Synthesis of new heteroaryl and heteroannulated indoles from dehydrophenylalanines: Antitumor evaluation

A 3-(dibenzothien-4-yl)indole and a phenylbenzothienoindole or a 3-(dibenzofur-4-yl)indole and a phenylbenzofuroindole were prepared by a metal-assisted C-N intramolecular cyclization of the methyl esters of N-Boc-(E) or (Z)-beta-dibenzothien-4-yl or beta-dibenzofur-4-yl dehydrophenylalanines. The latter were obtained by Suzuki cross-coupling of the methyl esters of N-Boc-(E) or (Z)-beta-bromodehydrophenylalanines with dibenzothien-4-yl or dibenzofur-4-yl boronic acids, in high yields. The intramolecular cyclization from E or Z pure Suzuki-coupling products gave the corresponding heteroaryl and heteroannulated indoles, in different ratios, by either direct cyclization or cyclization after isomerisation. Three of the cyclized compounds, the two heteroarylindoles and the phenylbenzothienoindole, were evaluated for their capacity to inhibit the in vitro growth of three human tumor cell lines, MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), NCI-H460 (non-small cell lung cancer), and SF-268 (CNS cancer). The methyl 3-(dibenzothien-4-yl)indole-2-carboxylate was the most potent compound with GI(50) values ranging from 11 to 17microM.     

Indole Alkaloids of Melodinur henryi Craib

The fruits of Melodinus henryi Craib (Apocynaceae) are used in folk medicine for the treatment of children meningitis and fractureetc. Eight indole alkaloids have been isolated from the roots and fruits of Melodinus henryi Craib by aluminum oxide and silica gel chro- matography. Seven of them were identified as tabersonine (1), 11-methoxy-tabersonine (2), lo- chnerinine (3), △14-vincamine (4), 16-epi-△14-vincamine (5), △14-eburnamine (6) and 19, 20- dihydrocondylocapine (7). The other one, namely, tenuicausine (8), is a dimeric indole alkaloid. Their structures were elucidated by spectral and chemical methods.     

Biologically active ibogan and vallesamine derivatives from Tabernaemontana divaricata

Six new indole alkaloids, viz., (3S)-3-cyanocoronaridine (2), (3S)-3-cyanoisovoacangine (3), conolobine A (5), conolobine B (6), conolidine (7), and (3R/3S)-3-ethoxyvoacangine (8), in addition to 36 known ones, were obtained from the stem-bark extract of the Malayan Tabernaemontana divaricata. The structures were determined by NMR and MS analysis. The CN-substituted alkaloids showed appreciable cytotoxicity towards the KB human oral epidermoid carcinoma cell-line.     

Cyclization of several linear penta- and heptapeptides with different metal ions studied by CD spectroscopy.

A cyclic pentapeptide c(Tyr-Leu-Ala-Gly-Pro) (I), which was isolated and identified from Pseudostellaria heterophylla medicinal herbs, and two cyclic heptapeptides, c(Gly-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Pro-Phe-Pro) (II) and c(Gly-Ile-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Ala-Ala) (III), which were isolated and identified from Stellaria yunnanensis Franch (M), were synthesized by using 3-(diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-1,2,3-benzotriazin-4(3 H)-one (DEPBT) as a coupling reagent in solution, and mediated by different metal ions, from their linear peptide precursors H-Tyr-Leu-Ala-Gly-Pro-OH (I-1) and H-Ala-Gly-Pro-Tyr-Leu-OH (I-2), H-Gly-Tyr-Gly-Gly-Pro-Phe-Pro-OH (II-1) and H-Gly-Ile-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Ala-Ala-OH (III-1), respectively. The results show that alkali metal ions can improve the cyclization yields and/or the cyclization rates of linear peptide precursors, such as Na(+) ion is favorable for the cyclization of linear pentapeptides and Cs(+) ion is favorable for the cyclization of linear heptapeptides, while some bivalent and trivalent metal ions, such as Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Zn(2+), Fe(2+), Ni(2+) and Cr(3+) reduced/inhibited both the cyclization yields and the cyclization rates of the linear peptide precursors. The circular dichroism spectra of I-1, II-1 and III-1 with different metal ions were studied to elucidate the changes in their secondary structures. It is shown that Cs(+) can induce and stabilize the type I beta-turn conformation in the linear heptapeptide II-1 and the type II beta-turn conformation in the linear heptapeptide III-1.     

Indole Alkaloids from the Sea Anemone Heteractis aurora and Homarine from Octopus cyanea

The two new indole alkaloids 2‐amino‐1,5‐dihydro‐5‐(1H‐indol‐3‐ylmethyl)‐4H‐imidazol‐4‐one ( 1 ), 2‐amino‐5‐[(6‐bromo‐1H‐indol‐3‐yl)methyl]‐3,5‐dihydro‐3‐methyl‐4H‐imidazol‐4‐one ( 2 ), and auramine ( 3 ) have been isolated from the sea anemone Heteractis aurora. Both indole alkaloids were synthesized for the confirmation of the structures. Homarine ( 4 ), along with uracil ( 5 ), hypoxanthine ( 6 ), and inosine ( 7 ) have been obtained from Octopus cyanea.     

Three New Indole Diketopiperazine Alkaloids from Aspergillus ochraceus

Asperochramides A – D ( 1  –  4 ), a new natural product and three new indole diketopiperazine alkaloids, along with seven known analogs ( 5  –  11 ), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Aspergillus ochraceus. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses, ECD calculation, and single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. Compounds 3 and 4 represent a rare group of indole diketopiperazine alkaloid with a 3‐hydroxyl‐2‐indolone moiety. The in vitro anti‐inflammatory effects of compounds 1 and 3  –  11 were investigated by using LPS‐stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 1 , 8 , 10 , and 11 showed potential anti‐inflammatory activities.     

Synthesis of cyclopentapeptides and cycloheptapeptides by DEPBT and the influence of some factors on cyclization.

Three cyclic peptides - cyclo(GlyAlaTyrLeuAla), cyclo(GlyProTyrLeuAla) and cyclo(GlyTyrGlyGlyProPhePro) - isolated and identified from medicinal herbs were chosen as model cyclic peptides to study the influence of the linear precursors and coupling reagents on cyclization. The 17 linear precursors of these three cyclic peptides were synthesized and cyclized using 3-(diethoxyphosphoryloxy)-(1-3)-benzotriazin-4 (3H)-one (DEPBT) as the major coupling reagent. The present work shows that: (i) the effects of linear peptide precursors on the cyclization are complex but some guidelines for choosing suitable precursor for cyclization could be considered; and (ii) DEPBT results in a higher cyclization yield compared with other coupling reagents. In addition, it was confirmed that peptides containing alternating D and L residues favor cyclization.     

Indole and carbazole alkaloids from Glycosmis montana with weak anti-HIV and cytotoxic activities

A diprenylated indole, (E)-3-(3-hydroxymethyl-2-butenyl)-7-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1H-indole (1), and six known carbazole alkaloids were isolated from the twigs and leaves of Glycosmis montana Pierre (Rutaceae). Their structures were determined on the basis of analysis of spectral evidence including 1D and 2D NMR and MS. The alkaloids (1-3) exhibited weak to moderate take in vitro inhibitory activity against HIV replication in C8166 cells, and they (as well as carbalexine A and B) had cytotoxic activity against the human leukaemia cell line CCRF-CEM.     

N-glucosyl-1H-indole derivatives from Cortinarius brunneus (Basidiomycetes)

Two new N-glucosylated indole alkaloids were isolated from fruiting bodies of the basidiomycete Cortinarius brunneus (Pers.) Fr. The structures were elucidated by means of the spectroscopic data. Additionally, the very recently reported compounds N-1-beta-glucopyranosyl-3-(carboxymethyl)-1H-indole (3) and N-1-beta-glucopyranosyl-3-(2-methoxy-2-oxoethyl)-1H-indole (4) could be detected. Compound 3 is the N-glucoside of the plant-growth regulator 1H-indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), but, in contrast, it does not exhibit auxin-like activity in an Arabidopsis thaliana tap root elongation assay.     

Indole alkoloids from Nauclea officinalis with weak antimalarial activity

Five indole alkaloids (naucleofficines A-E) were isolated from the stems (with bark) of Nauclea officinalis: (E)-2-(1-beta-d-glucopyranosyloxybut-2-en-2-yl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-6,7-dihydro-indolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-4(12H)-one (1), (E)-1-propenyl-12-beta-d-glucopyranosyloxy-2,7,8-trihydro-indolo[2,3-a]pyran[3,4-g]quinolizin-4,5(13H)-dione (2), (E)-2-(1-hydroxybut-2-en-2-yl)-11-beta-d-glucopyranosyloxy-6,7-dihydro-indolo[2,3-a]quinolizin-4(12H)-one (3), (E)-1-propenyl-4-hydroxy-2,4a,7,8,13b,14,14a-hepthydro-(4alpha,4abeta,13balpha,14abeta)indolo[2,3-a]pyran[3,4-g]quinolizin-5(13H)-one (4) and 1-(1-hydroxyethyl)-10-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-indolo[2,3-a]pirydine[3,4-g]quinolizin-5(13H)-one (10-hydroxyangustoline) (5), together with two known compounds, naucleidinal (6) and angustoline (7). All of the structures of the seven compounds above were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including use of 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopic analyses. Compounds 2 and 3 are rare examples of monoterpene indole alkaloids with a glucopyranosyloxy group attached to position C-12. In vitro activity screening of the above seven compounds showed weak to moderate inhibitory activity against Plasmodium falciparum.     

A study of planar chromophores in dichromophoric molecules by circular dichroism spectroscopy

A synthesis of a series of enantiomerically pure polycyclic structures derived from (+)-(1S,5S)-bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane-2,6-dione was accomplished. Molecules containing single or two similar or different chromophores were obtained. Chiroptical properties of the synthesized chiral structures 2-5, and 7 having carbonyl, 1,2-methylenedioxybenzene, and indole chromophores were studied. The sign of the cotton effect was related to sector rules and the orientation of the planes containing chromophores in dichromophoric molecules possessing 1,2-methylenedioxybenzene and carbonyl or indole chromophores. Interaction of the chromophores in dichromophoric molecules was examined by CD spectroscopy; however, no direct evidence was obtained.     

催吐萝芙木中生物碱的研究

从催吐萝芙木根的乙醇提取物中分离得到15个吲哚生物碱,利用波谱(ESI-MS,1H NMR,13C NMR)等技术分别鉴定为利血平(1),四氢鸭脚木碱(2),异山德维辛碱(3),利血平酸甲酯(4),萝芙木碱(5),山德维辛碱(6),异育亨宾(7),霹雳萝芙木碱(8),α-育亨宾(9),育亨宾(10),催吐萝芙木定(11),四叶萝芙新碱(12),harman(13),mauiensine(14),12-hydroxymauiensine(15)。其中化合物13 ~15是首次从该植物中分离到。     

Reaction of thiol nucleophiles with 1,2-epoxy- and 4,5-epoxy-estrene-3-one-17 beta-ols

Four ring A steroidal epoxyenones as probable intermediate in the formation of catechol estrogens were synthesized. The isomeric 1 alpha,2 alpha-epoxy-17 beta-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one (9) and 1 beta,2 beta-epoxy-17 beta-hydroxyestr-4-en-3-one (8) were synthesized from 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-estra-3-one. The isomeric 4 alpha,5 alpha-epoxy-17 beta-hydroxyestr-1-en-3-one (11) and 4 beta,5 beta-epoxy-17 beta-hydroxyestr-1-en-3-one (10) were prepared from 19-nortestosterone. The reaction of 9 and 10 with sodium/ethanethiol resulted in the formation of three types of reactions leading to multiple products: 1,4-addition, opening of epoxide, and epoxide opening followed by dehydration. Reaction of 8 with ethanethiol gave only one compound identified as 2-ethanethio-1,4-estradien-17 beta-ol-3-one, while reaction of 9 with ethanethiol gave an unusual product identified as 4-estren-1 alpha,17 beta-diol-3-one. Unlike reaction of ethanethiol with 9 and 10, reaction with N-acetylecysteine or glutathione results in epoxide opening followed by dehydration leading to the formation of estradiol-4-thioethers.     

Non-specific biosynthesis of gammacerane derivatives by a cell-free system from the protozoon Tetrahymena pyriformis. Conformations of squalene, (3S)-squalene epoxide and (3R)-squalene epoxide during the cyclization

1. A cell-free system from the protozoon Tetrahymena pyriformis was incubated with either [12-3H]squalene or (RS)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-[12,13-3H]squalene. Squalene was cyclized into tetrahymanol whereas racemic squalene epoxide was transformed into gammacerane-3 alpha,21 alpha-diol and gammacerane-3 beta,21 alpha-diol. After cyclization of (RS)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-[3-3H]squalene, both epimeric gammaceranediols were labelled with a tritium atom located at C-3, showing that no isomerization via a 3-oxo compound occurred. 2. The proton NMR spectra of the cyclization products of synthetic (2E, 22E)-(1,1,1,24,24,24-2H6)squalene and (RS)-(22E)-2,3-epoxy-2,3-dihydro-(1,1,1,24,24,24-2H6)squalene show that squalene and the (3S)enantiomer of its epoxide are cyclized in an all pre-chair conformation, whereas the (3R) enantiomer of squalene epoxide is cyclized in a pre-boat conformation as concerns the cycle A. 3. The squalene cyclase of T. pyriformis presents the same lack of substrate specificity as the cyclase of Acetobacter pasteurianum: in addition to squalene, its normal substrate, it also cyclizes both enantiomers of its epoxide. This conformational versatility is characteristic of squalene cyclases but no longer exists in the squalene epoxide cyclases from eukaryotes.     

内生真菌Paraconiothyrium brasiliense代谢产物β-咔啉生物碱及其黄嘌呤氧化酶抑制活性研究

本研究通过前体介导调控一株内生真菌的次级代谢产物,采用正相硅胶柱色谱和制备型HPLC等方法分离纯化,利用NMR、MS等波谱学方法鉴定化合物结构,从中分离鉴定了10个生物碱类化合物,鉴定结果为:川芎哚(1)、1-(1',2'-二脱氧-α-D-核吡喃糖基)-β-咔啉(2)、flazin(3)、tangutorid E(4)...     

Formation of cyclic products from the diepoxide of long-chain fatty esters by cytosolic epoxide hydrolase.

Since diepoxides are known metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids, the action of the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase purified from liver tissue was examined on these diepoxides. Diepoxymethylstearate was metabolized to the corresponding tetraol by high concentrations of affinity-purified cytosolic epoxide hydrolase. When the enzyme was diluted (1000- to 2000-fold), disappearance of the tetraol metabolite occurred simultaneously with formation of other hydration products with GC retention times and chromatographic mobilities different from those of the tetraol. The hydration products were identified as tetrahydrofuran diols based on comparison of chromatographic properties and mass spectral information with the properties and spectra of chemically generated products. Also, a mixture of diepoxymethylarachidonates was hydrated to tetraols using concentrated enzyme. As the enzyme was diluted (1000- to 2000-fold), a decrease in tetraol formation occurred along with the elevation of other hydration products whose mass spectra were consistent with tetrahydrofuran diol structures. These data are consistent with the epoxide hydrolase at low concentrations acting to open one epoxide followed by nonenzymatic cyclization to the tetrahydrofuran diols. The data also suggest that oxygenated lipids may be endogenous substrates for the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase. Since some oxylipins are known chemical mediators, the in vivo presence and role of these novel diols and tetrahydrofuran diols should be examined.     

Indole alkaloids from the leaves of Philippine Alstonia scholaris

The first seco-uleine alkaloids, manilamine (1) (18-hydroxy-19,20-dehydro-7,21-seco-uleine) and N4-methyl angustilobine B (2), were isolated from the (pH 5) alkaloid extract of Philippine Alstonia scholaris leaves together with the known indole alkaloids 19,20-(E)-vallesamine (3), angustilobine B N4-oxide (4), 20(S)-tubotaiwine (5), and 6,7-seco-angustilobine B (6). The structure of the alkaloids was established from MS and NMR experiments.     

Alkaloids from Corydalis saxicola and their anti-hepatitis B virus activity

Eight protoberberine-type alkaloids and two indole alkaloids were isolated from the MeOH extracts of the herb Corydalis saxicola Bunting (Papaveraceae). Their structures were identified as dehydrocavidine (1), dehydroapocavidine (2), dehydroisoapocavidine (3), berberine (4), dehydroisocorypalmine (5), coptisine (6), tetradehydroscoulerine (7), berbinium (8), 1-formyl-5-methoxy-6-methylindoline (9), and 1-formyl-2-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6-methylindoline (10). Compounds 3, 9, and 10 are new alkaloids. All compounds were tested for anti-HBV activity against the 2.2.15 cell line in vitro. Dehydrocavidine (1), dehydroapocavidine (2), and dehydroisoapocavidine (3) exhibited inhibitory activity against HBsAg and HBeAg, but no cytotoxicity against the 2.2.15 cell line.     

Two new pregnanone derivatives with strong cytotoxic activity from Pachysandra axillaris

Two new, bioactive, pregnane-based natural products, pachysanonin (= 3beta,11alpha,12beta)-12-acetoxy-3-(dimethylamino)-11-[(3,4-dimethylpent-3-enoyl)oxy]pregnan-20-one; 1) and pachysanone (= (11alpha,12beta)-12-acetoxy-11-[(3,4-dimethylpent-3-enoyl)oxy]pregnan-3,20-dion; 2) have been isolated from Pachysandra axillaris. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, and, in the case of 2, by single-crystal X-ray crystallography (Figure). Compound 2 showed significant antitumor activity against Lewis lung carcinoma (LCC) tumor cells, with an IC50 value of 0.020+/-0.006 microg/ml, which is equal or even lower than those of the well-known natural antitumor agents harringtonine (0.02), homoharringtonine (0.15), and adriamycin (0.06 microg/ml; positive control).     

Dicorynamine and harmalan-N-oxide,two new β-carboline alkaloids from Dicorynia guianensis Amsh heartwood

The chemical investigations of Dicorynia guianensis heartwood led to the isolation of four new indole alkaloids for the first time in this plant. Compound (1) identified as spiroindolone 2′,3′,4′,9′-tetrahydrospiro [indoline-3,1′pyrido[3,4-b]-indol]-2-one, and compound (3) described as nitrone 1-methyl-4,9-dihydro-3H-pyrido [3,4-b] indole 2-oxide and were isolated for the first time as natural products. ABTS antioxidant activity guided their isolation.