Synthesis of Annonaceous Acetogenins from Muricatacin

Synthetic studies of annonaceous acetogenins starting from (?)-muricatacin (1a) or (+)-muricatacin are described, involving (?)-muricatacin (1a), mono-THF acetogenin, solamin (2), reticulatacin (3), (15R, 16R, 19S, 20S)-cis-solamin (4a) and (15S, 16S, 19R, 20R)-cis-solamin (4b), non-adjacent bis-THF acetogenin, 4-deoxygigantecin (5), and epoxide-bearing acetogenin, (15S, 16R, 19S, 20R)-diepomuricanin (6a).     

Highly selective biotransformation of (+)-(1S)- and (−)-(1R)-camphorquinone by Aspergillus wentii

Abstract

To clarify the structures of biotransformation products and metabolic pathways, the biotransformation of monoterpenoids, (+)- and (?)-camphorquinone (1a and b), has been investigated using Aspergillus wentii as a biocatalyst. Compound 1a was converted to (?)-(2S)-exo-hydroxycamphor (2a), (?)-(2S)-endo-hydroxycamphor (3a), (?)-(3S)-exo-hydroxycamphor (4a), (?)-(3S)-endo-hydroxycamphor (5a), and (+)-camphoric acid (6a). Compound 1b was converted to (+)-(2R)-exo-hydroxycamphor (2b), (+)-(2R)-endo-hydroxycamphor (3b), (+)-(3R)-exo-hydroxycamphor (4b), (+)-(3R)-endo-hydroxycamphor (5b), and (?)-camphoric acid (6b). Compound 1a mainly produced 2a (65.0%) with stereoselectivity, whereas 1b afforded 3b (84.3%) with high stereoselectivity. These structures were confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, infrared, ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and ¹³C NMR spectral data. The products illustrate the marked ability of A. wentii for enzymatic oxidation and ketone reduction.     

Preparation of Optically Pure cis-2,4-Dimethyl-l-cyclohexanones,the Key Intermediates in Cycloheximide Synthesis,Using Microbial Resolution

Asymmetric hydrolysis of acetate (10) of (±)-t-2,t-4-dimethyl-r-l-cyclohexanol with Bacillus subtilis var. niger gave (?)-(lS,2S,4S)-2,4-dimethyl-l-cyclohexanol (6a) and (+)-(1R,2R,4R)-acetate (10b) with high optical purities. Optically pure (?) and (+)-alcohols (6a and 6b) were prepared via corresponding 3,5-dinitrobenzoates. Oxidation of alcohols (6a and 6b) with chromic acid gave optically pure (?)-(2S,4S) and (+)-(2R,4R)-2,4-dimethyl-l-cyclohexanones (2a and 2b), respectively.     

Enantiotopically Selective Oxidation of 1,5-Diols with Gluconobacters Preparation of (S)-Mevalonolactone

(±)-(2Z,4E)-α-Ionylideneacetic acid (2) was enantioselectively oxidized to (?)-(l′S)-(2Z,4E)-4′-hydroxy-α-ionylideneacetic acid (3), (+)-(1′R)-(2Z,4E)-4′-oxo-α-ionylideneacetic acid (4) and (+)-abscisic acid (ABA) (1) by Cercospora cruenta IFO 6164, which can produce (+)-ABA and (+)-4′-oxo-α-acid 4. This metabolism was confirmed by the incorporation of radioactivity from (±)-(2-¹⁴C)-(2Z,4E)-α-acid 2 into three metabolites. (?)-4′-Hydroxy-α-acid 3 was a diastereoisomeric mixture consisting of major 1′,4′-trance-4′-hydroxy-α-acid 3a and minor 1′,4′-cis-4′-hydroxy-α-acid 3b. These structures, 3a and 3b, were confirmed by ¹³C-NMR and ¹H-NMR analysis. Also, the enantioselectivity of the microbial oxidation was reexamined by using optically pure α-acid (+)-2 and (?)-2, as the substrates.     

Synthesis of Optically Pure (1S, 4S, 5S)-2-Pinen-4-ol (cis-Verbenol) and Its Antipode,the Pheromone of Ips Bark Beetles

The enantiomers of cis-verbenol (4a and 4a′) were first synthesized in optically pure state. (1S, 4S, 5S)-2-Pinen-4-ol (4a′) was dextrorotatory in acetone or in methanol but it was levorotatory in chloroform; cis-verbenols are indistinguishable by a prefix (+) or (?). The designation of the Ips pheromone as (+)-cis-verbenol is therefore ambiguous and it should be called as (1S, 4S, 5S)-2-pinen-4-ol (4a′) or (S)-cis-verbenol.     

Syntheses of all eight stereoisomers of conidendrin

ABSTRACT

All eight stereoisomers of conidendrin were synthesized from (1 R,2 S,3 S)-1-(4-benzyloxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(4-benzyloxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-2- hydroxymethyl-1,4-butanediol ((+)-4) and its enantiomer with high optical purity. The configurations at 4-positions of the conidendrin stereoisomers were constructed by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction of protected 4. After conversion to tetrahydronaphthalene intermediate 7a, the 2- and 3-position of tetrahydronaphthalene structure 7a were converted to 3a- and 9a-position of (+)-α-conidendrin (3a), respectively. By the epimerization process of 2- or 3-position of 7a, the other diastereomers were obtained. All enantiomers were also synthesized from (?)-4.     

柯拉斯那沉香的生物活性成分研究

为了解柯拉斯那(Aquilaria crassna)的化学成分,从其所产沉香中分离得到10个化合物,经波谱分析分别鉴定为:6,8-羟基-2-(2-苯乙基)色酮(1),6,8-二羟基-2-[2-(4-甲氧基苯)乙基]色酮(2),rel-(1a R,2R,3R,7b S)-1a,2,3,7b-tetrahydro-2,3-dihydroxy-5-(2-phenylethyl)-7H-oxireno[f][1]benzopyran-7-one(3),rel-(1a R,2R,3R,7b S)-1a,2,3,7b-tetrahydro-2,3-dihydroxy-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl]-7H-oxireno[f][1]benzopyran-7-one(4),rel-(1a R,2R,3R,7b S)-1a,2,3,7b-tetrahydro-2,3-dihydroxy-5-[2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl]-7H-oxireno[f][1]benzopyran-7-one(5),oxidoagarochromone B(6),oxidoagarochromone C(7),(5S,6R,7S,8R)-2-[2-(3′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone(8),6,7-cis-dihydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone(9),N-trans-feruloyltyramine(10)。化合物3~5和8~10为首次从柯拉斯那沉香中分离得到。化合物1,3,6,7,9和10对乙酰胆碱酯酶具有一定的抑制活性,化合物4对人慢性髓原白血病细胞株K-562和人胃癌细胞株SGC-7901均具有较小的抑制作用,化合物1和3对人肝癌细胞株BEL-7402也有抑制活性。     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Activity of Optically Active trans-Cycloheximide Isomers

Optically active tiraras-cycloheximide isomers such as cycloheximide [(2S,4S,6R,αR)-form (1)], naramycin B[(25,4S,6RαR)-form(4)], and new stereoisomers (2S,4S,6S,αS)-form (8) and (2S,4S,6R,αS)-from (9) were synthesized by an aldol condensation of trans-2,4-dimethyl-l-cyclohexanone (5b), with 4-(2-oxoethyl)-2,6-piperidinedione(6). The antimicrobial activity of trans- cycloheximide isomers (1, 4, 8, and 9) was examined against S. cerevisiae and P. oryzae. The stereoisomers 1 and 4 exhibited marked antimicrobial activity against both microorganisms as compared with their C- α-epimers 8 and 9.     

Formation of (-⊃-1′,2′-epi-2-cis-xanthoxin acid from a precursor of abscisic acid

Tomato shoots and avocado mesocarp supplied with (±)-[2-¹⁴C]-5-(1,2-epoxy-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohexyl)-3-methylpenta-cis-2-trans-4-dienoic acid metabolize it into (+)-abscisic acid and a more polar material that was isolated and identified as (?)-epi-1′(R),2′(R)-4′(S)-2-cis-xanthoxin acid. The (+)-1′(S),2′(S)-4′(S)-2-cis-xanthoxin acid recently synthesized from natural violaxanthin, has the 1′,2′-epoxy group on the opposite side of the ring to that of the 4′(S)-hydroxyl group and the compound is rapidly converted into (+)-abscisic acid. The 1′,2′-epoxy group of (?)-1′,2′-epi-2-cis-xanthoxin acid is on the same side of the ring as the 4′(S) hydroxyl group: the compound is not metabolized into abscisic acid. The configuration of the 1′,2′-epoxy group probably controls whether or not the 4′(S) hydroxyl group can be oxidized. (+)-2-cis-Xanthoxin acid is probably not a naturally occurring intermediate because a ‘cold trap’, added to avocado fruit forming [¹⁴C]-labelled abscisic acid from [2-¹⁴C]mevalonate, failed to retain [¹⁴C] label.     

Residue of Kitazin P Metabolite in Rice Plants and Soil

Debutenoyl-aspertetronin A was synthesized from γ-valerolactone-γ-carboxylic acid (4) via 2, 5-dihydro-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-5-oxo-2-furanpropanoic acid. Starting from (?)-(S)-4, (+)-(S)-5-hexyl-4-hydroxy-5-methyl-2(5H)furanone (19) was synthesized, and by comparison of its optical rotation with that of an authentic sample it was proved that aspertetronin A had (R) configuration, and gregatin A had (S) configuration at their respective chiral carbon.     

Asymmetric Hydrolysis of Prochiral Diesters with Pig Liver Esterase. Preparation of Optically Active Intermediates for the Synthesis of (+)-Biotin and (+)-α-Methyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine

With pig liver esterase, 1,3-dibenzyl-4,5-cis-bis(alkyloxycarbonyl)-2-oxoimidazolidine (1) was asymmetrically hydrolyzed to (4S,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-5-alkyloxycarbonyl-2-oxoimidazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (2). This acid 2 was reduced with lithium borohydride to (4S,5R)-1,3-dibenzyl-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxoimidazolidine-4-carboxylic acid lactone (3), which is known to be converted to (+)-biotin (4). With the same esterase, diethyl 3,4-dimethoxyphenylmethyl-(methyl)malonate (5) was asymmetrically hydrolyzed to (R)-ethyl hydrogen 3,4-dimethoxy-phenylmethyl(methyl)malonate (6), which can be converted to (S)-α-methyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-alanine(l-α-methyldopa) (9).     

Biosynthesis of pisatin: Experiments with enantiomeric precursors

Feeding experiments in cupric chloride-treated Pisum sativum pods and seedlings have demonstrated the preferential incorporation of (+)-(6aS,11aS)-[³H]maackiain over (?)-(6aR, 11aR)-[¹⁴C]maackiain into (+)-(6aR, 11aR)-pisatin, establishing that the 6a-hydroxylation of pterocarpans proceeds with retention of configuration. (+)- (6aR,11aR)-6a-hydroxymaackiain was similarly incorporated much better than (?)-(6aS,11aS)-6a- hydroxymaackiain. Where (?)-isomers were incorporated, optical activity measurements on the pisatin produced indicated significant synthesis of (?)-pisatin as well as the normal (+)-pisatin. 7,2′-Dihydroxy-4′,5′- methylenedioxyisoflav-3-ene and both enantiomers of 7,2′-dihydroxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyisoflavan were poor precursors of pisatin.     

Absolute configuration of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid acetylgynuramine

The absolute configuration of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid acetylgynuramine was determined by X-ray diffraction to be (?)-(1aR,6bR,10R,11S)-9,14-dioxo-10-hydroxy-13-cis-ethylidene-11-methoxyacetyl-10-methyl-1a,2,3,6b-tetrahydro-5H-pyrrolizino-(1a,6b,6a,b,c)-1,8-dioxa-cyclododecane.     

A New Keto-alcohol, (−)-Mintlactone, (+)-isoMintlactone and Minor Components in Peppermint Oil

Eighty-one constituents were newly identified from the oil of Mentha piperita L., including a new keto-alcohol, (?)-mintlactone and (+)-isomintlactone. They were determined by spectral data and syntheses to be 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (8), (6R, 7aR) (10) and (6R, 7aS)-3,6-dimethyl-5,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-2(4H)-benzofuranone (11), respectively.     

Leucoflavonine,a new bioactive racemic flavoalkaloid from the leaves of Leucosceptrum canum

A new flavoalkaloid racemate, leucoflavonine (1), together with its flavonoid precursor pectolinarigenin (2), was isolated from the leaves of Leucosceptrum canum collected from Tibet. Its structure was established by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis. Chrial separation of the enantiomers of 1 was achieved, and their absolute configurations were determined as S-(+)- and R-(?)-leucoflavonines ((+)-1a and (?)-1b) by comparison of their computational and experimental optical rotations. Biological assays indicated that both (+)-1a and (?)-1b exhibited inhibitory activity against acetylchlorinesterase (AChE) in vitro (IC₅₀?=?68.0?±?8.6 and 18.3?±?1.8?μM, respectively). Moreover, (?)-1b displayed cytotoxicity against human hepatoma cells HepG2 (IC₅₀?=?52.9?±?3.6?μM), and inhibited the production of interleukelin-2 (IL-2) in Jurkat cells (IC₅₀?=?16.5?±?0.9?μM), while (+)-1a showed no obvious activity in these assays.     

Preparation of Aroma Compounds by Microbial Transformation of Isophorone with Aspergillus niger

( ± )-cis-γ-Irone (1a), ( ± )-cis-dihydro-γ-irone (2a) and their trans- isomers (1b, 2b) were synthesized via 3,3-(Claisen) or 2,3-sigmatropic rearrangement of 1-hydroxymethyl-3,3,4- trimethyl-1-cyclo he xene (8) derivatives as each key step.     

5′-O-[N-(Amnoacyl)Sulfamoyl]Nucleosides. Synthesis and Antiviral and Cytostatic Activities

Abstract

5′-O-[N-(Aminoacyl)sulfamoyl]-uridines and -thymidines 4a-12a and 4b-12b have been synthesized and tested against Herpes Simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and as cytostatics. Condensation of 2′,3′-O-isopropylidene-5′-O-sulfamoyluridine and 3′-O-acetyl-5′-O-sulfamoylthymidine with the N-hydroxysuccinimide esters of Boc-L-Ser(Bzl), (2R, 3S)-3-benzyloxycarbonylamino-2-hydroxy-4-phenylbuta-noic acid [(2R, 3S-N-Z-AHPBA], (2R, 3S) and (2S, 3R)-N-Boc-AHPBA gave 4a,b-7a,b, which after removal of the protecting groups provided 1Oa,b-12a,b. A study of the selective removal of the O-Bzl protecting group from the L-Ser derivatives 4a,b, without hydrogenation of the pyrimidine ring, has been carried out. Only the fully protected uridine derivatives 4a-7a did exhibit high anti-HSV-2 activity, and none of the synthesized compounds showed significant cytostatic activity against HeLa cells cultures.     

Fatty Acid n-Propyl and Ethyl Esters in the Volatile Oil from Dentcorn,Zea mays L. var. indentata,Silage

(+)-Marmelo Lactones A(VA) and B (VB) were synthesized from erythro-γ-methyl-l-glutamic acid (IA) and threo acid (IB), respectively. The absolute configurations of natural marmelo lactones were thus determined to be (2R, 4S) for (+)-marmelo lactone A and (2R, 4R) for ( – )-marmelo lactone B.     

Total Synthesis of ( + )-Methyl Phaseates

( ± )-Methyl phaseates were synthesized from ( ± )-4-(6′-acetoxymethyl-2 ′,6′-dimethyl-1′-cyclohexen-1′-y1)-but-3-en-2-one (20), which was prepared from a useful terpenoid building block, ( ± )-2-hydroxymethyl-2,6-dimethyl-1-cyclohexanone (11a and 11b). Photooxidation of the cyclohexadiene intermediate (22), followed by alkaline hydrolysis and methylation, gave four stereoisomers of ( ± )-methyl phaseates: (2Z,4E)-cis form (2), (2E,4E)-cis form (24), (2Z,4E)-trans form (25) and (2E,4E)-trans form (26).     

Asymmetric Synthesis of α-Methylglutamic Acid and α-Methylornithine by a Chiral Isocyano Amide Reagent

An efficient approach to the asymmetric syntheses of α-methylglutamic acid and α-methylornithine is described. Two chiral reagents, (2′S)-N-(2′-methoxymethylpyrrolidine)-2-isocyanopropionamide 4 and (2′S)-N-(2′-hydroxymethylpyrrolidine)-2-isocyanopropionamide 5, were employed for the asymmetric induction. α-Methylglutamic acid 7 was synthesized by the asymmetric Michael-addition of methyl acrylate to 4 and 5 as the key step. The optical yield of 7 was 10~45% (R-form). α-Methylornithine 12 was also synthesized by the reaction of 4 with acrylonitrile as the key step. The optical yield of 12 was 31.7% (R-form).