Stereoselective construction of the ABC-ring system of fusidane triterpenes via intermolecular/transannular Michael reaction cascade

A stereoselective construction of the ABC-ring system of fusidane triterpenes via intermolecular/transannular Michael reaction cascade is described. The substrate, a ten-membered carbocyclic ketone, has been successfully prepared by the Cr-mediated intramolecular alkenylation of the corresponding acyclic compound. The array of functionalities in the product stereoselectively obtained by the cascade reaction is useful for further structural modifications directed toward the total synthesis of fusidane and other triterpenes, and designed molecules intended for studying structure–activity relationships.     

Enzymatic syntheses of unnatural head-to-tail pentacyclic triterpenes by tetraprenyl-β-curcumene cyclase

Little is known of the biosynthesis of sesquarterpenes and the synthesis of unnatural terpenoids by sesquarterpene biosynthetic enzymes has not yet been reported. In this study, the enzymatic cyclization of head-to-tail acyclic triterpene β-hexaprene—a natural product isolated from Bacillus clausii—using tetraprenyl-β-curcumene cyclase (TC) from Bacillus subtilis resulted in the formation of two unnatural pentacyclic triterpenes. It was revealed that B. subtilis TC, which forms tetracyclic terpenoid scaffold from tetraprenyl-β-curcumene in vivo, could be used to construct the 6/6/6/6/6-fused pentacyclic scaffold in vitro, suggesting that the active site cavity of TC has sufficient space to accommodate this unnatural pentacyclic scaffold. This is the first report demonstrating the utility of a sesquarterpene cyclase toward the synthesis of unnatural terpenoids.     

Synthesis, biology and clinical significance of pentacyclic triterpenes: a multi-target approach to prevention and treatment of metabolic and vascular diseases

This review (with 335 references cited) is devoted to pentacyclic triterpenes. The total synthesis, semi-synthesis, structural modification, and metabolic behavior of naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpenes are described. We also cover the in vivo evidence, mechanistic studies, and clinical significance of pentacyclic triterpenes as multi-target therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of metabolic and vascular diseases.     

Carbon-13 NMR study of (20,24)-epoxydammarane triterpenes

Assignments of the ¹³C NMR signals of the dammarane triterpenes, 3β,25,30-trihydroxy-(20R,24R)-epoxydammaran-16-one 3,30-diacetate (trevoagenin A diacetate) (2), its 20S-isomer (trevoagenin B diacetate) (3) and their related (20R)-3β,30-diacetoxy-16-oxo-25,26,27-trisnordammarane-24,20-lactone (4) and its 20S-isomer (5) have been achieved. Suitable tetrahydrofuran models have been synthesized in order to aid the ¹³C NMR assignments of the side-chain carbons of the above-mentioned compounds. The remarkable chemical shift differences observed for C-21 and C-22 between each pair of the C-20 epimers (2, 3 and 4, 5) allowed the confirmation of the C-20 stereochemistry of these ocotillol-type dammarane triterpenes.     

Site-selective oxidation of unactivated C–H sp3 bonds of oleanane triterpenes by Streptomyces griseus ATCC 13273

The oxidization of unactivated C–H bonds is of great interests in the structural modification of pentacyclic triterpenes. Herein we discovered the unique capability of Streptomyces griseus ATCC 13273 to catalyze the site-selective oxidation of C-29 methyl group to carboxyl group over a range of oleanane triterpenes, oleanolic acid (1), hederagenin (2), echinocystic acid (3), quillaic acid (4) and senegenin (5). Along with this reaction the hydroxylation on C-24 and C-21 were also discovered on some substrates. As a result, eight new compounds (1c, 2a～5a and 2b～4b) among the ten metabolites were isolated. The anti-inflammatory activities of these compounds were evaluated against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, and the products with hydroxyl group on C-21 (1c, 2b and 5a) showed significantly enhanced activities with the IC₅₀ values of 1.230, 0.078 and 0.015 μM, respectively. Thus S. griseus ATCC 13273 was further proved as a useful biocatalyst to expand the structural diversity of oleanane triterpenes for medicinal chemistry research.     

Hydrogen atom transfer methodology for the synthesis of C-22, C-23, and C-25 stereoisomers of cephalostatin north 1 side chain from spirostan sapogenins

A simple synthesis of all eight C-22, C-23, and C-25 diastereoisomers of the cephalostatin north 1 side chain has been accomplished from (25R)-5α-spirostan-3β-ol (tigogenin). The synthesis involves selective hydroxylations at C-23 and C-25 and reductive opening of the 1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane spirostan system to give a conveniently protected 5α-furostan-3β,23,25,26-tetrol. The construction of the required 1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]nonane system entailed an intramolecular hydrogen abstraction reaction promoted by the C-25 alkoxyl radical as the key step. Acid-catalyzed isomerization of the spiroketal unit suggested that 22R isomers are the thermodynamic products while the 22S isomers are the result of kinetic control. The acid-catalyzed equilibrium between 1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]nonane and 1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]decane systems was also studied. In the 1,6-dioxaspiro[4.4]nonane units, the observed ³J_23,24 coupling constants suggest that the five-membered puckered ring-F undergoes substantial conformational changes on going from 22S to 22R isomers.     

Asymmetric synthesis of (2S,3R)-(−)-epi-CP-99,994 using sulfinimine-derived anti-2,3-diamino esters

A differentially protected C-3 N-sulfinyl, C-2 N,N-(diphenylmethylene) 2,3-diamino ester was employed in the synthesis of the amino piperidine (2S,3R)-(−)-epi-CP-99,994. Key steps in the synthesis included the chemoselective hydrolysis of the C-2 N,N-(diphenylmethylene) group and its reprotection as a dibenzylamino group.     

Diastereoselective total synthesis of (+)-morusimic acid B, an amino acid from Morus alba

An efficient, flexible and diastereoselective synthesis of the naturally occurring pyrrolidine amino acid, (+)-morusimic acid B, has been accomplished. Starting from chiral, optically active (+)-(3S)-hydroxy butyric acid methyl ester the key steps of our synthesis are diastereoselective α-alkylation of its dianion to introduce the main part of the side chain, Curtius rearrangement of the hydrazide derivative to a 2-oxazolidinone followed by N→π-cyclization with mercury(II) acetate to generate the cis-2,5-disubstituted pyrrolidine ring. The remote C-3 stereocentre is established after chain elongation with the dianion of methyl acetoacetate and asymmetric hydrogenation of the resulting β-oxoester with Noyori's Ru(II)-(R)-BINAP catalyst.     

Synthesis of a common trisaccharide fragment of glycoforms of the outer core region of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide

The first synthesis of the common trisaccharide of glycoforms of the outer core region of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide is reported. A fully protected trisaccharide precursor was prepared via a highly efficient α-(1→4)-glucosylation of a β-(1→3)-linked 6-O-benzyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-α-d-galactopyranoside. In contrast, an alternative sequence of glycosylations, which involves β-glucosylation of an α-(1→4)-linked Glc-GalN₃ unit, did not lead to the target trisaccharide backbone. Further O-deacetylation, azido group reduction and debenzylation of the protected trisaccharide precursor gave the corresponding trisaccharide amine. The latter structure was used in the synthesis of a series of trisaccharides bearing an acetyl group, an l-alanine or an N-acetylated l-alanine residue on its amino group at C-2 of GalN.     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of the first example of an eight-membered iminoalditol

The synthesis of the first examples of eight-membered iminoalditols has been achieved from 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-d-glucopyranose by way of a ring-closing metathesis. The (2R,3R,4R,5S)-2-hydroxymethyl-azocane-3,4,5-triol (3a), which has the d-gluco configuration for C-2-C-5 and appears to exist predominantly in a boat-chair conformation, is a weak inhibitor of glycosidases.     

An enantioselective total synthesis of the stilbenolignan (−)-aiphanol and the determination of its absolute stereochemistry

The title natural product (−)-aiphanol has been prepared by total synthesis. A key step involved the asymmetric dihydroxylation of (E)-3,5-dimethoxy-4-(methoxymethoxy)cinnamyl alcohol with the AD-mix-β to give triol (1R,2R)-1-(3′,5′-dimethoxy-4′-methoxymethoxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydroxypropanol, the absolute stereochemistry of which was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis of a readily available bromo-derivative. These studies have established that the naturally occurring enantiomer of aiphanol possesses the (S)-configuration at each of C-2′ and C-3′.     

C(3)-alkylation and cyclization of pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolin-4-ones

To avoid the epimerization of the C(11a)-stereocenter previously observed in 6,11a-cis-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolin-1,4-diones, we present in this paper the C(3)-alkylation of 1-methoxy-pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolin-4-ones to obtain all-cis derivatives through a very reliable protocol. The success of the acid-promoted cyclization to get pentacyclic (R₃=arylmethyl) or tetracyclic (R₃=2-bromo-2-propenyl) compounds is dependent on the nature of the C(3)-unsaturated chain and of the N-substituent, but these limitations have been overcome by using trifluoromethanesulfonic as a superacid catalyst. The C-(3)-alkylation of pyrazino[1,2-b]isoquinolin-4-one is also studied.     

Syntheses of oxygenated spongiane diterpenes from carvone. Synthesis of dorisenone C

The synthesis of dorisenone C, a representative member of the spongiane-type diterpene family, is described. The synthesis follows a B→AB→ABC→ABCD approach and is based on the initial preparation of the previously known hydroxy-aldehyde 14 (AB rings) from R-(−)-carvone, followed by an intramolecular Diels-Alder reaction between an oxygenated diene moiety and an acetylenic dienophile for the construction of the C ring (compound 22), and adequate manipulation of the Diels-Alder adduct functionality for completion of the spongiane framework.     

Natural triterpenoids as renewable nanos

Plant metabolites are the most significant source of renewable chemical feedstocks for a sustainable future. Among various plant secondary metabolites, triterpenoids are a large and structurally diverse 30-carbons subset of the major component terpenoids. Whereas the acyclic triterpene squalene can exist in many different conformations, the cyclic triterpenoids are more rigidified and largely chiral. The tetra and pentacyclic triterpenoids are more abundant than other triterpenoids and molecules having ten chiral centers are common. We show that acyclic and mono-cyclic to fused pentacyclic triterpenes are all nano-sized molecules having varied rigid and flexible lengths. Monte-Carlo investigation of their conformational space revealed that the nanometric lengths are maintained even in the folded conformers rendering all the triterpenoids useful as renewable nanos.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of the (Z)-isomer of a novel phytotoxic nonenolide from Phomopsis sp. HCCB03520 and its C-6 epimer

The (Z)-isomer of a phytotoxic nonenolide, (6S,7R,9R)-6,7-dihydroxy-9-propylnon-4-eno-9-lactone isolated from Phomopsis sp. HCCB03520 and its C-6 epimer have been synthesized through a common route starting from butyraldehyde. The synthesis involves enantioselective Maruoka allylation, Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation and intramolecular ring closing metathesis as the important steps.     

Influence of an 8-trifluoroacetyl group on flavanol couplings

The effect of an electron attracting substituent in the Lewis acid catalyzed oligomerization of flavanols was investigated. The results showed that the presence of a COCF₃, at the 8 position of a (+)-catechin unit strongly influenced the attack of the 6 free nucleophile flavanol position by the electrophile generated from a 4-O-alkyloxy protected catechin unit. This was observed either with TiCl₄ or TMSOTf as Lewis acids in which the carbon-carbon bond formation was inhibited and the corresponding dimer was detected in small amount. On the contrary, the formation of a carbon-oxygen bond was observed and the corresponding C-4→O→C-3 ether linked procyanidin dimer was isolated in a good yield. In order to avoid the participation of the C-3 hydroxyl group in the dimerization reaction, the two flavanol units were forced into C-4→C-8 coupling by use of an internal link. The structural elucidation of the isolated compounds was achieved through MS and NMR spectroscopy.     

Maragenins I,II and III,new pentacyclic triterpenes from Marah macrocarpus

Maragenins I, II and III, new pentacyclic triterpenes from Marah macrocapus (Greene) Greene, are shown to be respectively Δ¹²-, Δ^12,17- and Δ¹⁷-3β-hydroxy-16-oxo-28-norloeananes on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence. The structural proposal for maragenin I is confirmed by synthesis from echinocystic acid.     

The first total synthesis of the novel triquinane natural products pleurotellol and pleurotellic acid

The first total synthesis of the triquinane based sesquiterpenoid antibiotics (±)-pleurotellol and (±)-pleurotellic acid isolated from the fermentation broth of Pleurotellus hypnophilus have been accomplished. The triquinane based bis-enone system obtained via photo-thermal metathesis in a caged pentacyclic dione has been elaborated to the natural products through carefully crafted functional group transformations.     

Synthesis and epimerization of phenylalanyl 4-aminocyclophosphamides

Peptide and amino acid conjugates of (4R)- and (4S)-4-aminocyclophosphamides (4-NH₂-CPA, 3) were designed as prodrug forms of phosphoramide mustard. Four diastereomers of Boc-Phe-4-NH-CPA (6) were synthesized stereospecifically from homoserine (R or S) and the protection strategy was optimized for the homoserine hydroxyl group during the construction of the 1,3,2-oxazaphosphorinane ring. The Phe-4-NH-CPA isomers of the trans-configuration ((2S,4R)- and (2R,4S)-) were found to be less stable than the corresponding isomers of the cis-configuration ((2R,4R)- and (2S,4S)-) and to undergo epimerization of the C-4 chiral center in the presence of 25% TFA used during Boc deprotection. The synthetic route developed should be applicable to the synthesis of a variety of peptide and amino acid conjugates of 4-aminocyclophosphamide.     

Enantioselectivities of yeast epoxide hydrolases for 1,2-epoxides

Kinetic resolution of homologous series of unbranched 1,2-epoxyalkanes (C-4 to C-12), 1,2-epoxyalkenes (C-4, C-6 and C-8), a 2,2-dialkylsubstituted epoxide (2-methyl-1,2-epoxyheptane) and a benzyloxy-substituted epoxide (benzyl glycidyl ether) was investigated using resting cells of 10 different yeast strains. Biocatalysts with excellent enantioselectivity (E>100) and high initial reaction rates (>300 nmol/min/mg dry weight) were found for the 2-monosubstituted aliphatic epoxides C-6 to C-8. Yeast strains belonging to the genera Rhodotorula, Rhodosporidium and Trichosporon all preferentially hydrolyzed (R)-1,2-epoxides with retention of configuration. The epoxide hydrolases of all the yeast strains are membrane-associated.