Tigliane Diterpene Esters from the Leaves of Croton tiglium

Three new tigliane‐type diterpene esters, 1 – 3 with unusual 7‐oxo‐5‐ene or 7‐hydroxy‐5‐ene moieties in their skeletons, were isolated from the leaves of Croton tiglium. Their structures were unambiguously elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data.     

Cytotoxic cembranoids from the Red Sea soft coral, Sarcophyton auritum

Chemical investigation of the Red Sea soft coral Sarcophyton auritum led to the isolation and structure elucidation of two new diterpene cembranoids; 2-epi-sarcophine (2) and (1R,2E,4S,6E,8R,11R,12R)-2,6-cembradiene-4,8,11,12-tetrol (4), as well as two known diterpene cembranoids, reported for the first time from this species, namely sarcophine (1) and (+)-7α,8β-dihydroxydeepoxysarcophine (3). Structure elucidation was achieved using spectroscopic techniques, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS. The isolated cembranoids were found to display high cytotoxicity against HepG2 (liver cancer cell line) and MCF-7 (breast cancer cell line).     

New cyclopiane diterpenes with anti-inflammatory activity from the sea sediment-derived fungus Penicillium sp. TJ403-2

Three new rare cyclopiane diterpenes(1-3),together with thirteen known compounds(4-16),were isolated and identified from a sea sediment-derived fungus Penicillium sp.TJ403-2.The planar and relative structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated by HRESIMS,one-and two-dimensional NMR analyses,and their absolute configurations were further established by X-ray crystallography experiment.Compounds 1-3 were evaluated for the anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced NO production,and compound 1 showed notable inhibitory potency with an IC50 value of2.19±0.25μmol/L,which was three fold lower than the positive control indomethacin(IC50=8.76±0.92μmol/L).Further Western blot and immunofluorescence experiments demonstrated its mechanism of action to be that 1 inhibited the NF-κB-activated pathway,highlighting it as a promising starting point for the development of new anti-inflammatory agents.     

Premnalatifolin A, a novel dimeric diterpene from Premna latifolia Roxb

Premnalatifolin A (1), a unique icetexane diterpene dimer was isolated from the stem-bark of Indian medicinal plant, Premna latifolia. Its structure and relative stereochemistry were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis, including HRESIMS and 2D NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) spectra. The compound has dimeric carbon skeleton composed of two icetexane skeletal diterpenes linked via ether bond. Further, premnalatifolin A (1) was also evaluated for its cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines (HT-29, A-431, MCF-7, Hep-G2, PC-3, A-549, B-16 F10, and ACHN), which displayed potent activity against HT-29 and MCF-7 cell lines with the IC₅₀ values of 12.15 and 1.11 μg/mL, respectively.     

Structure elucidation of casbane diterpenes from Croton argyrophyllus

Two novel casbane diterpenes 1-hydroxy-(2E,6Z,12E)-casba-2,6,12-triene-4,5-dione (1) and 6E,12E-casba-1,3,6,12-tetraen-1,4-epoxy-5-one (2) were isolated from the ethanol extract of the stems of Croton argyrophyllus. Structural characterization including the relative stereochemistry of all compounds was established on the basis of spectroscopic methods, mainly 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS.     

Total Syntheses of (−)-Conidiogenone B, (−)-Conidiogenone,and (−)-Conidiogenol

Cyclopianes are novel diterpenes featuring a highly strained 6/5/5/5 tetracyclic core embedded with 6–8 consecutive stereocenters. The concise total syntheses of (−)-conidiogenone B, (−)-conidiogenone, and (−)-conidiogenol have been accomplished in 14–17 steps. The present work features a HAT-mediated alkene–nitrile cyclization to access the cis-biquinane, a Nicholas/Pauson–Khand reaction to construct the linear triquinane, and a Danheiser annulation to afford the congested angular triquinane skeleton.     

Antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea of labdane-type diterpenoids isolated from the resinous exudate of Haplopappus velutinus Remy (Asteraceae)

Two labdane diterpenoids were isolated, from the resinous exudate of Haplopappus velutinus Remy (Asteraceae); the main compound was identified as 7,13-(E)-labdadien-15,18-dioic-acid-18-methyl ester (1) and the minor compound identified as 7-labden-15,18-dioic-acid-18-methyl ester (2). Their structures were obtained using FTIR, MS, HRMS and NMR data: 1D NMR (¹H, ¹³C and DEPT-135), 2D homonuclear NMR (COSY and NOESY) and heteronuclear NMR (HSQC and HMBC). The trans stereochemistry of the decalin moiety of compounds 1 and 2 was established through NOESY experiments of the reduction product of 1; 7-labden-15,18-diol (1a). Diterpenoids 1 and 1a are described for the first time and showed antifungal activity, inhibiting approximately 40% mycelial growth of Botrytis cinerea.