Transformation of Cinchona alkaloids into 1-N-oxide derivatives by endophytic Xylaria sp isolated from Cinchona pubescens

The microbial transformation of four Cinchona alkaloids (quinine, quinidine, cinchonidine, and cinchonine) by endophytic fungi isolated from Cinchona pubescens was investigated. The endophytic filamentous fungus Xylaria sp. was found to transform the Cinchona alkaloids into their 1-N-oxide derivatives.     

Characterization of the non-stoichiometric and isomorphic hydration and solvation in FK041 clathrate

FK041 crystallizes as a non-stoichiometric hydrate or as solvated hydrates which were characterized as isomorphic clathrates by powder X-ray diffractometry. Moisture and organic solvent vapor sorption studies, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis revealed that FK041 monohydrate forms a physically stable host crystal, which has lattice channels for guest water and/or organic solvent molecules. The hydration state varies non-stoichiometrically between dihydrate and tetrahydrate depending on the relative humidity and the mol content of the co-existing organic solvent, that is 2-propanol, ethanol, or acetone. These organic solvents are thought to replace a part of originally present water with a mol ratio of 1:3. 2-Propanol exhibited the most stable solvation, indicating that the size and shape of 2-propanol are the most preferable to the lattice channels.     

Changeable reactivity of ketyl radicals derived from 2-bromomethyl-2-(3-butenyl)benzocyclic-1-alkanones depending on electron transfer conditions employed

Photoinduced electron transfer reaction of 2-bromomethyl-2-(3-butenyl)benzocyclic-1-alkanones with amines afforded 5-exo radical cyclization products while electron transfer reaction with samarium diiodide produced cyclopropanols.     

SmI2-mediated reduction of gamma,gamma-difluoro-alpha,beta-enoates with application to the synthesis of functionalized (Z)-fluoroalkene-type dipeptide isosteres

A samarium diiodide (SmI(2))-mediated reduction of gamma,gamma-difluoro-alpha,beta-enoates (15, 29, and 34) was successfully applied to the synthesis of (Z)-fluoroalkene dipeptide isosteres (23, 30, and 35), which have served as potential dipeptide mimetics. Reduction of the gamma,gamma-difluoro-alpha,beta-enoates by SmI(2) proceeded via successive two-electron transfers to form dienolate species which upon kinetically controlled trapping with t-BuOH yielded Xaa-Gly-type fluoroalkene isosteres exemplified by 23, 30, and 35. Replacement of the t-BuOH kinetic trapping agent with aldehydes or ketones provided access to alpha-substituted fluoroalkene isosteres (43 and 45) through aldol reactions of Sm-dienolates with the carbonyl compounds. Of particular note, the use of the SmI(2)-HCHO reagent system with chiral enoate 34 provided D-Phe-psi[(Z)-CF[double bond]CH]-D/L-Ser isosteres (45), which could be converted to enantiomerically pure isosteres (49-52) that bore a variety of side chain functionalities at the alpha-position. This was achieved by a sequence of manipulations consisting of beta-lactone formation followed by chromatographic separation and ring-opening with soft nucleophiles. Included in the present work is the first utilization of a Rh-catalyzed Reformatsky reaction of chiral imines for the stereoselective preparation of alpha,alpha-difluoro-beta-amino acid derivatives (28 and 33). The appropriate choice of reagents (carbonyl compounds for kinetic trapping or ring-opening nucleophiles and imines for Reformatsky reactions) allows the presented methodology to yield various fluoroalkene isosteres possessing a wide range of side chain functionalities.     

Design and synthesis of highly sensitive and selective fluorescein-derived magnesium fluorescent probes and application to intracellular 3D Mg2+ imaging

The role of intracellular magnesium ions is of high interest in the fields of pharmacology and cellular biology. To accomplish the dynamic and three-dimensional imaging of intracellular Mg2+, there is a strong desire for the development of optimized Mg2+ fluorescent probes. In this paper we describe the design, synthesis, and cellular application of the three novel Mg2+ fluorescent probes KMG-101, -103, and -104. The compounds of this series feature a charged beta-diketone as a binding site specific for Mg2+ and a fluorescein residue as the fluorophore that can be excited with an Ar+ laser such as is widely used in confocal scanning microscopy. This molecular design leads to an intensive off-on-type fluorescent response toward Mg2+ ions. The two fluorescent probes KMG-103 and -104 showed suitable dissociation constants (Kd,Mg2+ = 2 mM) and nearly a 10-fold fluorescence enhancement over the intracellular magnesium ion concentration range (0.1-6 mM), allowing high-contrast, sensitive, and selective Mg2+ measurements. For intracellular applications, the membrane-permeable probe KMG-104AM was synthesized and successfully incorporated into PC12 cells. Upon application of the mitochondria uncoupler FCCP to the probe-incorporated cells, the resulting increase in the free magnesium ion concentration could be followed over time. By using a confocal microscope, the intracellular 3D magnesium ion concentration distributions were satisfactorily observed.     

Diastereoselective synthesis of psi[(E)-CH=CMe]- and psi[(Z)-CH=CMe]-type dipeptide isosteres by organocopper-mediated anti-S(N)2' reaction

[reaction: see text] Acyclic psi[(E)-CH=CMe]- and psi[(Z)-CH=CMe]-type dipeptide isosteres were efficiently synthesized. In a key reaction, alpha-alkylation of gamma-mesyloxy-beta-methyl-alpha,beta-unsaturated esters with organocyanocuprates in diethyl ether or tetrahydrofuran preferentially afforded the psi[(E)-CH=CMe]- or psi[(Z)-CH=CMe]-isomer, respectively, via anti-S(N)2' mechanism.     

Hydrolysis of DNA by cerium(IV)/EDTA complex

Homogeneous solutions are formed from equimolar amounts of Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆ and EDTA. These solutions hydrolyze single-stranded DNA far more efficiently than double-stranded DNA. In contrast, Ce(IV) hydroxide gel, obtained in the absence of EDTA, hydrolyzes both single-stranded and double-stranded DNAs at almost the same rates. In order to achieve this substrate-specificity sufficiently, the mole ratio of EDTA to Ce(NH₄)₂(NO₃)₆ must be 1.0 or greater. By using this remarkable specificity of Ce(IV)/EDTA complex, gap-site in substrate DNA is selectively hydrolyzed. The scission-site is modulated by use of appropriate combination of oligonucleotide additives. The reactions have been kinetically analyzed.     

Dehydration reactions in water. Brønsted Acid-surfactant-combined catalyst for ester,ether, thioether,and dithioacetal formation in water

Dehydration reactions in water have been realized by a surfactant-type catalyst, dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid (DBSA). These reactions include dehydrative esterification, etherification, thioetherification, and dithioacetalization. In these reactions, DBSA and substrates form emulsion droplets whose interior is hydrophobic enough to exclude water molecules generated during the reactions. Detailed studies on the esterification revealed that the yields of esters were affected by temperature, amounts of DBSA used, and the substrates. Esters were obtained in high yields for highly hydrophobic substrates. On the basis of the difference in hydrophobicity of the substrates, unique selective esterification and etherification in water were attained. Furthermore, chemospecific, three-component reactions under DBSA-catalyzed conditions were also found to proceed smoothly. This work not only may lead to environmentally benign systems but also will provide a new aspect of organic chemistry in water.     

Reaction of enaminones with carbon disulfide: Synthesis of heterocycles using enamino dithiocarboxylates

Reaction of various types of enaminones, which are prepared by the condensation of 1,3-dicarbonyl compounds with aromatic amines, with carbon disulfide in the presence of sodium hydroxide as the base in dimethyl sulfoxide to give the corresponding enamino dithiocarboxylates, 1,3-thiazines and trithiones. Enamino dithiocarboxylates are cyclized under refluxing in diphenyl ether to give the fused quinoline derivatives. The reaction of 6-arylamino-1,3-dimethyluracils with excess carbon disulfide in the presence of sodium hydroxide and subsequent methylation with dimethyl sulfate gave directly the corresponding 1,3-dimethyl-5-methylthiopyrimido[4,5-b]quinoline-2,4(1H,3H)-diones.