Poly[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)glyceric acid] from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Symphytum officinale</Emphasis> roots and its biological activity

Two high-molecular-weight (>1000 kDa) water-soluble biopolymers, the main component of which was poly[3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)glyceric acid] or poly[oxy-1-carboxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)ethylene] according to IR and NMR spectroscopy, were isolated from roots of Symphytum officinale. They exhibit antioxidant activity as expressed in a decrease of active oxygen species (AOS) by interfering directly in their formation process by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and binding directly AOS. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 9–12, January–February, 2009.     

Synthesis of isomeric 2-oxazolidinones from (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-and (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols

A synthesis is reported for (4R,5R)-and (4S,5S)-4-hydroxymethyl-5-(4-nitrophenyl)oxazolidin-2-ones and (1′R,4R)-and (1′S,4S)-4-[hydroxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]oxazolidin-2-ones from (1R,2R)-and (1S,2S)-2-amino-1-(4-nitrophenyl)-1,3-propanediols. The effect of the experimental conditions on the formation of these compounds was studied. __________ Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 10, pp. 1562–1570, October, 2007.     

3,3,3-Trifluoro-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>′-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1,2-propanediamine and its <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-mono-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N</Emphasis>-dicarboxyethyl derivatives: synthesis,protolytic and complexation properties

3,3,3-Trifluoro-N′-(3-trifluoromethylphenyl)-1,2-propanediamine (5) was synthesized by the reaction of 2-diazo-1,1,1-trifluoro-3-nitropropane or 3,3,3-trifluoro-1-nitropropene with 3-aminobenzotrifluoride followed by the reduction of the nitro group. The Michael 1,4-addition of diamine 5 to acrylic acid occurs only at the N(1) atom and affords N-mono-or N,N-dicarboxyethyl derivatives 6 and 7, depending on the reactant ratio. Protolytic equilibria 5–7 in aqueous solutions were studied by pH-potentiometry and UV spectroscopy. Only the aliphatic amino group can be protonated in an aqueous solution, while the aromatic amino group remains unprotonated even in 12 M HCl. The stability constants of transition metal (Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Zn²⁺) complexes with ligands 5–7 were determined by pH-potentiometric titration. The stability of the complexes and selectivity of the ligands toward Cu²⁺ ions increase with an increase in the number of N-carboxyethyl groups. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 11, pp. 2465–2469, November, 2005.     

Mercaptan addition to 1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-allyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-acetyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-D-galactopyranose

Addition of ethyl-, propyl-, and n-butylmercaptans to 1-O-allyl-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose in the presence of benzoyl peroxide catalyst was studied for the first time. The products were 1-O-(3-ethylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose, 1-O-(3-propylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose, and 1-O-(3-butylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose. Deacetylation of 1-O-(3-ethylthiopropyl)-2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranose produced 1-O-(3-ethylthiopropyl)-β-D-galactopyranose. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 209–211, May–June, 2007.     

Synthesis of 4<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,7<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>-tridecadien-1-ylacetate,a component of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phthorimaea opercucella</Emphasis> sex pheromone

A new synthetic approach to 4E,7Z-tridecadien-1-ylacetate, a component of the Phthorimaea opercucella (Zeller) potato moth sex pheromone, was developed using a highly stereoselective Claisen rearrangement and Wittig reaction. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 235–236, May–June, 2007.     

Novel <Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-containing lactones from monoterpene oxides

A new type of S-containing terpene lactones was produced by the reactions of limonene-1,2-oxide and β-pinene-α-oxide with mercaptoacetic acid. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 220–223, May–June, 2007.     

Reaction of frangula-emodin with <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-bromoalkylmethylketones

The alkylation of 1,6,8-trihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone (frangula-emodin) by α-bromoalkylmethylketones was investigated. Hydroxyls in the 1-and 8-positions of the β-derivatives were O-acylated. The compositions and structures of the prepared compounds were confirmed by elemental analysis and UV, IR, PMR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 324–326, July–August, 2007.     

New glycosidic and other constituents from hulls of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oryza sativa</Emphasis>

Three new compounds, 4-hydroxymethylene-7-(9,9,13-trimethylcyclohexyl)-heptanyl-3′,7′,7′-trimethylcyclohexa-2′,4′-dien-1′-oate (1), 1-(n-hexadec-7-enoxy)-6-(n-octadecanoxy)-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), and (Z)-12-hydroxy-9-octadecenoic acid-12-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), along with the known compound hexacosanoic acid (4), were isolated and identified from the rice hulls of Oryza sativa. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques (¹H-¹H COSY, ¹H-¹³C HETCOR, DEPT) aided by EIMS, FABMS, HRFABMS, and IR spectra. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 344–347, July–August, 2007.     

Synthesis and cycloaddition of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-substituted pyrroles with polyfluorinated substituents

Reactions of N-pyrrolylpotassium with fluorinated electrophiles yielded N-substituted pyrroles containing polyfluoroalkyl, polyfluoroalkenyl, polyfluoroalkylsulfonyl, and polyfluoroaryl substituents. N-Polyfluoro-substituted pyrroles did not isomerize at ≥100 °C; they were found to be reactive in [4+2] cycloaddition reactions with perfluorobut-2-yne. __________ Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1890–1895, August, 2005.     

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bunium elegans</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bunium caroides</Emphasis>

Analyses of the essential oils of Bunium elegans (Fenzl) Freyn and B. caroides (Boiss.) Hausskn. ex Bornm., using GC, GC/MS, and¹³ C-NMR spectroscopy resulted in identification of their chemical constituents. The oils of both species contain mainly the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons germacrene-D and E-caryophyllene, which amounted to 24.1% and 38% for B. elegans and 22.1% and 26.6% for B. caroides respectively. The oil of B. caroides contained the monoterpenes α-pinene and Z-β-ocimene in 4.1 and 5.9% respectively, while traces of monoterpenes were detected for B. elegans. On the other hand, in B. caroides the phenylpropanoid derivatives asaricin (7.5%) and dillapiole (10.2%) were among the major constituents. __________ Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 4, pp. 335–336, July–August, 2005.     

Glycosides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stevia rebaudiana</Emphasis>

A new laboratory method for isolating the glycosides stevioside and rebaudiosides A and C from leaves of Stevia rebaudiana was proposed. According to HPLC, the glycoside contents in plants grown in Russia (Voronezh Oblast’) and Ukraine (Crimea) were 5–6% (stevioside) and 0.3–1.3% (rebaudiosides A and C). __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 68–71, January–February, 2007     

Separation and identification of steroidal compounds with cytotoxic activity against human gastric cancer cell lines <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> from the rhizomes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paris polyphylla</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">chinensis</Emphasis>

A novel steroidal saponin, along with 12 known steroidal compounds, was isolated from the rhizomes of Paris polyphylla var. chinensis. Spectral data, including two-dimensional NMR, showed that the structure of the novel saponin was 3β,21-dihydroxypregnane-5-en-20S-(22,16)-lactone-1-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside. The isolated steroidal compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity on human gastric cancer cell line HepG₂, SGC7901, BxPC3. Diosgenin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1→2)[α-L-rabinofuranosyl(1→4)]-β-D-glucopyranoside exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activity among the isolated steroids. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 556–560, November–December, 2007.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-Butyl (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-(<Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-tolylsulfonyloxy)propionate — a suitable reagent for the direct alkylation of indole derivatives

A new method is proposed for the synthesis of indole derivatives containing a chiral substituent at the nitrogen atom, which includes the direct alkylation of indole derivatives with tert-butyl (2S)-(p-tolylsulfonyloxy)propionate, obtained from commercial ethyl (S)-lactate with subsequent conversion to the corresponding p-toluenesulfonyloxy derivative by hydrolysis, and esterification. Dedicated to Academician B. A. Trofimov on his 70^th birthday. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 9, 1391–1398, September, 2008.     

Host–Guest Complexation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">β</Emphasis>-, <Emphasis Type="Italic">γ</Emphasis>-Cyclodextrin with Alkyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromides in Aqueous Solution

As a continuation of our previous investigation, interactions between cyclodextrin (β-CD), γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) and alkyl trimethylammonium bromides in aqueous solutions have been studied with titration calorimetry and ¹H NMR at 298.15 K. The results are discussed in terms of the amphiphilic interaction of CD with surfactants and the iceberg structure formed by water molecules existing around the hydrophobic tail of surfactant molecules. The stoichiometry of the β-CD–surfactant system is 1:1 whereas that of the γ-CD–surfactant system is 1:2. The corresponding formation enthalpy (negative) of the complexes of the two systems decreases with an increase in the number of carbon atoms (n) in hydrophobic chain of surfactant molecule, C _n H_2n+1, whereas the entropy increases with the enlargement of n.     

The chemical composition of fruits of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pistacia atlantica</Emphasis> desf. subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">atlantica</Emphasis> from Algeria

The chemical composition of the fruits of the north algerian ecotype Pistacia atlantica subsp. atlantica was determined and compared to other fruits of different species in the genus growing in south Algeria and other Mediterranean regions. These fruits were analyzed for their dry matter, protein, crude oil, ash, fatty acids, and phytosterol content. The main fatty acids identified by gas chromatography were oleic (54.15%), linoleic (28.84%), and palmitic (12.21%) acids. The fruits of the north ecotype were found to be rich in protein, oil, fiber, and unsaturated fatty acids, suggesting that they may be valuable for food uses. The sterols isolated were campesterol, stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, and Δ⁵-avenasterol with β-sitosterol as the major constituent (85%±0.85). The biochemical data indicated an elevated MUFA rate (∼56%) in pistacia oil which may be important against certain pathologies for its nutritional and preventive virtues. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 103–105, March–April, 2007.     

Norditerpene Alkaloids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Delphinium cuneatum</Emphasis>

A mixture of two new norditerpene alkaloids consisting of two regioisomers was isolated from the total alkaloids of Delphinium cuneatum roots. Their structures were proposed as 16-demethoxydelavaine (2a and b) on the basis of PMR, ¹³C NMR, IR, and mass spectra. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 467–468, September–October, 2005.     

Functionalization of sterically hindered <Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-benzoquinones: amino-substituted 3,6-di(<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butyl)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">o</Emphasis>-benzoquinones

New sterically hindered functionalized o-quinones were synthesized by the 1,4-nucleophilic addition of secondary cyclic amines to 3,6-di(tert-butyl)-o-benzoquinone. The ability of these o-quinones to form o-semiquinone complexes with transition and main-group metals was studied by ESR spectroscopy in solution. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1786–1793, September, 2007.     

The Heterotactic Enthalpic Interaction Coefficients of <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-Amino Acids with Maltose in Aqueous Solution at <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>=298.15 K

The mixing enthalpies of maltose with several typical α-amino acids (glycine, L-alanine, L-serine, L-valine, L-threonine and L-proline) and dilution enthalpies of each compound have been determined in aqueous solutions at T=298.15 K by a flow-mixing microcalorimeter. The heterotactic enthalpic pairwise interaction coefficients, h _xy , of each amino acid with maltose have been calculated by the McMillan–Mayer formalism, and are discussed in terms of intermolecular interactions of the hydrated solute species.     

Oxidation of α-methylstyrene on an MCM-22 encapsulated (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R,R</Emphasis>)-(−)-<Emphasis Type="Italic">N,N′</Emphasis>-bis(3,5-di-<Emphasis Type="Italic">tert</Emphasis>-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminocobalt(II) catalyst

(R, R)-(−)-N, N′-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylsalicylidene)-1,2-cyclohexanediaminocobalt(II) was encapsulated into MCM-22 using the zeolite synthesis method. The encapsulated catalyst proved to be active in the oxidation of α-methylstyrene with NaOCl with higher specific activity than the homogeneous catalyst. At the same time, this encapsulated catalyst was completely inactive in the hydrolytic kinetic resolution of racemic styrene oxide. This observation is in a good correlation with the assumption of the cooperative bimetallic mechanism proposed by Annis and Jacobsen.     

Functionalization of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N-tert</Emphasis>-butoxycarbonyl-7-and <Emphasis Type="Italic">N-tert</Emphasis>-butoxycarbonyl-8-bromo-10-azabicyclo[4.3.1]deca-3,7-dienes. A route to a ferruginine homolog

N-tert-Butoxycarbonyl-7-and N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-8-bromo-10-azabicyclo[4.3.1]deca-3,7-dienes are convenient substrates for further modification using replacement of the Br atom by a cyano group or a Li atom. Treatment of lithium derivatives with dimethylformamide and N-methoxy-N-methylacetamide gave the corresponding α,β-unsaturated aldehydes (67–84%) and ketones (∼70%). Ketone 4b is a direct precursor of a homolog of the alkaloid ferruginine. Dedicated to Academician G. A. Abakumov on the occasion of his 70th birthday. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 9, pp. 1794–1796, September, 2007.