Prospecting for Camptothecines from Nothapodytes nimmoniana in the Western Ghats, South India: identification of high-yielding sources of camptothecin and new families of camptothecines

Camptothecin (CPT), a monoterpene alkaloid, is an important anti-cancer compound obtained from several plant sources including Camptotheca acuminta (from China) and Nothapodytes nimmoniana (from India). Currently, by far the highest levels of CPT (approximately 0.3% w/w) are reported from Nothapodytes nimmoniana, a small tree distributed in the Western Ghats, India. In recent years because of the heavy demand, there has been a serious threat of extinction of the populations of the tree in the Western Ghats forest of south India. Several studies have chemically profiled populations of the species in the Western Ghats to identify sources of high yield and therefore to enable the sustainable production and harvesting of CPT. In this study, using both high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, we report for the first time the identification of trees that produce at least 5- to 8-fold more CPT than hitherto reported. Furthermore, we show for the first time the production of a few minor camptothecines, including 10-hydroxy camptothecin, in the stem and root bark extracts of the tree. These results have important implications for not only harnessing the high-yielding individuals for clonal multiplication but also for exploiting some of the minor camptothecines, which also have been shown to have important anti-cancer and anti-viral activity.     

Aminocatalytic Cross‐Coupling Approach via Iminium Ions to Different CC Bonds

Given the attractive ability of iminium ions to functionalize molecules directly at ostensibly unreactive positions, the reactivity of iminium ions, in which an α CH₂ group is replaced by C?O was explored. Background studies on the ability of such iminium cations to promote reactions via an iminium‐catalyzed or iminium‐equivalent pathway are apparently unavailable. Previously, tandem cross‐coupling reactions were reported, in which an iminium ion undergoes nucleophilic 1,2‐addition to give a putative three‐component intermediate that abstracts a proton in situ and undergoes self‐deamination followed by unprecedented DMSO/aerobic oxidation to generate α‐ketoamides. However, later it was observed that iminium ions can generate valuable α‐ketoamides through simple aerobic oxidation. In all reactions, iminium ions were generated in situ by reaction of 2‐oxoaldehydes with secondary amines.     

Separation, identification, and quantification of selected withanolides in plant extracts of Withania somnifera by HPLC-UV(DAD)--positive ion electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry

This paper describes a method for separation, identification, and quantification of selected withanolides in Withania somnifera plant extracts by HPLC-UV(DAD)-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Withaferin-A (WS-3), 12-deoxywithastramonolide (WS-12DS), Withanolide A (WS-1), and Withanone (WS-2) were used as external standards. The compounds were isolated from Withania somnifera by repeated column chromatography of the root extract and their identity was established by 1H- and 13C-NMR and mass spectral data. The compounds were chromatographed on a Merck (250 x 4.6 mm ID, 5 microm) column and analyzed by Electrospray Ionization on a mass spectrometer in Selected Ion Mode (SIM). For quantification, [M + Na]+ ions were monitored. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the concentration range of 1.50 microg/mL to 6.5 microg/mL. The method was applied successfully to the detection and quantification of the said withanolides in a number of samples.     

Barbier allylation-Prins reaction of PEG-bound aldehydes—soluble polymer-supported synthesis of 2,4,6-trisubstituted tetrahydropyrans

PEG-bound aldehydes undergo zinc-mediated Barbier allylation to form homoallylic alcohols, which on further reaction with various aldehydes in the presence of BF₃·Et₂O through a Prins cyclization afford 4-hydroxytetrahydropyrans and 4-fluorotetrahydropyrans.     

Cesium-Fluoride-Promoted Synthesis of Stable Organocesium Reagents and Their Ambident Reactivities with Arynes

Described are the diverse reactivities of novel, stable, ambident thio-organocesium reagents (bearing electron withdrawing groups) against benzynes. Reactions at reflux temperature predominantly led to the generation of various functionalized stable sulfonium ylides and at 40 °C the same reaction underwent direct c-arylation. Furthermore, lack of internal hydrogen on the cesium reagent helped to produce different ortho-bifunctional arynes in both the reactions. Interestingly, depending on the reactivities of substrates, the one-pot tri-component procedure generated either ylides or σ-bond insertion products.     

Atom transfer radical polymerization on the interior of the P22 capsid and incorporation of photocatalytic monomer crosslinks

We have successfully used atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) to form linear and crosslinked polyacrylamide and polyacrylate polymers, constrained within the virus like particle (VLP) derived from the bacteriophage P22. Polymerization of Tris(hydroxymethyl)methylacrylamide was initiated, in a spatially controlled manner, using macroinitiators derived from two different mutants of P22, S39C and K118C. Initiation from the S39C mutant results in spatially confined polymer growth on the interior of P22 while initiation from the K118C site results in a polymerized VLP in which some of the polymer is partially exposed on the outside of the capsid. Using the S39C macroinitiator we have demonstrated polymerization of aminoethyl methacrylate (AEMA) monomers, crosslinked by co-polymerization with the multifunctional monomer [Ru(5-methacrylamido-phenanthroline)₃]²⁺ resulting in an active photocatalytic P22 capsid particle.     

An excellent copper selective chemosensor based on calix[4]arene framework

The article depicts a detailed study regarding copper selective chemosensing and complexation nature of 5,11,17,23-tetrakis[(N,N-diphenylamino)methyl]-25,26,27,28-tetrahydroxycalix[4]arene (PAC4). Its photophysical characteristics in various solvents of different polarities along with the influence of acid and base on its spectral properties in these solvents are also discussed. The complexation affinity of PAC4 with regard to its latent applications as Cu(II) selective colorimetric and fluorescent sensor among the selected series of various cations such as Li(I), Na(I), K(I), Rb(I), Ba(II), Sr(II), Al(III), Fe(III), Cd(II), Co(II), Hg(II), Mn(II), Ni(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) was examined by UV–visible and fluorescence emission spectroscopy in dichloromethane:acetonitrile (DCM:MeCN) solvent system. In addition, the process of complexation has been investigated through Job's plot and it has been observed that the complex between PAC4 and Cu(II) is formed in 1:1 stoichiometric ratio. The complex formation between PAC4 and Cu(II) has also been confirmed by FT-IR spectroscopy and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA).     

Interfacial wave propagation due to an interfacial line source

Interfacial wave propagation parallel to a dielectric interface has been studied by considering an electric current line source present at the interface. The first order asymptotic evaluation of field components shows a null of the electric field at the interface. An amplitude null represents an unstable structure in the phase map and a phase front discontinuity across the interface. Higher order asymptotic evaluation has been employed to gain further insight into this propagation problem. The results show that the wavefronts need not be discontinuous. The continuity of the phase fronts is preserved with the help of interesting and stable structures such as saddle points and center points in the phase map of the electric field in both half spaces.