Synthesis of Rhamnogalacturonan I Fragments

ABSTRACT

The partially deprotected trisaccharide 17 has been synthesized as an analogue of the repeating unit of the backbone of rhamnogalacturonan I. The trisaccharide 17 was obtained after prior selective derivatization of HO-3 and HO-4 of a rhamnopyranose cyanoethylidene glycosyl donor, followed by coupling with a tritylated galactopyranosyluronic acceptor (11), selective removal of the acetyl group at the O-2' position of the formed disaccharide 12, and glycosylation of the HO-2' position with methyl (ethyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-O-p-methoxybenzyl-1-thio-β-D-galactopyranosid)uronate (14) providing methyl (methyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4-O-p-methoxybenzyl-α-D-galactopyranosyluronate)-(1→2)-(4-O-benzoyl-3-O-benzyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→4)-(allyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranosid)uronate (15). Finally, palladium chloride catalyzed deallylation (16) and hydrogenolysis over Pd-C resulted in methyl (methyl α-D-galactopyranosyluronate)-(1→2)-(4-O-benzoyl-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1→4)-α/β D-galactopyranuronate (17).     

A Comparison in the Efficiency of Six Standard 2-Amino-2-Deoxy-Glucosyl Donors for the Synthesis of (2-Deoxy-2-Phthalimido-β-D-Glucopyranosyl) (1→ 4)-β-D-Glucopyranosides.

ABSTRACT

A systematic study is presented for the most common methods used for the preparation of the disaccharide benzyl O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1→'4)-3,6-di-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranoside (9) from “standard 2-amino-2-deoxyglucopyranosyl donors” 1-6 and benzyl 3,6-di-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranoside (7) as an acceptor. It was found that the highest yield was obtained when the trichloroacetimidate derivative 1 was coupled to the 4 position of acceptor 7. In an analogous manner, the disaccharides allyl O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1→'4)-3,6,-di-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranoside (10), benzyl O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1→'4)-3,6-di-O-benzoyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-galactopyranoside (12), and allyl O-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1→'3)-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranoside (14) were prepared.     

Synthesis of Neu5Ac α-(2→ 8)Neu5Ac α-(2→ 3)Galβ1→ Och2Ch2Ch3, A Determinant Epitope of Gd3 Ganglioside

ABSTRACT

Synthesis of the terminal trisaccharide sequence of the ganglioside GD₃, α-D-Neup5Ac-(2→8)-α-D-Neup5Ac-(2→3)-β-D-Galp-(1→4)-β-D-Glcp-(1→1)-Cer (2) was achieved by employing an α-(2→8) disialyl glycosyl donor (1). Condensation of 1 with the glycosyl acceptor 6, propyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-β-D-galactopyranoside, gave the desired protected trisaccharide 10 (14%) as well as the elimination and hydrolysis products of 6, compounds 8 and 9 respectively. O-Deacetylation and debenzylation of 10 gave the final trisaccharide 11, as its propyl glycoside.     

SYNTHESIS OF THE C-DISACCHARIDE α-C(1→3)-L-FUCOPYRANOSIDE OF N-ACETYLGALACTOSAMINE[1]

Radical C-glycosidation of racemic 5-exo-benzeneselenyl-6-endo-chloro-3-methylidene-7-oxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one ((±)-2) with α-acetobromofucose (3) provided a mixture of α-C-fucosides that were reduced with NaBH₄ to give two diastereomeric alcohols that were separated readily. One of them ((?)-6) was converted into (?)-methyl 2-acetamido-4-O-acetyl-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-(3′,4′,5′-tri-O-acetyl-2′,6′-anhydro-1′,7′-dideoxy-α-L-glycero-D-galacto-heptitol-1′-C-yl)-α -D-galactopyranuronate ((?)-11) and then into (?)-methyl 2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-3-C-(2′,6′-anhydro-1′,7′-dideoxy-α-L-glycero-D-galacto-heptitol-1′-C-yl)-β -D-galactopyranoside ((?)-1), a new α-C(1→3)-L-fucopyranoside of N-acetylgalactosamine. Its ¹H NMR data shows that this C-disaccharide (α-L-Fucp-(1→3)CH₂-β-D-GalNAc-OMe) adopts a major conformation in solution similar to that expected for the corresponding O-linked disaccharide, i.e., with antiperiplanar σ(C-3′,C-2′) and σ(C-1′,C-3) bonds.     

Preparation of 2-Azido-4-O-benzoyl-2,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranose and Its Disaccharide Derivative

Abstract

2-Azido-4-O-benzoyl-2,6-dideoxy-3-O-methyl-D-allopyranose, needed as one of the building blocks for construction of a novel cyclodextrin-like compound, was prepared in the form of crystalline β-anomer 6 from methyl 2-azido-4,6-O-benzylidene-2-deoxy-α-D-allopyranoside 1. As a model of α-glycosidation necessary for formation of a cyclic structure, 6 was converted into the corresponding β-glycosyl trichloroacetimidate and coupled with methyl 6-O-benzyl-2,3-di-O-methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside 8, giving α(1→4)-linked disaccharide derivative 9.     

Synthetic Studies on Sialoglycoconjugates 60: α-Stereocontrolled,Glycoside Synthesis of Trimeric Sialic Acid with Galactose and Lactose Derivatives

Abstract

α-Stereocontrolled, glycoside synthesis of trimeric sialic acid is described toward a systematic approach to the synthesis of sialoglycoconjugates containing an α-sialyl-(2→8)-α-sialyl-(2→8)-sialic acid unit α-glycosidically linked to O-3 of a galactose residue in their oligosaccharide chains. Glycosylation of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 6-O-benzoyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (4) or 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl 2,3,6,2′,6′-penta-O-benzyl-β-lactoside (5), with methyl [phenyl 5-acetamido-8-O-[5-acetamido-8-O-(5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylono-1”, 9′-lactone)-4,7-di-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylono-1′, 9-lactone]-4,7-di-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onate (3), using N-iodosuccinimide-trifluoromethanesulfonic acid as a promoter, gave the corresponding α-glycosides 6 and 8, respectively. The glycosyl donor 3 was prepared from trimeric sialic acid by treatment with Amberlite IR-120 (H⁺) resin in methanol, O-acetylation, and subsequent replacement of the anomeric acetoxy group with phenylthio. Compounds 6 and 8 were converted into the per-O-acyl derivatives 7 and 9, respectively.     

Synthetic Studies on Sialoglycoconjugates 59: Total Synthesis of Tumor-Associated Ganglioside,Sialyl Le

Abstract

The first total synthesis of tumor-associated glycolipid antigen, sialyl Le^a, is described. Methylsulfenyl bromide-silver triflate-promoted coupling of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl O-(2-acetamido-6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-O-(2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (2) with methyl O-(methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate)-(2→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (3) afforded the pentasaccharide 4a and 5a in good yields. Glycosylation of 4a with methyl 2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-1-thio-β-l-fucopyranoside (6) by use of N-iodosuccinimide (NIS) — trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) as a promoter, gave the desired hexasaccharide 7. Compound 7 was converted into the α-trichloroacetimidate 10, via reductive removal of benzyl groups, O-acetylation, removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, and treatment with trichloroacetonitrile, which, on coupling with (2S, 3R,4E)-2-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-octadecene-1, 3-diol (11), gave the β-glycoside 12. Finally, 12 was transformed, via selective reduction of the azide group, coupling with octadecanoic acid, O-deacylation, and hydrolysis of the methyl ester group, into the title ganglioside 15 in good yield.     

Synthetic Studies on Sialoglycoconjugates 75: A Total Synthesis of β-Series Ganglioside GQ1β

Abstract

A first total synthesis of a β-series ganglioside GQ1β (IV³Neu5Acα2, III⁶Neu5Acα2-Gg4Cer) is described. Regio- and stereoselective dimeric sialylation of the hydroxyl group at C-6 of the GalNAc residue in 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-3-O-levulinyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-(2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (3) with methyl [phenyl 5-acetamido-8-O-(5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylono-1′,9-lactone)-4,7-di-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-2-thio-d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosid]onate (4) using N-iodosuccinimide (NIS)-trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) as a promoter gave the desired pentasaccharide 5 containing α-glycosidically-linked dimeric sialic acids. This was transformed into the acceptor 6 by removal of the levulinyl group. Condensation of methyl O-[methyl 5-acetamido-8-O-(5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-α-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylono-1′,9-lactone)-4,7-di-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-d-glycero-d-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate]-(2→3)-2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (7) with 6, using dimethyl(methylthio)sulfonium triflate (DMTST) as a promoter, gave the desired octasaccharide derivative 8 in high yield. Compound 8 was converted into α-trichloroacetimidate 11, via reductive removal of the benzyl groups, O-acetylation, removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, and treatment with trichloroacetonitrile, which, on coupling with (2S,3R,4E)-2-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-octadecene-1,3-diol (12), gave the β-glycoside 13. Finally, 13 was transformed, via selective reduction of the azido group, coupling with octadecanoic acid, O-deacylation, and hydrolysis of the methyl ester group, into the title ganglioside 15 in good yield.     

Synthesis of β-d-(1→4)-Substituted Trehalose Oligosaccharides

Abstract

Glycosylation of 2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-α-D-glucopyranosyl 2,3-di-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-α-D-glucopyranoside (5) with α-D-glucopyranosyl, α-maltosyl, and α-maltotriosyl bromides 4, 7, and 8 afforded the β-D-(1→4)-substituted trehalose tri-, tetra-, and pentasaccharides 6, 9, and 10 which were fully characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Deprotection gave the free oligosaccharides 1, 2, and 3.     

Efficient purification and complete NMR characterization of galactinol,sucrose, raffinose,and stachyose isolated from Pinus halepensis (Aleppo pine) seeds using acetylation procedure

The use of precipitation followed by acetylation procedures and preparative TLC purification allowed a facile isolation of four carbohydrates from the methanol extract of Pinus halepensis seeds. The isolated oligosaccharides exhibited high degree of purity. They were identified as α-D-galactosyl-(1→1)-myo-inositol nonaacetate (1), α-D-glucosyl-(1→2)-β-D-fructosyl octaacetate (2), α-D-galactosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucosyl-(1→2)-β-D-frutosyl undecaacetate (3), and α-D-galactosyl-(1→6)-α-D-galactosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucosyl-(1→2)-β-D-frutosyl tetradecaacetate (4) and were isolated for the first time from this plant. The ¹H and ¹³C NMR assignments for compounds 2, 3, and 4 were detailed herein for the first time.     

Isolation and structural characterization of a low-molecular-weight pectic polysaccharide SHPPB-1 isolated from sunflower heads

A novel low-molecular-weight pectic polysaccharide was isolated from sunflower heads that are a useless side product produced from sunflower oil processing. The low-molecular-weight pectic polysaccharide was purified by using an optimized four-step procedure and named as SHPPB-1. The molecular weight of SHPPB-1 is about 1.69× 10⁴ Da. Structure characterizations of SHPPB-1 by monosaccharide composition, methylation analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy showed that SHPPB-1 is consisted of 1,4-linked α-D-GalpA and 1,4-linked 2-OAc-5-COOMe-α-D-GalpA with rare α/β-D-Rhap, α/β-D-Manp, and α/β-D-GalpA. This was combined with NMR spectroscopic analysis to propose a structure of SHPPB-1 as: →4)-[α/β-D-monosaccharide-(1→3)]-α-D-GalpA-(1→4)-2-OAc-5-COOMe-α-D-GalpA-(1→ .     

Chemical-Enzymatic Synthesis of A Branched Hexasaccharide Fragment of Type Ia Group B Streptococcus Capsular Polysaccharide

ABSTRACT

A branched hexasaccharide fragment of type Ia group B streptococcal polysaccharide, α-NeuAc(2→3)-β-D-Gal(1→4)-β-D-GlcNAc(1→3)-[β-D-Glc(1→4)]-β-D-Gal(1→4)-β-D-Glc-OMe (13), has been synthesized by chemical-enzymatic procedures. Chemical synthesis of a pentasaccharide, β-D-Gal(1→4)-β-D-GlcNAc(1→3)-[β-D-Glc(1→4)]-β-D-Gal(1→4)-β-D-Glc-OMe (12), was achieved from glycosyl donor, 4-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-3,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-D-glucopyranosyl trichloroacetimidate (9), and acceptor, methyl O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1→4)-O-(2,6-di-O-benzyl-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), by block condensation in 41% yield. Following enzymatic sialylation of 12 at the 3-O-position of its terminal galactopyranosyl residue using recombinant α-(2→3)-sialyltransferase and CMP-NeuAc afforded 13 in 59% yield.     

EFFICIENT RESOLUTION OF (±)-1-(9-ANTHRYL)ETHYLAMINE

ABSTRACT

Conditions for efficient resolution of (±)-1-(9-anthryl)ethylamine ((±)-1) by fractional crystallization of its salts with (S)-(+)-mandelic acid (2) are reported. When crystallization was performed by fast addition of chloroform solution of an equivalent of (±)-1 to the hot chloroform solution of (+)-2, crystals of mandelate of (+)-1-(9-anthryl)ethylamine ((R,S)-3) are collected in 56% yield. (R)-(+)-1 (98.6% e.e.) is isolated by extraction from bicarbonate solution of mandelate salt. Ulterior collection of four crops afforded (R,S)-3 with 71.5% cumulative yield and >98% e.e. of (+)-1 in a any single crop. With only 0.5 equivalents of (+)-2 crystallization afforded (R,S)-3 in 47.4% yield and (+)-1 with 98.1% e.e.     

Synthetic Studies on Sialoglycoconjugates 85: Synthesis of Sialyl Lewis X Ganglioside Analogs Containing a Variety of Anionic Substituents in Place of Sialic Acid

Abstract

Three sialyl-Le^x ganglioside analogs containing carboxymethyl, sulfate, and phosphate groups in place of the sialic acid moiety, have been synthesized. Glycosylation of 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl O-(2,3,4-tri-O-benzyl-α-L-fucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-O-(2-acetamido-6-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl) - (1→3) - 2, 4, 6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranoside (10) with methyl 2,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-3-O-(methoxycarbonyl)methyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (6) or methyl 2-O-benzoyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-levulinoyl-1-thio-β-d-galactopyranoside (9) using dimethyl-(methylthio)sulfonium triflate (DMTST) as a promoter, afforded the corresponding tetrasaccharide derivatives 11 and 19. Compounds 11 and 19 were converted into the α-trichloroacetimidates 14 and 23, via reductive removal of the benzyl and benzylidene groups, O-acetylation, removal of the 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl group, and treatment with trichloroacetonitrile, which, on coupling with (2S, 3R, 4E)-2-azido-3-O-benzoyl-4-octadecene-1,3-diol (15) or 2-(tetradecyl)hexadecan-1-ol (24), gave the lipophilic derivatives 16 and 25. Compound 16 was transformed, via selective reduction of the azido group, condensation with octadecanoic acid, O-deacylation, and hydrolysis of the methyl ester group, into the title compound 18 in good yield. Compound 25 was treated with hydrazine acetate to give compound 26, which in turn was transformed, via sulfation or phosphorylation, and O-deacylation, into the target compounds 28 and 31.     

SYNTHESIS OF SIALYL-α-(2→3)-NEOLACTOTETRAOSE DERIVATIVES MODIFIED AT C-2 OF THE N-ACETYLGLUCOSAMINE RESIDUE: PROBES FOR INVESTIGATION OF ACCEPTOR SPECIFICITY OF HUMAN α-1,3-FUCOSYLTRANSFERASES,FUC-TVII,AND FUC-TVI *

A variety of sialyl-α-(2→3)-neolactotetraose (IV³NeuAcnLcOse₄ or IV³NeuGcnLcOse₄) derivatives (23, 31–37, 58–60) modified at C-2 of the GlcNAc residue have been synthesized. The phthalimido group at C-2 of GlcNAc in 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (3,6-di-O-benzyl-2-deoxy-2-phthalimido-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-(2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (5) was systematically converted to a series of acylamino groups, to give the per-O-benzylated trisaccharide acceptors (6–11). On the other hand, modification of the hydroxyl group at C-2 of the terminal Glc residue in 2-(trimethylsilyl)ethyl (4,6-O-benzylidene-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(1→3)-(2,4,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-galactopyranosyl)-(1→4)-2,3,6-tri-O-benzyl-β-d-glucopyranoside (42) gave three different kinds of trisaccharide acceptors containing D-glucose (49), N-acetyl-d-mannosamine (50), and D-mannose (51) instead of the GlcNAc residue. Totally ten trisaccharide acceptors (5–11 and 49–51) were each coupled with sialyl-α-(2→3)-galactose donor 12 to afford the corresponding pentasaccharides (14–21 and 52–54) in good yields, respectively, which were then transformed into the target compounds. Acceptor specificity of the synthetic sialyl-α-(2→3)-neolactotetraose probes for the human α-(1→3)-fucosyltransferases, Fuc-TVII and Fuc-TVI, was examined.     

Studies on the Thioglycosides of N-Acetyl-Neuraminic Acid 8: Synthesis of S-(α-Sialyl)-(2→ 6)-β-Hexopyranosyl and -(2→ 6')-β-Lactosyl Ceramides Containing β-Thioglycosidically Linked Ceramide

ABSTRACT

Coupling of the sodium salt of S-(methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-α-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate)-(2→'6)-2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-1,6-dithio-β-D-glucopyranose (5), -β-D-galactopyranose (8), or S-(methyl 5-acetamido-4,7,8,9-tetra-O-acetyl-3,5-dideoxy-D-glycero-α-D-galacto-2-nonulopyranosylonate)-(2→'6)-O-(2,3,4-tri-O-acetyl-6-thio-β-D-galactopyranosyl)-(1→'4)-2,3,6-tri-O-acetyl-1-thio-β-D-glucopyranose (12), which were prepared from the corresponding 1-hydroxy compounds, 1, 2, and 9, via 1-chlorination, displacement with thioacetyl group, and S-deacetylation, with (2S,3R,4E)-2-azido-3-O-benzoyl-1-O-(p-toluenesulfonyl)-4-octadecene-1,3-diol (13), gave the corresponding β-thioglycosides 14, 18 and 22, respectively in good yields. The β-thioglycosides obtained were converted, via selective reduction of the azide group, condensation with octadecanoic acid, and removal of the protecting groups, into the title compounds.     

A FACILE SYNTHESIS OF MANNOSE TRI- AND TETRASACCHARIDE REPEATING UNITS OF FUNGAL CELL-WALL POLYSACCHARIDE FROM MICROSPORUM AND TRYCHOPHYTON SPECIES

ABSTRACT

A facile synthesis of the trisaccharide α-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-mannopyranose and the tetrasaccharide α-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→2)-α-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→6)-D-mannopyranose, the repeating units of fungal cell-wall polysaccharide from Microsporum gypseum and Trychophyton, was achieved using α-(1→2)-linked disaccharide imidate as the donor. The disaccharide imidate was prepared from the self-condensation of 3,4,6-tri-O-benzoyl-1,2-O-allyloxyethylidene-β-D-mannopyranose.     

Decarboxylation of α-Amino Acids Containing Two and Three Stereogenic Centers: A Simple One-Step Procedure to Prepare two Optically Active β-Amino Alcohols and a Bicyclic Pyrrolidine Derivative

The decarboxylation of L-threonine (2S,3R)-1, L-hydroxyproline (2S,4R)-2 and D-2-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-3-carboxylic acid (1R,3R,5R)-5 yield in a simple one-step procedure the corresponding optically active β-amino alcohols (R)-3 and (R)-4 and the bicyclic pyrrolidine derivative (1R,5R)-6 in 72–82% yield and >99% ee.     

Two new noroleanane-type triterpenoid saponins from the stems of Stauntonia chinensis

Two new noroleanane-type triterpenoid saponins, 3β,20α,24-trihydroxy-29-norolean-12-en-28-oic acid 24-O-β-L-fucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and 3β,20α,24-trihydroxy-29-norolean-12-en-28-oic acid 24-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (2) were isolated from the stems of Stauntonia chinensis DC., together with three known compounds, brachyantheraoside B₂ (3), eupteleasaponin Ⅷ (4) and fargoside B (5). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical methods. The cytotoxic activities of compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated against five human tumor cell lines (HCT-116, HepG2, BGC-823, NCI-H1650, and A2780). Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate cytotoxic activities toward the tested cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 12.71 to 32.04 μM.     

Investigation of the Cyclopentenone Formation via the α-Alkynone Cyclisation: Synthesis of the Acorone Intermediate 8-Methylspiro[4.5]deca-3,7-dien-2-one

As a further application of the cyclopentenone formation A→C via the thermal α-alkynone cyclisation B→C and in order to test the fate of an isolated C,C-double bond within a molecule under these conditions, we investigated the synthesis of the acorone intermediate 3 starting from the known carboxylic acid 1 . The α-alkynone 2 was obtained from 1 via the acyl chloride 6 and a Pd(II)-catalysed route (22%). The thermolysis of 2 at 550° provided the target molecule 3 (48%) together with the product 9 (20%) of a competing intramolecular ene reaction and its dimer 10 (4%). At a higher thermolysis temperature (650°), the spiro ketone 3 was found to be unstable, affording the retro-Diels-Alder fragments 4-methylidene-2-cyclopentenone ( 12 ) (33%) and isoprene (32%). A further example of the influence of an isolated double bond on the yield of the cyclopentenone-formation sequence A→C was provided by the comparison of the annelation 14→20 (5% overall with Pd(II)-catalysed acylation) with that of its non-olefinic analogue 17→21 (53% overall with Friedel-Crafts acylation).