A novel cacalolide from Psacalium decompositum

A new cacalolide sesquiterpenoid, named as Romo-A, was isolated from the roots of Psacalium decompositum, Asteraceae, a Mexican medicinal shrub with antidiabetic properties. Its structure was elucidated by NMR, MS, IR, UV, and confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies.     

Catalytic asymmetric hydrosilylation of acetophenone with new chiral thiourea ligands containing the (S)-α-phenylethyl group

New chiral thioureas 1–8 containing 1,2-ethylendiamine or trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane as the carbon skeleton, and containing an (S)-α-phenylethyl group have been prepared (79–98% yield). Thioureas 1–8 were used as ligands for the zinc-based catalyzed asymmetric hydrosilylation of acetophenone with polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS). The best result was achieved with monothiourea 1 (up to 75% ee), in toluene and a catalyst load of 5 mol %.     

An unexpected Pummerer rearrangement in the synthetic route to ethyl (2′-hydroxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyphenyl)acetate: An alternative approach to 2,3-dimethylthio benzofurans

The synthesis of ethyl (2′-hydroxy-4′,5′-methylendioxophenyl)acetate, a fragment of the antihyperglycemic natural coumarin subcoriacin, is reported. We found an expeditious route to the title compound in five steps. Final metal catalyzed acid ethanolysis of the vinylic 1,1-methylthio methylsulfoxide derivative afforded the required aryl acetic ester, but in the absence of metal catalyst, an unexpected Pummerer rearrangement produced the 2,3-dimethylthiofuran derivative as the major product. This last result provides an alternative entry to 2,3-dimethlythiobenzofurans.     

Structural and spectral characterization of two 1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione bis{N(4)-alkylthiosemicarbazones}

1-phenyl-1,2-propanedione bis{N(4)-methyl- and {N(4)-ethylthiosemicarbazone}, H₂Pm4M and H₂Pm4E, respectively, have been prepared, studied spectroscopically (¹H NMR, ultraviolet and infrared) and their crystal structures solved. Intermoiety hydrogen bonding does not occur in H₂Pm4M and H₂Pm4E, in contrast to the analogous bis{N(4)-thiosemicarbazones} prepared from 1-phenylglyoxal. The two thiosemicarbazone moieties are on the opposite side of the carbon–carbon backbone, but the N(4)Hs intramolecularly hydrogen bond to the imine nitrogen for each moiety.     

Rapid access to ketones related to oleanolic and ursolic acids

We describe in this article a process with which to obtain different ketones related to oleanolic and ursolic acids from a natural source, Salvia canariensis L., with minimal use of chromatography columns. Amongst the isolated compounds was 12α-bromo-3-oxo-olean-13, 28-olide (3), which was fully characterised, including a characterisation of its molecular configuration by X-ray crystallographic analysis by 1 and 2-dimensional NMR techniques.     

Diethyl 2-[cyano(toluene-4-sulfinyl)methylene]propanedioate and its Diels–Alder adduct with cyclopentadiene

The thermal Diels–Alder cyclo­additon reaction of diethyl 2-­[cyano­(toluene-4-sulfinyl)­methyl­ene]­propane­dioate, C₁₆H₁₇­NO₅S, with cyclo­penta­diene gave the pure racemates of two of the four possible diastereomers, with a complete π-facial selectivity and a high (80:20) endo/exo-sulfinyl selectivity. X-ray diffraction studies of diethyl 2-[cyano­(toluene-4-sulfinyl)­methyl­ene]­propane­dioate and the major isomer of the cyclo­addition product, namely diethyl 3-cyano-3-(toluene-4-sulfinyl)­bi­cyclo­[2.2.1]­hepta-5-ene-2,2-di­carboxyl­ate, C₂₁H₂₃­NO₅S, reveal that the conformation of the substituents on the acrylo­nitrile moiety produces both steric and electronic effects, which affect the stereoselectivity of the reaction.     

Binuclear copper(II) complexes of 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde N(3)-substituted thiosemicarbazones

Summary Binuclear copper(II) complexes with six 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde N(3)-substituted thiosemicarbazones have been prepared and characterized. I.r., electronic and e.s.r. spectra of the complexes, as well as i.r., electronic, and ¹H-and ¹³C-n.m.r. spectra of the thiosemicarbazones, have been obtained. The crystal structure of a monomeric copper(II) complex of 5-nitrosalicylaldehyde piperidyl-thiosemicarbazone, H₂5NO₂Sapip, grown from DMF solution, has been solved. Neither the thiosemicarbazones or their binuclear copper(II) complexes show growth inhibitory activity against Aspergillus niger, but the copper(II) complexes show some activity against the fungus Paecilomyces variotii.     

The relationship between transannular secondary bonding strength and conformation in diphenyldithiophosphinate stibocanes X(CH2CH2S)2SbS2PPh2 (X = O,S)

The two stibocanes 1-oxa-4,6-dithia-5-stibocane diphenyldithiophosphinate O(CH₂CH₂S)₂SbS₂PPh₂ 1 and 1,3,6-trithia-2-stibocane diphenyldithiophosphinate S(CH₂CH₂S)₂ · SbS₂PPh₂ 2 were prepared from the corresponding chloro oxa- and thia-stibocanes 3 and 6 , and the ammonium salt of diphenyldithiophosphinic acid in CH₂Cl₂. 1 and 2 were characterized by IR, EI-MS and multinuclear NMR (¹H, ¹³C, ³¹P{¹H}). The crystalline state of 1 features two Sb1 ? S1 intermolecular interactions [3.987(2) Å] that results in a dimer. Alongside 1 displays both an endocyclic, transannular Sb1 ? O1 interaction [2.555(6) Å] and an exocyclic Sb1 ? S4 secondary interaction [3.327(2) Å]. The coordination geometry at the antimony could be described as AX₄YE ψ-trigonal bipyramid geometry with A = Sb, X = S1, S2, S3,O1; Y = S4; S1, S2 and the lone pair lays on the equatorial plane with O1 and S4 in axial positions. The Sb1 ? S4 secondary bonding is face capping one of the planes form by the lone pair, S2 and S3 of the trigonal bipyramid. 2 also displays both an endocyclic, transannular Sb1 ? S2 interaction [2.949(3) Å] and an exocyclic Sb1 ? S5 secondary interaction [3.216(3) Å]. The antimony becomes five-coordinate, giving the AX₄YE ψ-trigonal bipyramid geometry with S1, S3 and the lone pair laying on the equatorial plane with S2 and S4 in axial positions. The Sb1 ? S5 also here is face capping the plane form by the lone pair, S3 and S4 of the trigonal bipyramid. The conformation of the eight membered ring in 2 is boat-chair. In 1 the main conformation is chair-planar. Die Konformation des Achtringes in 2 ist Wanne-Sessel. In 1 ist die Konformation des Achtringes Sessel-planar.     

17α-acetoxy-17β-methyl-16β-phenyl-D-homo-4,6-pregnadiene-3,17a-dione: synthesis and crystal structure determination of a new rearranged pregnane derivative

The title compound is C₂₉H₃₄O₄, tetragonal, P4₃, a = b = 10.310(1), c = 23.871(2)Å. The A, B, C, and D rings adopt envelope, half-chair, chair, and distorted chair conformations, respectively. The phenyl ring is planar. The methyl substituents at the A/B, C/D, and at C(17) are axial; and the –OCOCH₃ group at C(17) and phenyl ring at C(16) are equatorial. The molecules in the crystal are held together by van der Waals forces and several C–H···O hydrogen bond interactions.