Synthesis of 2-, 4- and 5-(2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)-7-alkyloxybenzo[b]furans and their leukotriene B4 receptor antagonistic activity

Variable benzo[b]furan derivatives having (E)- and (Z)-2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl groups at the 2-, 4- and 5-positions and a carboxylpropoxy or (1-phenyl)ethoxy group at the 7-position were prepared to find novel and selective leukotriene B4(LTB4) receptor antagonists. (E)-2-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)-7-(1-phenylethoxy)benzo[b]furan (4v) showed selective inhibition to the human BLT2 receptor (hBLT2). On the other hand, (E)-2-acetyl-4-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)-7-(1-phenylethoxy)benzo[b]furan (7v) inhibited both human BLT(1) receptor (hBLT1) and hBLT2. The (E)-2-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl) group lay on approximately the same plane as the benzo[b]furan ring, whereas the (E)-4-(2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl) group had the torsion angle (45.7 degree) from the benzo[b]furan ring plane. However, the (Z)-(2-alkylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl)benzo[b]furans were inactive. The inhibitory activity depended on the conformation of the 2-diethylcarbamoyl-1-methylvinyl group.     

A new synthesis of key intermediates for the assembly of polycyclic ethers: Yb(OTf)3-promoted formation of O,S-acetals from α-fluorosulfides and alcohols

We report a new reaction for the direct construction of O,S-acetals, key intermediates in the assembly of fused polycyclic ethers. α-Fluorosulfides and secondary alcohols were coupled by the action of Yb(OTf)₃ to generate O,S-acetals in high yield. The neutral and selective nature of the reaction should be useful for synthesizing natural and artificial polyethers with multisensitive functionalities.     

Novel assembly of cyclic ethers by coupling alpha-chlorosulfides and alcohols

A novel protocol for assembling polycyclic ethers was developed and successfully applied to the synthesis of the EFGH ring system of ciguatoxin CTX3C. A key transformation involves construction of an O,S-acetal through coupling of alpha-chlorosulfide and a secondary alcohol under mild conditions. The method is highly applicable to use with sensitive substrates and will enable the synthesis of various natural and artificial polycyclic ethers. [reaction: see text]     

Synthesis of aryltriethoxysilanes via rhodium(I)-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl electrophiles with triethoxysilane

The general and efficient silylation of aryl halides has been developed utilizing triethoxysilane and a rhodium catalyst. The substrate scope is broad and includes ortho-, meta-, and para-substituted electron-rich and -deficient aryl iodides. In addition, the silylation of aryl bromides and fluoroalkanesulfonates proceeded in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium iodide.     

Programmable DNA translation system using cross-linked DNA mediators

The information of template DNA strands was converted into the specific sequences in a programmable way by following the mediation of cross-linked DNAs.     

The structures of macbecin I and II : New antitumor antibiotics

Macbecin I 1, C₃₀H₄₂N₂O₈, and macbecin II 2, C₃₀H₄₄N₂O₈, were shown to be 2,6-disubstituted benzoquinone and hydroquinone derivatives by an oxidation-reduction relationship, UV. ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectra. Alkaline methanolysis of 1 gave a 2-aminobenzoquinone derivative 5, suggesting an ansa-structure for 1, and acid hydrolysis of 1 gave decarbamoyl products 9,10 and 11, indicative of the location of carbamoyloxy group in allylic position. Spin decoupling studies on 1,3 and 5clarified the partial structures [A], [B], [C] and [D]. From their mutual disposition two structures 1a and 1b, were proposed out of which 1a has been selected for the structure of 1 on the basis of the structure of oxidative degradation product 12. X-Ray analysis of the bromoacetyl derivative of 1 confirmed the above proposed structure and determined the absolute stereochemistry of 1 and 2.     

Lannotinidines A-G, new alkaloids from two species of Lycopodium

Seven new Lycopodium alkaloids, lannotinidines A-G (1-7), have been isolated from the club moss Lycopodium annotinum and L. annotinum var. acrifolium. Stereochemistry of 1-7 was elucidated by combination of NOESY correlations and chemical transformation. Lannotinidines B-E (2-5) elevated NGF mRNA expression.     

Divergent synthesis of the tetracyclic ethers of 6-X-7-6 ring systems

Ladder-shaped polyether natural products show diverse biological activities with extreme potency. As the initial phase of detailed SAR studies of bioactive polyethers, we set out to construct structurally simple mimics. This paper details the divergent synthesis of 6-X-7-6 tetracycles (X=7, 8, or 9) starting from a simple 6-membered ether. Key reactions in the synthesis include (i) the direct formation of an O,S-acetal by the coupling of an alcohol with an α-chlorosulfide, (ii) the construction of a 7-membered ring by radical cyclization, and (iii) cyclization to the 7, 8 or 9-membered ring via a ring-closing metathesis reaction. The neutral reaction conditions of our strategy enable the synthesis of a wide variety of substrates. The results of this study can be applied for the rapid construction of artificial polyether compounds with diversified molecular shapes and sizes.     

Determination of selenium in human serum by liquid chromatography/electron capture atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry after acid digestion and derivatization using 2,3-diaminonaphthalene

Analysis of selenium in biological samples is very important and numerous analytical methods for the element have been developed. One of the most convenient and widely used methods for routine determination of serum selenium is a fluorometric method using 2,3-diaminonaphthalene (DAN); however, this method lacks specificity. We observed that 4,5-benzopiazselenol (BPS), a selenium derivative of DAN, is ionized with electron capture in an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) interface, and subsequently established a method for determining total human serum selenium by means of liquid chromatography/atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry. All pretreatment procedures were carried out in a single test tube to minimize selenium loss. The recovery of organic or inorganic selenium spiked to human serum was 97-103%.The detection limit of BPS was equivalent to 0.2 ng of selenium and the lower quantitative limit of serum selenium was 10 ng mL(-1). The coefficient of variation of standard concentrations in control serum samples was 4.5%. The purity of the observed peak obtained from serum samples was confirmed using the ion cluster technique.