A Compact Approach to an Isomeric Iheyamine A System and X-ray Crystal Structure of 5-Methyl-5H-azepino[2,3- b :4,5- b ′]diindole

A compact three-step synthesis of a new fused bisindole system isomeric with the heterocyclic skeleton present in the marine natural product iheyamine A has been achieved. The structure of the synthetic product was confirmed by a single-crystal X-ray structure.     

Synthesis and Investigation of Tetrahydro-β-carboline Derivatives as Inhibitors of Plant Pathogenic Fungi

A series of tetrahydro-ß-carbolines substituted with an alkyl or acyl side chain was synthesized and screened for its antifungal activity against plant pathogenic fungi (Bipolaris oryzae, Curvularia lunata, Fusarium semitectum, and Fusarium fujikuroi). The structure activity relationship revealed that the substituent at the piperidine nitrogen plays an important role for increasing antifungal activities. In this series, 2-octyl-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole (3g) displayed potent antifungal activities with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.1 μg/mL, including good inhibitory activity to the radial growth of fungus at a concentration of 100 μg/mL compared to amphotericin B.     

Synthesis and Biological Activity Evaluation of Coumarin-3-Carboxamide Derivatives

A series of novel coumarin-3-carboxamide derivatives were designed and synthesized to evaluate their biological activities. The compounds showed little to no activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria but specifically showed potential to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. In particular, among the tested compounds, 4-fluoro and 2,5-difluoro benzamide derivatives (14b and 14e, respectively) were found to be the most potent derivatives against HepG2 cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ = 2.62–4.85 μM) and HeLa cancer cell lines (IC₅₀ = 0.39–0.75 μM). The activities of these two compounds were comparable to that of the positive control doxorubicin; especially, 4-flurobenzamide derivative (14b) exhibited low cytotoxic activity against LLC-MK2 normal cell lines, with IC₅₀ more than 100 μM. The molecular docking study of the synthesized compounds revealed the binding to the active site of the CK2 enzyme, indicating that the presence of the benzamide functionality is an important feature for anticancer activity.     

2,5-Diketopiperazine Derivatives as Potential Anti-Influenza (H5N2) Agents: Synthesis,Biological Evaluation,and Molecular Docking Study

2,5-Diketopiperazine derivatives, consisting of benzylidene and alkylidene substituents at 3 and 6 positions, have been considered as a core structure for their antiviral activities. Herein, the novel N-substituted 2,5-Diketopiperazine derivatives were successfully prepared and their antiviral activities against influenza virus were evaluated by monitoring viral propagation in embryonated chicken eggs. It was found that (3Z,6Z)-3-benzylidene-6-(2-methyl propylidene)-4-substituted-2,5-Diketopiperazines (13b–d), (3Z,6E)-3-benzylidene-6-(2-methylpropyli dene)-1-(1-ethyl pyrrolidine)-2,5-Diketopiperazine (14c), and Lansai-C exhibited negative results in influenza virus propagation at a concentration of 25 µg/mL. Additionally, molecular docking study revealed that 13b–d and 14c bound in 430-cavity of neuraminidase from H5N2 avian influenza virus and the synthesized derivatives also strongly interacted with the key amino acid residues, including Arg371, Pro326, Ile427, and Thr439.     

A free radical cyclization approach to indolo-benzodiazocine derivatives

A versatile route to indolo[2,1-d][1,5]benzodiazocine derivatives has been developed based on a free radical cyclization approach from 1-substituted indole derivatives with appropriately positioned haloacetamide functionalities. Fair yields of the indole- and dihydroindole-fused eight-membered ring derivatives were obtained from N-substituted iodo- and bromoacetamide precursors. Synthetic and mechanistic aspects of the regiospecific cyclization are discussed.     

Electrocoagulation of quinone pigments

Some representative quinones, viz. one naphthoquinone (plumbagin) and five anthraquinones (alizarin, purpurin, chrysazin, emodin, and anthrarufin), were subjected to electrocoagulation. It was found that the rate and extent of coagulation of these compounds appears to correlate with the number and relative position of their phenolic substituent groups, and that all of the coagulated quinones could be recovered. Attempts were then made to electrochemically isolate three quinones, namely plumbagin, morindone and erythrolaccin, from natural sources.     

Stereoselective synthesis of α-methylenecyclopentenones via a Diels–Alder/retro-Diels–Alder protocol

A new procedure for the stereoselective synthesis of cross-conjugated dienones is reported. This method makes use of the Diels–Alder adduct of anthracene and dimethyl fumarate, a precursor to a spirocyclopent-2-enone anthracene adduct as the key intermediate. The addition of propyllithium or octyllithium to the key intermediate followed by a retro-Diels–Alder reaction furnished α-methylenecyclopentenones bearing a γ-propyl or γ-octyl side chain, respectively, in moderate yields and as single geometric isomers.     

Microwave-assisted isolation of essential oil of Cinnamomum iners Reinw. ex Bl.: comparison with conventional hydrodistillation

Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation was used to isolate an essential oil from the leaves of Cinnamomum iners Reinw. ex Bl., and the results compared with those obtained by conventional hydrodistillation. The composition of the oil from both methods was found to be similar, and (-)-linalool was found as the main component (30-50%). The antioxidant activity of the essential oil obtained by both methods was evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and lipid peroxidation methods, all of which indicated the same but insignificant activity.     

An iodoacetamide-based free radical cyclisation approach to the 7,12-dihydro-indolo[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6(5H)-one (paullone) system

A potentially versatile route to 2-(2-aminoaryl)indoles is described based on a palladium-mediated cyclisation of N-substituted indoles, together with free radical cyclisation of their N-benzyliodoacetamide derivatives to the 7,12-dihydro-indolo[3,2-d][1]benzazepin-6(5H)-one system.