New alkaloids and isocoumarins from the marine gorgonian-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO 41501

Abstract

Two new β-carboline alkaloids, aspergillspins A-B (1–2), three new quinolone alkaloids, aspergillspins C-E (3–5), and two new isocoumarins, aspergillspins F-G (6–7), together with four known alkaloids were isolated from the marine gorgonian-derived fungus Aspergillus sp. SCSIO 41501. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations of several chiral carbons in 2 and 3 were further established by quantum chemical calculations of the electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities were also evaluated.     

A new macrocyclic diterpenoid from Anisomeles indica

Abstract

A new macrocyclic diterpenoid, 4β,5β-dihydroxyovatodiolide (1), together with twenty-two known compounds (2-23) were isolated from the MeOH extract of the dried aerial parts of Anisomeles indica (L.) O. Kuntze (Labiatae). The structure of 1 was established on the basis of spectral evidence. Phenylethanoids, acteoside (5) and isoacteoside (6) showed significant inhibitory to IL-2 secretion of with respect to phorbol myristate acetate and anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody co-stimulated activation of human peripheral blood T cells.     

Effect of a Nematic Liquid Crystalline Polymer as Highly Active β-Nucleator on Crystallization Structure and Morphology of Isotactic Polypropylene

The effects of nematic liquid crystalline polymer as a new β-nucleator (LCP-N) on crystallization structure and morphology of isotactic polypropylene (iPP) were investigated using wide-angle X-ray diffraction and polarized optical microscopy. The experimental results showed that LCP-N could lead to substantial changes in the crystallization structure and morphology of iPP. The nucleating activity of LCP-N mainly depended on its content, mesogenic molecules, and thermal history of processing. A high content of β-form (K _β) was obtained by the combined effect of the optimum LCP-N content and crystallization temperature. The maximum K _β reached 84% when the LCP-N content and crystallization temperature and time were 0.4 wt.%, 125°C, and 1 h, respectively. In addition, the birefringence of β spherulite was stronger than that of α spherulite; this difference is related to their particular way of growing and lamellar morphology. Due to its particular sheaf-like growth, the β spherulite was brighter and more colorful.     

以[β-Mo_8O_(26)]~(4-)阴离子为构筑块的有机-无机复合物的合成、结构及性质

以[(C4H9)4N]4Mo8O26·nH2O和[Cr3O(C6H5COO)6(H2O)3]NO3为原料,利用常规水溶液法合成了一种由同多阴离子[β-Mo8O26]4-和大阳离子[Cr3O(C6H5COO)6(H2O)3]+通过静电作用形成的有机-无机复合物[Cr3O(C6H5COO)6(H2O)3]4[Mo8O26]·11.5H2O(1).X射线单晶衍射结果表明,该晶体属三斜晶系,P-1空间群,晶胞参数:a=1.545 2(2)nm,b=2.035 1(3)nm,c=2.218 5(3)nm,α=63.097(3)°,β=72.545(3)°,γ=85.114(3)°.对化合物1的热稳定性进行了研究.热重分析表明化合物的失重分两步进行:第一步对应于11.5个结晶水和12个配位水的失去;第二步对应于24个C6H5COO-的失去.     

Theoretical study of the inclusion processes of octopamine with β-cyclodextrin: PM6, ONIOM,and NBO analysis

The inclusion process involving β-cyclodextrin with octopamine (OA) was investigated by using PM6, HF/3-21G*, B3LYP/6-31G (d), WB97XD/6-31G (d) methods and several combination of ONIOM2 hybrid calculations. The obtained results clearly indicate the orientation in which the guest molecule penetrates into the hydrophobic cavity of β-CD with the aromatic ring is energetically preferred. The structures show the presence of several intermolecular hydrogen bond interactions that were studied on the basis of natural bonding orbital (NBO) analysis, employed to quantify donor–acceptor interactions between host and guest molecules. A study of these complexes in solution was carried out using the CPCM model to examine the influence of solvation on the stability of the octopamine/β-CD complex.     

Application of yeast spores as β-glucan particles

β-Glucan exhibits various beneficial biological activities including immunostimulation. This polysaccharide is present in the cell wall of microorganisms including the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Although vegetative yeast cells are used as dietary supplements, β-glucan in the vegetative cell wall is covered with mannan. During nutrient starvation, yeast cells differentiate into dormant cell spores. β-Glucan is also present in the spore wall, but spores have been poorly studied as application tools. The spore wall consists of four layers and β-glucan forms the third layer from the outside. However, unlike vegetative cells, the β-glucan layer can be exposed to the cell surface in spores by genetic manipulation. For example, chs3Δ mutant spores exhibit such a spore wall configuration. Dectin-1 is the primary receptor for β-glucan in mammals and, its activation induces phagocytosis and proinflammatory cytokine secretions. We found that chs3Δ spores are phagocytosed in mammalian cells in a manner dependent on dectin-1 and induce higher levels of TNF-α and IL-6 than vegetative cells. Our results demonstrate that chs3Δ spores are β-glucan particles with immunostimulatory activities. Thus, they would be attractive materials for application in the food industry.     

Separation of phthalates by cyclodextrin modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography: Quantitation in perfumes

A new CE method has been developed for the simultaneous separation of a group of parent phthalates. Due to the neutral character of these compounds, the addition of several bile salts as surfactants (sodium cholate (SC), sodium deoxycholate (SDC), sodium taurodeoxycholate (STDC), sodium taurocholate (STC)) to the separation buffer was explored showing the high potential of SDC as pseudostationary phase. However, the resolution of all the phthalates was not achieved when employing only this bile salt as additive, being necessary the addition of neutral cyclodextrins (CD) and organic modifiers to the separation media. The optimized cyclodextrin modified micellar electrokinetic chromatography (CD-MEKC) method consisted of the employ of a background electrolyte (BGE) containing 25 mM β-CD-100 mM SDC in a 100 mM borate buffer (pH 8.5) with a 10% (v/v) of acetonitrile, employing a voltage of 30 kV and a temperature of 25 °C. This separation medium enabled the total resolution of eight compounds and the partial resolution of two of the analytes, di-n-octyl phthalate (DNOP) and diethyl hexyl phthalate (DEHP) (Rs ~ 0.8), in only 12 min. The analytical characteristics of the developed method were studied showing their suitability for the determination of these compounds in commercial perfumes. In all the analyzed perfumes the most common phthalate was diethyl phthalate (DEP) that appeared in ten of the fifteen analyzed products. Also dimethyl phthalate (DMP), diallyl phthalate (DAP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCP), and di-n-pentyl phthalate (DNPP) were found in some of the analyzed samples.     

Debromination of 4-Bromo-3-Arylsydnones with Sodium Dithionite

A variety of 4-bromo-3-arylsydnones can be debrominated with sodium dithionite in excellent yield under very mild conditions.     

Simple and New Method for the Synthesis of β-Acetamido Ketones on a Solid Surface

Diels–Alder reactions of 3-vinylindoles were carried out with methyl acrylate and N-phenylmaleimide as dienophiles under microwave conditions to furnish unreported tetrahydrocarbazoles regio- and stereoselectively in good yields. Further dehydrogenation resulted in new substituted carbazoles.     

Click synthesis of N1-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-C4-(coumarin-4″-yl)-1,2,3-triazoles

A series of eight N¹-(β-D-ribofuranosyl)-C⁴-(coumarin-4′′-yl)-1,2,3-triazoles have been synthesized by Cu(I)-catalyzed click reaction of 1-azido-1-deoxy-2,3,5-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranose with differently substituted 4-ethynylcoumarins followed by debenzoylation of the resulted N¹-(2′,3′,5′-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-C⁴-(coumarin-4″-yl)-1,2,3-triazoles in 71 to 89% overall yields. The structures of all the synthesized compounds were established on the basis of their spectral data analysis that was further confirmed by X-ray data analysis of one of the model benzoylated compounds, i.e. N¹-(2′,3′,5′-tri-O-benzoyl-β-D-ribofuranosyl)-C⁴-(7″-isopropoxycoumarin-4″-yl)-1,2,3-triazole.