 2 . Attempts to similarly prepare the 4-hydroxy derivatives of 7 and 8 , which would represent new thio analogues of the naturally occurring cyclic hydroxamic acid, 2,4-dihydroxy-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one, have failed.     

Syntheses and Chiroptical Properties of the 13-membered spermidine alkaloids (−)-(S)-celacinnine, (0)-(S)-celabenzine, (−)-(S)-celafurine,and (+)-(S)-viburnine

The title alkaloids were prepared from the common chiral precursor (?)-(2S)-2-phenyl-1, 5, 9-triazacy-clotridecan-4-one ( 4 ) which we had synthesized earlier. The spectral data for the spermidine macrocycles are in good agreement with the data reported for the isolated samples. Our experimental results indicate that the originally reported [α]_D value of ?2.6 (c = 0.10, MeOH) for natural (S)-viburnine is erroneous and should be + 17.0 (c = 0.92, MeOH). As a result of the chiroptical study conducted, it can be shown empirically that all alkaloids of the ‘celacinnine’ type have the (S)-configuration.     

Neoengleromycin,a Novel Compound from Engleromyces goetzii

A novel N‐containing compound, neoengleromycin ( 1 ) was isolated from the fruiting bodies of the ascomycete Engleromyces goetzii together with two known cytochalasins: cytochalasin D ( 2 ) and 19,20‐epoxycytochalasin D ( 3 ). Structures were established by spectroscopic (including 2D‐NMR) and chemical means. Neoengleromycin ( 1 ) possesses the rare structure of an N‐substituted hydroxamic acid and represents a new type of natural products.     

(Z)-5-Tetradecen-14-olide,a New Macrocyclic Lactone,and Two Unsaturated Straight Chain Acetates from Ambrette Seed Absolute

(Z)-5-Tetradecen-14-olide ( 1 ), (Z)-5-dodecenyl acetate ( 2 ), and (Z)-5-tetradecenyl acetate ( 3 ) have been isolated from the absolute oil of Hibiscus abelmoschus L . The lactone 1 is a new macrocyclic musk compound, and the occurrence of the two acetates 2 and 3 in a plant is reported for the first time. Syntheses of the three compounds are described.