Novel Capsular Aggregates from Flexible Tripodal Triureas with Cs Symmetry

Tris(2‐ and 3‐ureidobenzyl)amines with C_s symmetry self‐assemble in solution forming mixtures of regioisomeric capsular aggregates, one of which is chiral and the other centrosymmetric. Under certain conditions, a predominance of the centrosymmetric regioisomer is found before equilibrium, that is, a mixture close to the statistical ratio of the two species is reached. In the solid state, there is a preference for the centrosymmetric capsules. Molecular models of both regioisomeric aggregates have been built and analyzed for comparison. Guests inside capsules formed by self‐assembly of desymmetrized tris(3‐ureidobenzyl)amines feel different magnetic environments, depending on whether they are inside a chiral or an achiral regioisomeric container. Of special significance are the experiments with a more flexible triurea endowed with an ureidopropylic arm, which self‐assembles with the same efficiency as the more rigid tris(ureidobenzyl)amines.     

Cytotoxic and NF-κB inhibitory sesquiterpene lactones from Piptocoma rufescens

Six new (1-6) and eight known germacranolide-type sesquiterpene lactones, along with several known phenylpropanol coumarates and methylated flavonoids, were isolated from the leaves of Piptocoma rufescens, collected in the Dominican Republic. The new compounds were identified by analysis of their spectroscopic data, with the molecular structure of 3 being established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The absolute configurations of the sesquiterpene lactones isolated were determined from their CD and NOESY NMR spectra, together with the analysis of Mosher ester reactions. Bioassay screening results showed the majority of the sesquiterpene lactones isolated (1-13) to be highly cytotoxic toward the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line, with the most potent compound being 15-deoxygoyazensolide (10, IC(50), 0.26 μM). In addition, several of the sesquiterpene lactones exhibited NF-κB (p65) inhibitory activity.