Acuminatanol, the first 2′,2?-bis-dihydrobiflavonol from the aqueous extract of Trichoscypha acuminata

One new 3′,4′,5′,5,7-pentahydroxy-2′,2?-bis-dihydrobiflavonol, acuminatanol (1), was obtained from the aqueous extract of Trichoscypha acuminata. The structure elucidation process was performed primarily utilizing a capillary scale NMR probe. Acuminatanol (1) is the first example of a bis-dihydroflavonol linked exclusively via the B-rings at C-2′ and C-2? positions. To date, it is the first naturally-occurring compound reported from the genus Trichoscypha, and the first new natural product published from our compound libraries generated from the aqueous extracts of American and African plants.     

Solid-phase synthesis of 2,6- and 2,7-diamino-4(3H)-quinazolinones via palladium-catalyzed amination

A new procedure for the solid-phase synthesis of 2,6- and 2,7-diamino-4(3H)-quinazolinones is described. The method involves coupling of 2,4,6- and 2,4,7-trichloroquinazoline to a solid support via benzyl alcohol type linkers, subsequent displacement of chlorine at C-2 then at the C-6 or C-7 positions by amines (Fig. 1) and the cleavage of the products from the resin. The palladium-catalyzed amination of C-6 and C-7 positions with a representative set of amines in the presence of 2-(di-t-butylphosphino)biphenyl (DTBPBP), P(t-Bu)₃ and 2,2′-bis(diphenylphosphino)-1,1′-binaphthyl (BINAP) ligands has been investigated. This method should prove to be a useful tool for constructing combinatorial libraries containing the 4(3H)-quinazolinone moiety.     

(+)-Neplanocin F, 2′-fluoroneplanocin, and a 6′-isoneplanocin via a common versatile cyclopentenol precursor

Reductive (diisobutylaluminum hydride) ring opening of an acetal protected cyclopentenol has provided a precursor adaptable to uniquely substituted carbocyclic nucleosides. To illustrate the broad implication of this process the preparation of unnatural (+)-neplanocin F, an ara-like 2′-fluoroneplanocin, and a 6′- isomeric l-like neplanocin analog is described.     

Structure and absolute configuration of new acidic metabolites from Stachys ehrenbergii

Two novel metabolites have been isolated from the aerial parts of Stachys ehrenberiigii. Their structures and stereochemistry were elucidated using a combination of ¹³C and ¹H homo and heteronuclear 2D NMR experiments and mass analysis. The development of an enantioselective synthesis of 3-(2′-acetoxy-4-phenylbut-3′-enoylamino)propionic acid allowed to confirm the structure and assign the (R) absolute configuration at C-2′ of the natural product.     

Hamigeromycins C-G, 14-membered macrolides from the fungus Hamigera avellanea BCC 17816

Five new 14-membered macrolides, hamigeromycins C-G, together with the previously described compounds, hamigeromycin A and 89-250904-F1 (radicicol analog A), were isolated from the fungus Hamigera avellanea BCC 17816. Hamigeromycins A, C, D, and E are stereoisomers differing from one another in the absolute configurations of the 4′,5′-diol moiety. Hamigeromycins F and G are unusual 5′-keto-analogs, and they are 6′-epimers to each other. The structures and the stereochemistry of the new compounds were deduced by analyses of the NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometry data in combination with chemical means.     

Synthetic studies of erythromycin derivatives: 6-O-methylation of (9S)-12,21-anhydro-9-dihydroerythromycin A derivatives

Synthetic studies on methylation of erythromycin derivatives were conducted. Methylation of 6 resulted in the formation of the C-3′ quaternary ammonium salts with a rate faster than 6-O-methylation. In dipolar aprotic solvent and under strong base conditions, 6-O-methylation, C-3′ quaternary ammonium salts formation and 2-C-methylation proceeded simultaneously to yield a mixture of three different products 7, 8 and 9. The quaternary ammonium salts were converted back to the corresponding tertiary amines 2, 10 and starting material 6 by employing sodium 4-pyridinethiolate as a N-demethylation reagent. The 6-O-methylation was eventually achieved in a good yield when a carbobenzyloxy (Cbz) group was utilized to protect the C-3′-dimethylamino group of 4. In this report, we will discuss the details of different reaction courses in the methylation of (9S)-12, 21-anhydro-9-dihydroerythromycin A derivatives.     

Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridines: synthetic approaches to a novel class of antiherpetics

Synthesis of a novel class of 7-amino-3-pyrimidinyl-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine antiherpetic compounds is described. The synthetic methodology is designed to allow for rapid analog synthesis around the C-3 and C-7 positions of the pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine. The 7-chloropyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine D, produced through an azirine rearrangement, served as a key building block. Two complementary methodologies for construction of the C-3 pyrimidine are described. These methods include the development of a novel cyclization utilizing alkynyl ketones or enones to give highly substituted pyrimidines. The outlined strategies facilitated late stage manipulation of either the C-3 or C-7 positions providing flexibility for rapid analog synthesis.     

Synthesis of poinsettifolin A

A synthesis of poinsettifolin A (1), a prenylated flavonol isolated from Dorstenia poinsettifolia, is described. Two routes starting from quercetin were explored, and 1 could be prepared if a prenyl group first was incorporated at C-6 of the protected quercetin followed by a condensation with citral at C-8. The key synthetic steps are a Mitsunobu reaction, an europium (III)-catalysed Claisen rearrangement coupled with cross-metathesis, and a benzopyran-forming geranylation. The two geranylated 3,5,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavonols prepared, 1 and 3, were assayed for antileishmanial activity against Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis, and found to be active. Compound 3 showed cytotoxic activity against leukaemia and lung cancer cells while 1 lacked cytotoxicity.     

A practical synthetic route to 4′-alkylaristeromycin derivatives: 4′-methylaristeromycin

(−)-(1S,4R)-4-Hydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-yl acetate provided a convenient entry point for a 16-step chiral preparation of 4′-methylaristeromycin. This procedure is adaptable to a number of carbocyclic nucleosides with a diversity of substitution at C-4′ and C-5′ and a variety of heterocyclic bases.     

5′-Noraristeromycin possessing a C-1′ cyclopentyl double bond: a new carbanucleoside structural prototype

Prior to this work only two examples of carbanucleosides possessing a C-1′/C-6′ double bond had been reported and they were minor derivatized side products arising during other targeted syntheses. To develop this structural feature into a new class of potential antiviral agents, the 5′-nor derivative of aristeromycin with such an olefinic structure (6) represents the first example. In this regard, treatment of (1′S,2′S,3′S,4′R,5′S)-6-chloro-9-(2′,3′-isopropylidenedioxy-6′-oxabicyclo[3.1.0]hex-4′-yl)purine (7) with sodium methoxide yielded 6 via an E′₂-like elimination pathway. A convenient way to the C-4′ epimer of 6 (that is, 17) also arose during these studies and is described. Antiviral analysis of 6 and 17 failed to produce any significant activity.     

Ancisheynine, a novel naphthylisoquinolinium alkaloid from Ancistrocladus heyneanus

A novel naphthylisoquinoline alkaloid, ancisheynine 1, was isolated from the aerial part of Ancistrocladus heyneanus Wallich ex J. Graham (Ancistrocladaceae). Ancisheynine 1 contained a previously undescribed N-2,C-8′-linkage between the isoquinoline and naphthalene units and its structure was established by spectroscopic methods.     

Synthesis, structural and conformational studies of Z- and E-isomers of fluorinated C-6 isobutenyl N-methyl thymine derivatives

A new series of conformationally restricted pyrimidine derivatives bearing C-6 isobutenyl side-chain (2-9) has been prepared. The novel fluoroalkenyl pyrimidine nucleoside mimetic 3 as model compound for development of tracer molecule in positron emission tomography (PET) was synthesized by fluorination reaction of methoxytritylated pyrimidine derivative using diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST). Conversion of one hydroxyl group to methoxytritylated, fluorinated, mesylated and acetylated pyrimidine derivatives (2, 3, 5-7 and 9) afforded a mixture of Z- and E-isomers in which Z-isomers were predominant. Conformational study of 1, and its fluorinated structural congeners 3 and 4 by the use of NOE experiments revealed predominant conformation of compounds where vinyl H-1′ proton is spatially close to N-1 methyl and H-3′b methylene protons and on the other hand H-3′a methylene protons are close to C-5 methyl protons. The stereostructure of 1,3-dihydroxyisobutenyl N-methyl thymine 1 was unambiguously confirmed by X-ray crystal structure analysis.     

A hydrogen atom sandwiched by cyclopropanes

2′,3′,4′,5′,6′,7′-Hexahydrodispiro[cyclopropane-1,1′-anthracene-8′,1″-cyclopropane] (1) was prepared by double olefination (Wittig) and double methylenation (Furukawa) of 1,8-dioxo-1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8-octahydroanthracene (4) that was in turn prepared in two steps from 1,3-dibromobenzene. The X-ray structure of 1 shows that the C-9-H of its anthracene core is located 2.6 Å from the centroids of each of the flanking cyclopropane rings. The ¹H NMR spectrum of 1 shows that the C-9-H resonance (δ 5.95) falls 0.84 ppm upfield from the C-10-H resonance (δ 6.79).     

Synthesis and structural characterization of mixed carbene-carboxylate complexes of palladium(II)

Mixed carbene-carboxylate complexes of Palladium(II) have been prepared by reacting {1,1^′-dimethyl-3,3^′-methylenediimidazoline-2,2^′-diylidene} palladium(II) diiodide (1) [Angew. Chem. 107 (1995) 2602; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 34 (1995) 2371; J. Organomet. Chem. 557 (1998) 93] with AgO₂CR, where R=CF₃, CF₂CF₃ and CF₂CF₂CF₃. In this manner, {1,1^′-dimethyl-3,3^′-methylenediimidazoline-2,2^′-diylidene} palladium(II) bis(trifluo-roacetate) (2), {1,1^′-dimethyl-3,3^′-methylenediimidazoline-2,2^′-diylidene} palladium(II) bis(pentafluoropropionate) (3) and {1,1^′-dimethyl-3,3^′-methylenediimidazoline-2,2^′-diylidene} palladium(II) bis(heptafluorobutyrate) (4) were obtained. All three complexes were fully characterized by ¹H-, ¹³C- and ¹⁹F NMR spectroscopy as well as ESI mass spectrometry. X-ray crystal structure analyses of complexes 3 and 4 reveal mononuclear species with a square planar metal center coordinated by a cis-chelating dicarbene and two monodentate carboxylate ligands. The results show that the introduction of a cis-chelating N,N-heterocyclic carbene ligand stabilizes the palladium-carboxylate moiety effectively.     

Descladinosyl erythromycin in phosgene-assisted cyclic 3,6-ether formation

Erythromycin A has been converted into a 3,6-bridged ether via a C-3 chloroformate by nucleophilic addition of the hydroxyl function at C-6. Further transformations afforded N-demethyl-3-O-descladinosylerythromycin A 2′,3′-carbamate-11,12-carbonate-3,6-ether in 59% overall yield over four reaction steps from (9E)-erythromycin A 9-(O-allyloxime).     

Total synthesis of malyngamide X and its 7′S-epi isomer

Stereoselective syntheses of malyngamide X (1) and its 7′(S)-epimer are described. A Lewis acid (Et₂AlCl) mediated anti-aldol reaction was employed to generate the stereocenters C-7 and C-8. The route is convergent and provides a convenient access to the synthesis of structural variants of malyngamide X. Stereochemistry at C-7′ in the molecules of natural and synthetic 1, and 7′(S)-epi1 was confirmed by NMR chiral solvation experiments.     

Radical cyclisation approach for the synthesis of (+)dihydrocanadensolide, (+)dihydrosporothriolide and their C-3 epimers from d-xylose

Intramolecular radical cyclisation protocol on 5-hexenyl systems derived from d-xylose, was utilized for the synthesis of (+)dihydrocanadensolide, (+)-dihydrosporothriolide and their C-3 epimers, wherein a study on the impact of C-2′ stereocentre on radical cyclisation was conducted.     

Cannabioxepane, a novel tetracyclic cannabinoid from hemp, Cannabis sativa L.

Apart from large amounts of cannabidiol, the known stilbenoids 1-4 and the oxylipins 7 and 8, a fibre cultivar of Cannabis sativa derived from the historical Carmagnola variety gave the novel spiranic stilbenoid isocannabispiradienone (5) and the biphenyl-type cannabinoid cannabioxepane (CBX, 6), a tetracyclic compound characterized by an unprecedented C-5/C-8′ oxygen bridge and devoid of cannabinoid activity. Structures were established by analysis of MS and NMR data, and the biogenetic derivation of the new compounds is discussed.     

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.     

On the relative stereochemistry of atomaric acid and related compounds

The stereochemistry at C-3 of the known compounds atomaric acid 2a, 5′a-desmethyl-5′-acetylatomaric acid 4a, and stypoquinonic acid 5a is revised to 2, 4, and 5 on the basis of a careful study of 2D NOESY experiments and also from comparison of their ¹H and ¹³C chemical shifts with those of the related metabolites 6 and 7 isolated from Stypopodium zonale. Compound 7 is a novel unusually functionalized 1-keto-5′a-desmethyl atomaric acid derivative whose structure and stereochemistry were determined by spectroscopic means.