New microviridins from a water bloom of the cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa

Three new microviridins namely, SD1684 (1), SD1634 (2), and SD1652 (3), were isolated from the hydrophilic extract of Microcystis aeruginosa. The planar structures of compounds 1-3 were determined by homonuclear and inverse-heteronuclear 2D-NMR techniques as well as by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The absolute configuration of the asymmetric centers was studied using Marfey's method for HPLC. Compounds 1-3 contain l-threo-β-hydroxy aspartic acid as a building block of the peptide chain. This is the first example where microviridins contain non-proteinogenic amino acid in their structure. Compound 2 is a mild serine protease inhibitor.     

Unambiguous structure elucidation of the reaction products of 3-acyl-4-methoxy-1-methylquinolinones with hydroxylamine via NMR spectroscopy

Reaction of 3-acyl-4-methoxy-1-methylquinolinones 2a,b with hydroxylamine has been investigated under different experimental conditions. Whereas compound 2a gives rise selectively and exclusively to the regioisomeric isoxazolo[4,5-c]- or isoxazolo[4,3-c]quinolin-4(5H)one (compound 3a or 4a, respectively), reaction of 2b always led to a mixture of the required isoxazole together with the oxazole derivative. Structural elucidation of all products has been independently achieved by multinuclear (¹³C and ¹⁵N) magnetic resonance spectroscopy.     

Naphthyridines. Part 3: First example of the polyfunctionally substituted 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-g][1,6]naphthyridines ring system

Treatment of 1,2,4-triazoles (1) with diethylmalonate in bromobenzene gave 1,2,4-triazolo-[1,5-a]pyridines 2. Chlorination of 2 using POCl₃/DMF (Vilsmeier reagent) led to the isolation of 7-chloro-6-formyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridine derivative 4, which reacted with the stabilized ylid 5 to afford 6-ethoxycarbonylvinyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]-pyridines 6. Azidation of 6 yielded the corresponding azido compound 7, (Scheme 2). Reduction of 7 with Na₂S₂O₄ gave the corresponding 7-amino compound 8, which cyclized in boiling DMF to give the novel 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-g][1,6]naphthyridines 9. On the other hand, reacting 7 with one equivalent of PPh₃ (aza-Wittig reaction) in CH₂Cl₂ gave 7-imino-phosphorane derivative 10, and subsequent cyclization in boiling DMF afforded the new 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-g][1,6]naphthyridine derivative 11 (Scheme 3). However, treatment of 10 with phenyl isothiocyanate in 1,2-dichlorobenzene at reflux temperature gave the new 1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-g][1,6]naphthyridine derivative 14 (Scheme 4). Refluxing 6 with excess of a primary amines 15a,b in absolute. EtOH yielded the corresponding 7-alkyl-amino-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyridines 16a,b. These obtained amines 16a,b underwent intramolecular heterocyclization in boiling DMF to give the novel 9-alkyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-g][1,6]-naphthyridines 17a,b, in excellent yields (Scheme 5).     

Determination of the absolute structure of albaconol

The concise synthesis of (8aR)-(−)-albaconol (1) from (8aR)-albicanol (2) obtained from the lipase-assisted asymmetric acetylation of rac-2, was achieved in 45% overall yield (eight steps). By comparison of the sign of specific rotation of between synthetic (8aR)-(−)-albaconol (1) and natural (+)-albaconol (1), the absolute structure of natural (+)-1 was determined to be 1R,2R,4aS,8aS configuration.     

Stabilization of (N-methyleneamino)imidoylketenes: synthesis of dipyrazolo[1,2-a;1′,2′-d][1,2,4,5]tetrazines

Thermolysis of substituted methyl 1-methyleneamino-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates 2a,b led to substituted dimethyl 3,9-dioxo-1,5,7,11-tetrahydro-1H,7H-dipyrazolo[1,2-a;1′,2′-d][1,2,4,5]tetrazine-1,7-dicarboxylates 4a,b and methyl 2,5-dihydro-5-oxo-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxylates 5a,b as minor products. The structure of compound 4a was determined by X-ray crystallography. The proposed mechanism of this conversion includes generation of (N-methyleneamino)imidoylketenes 6a,b and its intramolecular transformation to azomethine imines—5-oxo-2,5-dihydropyrazole-1-methylium-2-ides 7a,b, which undergo dimerization in head-to-tail manner yielding products 4a,b and partially hydrolyse to compounds 5a,b.     

Tabularisins A-D, phragmalin ortho esters with new skeleton isolated from the seeds of Chukrasia tabularis

Tabularisins A-D (1-4), a new class of phragmalins incorporating a cyclopropanyl ring, were isolated from Chukrasia tabularis. Compounds 1 and 2 are also the first examples of phragmalins with an 8,9,11-ortho ester. The structures of 1 and 3 were confirmed by single crystal X-ray studies. The absolute configuration of 2 was determined by CD exciton chirality method on its benzoate (2a), and those of 1, 3, and 4 were proposed by correlating with 2 chemically and biogenetically.     

Four new dimeric triterpene glucosides from Sanguisorba officinalis

In search for bioactive compounds from the roots of Sanguisorba officinalis L. (Rosaceae), four new dimeric triterpene glucosides, namely sanguidioside A, B, C, and D (1-4) were isolated. Alkaline hydrolysis of 1-2 afforded the corresponding dimeric aglycones (1a and 2a). Meanwhile, a ready intra-molecular transesterification was observed, providing dimeric triterpenes 1b and 2b. Alkaline hydrolysis of the crude dimmeric saponin also provided a new dimeric triterpene, sanguidiogenin (9). The structures of all these compounds are elucidated via spectroscopic and chemical methods, and are further confirmed by the X-ray diffraction analysis of the dimeric aglycone 2a. Compound 3 represents the first dimeric saponin of an oleanolic acid and an ursonic acid derivative, while compound 4 is the first dimeric saponin of oleanolic acid derivatives.     

Synthesis and rearrangement of cycloalkyl[1,2-e]oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-8/9-ones: an access to cycloalkyl[1,2-d]oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-ones

2-Substituted-4a-hydroxy-9H-cycloalkyl[1,2-e]oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-9-ones 2a-c were synthesized by an one-step cyclocondensation from the 5-substituted-2-amino-2-oxazolines 1a-c with ethyl 2-oxocyclohexanecarboxylate in ethanol at room temperature, and easily dehydrated to provide 2-substituted-9H-cycloalkyl[1,2-e]oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-9-ones 3. In refluxing xylene, the reaction conducted with various ethyl 2-oxocycloalkanecarboxylates led to the two isomeric 2-substituted-8/9H-cycloalkyl[1,2-e]oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-8/9-ones 3 and 2-substituted-5H-cycloalkyl[1,2-d]oxazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-ones 4. The structure of some compounds was unambiguously established using X-ray crystallography. According to results from the DSC analysis of compound 2a, formation of the thermodynamically stable pyrimidinones 4 could be related to an intramolecular rearrangement of kinetically controlled pyrimidinones 3.     

New polychlorinated pyrrolidinones from the Red Sea marine sponge Lamellodysidea herbacea

Chemical investigation of the dichloromethane extract of the Red Sea marine sponge Lamellodysidea herbacea led to the isolation of seven new polychlorinated derivatives 3-6 and 8-10 in addition to the known dysidamide 1, dysidamide B 2 and dysidamide C 7. Their structures were established by extensive NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of compound 9 was determined by X-ray crystallographic diffraction analysis. Dysidamide 1 exhibited neurotoxic effects towards both mesencephalic and cortical murine neurones at 0.8 μg/ml.     

Chemoenzymatic resolution of epimeric cis 3-carboxycyclopentylglycine derivatives

Epimeric 3-carboxycyclopentylglycines (+)-10/(−)-10 and (+)-11/(−)-11 were efficiently prepared by the way of a sequence of Diels-Alder and retro-Claisen reactions. The synthesis incorporates a concise and inexpensive chemoenzymatic resolution of racemic compounds 4,5a, the N,O-protected derivatives of amino acids 10,11. Systematic screening with different enzymes and microorganisms was performed to select a very efficient catalyst for the separation of the racemic mixtures. The reaction conditions allowing deprotection of both ester and amino functions and to avoiding epimerization processes were studied. Enantiomers (i.e., (+)-10/(−)-10 and (+)-11/(−)-11) were obtained in high enantiopurity. The absolute configuration of all stereocenters was unequivocally assigned.     

Microwave assisted synthesis of novel imidazo [2,1-b]thiazole derivative attached to quinoxalinones

3-(6-Phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)quinoxalin-2(1H)-ones (qunoxalinone) (6a-q) have been synthesized by the reaction of ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) with suitably substituted o-phenylenediamines (5a-f) under microwave heating. The ethyl 2-oxo-2-(6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazol-5-yl)acetates (4a-e) were prepared by the reaction of 6-phenylimidazo[2,1-b]thiazoles (3a-e) with ethyl chlorooxoacetate in refluxing 1,4-dioxane whereas the thiazoles (3a-e) were synthesized by the reaction of 2-bromo-1-phenylethanones (2a-e) with thiazol-2-amine in refluxing acetone.     

Synthesis and structure of {{amino(triorganosilyl)carbene}pentacarbonyltungsten(0)} complexes and attempted synthesis of {[2-bis(trimethylsilyl)methyl-3-triorganosilyl-2H-azaphosphirene-κP]pentacarbonyltungsten(0)}

First examples of tungsten aminocarbene complexes [(OC₅)W{C(SiR¹_nR²_3-n)NH₂}] 2a-d (R¹ = Ph, R² = Me) were synthesized via ammonolysis of the corresponding methoxycarbene complexes 1a-d. They were characterized by NMR spectroscopy, MS, IR, UV/Vis and elemental analysis, and in the case of the C-triphenylsilyl derivative 2a by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. The reaction of P-chloro alkylidenephosphane 3 with complexes 2a-d, meant to give 2H-azaphosphirene complexes, was monitored by ³¹P NMR spectroscopy to reveal the formation of the products 4-7, which were presumably formed via decomposition of the transient complexes 10a-d.     

Synthesis of arylated highly congested indans using a domino sequence

A novel and efficient regioselective synthesis of various arylated highly congested 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (3a-f), methyl 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylates (10a-e) and 7-aryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylic acids (11a-e) through base-catalyzed reaction of 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (1a-f) and methyl 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (9a-e) by cyclopentanone (2) has been delineated. The synthetic potential of 2-pyranone was explored further to generate molecular diversity using 6-aryl-4-sec-amino-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (7a-h), 5,6-diaryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carbonitriles (5a,b) and methyl 5,6-diaryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2-oxo-2H-pyran-3-carboxylates (12a,b) as precursors for the ring transformation by cyclopentanone to assess the effects of substituents on the course of the reaction to obtain highly congested indans, 6,7-diaryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carbonitriles (6a,b), 7-aryl-5-(piperidin-1-yl)indan-4-carbonitriles (8a-h) and methyl 6,7-diaryl-5-methylsulfanylindan-4-carboxylates (13a,b).     

Substituent-induced regioselective synthesis of 1,2-teraryls and pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-4,5-diones from 2H-pyran-2-ones

Substituent-controlled regioselective synthesis of highly functionalized 1,2-teraryls 3a-k has been achieved through ring transformation of 6-aryl-4-(pyrrolidin-1-yl/piperidin-1-yl)-2H-pyran-2-one-3-carbonitriles 1a-g by aryl acetones 2a-c in the presence of powdered KOH in DMF in very good yield. Under similar reaction conditions, 6-aryl-4-methylsulfanyl-2H-pyran-2-ones 5a-f afforded 1,7-diaryl-2-methyl-4H,5H-pyrano[3,4-c]pyran-4,5-diones 6a-j as major products and 3,4-diaryl-2-methyl-6-methylsulfanylbenzonitriles as minor constituents 7a-j.     

An efficient substituent dependent synthesis of congested pyridines and pyrimidines

An efficient and versatile synthesis of various congested pyridines 3a-h, 6a,b, 8a-n, 10a-g, and 16a,b, and (pyrimidin-4-yl)acetonitriles 13a-g has been delineated by base catalyzed ring transformation of suitably functionalized 2H-pyran-2-ones 1a-h, 5, 7, and 15 by formamidine acetate 2a, acetamidine hydrochloride 2b, S-methylisothiourea 9a, pyrazol-1-yl-carboxamidine 9b, and arylamidine hydrochloride 12 separately in the presence of powdered KOH in dry DMF.     

Synthesis of N,N-di(arylmethylidene)arylmethanediamines by flash vacuum pyrolysis of arylmethylazides

Flash vacuum pyrolysis of arylmethylazides 7a-d gave 2,4-diazapentadienes 5a-d in high yield (76-92%). The thermal cyclization of 5a-d gave cis-imidazolines 1a-d, further heating or Swern oxidation of 1a-d gave dehydrogenated products, imidazoles 2a-d.     

Facile synthesis of 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives from N-acyl-o-aminobenzophenones

An efficient synthesis of 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives has been achieved in a one-pot reaction from N-acyl-o-aminobenzophenones 1a-c (a: acyl=acetyl; b: acyl=propanoyl; c: acyl=heptanoyl) using NaH as a base. Treatment of 1 with NaH provided the quinolones 2a-c with 62-83% yields, whereas the reaction in the presence of alkyl iodide (alkyl=methyl, ethyl, n-octyl) gave the corresponding N-alkylated quinolones 3a-g in 75-95% yields. The alkylation reaction of 4-phenylquinolin-2(1H)-one 2a with alkyl halide gave a mixture of N-alkylated and O-alkylated products. Comparison of IR and NMR data of the N-alkylated and O-alkylated compounds with those of 2a-c indicated that 2a-c exist as the lactam form.     

Senepodines B-E, new C22N2 alkaloids from Lycopodium chinense

Four new C₂₂N₂Lycopodium alkaloids, senepodines B-E (2-5), consisting of an octahydroquinoline ring and a quinolizidine ring have been isolated together with senepodine A (1) from the club moss Lycopodium chinense. The relative and absolute stereochemistry of 2-5 were determined by combination of NOESY correlations and chemical transformation, while the absolute configuration of 1 was assigned by exciton chirality method.     

Regioselective synthesis of novel 4-aryl-2-ethylthio-7-methyl pyrazolo[1,5-a]-[1,3,5]-triazines

Pyrazolo[1,5-a]-[1,3,5]-triazines 6a-d were obtained by an efficient one-step reaction from S,S-diethyl aroyliminodithiocarbonates 4a-d and 5-amino-3-methylpyrazole 5 or by an alternative two-step reaction from 5 and aroyl isothiocyanates 8a-d to give initially the thiourea derivatives 9a-d, which after S-ethylation and cyclization afforded compounds 6a-d. The intermediate 7a isolated from reaction between 4a and 5 permitted us to establish the orientation.     

Proanthocyanidin glycosides from the leaves of Quercus ilex L. (Fagaceae)

From the polar extracts of the leaves of Quercus ilex L., two new proanthocyanidin glycosides, namely afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-β-glucopyranoside (1) and afzelechin-(4α→8)-catechin-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (2), were isolated in addition to catechin (3), proanthocyanidin B₃ (4), prodelphinidin C (5), dehydrodicatechin A (6), quercetin (7) and six known flavonol glucosides with their acylated derivatives (8-13) and ellagic acid (14). The structures of all isolated compounds were established by spectroscopic means, mainly 1D and 2D NMR, as well as LC/MS and HR-MS spectrometric analyses. The absolute configuration of compound 1 was determined by CD measurements. The proanthocyanidin glycosides are especially interesting, as they possess the sugar in the upper unit of the dimer, which is rare for this type of compounds.