Total synthesis of (+/-)-syn-copalol

The labdane diterpene derivative, syn-copalol [(+)-5] is the alcohol part of syn-copalyl diphosphate [(+)-4]. In this paper, racemic (+/-)-5 was synthesized from a known racemic lactone in 8 steps. The current and our previous syntheses provide all four copalol derivatives [(+)-3, (-)-3 and (+/-)-5] which are required for the biosynthetic study of polycyclic diterpenes.     

First synthesis of (+/-)-robinlin

The first synthesis of (+/-)-robinlin (1), a novel homo-monoterpene with strong bioactivity in the brine shrimp lethality test, was achieved by starting from 3-isobutyloxy-2,6,6-trimethyl-2-cyclohexen-1-one (2).     

The synthesis and nicotinic binding activity of (+/-)-epiquinamide and (+/-)-C(1)-epiepiquinamide

The synthesis of (+/-)-epiquinamide 1 and (+/-)-C(1)-epiepiquinamide 2 based on the use of a Curtius rearrangement to introduce the C(1) amino residue is reported. In a competition binding assay for [(3)H]epibatidine binding to rat brain membranes neither (+/-)-1 nor (+/-)-2 showed any significant level of nicotinic activity.     

Short-step synthesis of chenodiol from stigmasterol

Chenodiol is an important bile acid widely used for gallstone dissolution and cholestatic liver diseases. We succeeded in a short-step synthesis of chenodiol, starting from the safer phytosterol, stigmasterol.     

Total synthesis of phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids (+/-)-antofine, (+/-)-deoxypergularinine, and their dehydro congeners and evaluation of their cytotoxic activity

Due to their limited natural abundance and significant biochemical effects, we synthesized the alkaloids (+/-)-antofine (1a), (+/-)-deoxypergularinine (1b), and their dehydro congeners (2 and 3) starting from the corresponding phenanthrene-9-carboxaldehydes. We also evaluated their in vitro cytotoxic activity. Compounds 1a and 1b showed significant potency against various human tumor cell lines, including a drug-resistant variant, with EC(50) values ranging from 0.16 to 16ng/mL. Structure-activity correlations of these alkaloids and some of their synthetic intermediates were also ascertained. The non-planar structure between the two major moieties, phenanthrene and indolizidine, plays a crucial role in the cytotoxic activity of phenanthroindolizidines. Increasing the planarity and rigidity of the indolizidine moiety significantly reduced potency. A methoxy group at the 2-position (1a) was more favorable for cytotoxic activity than a hydrogen atom (1b).     

First total synthesis of (+/-)-3-aza-11-oxa-1,3,5(10)-trieno steroids

We set out to describe a new and versatile method for preparing 3-aza-11-oxa-1,3,5(10)-trieno steroids via an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition of o-quinodimethanes as the key step. The characteristic 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic features of the synthesized compounds are reported.     

Syntheses of (+/-)-methyl 6'alpha-demethyl-6'alpha-cyanoabscisate and (+/-)-methyl 6'alpha-demethyl-6'alpha-methoxycarbonylabscisate

New abscisic acid analogs possessing a cyano or methoxycarbonyl group at the 6'alpha-position of methyl abscisate were synthesized by regioselective hydrocyanation. These compounds had weak activity in the rice second leaf sheath elongation test.     

Deconstructing cytisine: The syntheses of (+/-)-cyfusine and (+/-)-cyclopropylcyfusine, fused ring analogs of cytisine

A novel fused tricyclic analog (11) of cytisine has been prepared (coined 'cyfusine') and determined to have high affinity at neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. A [3+2] cycloaddition protocol permitted entry into a 3,4-differentially difunctionalized dihydropyrrole (7). The penultimate cyclization was accomplished using the modified Van Tamelen conditions developed in our earlier synthesis of (+/-)-cytisine. Sequential ring-forming reactions ([3+2] cycloaddition/cyclopropanation/pyridone cyclization) gives a unique cyclopropyl analog (16) possessing a skeleton isoatomic with that of cytisine.     

New synthesis of (+/-)-alpha-CMBHC and its confirmation as a metabolite of alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E)

There is currently interest in the metabolism of the various compounds which make up the vitamin E family, especially with regards to the possible use of vitamin E metabolites as markers of oxidative stress and adequate vitamin E supply. A number of vitamin E metabolites have been described to date and we have recently developed a method to extract and quantitate a range of vitamin E metabolites in human urine. During the development of this method a new metabolite of alpha-tocopherol was identified, which we tentatively characterised as 5-(6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethyl-chroman-2-yl)-2-methyl-pentanoic acid (alpha-CMBHC).(1) Here we describe the synthesis of alpha-CMBHC as a standard and confirm that it is a metabolite of alpha-tocopherol.     

The influence of intracerebroventricular administration of (+/-) propranolol and (+/-) verapamil on experimental myocardial ischemia and necrosis in rats

In albino rats, infarctoid myocardial lesions were produced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of isoproterenol (75 mg/kg, during 3 days). In other groups, the descending anterior left coronary artery was ligated. In both experimental settings, the intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) administration of (+/-) propranolol (100-200-300 microg/animal/day, during 7 days) or (+/-) verapamil (40-80-160 microg/animal/day, during 7 days) afforded a significant protection (with the exception of the lowest dose) on the investigated parameters: arrhythmias, ischemic zone (in coronary ligated rats), lactate dehydrogenase and aspartate aminotransferase activity of the serum, focal necrosis (in isoproterenol treated rats). This protective activity is lower than that afforded by i.p. administered (+/-) propranolol (5 mg/kg, during seven days) or (+/-) verapamil (5 mg/kg, during seven days). From these data it may be concluded that (+/-) propranolol and (+/-) verapamil have a protective action on the experimental myocardial ischemia and necrosis in rats, not only when the drugs come in direct contact with the heart, but also acting upon the central nervous system.     

Solid and solution state conformations of (+/-)-3-O-acetyl-1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-allo-inositol and (+/-)-3-O-acetyl-1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-6-O-methyl-allo-inositol

The synthesis and conformational studies of (+/-)-3-O-acetyl-1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-allo-inositol and (+/-)-3-O-acetyl-1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-6-O-methyl-allo-inositol are described. Solid state conformations of the title compounds have been studied by solving their X-ray crystal structures. The inositol ring in both the compounds deviate considerably from the ideal chair conformation to flattened chair conformation in the solid state. Their conformations in solution were studied by the use of 1H NMR spectroscopy. These conformational analyses revealed that the title compounds adopt similar conformations in solid and solution states irrespective of the solvent polarity.     

A concise synthetic approach to beta,gamma-dehydrocurvularin: synthesis of (+/-)-di-O-methyl-beta,gamma-dehydrocurvularin

A concise synthesis of di-O-methyl-beta,gamma-dehydrocurvularin, the di-O-methylated derivative of the naturally occurring nematicidal macrolide, beta,gamma-dehydrocurvuralin, was accomplished by starting from a commercially available aromatic carboxylic acid in a three-step sequence consisting of esterification, Friedel-Crafts acylation, and microwave-promoted ring-closing metathesis.     

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of (+/-)-cis-flavan-4-ol and its acetate: synthesis of chiral 3-hydroxyflavanones

Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of (+/-)-cis-flavan-4-ol and its acetate led to enantiomerically enriched flavan-4-ol and its acetate. These chiral compounds were converted to (2R, 3R)- and (25, 3S)-3-hydroxyflavanones.     

Activity and metabolism of C-(+/-)-abscisic Acid derivatives

Several radioactive analogues of abscisic acid have been tested for their growth-inhibitory effects and their metabolism in excised embryonic axes of Phaseolus vulgaris. The compounds tested were the methyl and ethyl esters of 2-¹⁴C-abscisic acid and the cis- and trans-1′,4′-diols of 2-¹⁴C-abscisic acid. All four compounds cause less growth inhibition than abscisic acid, and all four compounds are converted to abscisic acid in the axes at rates which are sufficient to account for most, if not all, of the observed growth-inhibitory activity. None of the four compounds is metabolized to the extent that abscisic acid is metabolized in the axes, suggesting that the structural requirements for growth-inhibitory activity and metabolism may be similar.     

Effects of (+/-)-sotalol, (+/-)-propranolol, and (-)-propranolol on norepinephrine release upon hepatic nerve stimulation in the dog liver in vivo

The study was carried out to determine whether the diminished release of norepinephrine (NE) upon sympathetic activation in the presence of sotalol can be attributed to the blockade of beta-adrenoceptors in the liver. NE release from the liver was measured in hepatic venous blood collected during direct hepatic nerve stimulation in anesthetized dogs. The mean basal NE concentration in hepatic venous and aortic blood was 0.046 +/- 0.003 and 0.244 +/- 0.041 ng/mL, respectively. NE release increased significantly as stimulation frequency increased, while aortic NE concentration remained unchanged. The increasing response of NE release upon stimulation in the vehicle control group remained stable during the whole experimental period. In dogs treated with sotalol (5 mg/kg, i.v.), NE release was reduced approximately by 30-43%, and the difference was statistically significant (P less than 0.01) at 8 Hz. (+/-)-Propranolol (2.5 mg/kg, i.v.) tended to diminish it, but the difference was not significant. (-)-Propranolol (0.1 mg/kg, i.v.) did not alter NE release at any frequency tested. The beta-blocking action of these drugs in the liver, as determined by the antagonism against the hepatic arterial vasodilating response to isoproterenol, was most effective with (+/-)-propranolol (100%), followed by (-)-propranolol (90%) and sotalol (70%). The results suggest that the inhibitory effect of sotalol on NE release may be related to a mechanism other than its beta-blocking action in the dog liver.     

A novel and short synthesis of (1,4/2)-cyclohex-5-ene-triol and its conversion to (+/-)-proto-quercitol

(1,4/2)-cyclohex-5-ene-triol was synthesized starting from cyclohexa-1,4-diene with two different approaches. Photooxygenation of cyclohexa-1,4-diene and epoxy-cyclohexene afforded anti-2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-7-en-5-yl hydroperoxide and anti-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-3-yl hydroperoxide, respectively. Hydroperoxy endoperoxide was reduced with aqueous sodium bisulfite; hydroperoxy-epoxide with dimethylsulfide-titanium tetraisopropoxide to give 7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-4-en-3-ol. Acidic hydrolysis of the epoxy-alcohol gave the (1,4/2)-cyclohex-3-ene-triol. Oxidation of the double bond with KMnO4 resulted in the formation of (+/-)-proto-quercitol.     

(+/-)-1,2:5,6-Di-O-isopropylidene-myo-inositol and (+/-)-6-O-benzoyl-1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-myo-inositol: a practical preparation of key intermediates for myo-inositol phosphates.

A simple and practical synthetic procedure for the versatile intermediates, (+/-)-1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-myo-inositol and (+/-)-6-O-benzoyl-1,2:4,5-di-O-isopropylidene-myo-inositol, is described.     

Total synthesis of heterocyclic steroids, part I, synthesis of (+/-)-A-nor-3-thiaestra-1,5(10)-dien-17 beta-ol.

Total synthesis of (±)-A-nor-3-thiaestra-1,5(10)-dien-17β-ol was achieved starting from 4-o xo-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzothiophene.     

Metabolism of DL-(+/-)-phenylalanine by Aspergillus niger.

A fungus capable of degrading DL-phenylalanine was isolated from the soil and identified as Aspergillus niger. It was found to metabolize DL-phenylalanine by a new pathway involving 4-hydroxymandelic acid. D-Amino acid oxidase and L-phenylalanine: 2-oxoglutaric acid aminotransferase initiated the degradation of D- and L-phenylalanine, respectively. Both phenylpyruvate oxidase and phenylpyruvate decarboxylase activities could be demonstrated in the cell-free system. Phenylacetate hydroxylase, which required reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, converted phenylacetic acid to 2- and 4-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. Although 4-hydroxyphenylacetate was converted to 4-hydroxymandelate, 2-hydroxyphenylacetate was not utilized until the onset of sporulation. During sporulation, it was converted rapidly into homogentisate and oxidized to ring-cleaved products. 4-Hydroxymandelate was degraded to protocatechuate via 4-hydroxybenzoylformate, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and 4-hydroxybenzoate.