Hydrogenation and conformational analysis of (1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,2<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,6<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-3-methyl-6-(1-methylethenyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol

Hydrogenation of (1R,2R,6S)-3-methyl-6-(1-methylethenyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol was studied. Nickel chloride-sodium tetrahydridoborate system turned out to selectively reduce the double bond in the isopropenyl group. The results of conformational analysis of (1R,2R,6S)-3-methyl-6-(1-methylethenyl)cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol and its partly and completely hydrogenated derivatives were in a good agreement with the NMR data.     

New lignans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Syringa reticulata</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">mandshurica</Emphasis>

In the search for platelet-activating-factor (PAF) antagonists, two new lignan compounds were isolated from the leaves of Syringa reticulata Hara var. mandshurica. Their structures were elucidated as (7R,8S, 8'S)-3,4,3',4'-dimethylenedioxy-8,9-dihydroxy-8.8', 7-O-9'-lignan (mandshuricol A) and (7R,8S,8'S)-3',4'methylenedioxy-4-methoxy-3,8,9-trihydroxy-8.8', 7-O-9'-lignan (mandshuricol B), Mandshuricol A and B showed antagonistic activity on PAF in the [³H] PAF receptor binding assay with IC₅₀ values of 4.8 × 10^–5 M and 3.5 × 10^–5 M, respectively.     

Skeletal rearrangements of <Emphasis Type="Italic">cis</Emphasis>-(-)-7,8-epoxycarveol derivatives promoted by triethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate

Diastereoisomeric couples of (1R,5R,6RS)-2,6-dimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-en-6-ylmethanols and their epoxide precursors, (5R,2′RS)-2-methyl-5-(2-methyloxiran-2-yl)cyclohex-2-en-1-ols, in the presence of triethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate underwent [3.2.1]→[3.3.1] skeletal rearrangement with formation of scalemic mixtures of (1R,5R,6R)- and (1R,5R,6S)-2,6-dimethyl-6-triethylsiloxy-8-oxabicyclo[3.3.1]non-2-enes; the (6R)-stereoisomer was isolated as individual substance.     

Synthesis of (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,3<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,4<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">O</Emphasis>-isopropylidene-4-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)cyclopentan-1-one

(2S,3S,4S)-2,3-O-Isopropylidene-4-(methoxycarbonylmethyl)cyclopentan-1-one was synthesized starting from D-ribose through methyl (Z)-3-(5-acetyl-2,2-acetoxyacetyl-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl)prop-2-enoate which was subjected to cyclization in the presence of 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene, followed by decarboxylation.     

Synthesis and crystal structure of (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,4<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,5<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-2-(5-bromo-2-hydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidines

Condensation of ephedrine alkaloids with 5-bromo-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde was studied, and X-ray diffraction analysis of the synthesized (2S,4S,5R)-2-(2-hydroxy-5-bromophenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-5-phenyl-1,3-oxazolidines was performed.     

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.     

Synthesis of the (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,4<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-stereoisomers of 4-(indol-1-yl) and 4-arylamino derivatives of 5-oxoproline,proline, and 2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidine

Nucleophilic substitution of the halogen atom in dimethyl (S)-4-bromoglutamate followed by removal of the protecting groups and closure of a lactam ring afforded (2S,4S)-4-(indolin-1-yl)-5-oxoproline. The indoline fragment was oxidized into the indole fragment to give (2S,4S)-4-(indol-1-yl)-5-oxoproline; reduction of the carbonyl groups with BH3 yielded (2S,4S)-4-(indol-1-yl)prolines and (2S,4S)-2-hydroxymethyl-4-(indol-1-yl)pyrrolidines. Reduction of (2S,4S)-4-arylamino-5-oxoprolines with BH3 to the corresponding (2S,4S)-4-arylaminoprolines and (2S,4S)-4-arylamino-2-hydroxymethylpyrrolidines was studied.     

Synthesis of ethyl (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,4<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)- and (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>,4<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>)-5-chloropenta-2,4-dienoates

An efficient synthetic approach to 2E,4E and 2E,4Z isomers of ethyl 5-chloropenta-2,4-dienoate has been developed on the basis of one-pot oxidation–olefination of readily accessible (E)- and (Z)-3-chloroprop-2-en-1-ols by the action of barium manganate and ethyl (triphenyl-λ⁵-phosphanylidene)acetate.     

Two new ceramides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zephyranthes candida</Emphasis>

Two new ceramides were isolated from the bulbs of Zephyranthes candida. Their structures were established as (2S,3S,4R,13E)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxytetracosanoylamino]-13-octadecene, named zephyranamide A (1) and (2S,3S,4R)-1,3,4-trihydroxy-2-octacosanoylaminohexadecene, named zephyranamide B (2). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectral techniques including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, as well as HSQC, HMBC, DEPT, and COSY.     

Prilezhaev dihydroxylation of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-octadec-9<Emphasis Type="Italic">Z</Emphasis>-en-7-0l

Formation of new asymmetric centers with primarily the (S)-configuration was induced by the optically active center of (R)-octadec-9Z-en-7-ol upon Prilezhaev dihydroxylation. This was proved by cyclization of a 1,3-glycol system (de 26%) into the corresponding 1,3-dioxane stereoisomers.     

Features of self-organization of highly dilute solutions of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-, (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-, and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">SR</Emphasis>)-methionines and related carbamides and glycolurils

Aqueous solutions of (S)-, (R)-, and (SR)-methionines (1–3); carbamide (4); (S)-, (R)-, and (SR)-N-carbamoylmethionines (5–7); glycoluril (8); and glycolurils containing (S)and (R)-methionine moieties (9 and 10) kept under natural and hypoelectromagnetic conditions were studied in comparison by a complex of physicochemical methods (dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering, conductometry, pH-metry, and dielcometry). The process of selforganization and the properties of dilute solutions (1.0?10^–15–10^–1 mol L^–1) of compounds 1–10 was shown for the first time to depend substantially on the structure of the solute and configuration of methionine (Met) enantiomers. In the series 1–3, the greatest ability to self-organization is observed for solutions of (SR)-Met in which supramolecular domains (1.0?10^–5–1.0?10^–1 mol L^–1) and nanoassociates (1.0?10^–11–1.0?10^–8 mol L^–1) are formed. The formation of nanoassociates in a concentration range of 1.0?10^–12–1.0?10^–6 mol L^–1 can be responsible for the appearance of nonmonotonic concentration dependences of the physicochemical properties of solutions of N-carbamoylmethionines 5–7, whereas the physicochemical properties are more pronounced in solution of (S)-N-carbamoylmethionine 5 than in solutions of 6 and 7. The strongest influence of the configuration of the Met enantiomer on the ability of solution to self-organization was revealed in a series of glycolurils 9, 10: solutions of 9 with the (S)-Met moiety are disperse systems in which nanoassociates are formed in a range of 1.0?10^–15–1.0?10^–5 mol L^–1, whereas in solutions of 10 with the (R)-Met fragment the ability to self-organization in the low-concentration range is absent.     

Screening and Immobilization <Emphasis Type="Italic">Burkholderia</Emphasis> sp. GXU56 Lipase for Enantioselective Resolution of (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-Methyl Mandelate

Microorganisms producing lipase were isolated from soil and sewage samples and screened for enantioselective resolution of (R,S)-methyl mandelate to (R)-mandelic acid. A strain designated as GXU56 was obtained and identified as Burkholderia sp. Preparing immobilized GXU56 lipase by simple adsorption on octyl sepharose CL-4B, the optimum temperature was shifted from 40 °C (free lipase) to 50 °C (immobilized lipase), and the optimum pH was shifted from 8.0 (free lipase) to 7.2 (immobilized lipase). The immobilized enzyme displayed excellent stability in the pH range of 5.0–8.0, at the temperatures below 50 °C and in organic solvents compared with free enzyme. Enantioselectivity ratio for (R)-mandelic acid (E) was dramatically improved from 29.2 to more than 300 by applying immobilized lipase in the resolution of (R,S)-methyl mandelate. After five cycles of use of immobilized lipase, conversion and enantiomeric excess of (R)-mandelic acid were 34.5% and 98.5%, respectively, with enantioselectivity ratio for (R)-mandelic acid (E) of 230. Thus, octyl-sepharose-immobilized GXU56 lipase can be used as a bio-resolution reagent for producing (R)-mandelic acid.     

The influence of thienyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>-dioxidation on the photoluminescence and charge transport properties of dithienothiophenes: a theoretical study

Fused thiophenes have been an important class of materials due to their intriguing organic optoelectronic application. Here, comparative theoretical investigation on the fluorescence and charge transport properties of dithienothiophene compounds (1 and 2) and their dioxide derivatives (3 and 4) was carried out to shed light on the role of the thienyl-S,S-dioxide unit. The lower HOMO, LUMO energy levels, and red-shift spectra (absorption and emission) of 3 and 4 compared with 1 and 2 were attributed to the electron-withdrawing nature of the thienyl-S,S-dioxide unit. The phenomenon that fluorescence quantum yield of 4 was significantly increased through thienyl-S,S-dioxidation, compared with those of 1 and 2, was analyzed by the evaluations of the radiative decay rates and the radiationless decay rates in theory at the single molecule level and the simulation of absorption spectrum of dimer of 1. For 1, a much higher hole mobility (0.12 cm²/V.s) calculated by carrier hopping model than the experimental value ~10⁻⁴ cm²/V.s was also further elucidated by molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, a preliminary investigation of the transport property of 3 was performed by combining the molecular dynamics simulation with dispersion-corrected B3LYP functional to provide insight into the effect of thienyl-S,S-dioxidation on the charge transport.     

Crystal structure investigation of (4<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,5<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-4-[(dichloroacetoxy)methyl]-5-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-oxazolidinone

The structure of (4S,5S)-4-[(dichloroacetoxy)methyl]-5-(4-nitrophenyl)-2-oxazolidinone has been determined by crystal structure investigation.     

New neolignan glycosides and a new cerebroside from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Symplocos caudata</Emphasis>

A phytochemical investigation of the roots of Symplocos caudata Wall (Symplocaceae) resulted in the isolation and characterization of two optical isomers of a neolignan glycoside (1) and a new cerebroside (2). Their structures were elucidated as (7R,8S)-erythro-7,9,9'-trihydroxy-3,3',5'-trimethoxy-8-O-4'-neolignan-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, (7S,8R)-erythro-7,9,9'-trihydroxy-3,3',5'-trimethoxy-8-O-4'-neolignan-4-O-β-Dglucopyranoside (1), and 1-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,8Z,12E)-2-N-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxyheptacosanoyl]-8,12-docosadiene-1,3,4-triol (2), respectively, on the basis of spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, MS and CD).     

Cyclopropanation of methyl (2<Emphasis Type="Italic">E</Emphasis>)-3-[(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,6<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-7,7-dimethyl-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-4-yl]prop-2-enoate with dichlorocarbene and diazomethane

Cyclopropanation of methyl (2E)-3-[(1R,6S)-7,7-dimethyl-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-4-yl]prop-2-enoate with dichlorocarbene occurred at the endocyclic double bond, while its reaction with diazomethane in the presence of Pd(acac)₂ involved the exocyclic double bond. The resulting lactones reacted with sodium methoxide in methanol via opening of one cyclopropane fragment.     

Asymmetric hydrogen-transfer hydrogenation on rhodium(I) complexes with new optically active salen ligands derived from (4<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>,5<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-4,5-bis(aminomethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane

New optically active C ₂-symmetric salen-type ligands were synthesized on the basis of (4S,5S)-4,5-bis(aminomethyl)-2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane. These ligands were used to obtain cationic (trifluoromethanesulfonate) and neutral (chloride) rhodium(I) complexes with [(4S,5S)-2,2-dimethyl-5-{[(E)-pyridin-2-ylmethylidene]aminomethyl}-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]-N-[(E)-pyridin-2-ylmethylidene]methanamine and [2,2-dimethyl-5-{[(E)-quinolin-2-ylmethylidene]aminomethyl}-1,3-dioxolan-4-yl]-N-[(E)-quinolin-2-ylmethylidene] methanamine. The latter complex ensured preparation of (S)-2-phenylethanol with an optical yield of 34.8% by transfer hydrogenation of acetophenone.     

Another two novel ceramides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zephyranthes candida</Emphasis>

From the the bulbs of Zephyranthes candida (Amaryllidaceae), another two novel ceramides have been isolated and identified. The structures of the two novel compounds were established as (2S,3S,4R,21E,2′R)2-[N-(2′-hydroxynonadecanoyl)-N-(1′′,2′′-dihydroxyethyl)amino]-21-hexacosene-1,3,4-triol, named zephyranamide C (1), and 1,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxy-2-(2′-hydroxyhexacosanoyl-amino)-18-(E)-tetracosene, named zephyranamide D (2). Their structures and stereochemistries were elucidated by spectral techniques including ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, as well as HSQC, HMBC, DEPT, and COSY.     

Molecular structure of (4Z)-{[(1<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,6<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-7,7-dimethyl-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo [4.1.0] hept-4-en-4-yl]methylene}-2-phenyl-l,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one

The (4Z)- {[(1R, 6S)-7,7-dimethyl-2-oxo-3-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-4-yl]methylene}-2-phenyl-1,3-oxazol-5(4H)-one compound is synthesized and its molecular structure is determined.     

Synthesis of chiral glycolurils from (<Emphasis Type="Italic">S</Emphasis>)-(+)- and (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>)-(-)-1-<Emphasis Type="Italic">sec</Emphasis>-butyl-3-methylurea

Chiral dialkyl- and tetraalkylglycolurils have been obtained using chiral (S)-(+)- and (R)-(-)-1-sec-butyl-3-methylurea as starting materials. The diastereomer (S)-(+)-2,6-di-sec-butyl-4,8-dimethyl-2,4,6,8-tetraazabicyclo[3.3.0]-octane-3,7-dione was separated into stereoisomers, for the higher melting of which the absolute configuration was determined as (S,S,S,S) by X-ray structural analysis.