Components of the heartwood of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Populus euphratica</Emphasis> from an ancient tomb

To probe the organic constituents of over 2000-year-preserved Populus euphratica found in an ancient tomb, a chemical investigation was undertaken, which led to the isolation of a new compound, 2-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoacetamide (1), together with 12 known compounds (2–13) by column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic evidence. It is the first time that compounds 2–13 were isolated from this plant. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 7–9, January–February, 2008.     

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.     

Xanthothone,a new nematicidal N-compound from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Coprinus xanthothrix</Emphasis>

Coprinus xanthothrix was found to have nematicidal activity. Xanthothone was isolated from culture extract guided by activity assay, which was identified as a novel natural product. Two other compounds were also isolated. These compounds showed nematicidal activity, with LD₅₀ value of 125–250 ppm both against Panagrellus redivivus and Meloidogyne incognita. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 161–162, March–April, 2008.     

Plant coumarins. 4.* Synthesis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-containing derivatives of oreoselone

Bromination of peucedanin by various reagents was studied. Conditions for forming 2-(1,3-dibromopropan-2-ylidene)-2H-furo[3,2-g][1]benzopyran-3,7-dione were found. Several 2-aminofuranocoumarins were synthesized by reaction of 2-bromoreoselone with derivatives of pyrrolidine, piperidine, and piperazine. The new compounds were interesting as potential biologically active compounds. *For Part 2, see [1]. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 289–294, May–June, 2009.     

Sulfated steroid glycosides from the Viet Namese starfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linckia laevigata</Emphasis>

Five sulfated steriodal compounds including one new glycoside called linckoside L7 (1) and four previously known glycosides 2–5 were isolated from the starfish Linckia laevigata. The structure sodium (22E, 24R)-3-O-(2-O-methyl-β-D-xylopyranosyl)-29-O-(β-D-xylopyranosyl)-24-ethylcholest-4,22-dien-3β,6β,8,15α,16β,29-hexaol 15-O-sulfate was proposed for L7. Linckoside L7 inhibited fertilization and egg-cell development in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 64–67, January–February, 2007.     

Four new steroid glycosides from the Vietnamese starfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Linckia laevigata</Emphasis>

Eighteen steroid compounds, including four new steroid glycosides, viz., linckosides L3–L6, along with the previously known nine glycosides and five free polyhydroxysteroids, were isolated from the starfish Linckia laevigata collected on the Vietnamese coast. New compounds contain the 2-O-methyl-β-D-xylopyranosyl unit at the C(3) atom of polyhydroxylated steroidal aglycone. Two of these compounds are monosides, and the other two belong to biosides and have an additional β-D-xylopyranosyl residue at C(26) in the side chain of the aglycone. The structures of the new compounds were determined by NMR spectroscopy, mainly by 2D NMR, and mass spectrometry. Published in Russian in Izvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 792–799, April, 2007.     

Synthesis and biological activity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-(2-hydroxyethyl)cytisine derivatives

Derivatives of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)cytisine, N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-, N-(2-hydroxy-2-(1-adamantyl)ethyl)-, and N-(2-hydroxy-2-phenylethyl)cytisine, were synthesized by reduction of N-(2-oxopropyl)-, N-(2-oxo-2-(1-adamantyl)ethyl)-and N-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)cytisine with metal hydrides. The antiarrhythmic and analgesic activities of the prepared compounds were investigated. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 157–162, March–April, 2007.     

Two novel phenolic compounds from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Stenoloma chusanum</Emphasis> and their antifungal activity

Two new phenolic compounds, 4-O-β-D-(6-O-gentisoylglucopyranosyl) vanillic acid (1), 2-O-β-D-(6-O-gentisoylglucopyranosyl) gentisic acid (2), together with three known compounds, vanillic acid (3), syringic acid (4), and gentisic acid (5), were isolated from the whole part of Stenoloma chusanum (L.) Ching. Structures of the two new compounds 1, 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including twodimensional NMR techniques and HR ESI-MS analysis. The compounds′ activities against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Aspergillus niger were determined, and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were 25–100 μg/mL. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 161–164, March–April, 2009.     

Novel rhodium <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-heterocyclic carbene catalysed arylation of aldehydes with phenylboronic acid

Reaction of 1,3-dialkylperhydrobenzimidazolinylidene, 1,3-dialkyl-4-methylimidazolinylidene and 1,3-dialkylimidazolinylidene with [RhCl(COD)]₂ yields {1,3-dialkylperhydrobenzimidazolin-2-ylidene}-, {1,3-dialkyl-4-methylimidazolin-2-ylidene}- {1,3-dialkylimidazolin-2-ylidene}chloro(η⁴-1,5-cyclooctadiene)rhodium(I) complexes (2a–c) and (4a, b). All compounds synthesised were characterised by elemental analysis, n.m.r. spectroscopy. Phenylboronic acid reacts with aldehydes in the presence of a catalytic amount of the new rhodium(I)–carbene complexes (2a–c) and (4a, b), to give the corresponding aryl secondary alcohols in good yield (73–99%).     

Syntheses,spectroscopic and crystallographic characterizations of 4-nitrobenzyloxy derivatives and benzofurans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">ortho</Emphasis>-substituted benzaldehydes and 4-nitrobenzyl bromide

A series of benzyloxybenzaldehyde derivatives (1–3) were prepared by the reactions of 4-nitrobenzyl bromide with 4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (vanillin), 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (o-vanillin) and 2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzaldehyde. When the reaction time is quite long, benzofuran derivatives (4 and 5) were obtained by the reactions of ortho-hydroxyaldehydes with the 4-nitrobenzyl bromide. Condensation reactions among the three benzyloxybenzaldehyde derivatives (1–3) with 2-aminomethylfuran (furfurylamine) yielded the new imine compounds (6–8). The structures of these aldehydes (1–3), benzofuran derivatives (4 and 5) and imine compounds (6–8) were confirmed on the basis of elemental analyses, IR, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR and mass spectroscopy. The solid-state structures of compounds 4–6 were determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography.     

Reasons for and Consequences of the Mysterious Behaviour of Newly Prepared Hemipyridine Solvate of Bis(pyridine)silver(I) Permanganate,Agpy<Subscript>2</Subscript>MnO<Subscript>4</Subscript>*0.5py

Compositions and chemical identities of compounds formed in silver–permanganate–pyridine–water systems, as well as of their recrystallization products obtained from benzene–acetone solutions, have been elucidated. Three compounds: Agpy₂MnO₄ (1), 7Agpy₂MnO₄*Agpy₄MnO₄ (Agpy_2.25MnO₄) (2) and Agpy₂MnO₄ * 0.5py (Agpy_2.5MnO₄) (3) were isolated. The compositions of the products obtained by a method described previously [1] for the preparation of ‘Agpy₂MnO₄’ (1*) and ‘Agpy_2.5MnO₄’ (2*) were determined and the constituent compounds identified. It has been established that the instability of compound (3) is due to the presence of the benzene, substituting for pyridine at the solvate sites. The benzene, however, is released at room temperature, disrupting the crystal lattice of (3), and the whole process leads to the loss of the solvate pyridine and to the formation of (1).     

Syntheses,spectroscopic study and crystal structures of some new <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-benzoylphosphoric triamides

The reaction of N-benzoylphosphoramidic dichloride with amines afforded some new N-benzoylphos-phoric triamides with formula C₆H₅C(O)NHP(O)(X)₂, X=NH–CH(CH₃)₂ (1), NH–CH₂–CH(CH₃)₂ (2), NH–CH₂–CH(OCH₃)₂ (3), N(CH₃)[CH₂CH(OCH₃)₂] (4) and N(CH₃)(C₆H₁₁) (5) that were characterized by ¹H,¹³C,³¹P NMR, IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The structures have been determined for compounds 4 and 5 by X-ray crystallography. These compounds contain one amidic hydrogen atom and form centrosymmetric dimmers via intermolecular –P–O⋯H–N–hydrogen bonds besides weak C–H⋯O hydrogen bonds that lead to three-dimensional polymeric clusters in the crystalline lattice.     

Balanoinvolin,a new steroid derivative from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Balanophora involucrate</Emphasis>

A new compound, β-sitosterylglucoside-3′-O-linoleate, named balanoinvolin, and three known compounds coniferin, methylconiferin, and 4-O-β-D-glucopyranosylconiferyl aldehyde, were isolated from Balanophora involucrate Hook. f. and their structures were determined by MS and 1D/2D NMR spectra. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 315–317, May–June, 2009.     

A new C-glucoside from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Commelina communis</Emphasis>

A new C-glucoside, 3,4-epoxy-5-hydroxymethyl benzoate 2-C-β-glucoside (1), together with a known alkaloid, 1H-indole-3-carbaldehyde (2), were isolated from the whole plant of Commelina communis L. The structures of these compounds were determined by 1D, 2D NMR and MS techniques. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 1, pp. 51–52, January–February, 2009.     

Minor polyphenols from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Maackia amurensis</Emphasis> wood

The rare α,4,2′,4′-tetrahydroxydihydrochalcone, flavanones liquiritigenin and naringenin, isoflavones calycosin and 5-methoxydaidzein, and reduced stilbene dihydroresveratrol were isolated for the first time from Maackia amurensis wood. The structures of the pure compounds were established using 2D NMR COSY, NOE, HMBC, and HSQC experiments. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 6, pp. 575–577, November–December, 2008.     

Two new isomeric lignans from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eusideroxylon zwageri</Emphasis>

Two new lignans were isolated with two other known compounds, eusiderin A and eusiderin I, from Eusideroxylon zwageri (billian). The two new lignans have isomeric structure. The structures of the new lignans were determined to be (2R,3R,4S)-2,3-dimethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethoxy (3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzene)-1,5-dihydroxytetralin and (2R,3S,4S)-2,3-dimethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethoxy(3′,4′,5′-trimethoxybenzene)-1,5-dihydroxytetralin. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 303–305, May–June, 2009.     

Potentially biologically active new substituted anilides of benzo[2,3-<Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis>]thiophene series

New substituted anilides of the heterocyclic series 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 together with the earlier described compounds 1 and 3 (Jarak I et al. (2005) J Med Chem 48:2346), were synthesized from the corresponding heterocyclic carbonyl chlorides, methoxycarbonyl- and cyano-substituted anilines. Compounds 2 and 7 were prepared by methylation with methyl-iodide on the amide and the pyridine nitrogen. The Pinner reaction was used in the preparations of amidino-substituted compounds. It seems that all the prepared compounds could be biologically interesting, especially amidino-substituted anilides prepared in the form of water-soluble hydrochlorides or hydroiodides. Molecular and crystal structures of the three compounds, namely, 4′-methoxycarbonyl-N-phenyl-3-chlorobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide (1), N-(4′-amidinophenyl)-3-chlorobenzo[b]thiophene-2-carboxamide hydrochloride monohydrate (4) and 1-methyl-N-(4-amidinophenyl)-3-pyridine carboxamide iodide hydroiodide (7) have been determined by X-ray single-crystal diffractometry in the solid state. Compounds 1, 4 and 7 are not planar and the amide group (C=O in relation to NH group) is in trans position in all three compounds. The 3-chlorobenzo[b]thiophene moiety in 1 and 4 is oriented with the chloro substituent in cis position in relation to amide NH group. The conformational characteristics of the compounds result from the introduction of different substituents or solvent molecules (water molecule in 4), which leads to various intermolecular hydrogen bonds formation (N–H⋯O, N–H⋯Cl, O–H⋯Cl⁻, N–H⋯I⁻) in 1, 4 and 7. Hydrogen bond formation could be responsible for the potential biological activity of the compounds.     

Triterpene glycosides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Astragalus</Emphasis> and their genins. LXXVI. Glycosides from <Emphasis Type="Italic">A. sieversianus</Emphasis>

Nine compounds including six cycloartane glycosides cyclosieversiosides A, B, F, G, and H and astrasieversianin IX; β-sitosterol, β-sitosterol β-D-glucopyranoside, and D-3-O-methyl-chiro-inositol were isolated and identified from roots of Astragalus sieversianus Pall. (Leguminosae) growing in the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Presented at the 6th International Symposium on the Chemistry of Natural Compounds (SCNC, Ankara, Turkey, June 28–29, 2005. __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 253–256, May–June, 2008.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-Alkoxy-3,5-dinitro-4-aminobenzoic acid derivatives with controlled physico-chemical properties

Starting from 4-chloro-3,5-dinitrobenzoic acid 1, compounds 2–10 (N-alkoxy-3,5-dinitro-4-aminobenzoic acid esters where alkoxy stands for methoxy, carboxymethoxy, triphenylmethoxy, or corresponding amides) have been obtained, from which compounds 3–5 and 7–10 are new, and for the known compounds 2 and 6 the synthetic procedure has been improved. The new derivatives have been characterized by appropriate means (IR, UV–Vis, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR, fluorescence) and their properties were studied. Thus, depending on their structure, the compounds have acid properties, fluorescence and complexing properties with alkaline cations.     

Antioxidant flavonoids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tamus communis</Emphasis> ssp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">cretica</Emphasis>

A new flavonoid, kaempferol-3,4′-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1), and three known flavonoids (2–4) were isolated from the aerial parts of T. communis L. The structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1 and 2 showed significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ 187.151 ± 0.821 μM, and 92.079±0.513 μM, respectively), whereas compounds 3 and 4 showed moderate activity in DPPH free radical scavenging assays. Published in Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 3, pp. 295–297, May–June, 2009.