Total synthesis of callipeltoside A

A convergent total synthesis of cytotoxic marine macrolide callipeltoside A is described. The synthesis highlights two stereoselective [4 + 2] annulations for the preparation of associated pyran rings.     

Photoelectron spectroscopy of phosphorus hydride anions

Negative-ion photoelectron spectroscopy is applied to the PH-, PH2-, P2H-, P2H2-, and P2H3-molecular anions. Franck-Condon simulations of the photoelectron spectra are used to analyze the spectra and to identify various P2H(n)- species. The simulations employ density-functional theory calculations of molecular geometries and vibrational frequencies and normal modes, and coupled-cluster theory calculations of electron affinities. The following electron affinities are obtained: EA0(PH) = 1.027 +/- 0.006 eV, EA0(PH2) = 1.263 +/- 0.006 eV, and EA0(P2H) = 1.514 +/- 0.010 eV. A band is identified as a mixture of trans-HPPH- and cis-HPPH-. Although the trans and cis bands cannot be definitively assigned from experimental information, using theory as a guide we obtain EA0(trans-HPPH)= 1.00 +/- 0.01 eV and EA0(cis-HPPH) = 1.03 +/- 0.01 eV. A weak feature tentatively assigned to P2H3- has a vertical detachment energy of 1.74 eV. The derived gas-phase acidity of phosphine is delta(acid)G298(PH3) < or = 1509.7 +/- 2.1 kJ mo1(-1).     

Isolation,Structure Determination and Synthesis of New Acetylenic Steroids from the Sponge Calyx nicaaensis

Two acetylenic steroids, cholest-5-en-23-yn-3β-ol ( 5 ) and 26,27-dinorcholest-5-en-23-yn-3β-ol ( 3 ), and another unsaturated steroidalcohol, stigmasta-5,23-dien-3β-ol ( 7 ), were isolated from the sponge Calyx nicaaensis. The structures of these two acetylenic steroids were established by synthesis. Several attempts to synthesize the marine steroids alcohol calysterol ( 1 ), with a cyclopropene-containing side chain, starting from cholest-5-en-23-yn-3β-ol are also recorded. Addition of ethyl-diazo-acetate to the triple bond was performed, but the reduction to the methyl derivative yielded decomposition products.     

Investigation by infrared absorption of the by-products of the cyanoethylation of cotton cellulose

The soluble cyanoethyl ether of cellulose, prepared by reaction in the presence of NaOH catalyst to high degrees of substitution (DS = 2.95), can be precipitated by various organic media and contains more nitrogen than can be accounted for by simple addition of acrylonitrile at each cellulose hydroxyl group. Infrared absorption spectra of such samples and of the reacted residues show various types of vibrational absorption bands, characteristic of amino groups. At advanced stages of the reaction the characteristic broad unresolved band of cellulose extending from 1200–950 cm.^?1 largely disappears, leaving only a few weaker bands which likely overlap those due to C–N stretching. Comparison is made of the spectra of the partially cyanoethylated cellulose and the polyacrylonitrile which forms in the stock acrylonitrile, to characterize the products. It is inferred that the highly cyanoethylated cellulose, partly dissolved in the acrylonitrile, further degrades and changes under a complex mechanism to various forms of amines. The yellow to orange color of the samples is assumed to be due to these by-products. The thermogravimetric analysis reveals that these products are more heat-resistant than the cyanoethylated cellulose.     

Stereoselective synthesis of functionalized trisubstituted olefins via palladium(0)-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction

[reaction: see text]. A highly flexible and stereoselective protocol for the synthesis of branched (E)- and (Z)-trisubstituted alkenes has been developed. The key steps are hydrozirconation-iodination of (1-alkynyl)trimethylsilane followed by Negishi-type cross-coupling. The resultant (Z)-vinyl silane is iododesilylated and subjected to a second cross-coupling reaction to give the trisubstituted olefin. Model studies aimed at the construction of the C14-C15 (Z)-trisubstituted olefin of discodermolide and the C8-C9 (Z)-trisubstituted olefin of callystatin A and analogues are also described.     

Synthesis of 4,12-dihydro-4-oxoquino-[1,8a,8-a,b]quinoxaline-5-carboxylic acid derivatives

The synthesis and antibacterial activity of 1-substituted amino-2-fluoro-4,12-dihydro-4-oxoquino[1,8a,8-a,b]quinoxaline-5-carboxylic acid derivatives are described. The synthetic route includes a carbon homologation and two intramolecular nucleophilic displacement cyclization reactions leading to the novel 4,12-dihydro-4-oxoquino[1,8a,8-a,b]quinoxaline-5-carboxylic acid heterocycle.     

Sterols with Cyclopropane-Containing Side Chains: Synthesis and Acid Isomerization

To test the eventual involvement of sterols with a cyclopropane containing side chain in bio-methylation processes, 24,25-methanocholest-5-en-3β-ol ( 5 ) and 24,25-methano-26-methylcholest-5-en-3β-ol ( 6 ) were synthesized. Together with the naturally occurring cyclopropane petrosterol ( 1 ), they were submitted to acid isomerization to provide chemical models for some of their potential metabolites.