Synthesis and cardiovascular activity of metoprolol analogues

The synthesis of four novel analogues of metoprolol, a well-known beta1-blocker used to reduce arterial blood pressure, is described. The preparation of (2S,2'S)-7, (2R,2'S)-7, (2R,2'R)-8, and (2S,2'R)-8 was based on the reaction of racemic 2-[4-(2'-methoxyethyl)-phenoxymethyl]-oxirane (4) with (R)- or (S)-2-amino-1-butanol. Salient characteristics of analogues 7 and 8 relative to metoprolol are the incorporation of an additional stereogenic center, as well as a methyl group and a hydroxyl function on the nitrogen-containing chain. These novel derivatives present significant hypotensive and bradycardiac activity, although no blocking action toward beta1 and beta2 adrenergic receptor.     

Carotenoids with a 5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-beta-end group, from yellow sweet potato "Benimasari", Ipomoea batatas Lam

A series of carotenoids with a 5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-beta-end group, named ipomoeaxanthins A (1), B (2), C1 (3) and C2 (4) were isolated from the flesh of yellow sweet potato "Benimasari", Ipomoea batatas Lam. Their structures were determined to be (5R,6S,3'R)-5,6-dihydro-beta,beta-carotene-5,6,3'-triol (1), (5R,6S,5'R,6'S)-5,6,5',6'-tetrahydro-beta,beta-carotene-5,6,5'6'-tetrol (2), (5R,6S,5'R,8'R)-5',8'-epoxy-5,6,5',8'-tetrahydro-beta,beta-carotene-5,6-diol (3), and (5R,6S,5'R,8'S)-5',8'-epoxy-5,6,5',8'-tetrahydro-beta,beta-carotene-5,6-diol (4) by UV-Vis, NMR, MS and CD data.     

疏花卫矛化学成分的研究

从疏花卫矛(Euonymus laxiflorus Champ. ex Benth.)树皮的乙醇提取物中分离得到14个化合物,通过波谱分析(NMR、MS、IR等),鉴定其结构分别为：羽扇豆醇 (1)、木栓酮 (2)、羽扇豆酮 (3)、3-羟基-4-甲氧基苯甲醛 (4)、东莨菪内酯 (5)、(+)-松脂醇 (6)、(-)-Isoyatein (7)、4-羟基-3-甲氧基肉桂醛 (8)、京尼平苷酸 (9)、胆甾醇 (10)、(8R,8′R,9R)-cubebin (11)、(8R,8′R,9S)-cubebin (12)、4-羟基-3,5-二甲氧基肉桂醛 (13)、二十六碳酸 (14)。化合物1～14均为首次从该植物中分离得到。     

Probes for narcotic receptor mediated phenomena. Part 28: new opioid antagonists from enantiomeric analogues of 5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-N-phenylethylmorphan

Enantiomeric analogues of 5-(3-hydroxyphenyl)morphan ligands were synthesized and evaluated because of our unexpected finding that opioid antagonists can be obtained in the 5-phenylmorphan series of opioids without sterically hindering the rotation of the phenolic ring. We determined the opioid receptor binding affinity of these new analogues, as well as the efficacy of the more interesting ligands. One of the new compounds [(1R,5S)-(-)-3-[2-(3'-phenylpropyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]non-5-yl]-phenol, 15] was found to have half of the efficacy of naloxone, a potent opioid antagonist, in the [(35)S]GTPgammaS assay, and two others (1R,5S)-(-)-3-[2-(4'-phenylbutyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]non-5-yl]-phenol, 17, and (1R,5S,1'S)-(+)-3-[2-(1'-methyl-2'-phenylethyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]non-5-yl]-phenol, 26, acted as moderately potent opioid antagonists. X-ray crystallographic structure data were obtained on three compounds. Two of them had three chiral centers; 25 [(1R,5S,1'R)-(-)-3-[2-(1'-methyl-2'-phenylethyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]non-5-yl]-phenol] was determined to have the 1R,5S,1'R configuration, and 26 the 1R,5S,1'S configuration. Since (1S,5R)-(+)-2-bromo-5-[2-(2'-phenylethyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]non-5-yl]-phenol (32) was a position isomer of (1S,5R)-(+)-4-bromo-3-[2-(2'-phenylethyl)-2-azabicyclo[3.3.1]non-5-yl]-phenol (30), and both showed the same 1H NMR spectrum, the structure of 32 was unequivocally determined by X-ray structure analysis.     

Asymmetrical ligand binding by abscisic acid 8'-hydroxylase

Abscisic acid (ABA), a plant stress hormone, has a chiral center (C1') in its molecule, yielding the enantiomers (1'S)-(+)-ABA and (1'R)-(-)-ABA during chemical synthesis. ABA 8'-hydroxylase (CYP707A), which is the major and key P450 enzyme in ABA catabolism in plants, catalyzes naturally occurring (1'S)-(+)-enantiomer, whereas it does not recognize naturally not occurring (1'R)-(-)-enantiomer as either a substrate or an inhibitor. Here we report a structural ABA analogue (AHI1), whose both enantiomers bind to recombinant Arabidopsis CYP707A3, in spite of stereo-structural similarity to ABA. The difference of AHI1 from ABA is the absence of the side-chain methyl group (C6) and lack of the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl (C2'C3'-C4'O) in the six-membered ring. To explore which moiety is responsible for asymmetrical binding by CYP707A3, we synthesized and tested ABA analogues that lacked each moiety. Competitive inhibition was observed for the (1'R) enantiomers of these analogues in the potency order of (1'R,2'R)-(-)-2',3'-dihydro-4'-deoxo-ABA (K(I)=0.45 microM)>(1'R)-(-)-4'-oxo-ABA (K(I)=27 microM)>(1'R)-(-)-6-nor-ABA and (1'R,2'R)-(-)-2',3'-dihydro-ABA (no inhibition). In contrast to the (1'R)-enantiomers, the inhibition potency of the (1'S)-analogues declined with the saturation of the C2',C3'-double bond or with the elimination of the C4'-oxo moiety. These findings suggest that the C4'-oxo moiety coupled with the C2',C3'-double bond is the significant key functional group by which ABA 8'-hydroxylase distinguishes (1'S)-(+)-ABA from (1'R)-(-)-ABA.     

Constituents of the stems of Macrococculus pomiferus and their inhibitory activities against cyclooxygenases-1 and -2

As part of our program directed towards the discovery of new cancer chemopreventive agents from plants, the EtOAc-soluble extract of the stems of M. pomiferus was found to inhibit the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Bioassay-directed fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of two dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans, (8R,8'R)-3'-O-demethyl-5-hydroxymatairesinol (1) and (8R,8'R)-3'-O-demethyl-5-methoxymatairesinol (2), as well as seven known compounds, (-)-5'-methoxyyatein (3), blumenol A, (-)-deoxypodophyllotoxin (anthricin), (-)-deoxypodorhizone, 2,6-dimethoxyhydroquinone, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and beta-sitosterol glucoside. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined using spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, and HREIMS), and the 8R and 8'R absolute stereochemistry was established for both 1 and 2 on the basis of their CD spectra. All isolates obtained in the present study were evaluated for their inhibitory effects with both COX-1 and -2. Of these, only 5'-methoxyyatein (3) showed weak activity against COX-2, while all other compounds isolated were inactive. The COX-2 inhibitory activity of the EtOAc extract was also traced to the presence of several common fatty acids by LC-MS.     

Application of antibody-mediated extraction for the stereoselective determination of the active metabolite of loxoprofen in human and rat plasma.

Antibody-mediated extraction followed by chiral high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to stereoselective determination in human and rat plasma of the active metabolite [(2S,1'R,2'S)-trans-alcohol] with three chiral centers of Loxoprofen, a 2-arylpropionic acid antiinflammatory agent after oral administration. Antiserum against the (1'R,2'S)-cyclopentanol moiety was obtained from a rabbit immunized with bovine serum albumin conjugate linked to the propionic acid moiety, in which another chiral center is located. Then, the immunoglobulin G purified by a protein A column was coupled to BrCN-activated Sepharose 4B. Plasma samples were applied to the immobilized antibody column. After washing the column to remove unrequired stereoisomers, a mixture of two diastereomers whose configurations were 1'R,2'S in the cyclopentanol moiety was extracted with 95% methanol. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was derivatized with (+)-(R)-1-(1-naphthyl)ethylamine as a chiral reagent to separate the diastereomers by HPLC. This combined analytical method showed the stereoselective metabolism of Loxoprofen in human, that is, 64% of the total amount of four trans-alcohol stereoisomers was in the 2S,1'R,2'S form, which is the active metabolite. This phenomenon was also observed in rats given Loxoprofen and its (2S)- and (2R)-isomers, and is explained by stereoselective ketone reduction of Loxoprofen to the (1'R,2'S)-trans-alcohol and inversion from 2R to 2S in the propionic acid moiety. Antibody-mediated extraction should be a selective and simple clean-up method for determining haptens with complicated structures, combined with an appropriate analytical method.     

Partial synthesis of serum carotenoids and their metabolites

Human serum and tissues contain in excess of 12 dietary carotenoids and several metabolites that originate from consumption of fruits and vegetables. Among these are hydroxycarotenoids: (3R,3'R,6'R)-lutein (1), (3R,3'R)-zeaxanthin (2), (3R,6'R)-α-cryptoxanthin (3), and (3R)-β-cryptoxanthin (4). In addition, several dehydration products of 1 have also been identified in human serum, these are: (3R,6'R)-3-hydroxy-3',4'-didehydro-β,γ-carotene (5), (3R,6'R)-3-hydroxy-2',3'-didehydro-β,ε-carotene (6), and (3R)-3-hydroxy-3',4'-didehydro-β,β-carotene (7). Several metabolites of 1 and/or 2, namely, (3R,3'S,6'R)-lutein (3'-epilutein, 8) and (3R,3'S;meso)-zeaxanthin (9) have also been characterized in human serum and ocular tissues. Semi-synthetic processes have been developed that separately transform commercially available 1 into 4 via 7 as well as 1 into 8. While 8 is converted into 2 by base-catalyzed isomerization, 7 is transformed into 2 and its (3R,3'S;meso)-stereoisomer (9) by regioselective hydroboration.     

Absolute configuration of antifibrotic (+)-episesamin isolated from Lindera obtusiloba BLUME

Fractionation of a 70% ethanolic extract from twigs of Lindera obtusiloba BLUME (Japanese spicebush, Tohaku) yielded five fractions of different polarity. The antifibrotic activity within the chloroform phase was best assessed by an in vitro bioassay using rat hepatic stellate cell (HSC) proliferation and their autocrine transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) expression as sensitive fibrosis-associated read out. Chromatography of the chloroform extract on Sephadex LH-20 or liquid-liquid extractions yielded a crystalline compound as an active principle, which was identified from NMR and ESI-MS analyses, its melting point, and its optical rotation as (7S,7'R,8R,8'R)-3,4:3',4'-bis(methylenedioxy)-7,9':7',9-diepoxy-lignane [(+)-episesamin]. X-Ray diffraction confirmed the structure and provided, for the first time, directly its absolute configuration. (+)-Episesamin blocked proliferation and the profibrotic autocrine TGF-beta expression HSC without significant cytotoxicity.     

Carbocyclic 5'-noruridine

A convenient preparation of (1'R,2'S,3'R,4'S)-1-(2',3',4'-trihydroxycyclopent-1'-yl)-1H-uracil (carbocyclic 5'-noruridine, 1) is described in 2 steps from the palladium complex of (+)-(1R,4S)-4-hydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-yl acetate (3) and the sodium salt of uracil (2). Compound 1 was sought as a previously unknown member of the series of carbocyclic 5'-nor nucleosides needed as moieties for new oligomers. With 1 available, its antiviral properties and those of its enantiomer (5) are reported with 5 showing promising activity towards Epstein-Barr virus.     

Trypanocidal tetrahydrofuran lignans from inflorescences of Piper solmsianum

In addition to sitosterol, syringaldehyde, 3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoic acid, isoelemicin and grandisin, two new tetrahydrofuran lignans were isolated from Piper solmsianun and characterized as rel-(7R,8R,7'R,8'R)-3',4'-methylenedioxy-3,4,5,5'-tetramethoxy-7,7'-epoxylignan and rel-(7R,8R,7'R,8'R)-3,4,3',4'-dimethylenedioxy-5,5'-dimethoxy-7,7'-epoxylignan on the basis of spectroscopic data, including 2D NMR spectrometric techniques. Their in vitro activity were determined against the trypomastigote form of Trypanossoma cruzi.     

Synthesis of epimers of L-cyclopentenylglycine using enzymatic resolution

Both epimers of the naturally occurring nonproteinogenic amino acid L-cyclopentenylglycine, (2S,1'S)- and (2S, 1'R)-2-(cyclopent-2'-enyl)glycine, were obtained via a procedure involving condensation of 3-chlorocyclopentene with diethyl acetylaminomalonate, deethoxycarbonylation, chromatographic separation of the resulting two pairs of enantiomers, and enzymatic resolution of the racemates employing enantioselective hydrolysis of the ethyl ester group with alpha-chymotrypsin. The method was used for preparation of (13)C-labeled compounds of interest for biosynthetic tracer experiments. Enantiomeric purity of the products was determined by chiral HPLC on a Crownpak CR(+) column. The biologically active (2S,1'R) isomer was obtained as a pure compound and characterized for the first time. The (2R,1'R) and (2R,1'S) isomers were obtained as N-acetyl ethyl ester derivatives.     

Dibenzylbutane and aryltetralone lignans from seeds of Virola sebifera

Two lignans rel-(8R, 8'R)-3,4:3',4'-bis-(methylenedioxy)-7.7'-dioxo-lignan and (7'R,8'S,8S)-2'-hydroxy-3,4:4',5'-bis-(methylenedioxy)-7-oxo-2,7'-cyclolignan were isolated from seeds of Virola sebifera. The cyclolignan showed two atropisomers as determined by 1H NMR spectroscopy at low temperature.     

Sphingolipids with neuritogenic activity from Euphorbia sororia

Two groups of sphingolipids 1 and 2 were isolated from the aerial parts of Euphorbia sororia. On the basis of spectroscopic data, chemical methods and GC-MS analysis, the structures of 1 and 2 were characterized as 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,8Z)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxydocosanoyl approximately hexacosanoyl, octacosanoyl amino]-1,3,4-octadecanetriol-8-ene and (2S,3S,4R,8E)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxyeicosanoyl approximately hexacosanoyl amino]-1,3,4-octadecanetriol-8-ene, respectively. Both of them exhibited marked neuritogenic activity on the rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell line.     

Microbial transformation of spirolaxine, a bioactive undecaketide fungal metabolite from the basidiomycete Sporotrichum laxum

Incubation of (+)-spirolaxine (= (3R)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-{5-[(2R,5R,7R)-2-methyl-1,6-dioxaspiro[4.5]dec-7-yl]pentyl}-2-benzofuran-1(3H)-one; 1a) with Bacillus megaterium afforded two new mono- and one new dihydroxylated metabolite(s), all OH groups being introduced on the non-activated six-membered ring. In contrast, exposure of 1a to Cunninghamella echinulata gave rise to hydroxylation on the five-membered ring of the parent structure. The structures and absolute configurations of the new products 1b-e were deduced on the basis of MS and NMR data. The metabolite 1b was investigated, in comparison to 1a, for its cytotoxicity (sulforhodamin-B test) and for its antiproliferative activity towards bovine microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC).     

Inhibitors of sterol synthesis. Chemical synthesis, structure, and biological activities of (25R)-3 beta,26-dihydroxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one, a metabolite of 3 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one

3 beta-Hydroxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one (I) is a potent inhibitor of sterol synthesis with significant hypocholesterolemic activity. (25R)-3 beta,26-Dihydroxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one (II) has been shown to be a major metabolite of I after incubation with rat liver mitochondria. Described herein is the chemical synthesis of II from diosgenin. As part of this synthesis, improved conditions are described for the conversion of diosgenin to (25R)-26-hydroxycholesterol. Benzoylation of the latter compound gave (25R)-cholest-5-ene-3 beta,26-diol 3 beta,26-dibenzoate which, upon allylic bromination followed by dehydrobromination, gave (25R)-cholesta-5,7-diene-3 beta,26-diol 3 beta,26-dibenzoate. Hydrogenation-isomerization of the delta 5.7-3 beta,26-dibenzoate to (25R)-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-ene-3 beta,26-diol 3 beta,26-bis(cyclohexanecarboxylate) followed by controlled oxidation with CrO3-dimethylpyrazole gave (25R)-3 beta,26-dihydroxy-5 alpha-cholest-8(14)-en-15-one 3 beta,26-bis(cyclohexanecarboxylate). Acid hydrolysis of the delta 8(14)-15-ketosteryl diester gave II. 13C NMR assignments are given for all synthetic intermediates and several major reaction byproducts. The structure of II was unequivocally established by X-ray crystal analysis. II was found to be highly active in the suppression of the levels of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase in cultured mammalian cells and to inhibit oleoyl coenzyme A-dependent esterification of cholesterol in jejunal microsomes.     

Two glucosylated abscisic acid derivates from avocado seeds (Persea americana Mill. Lauraceae cv. Hass)

Phytochemical investigation of avocado seed material (Persea americana Mill., Lauraceae) resulted in the isolation of two glucosylated abscisic acid derivates. One of these was not known as a natural product and can be regarded as a potential 'missing link' in abscisic acid metabolism in plants. After fractionation by high-speed countercurrent chromatography, and multiple steps of column chromatography, structures were elucidated by 1D-, 2D-NMR, electrospray-MS to be the novel beta-d-glucoside of (1'S,6'R)-8'-hydroxyabscisic acid, and (1'R,3'R,5'R,8'S)-epi-dihydrophaseic acid beta-d-glucoside. Absolute configuration was determined by circulardichroism, optical rotation, and by NOE experiments.     

alpha-Glucosidase inhibitory constituents from stem bark of Terminalia superba (Combretaceae)

The CH(2)Cl(2)/CH(3)OH (1/1) extract of the dried stem bark of Terminalia superba afforded two compounds, (7S,8R,7'R,8'S)-4'-hydroxy-4-methoxy-7,7'-epoxylignan and meso-(rel 7S,8R,7'R,8'S)-4,4'-dimethoxy-7,7'-epoxylignan along with 11 known compounds. The structures of the compounds were established by analysing the spectroscopic data and also comparing it with the data of previously known analogues. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for their glycosidase inhibition activities. Gallic acid and methyl gallate showed significant alpha-glucosidase inhibition activity.     

Configurational analysis of cubebins and bicubebin from Aristolochia lagesiana and Aristolochia pubescens

(8S,8'R,9S)-, (8R,8'R,9R)-, and (8R,8'R,9S)-cubebins, together with (8R,8'R,8'R,8'R,9R,9'S)-bicubebin, were isolated from Aristolochia lagesiana and Aristolochia pubescens. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, including 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy at low temperatures, and by chemical transformations.     

Novel chiral isoxazole derivatives: synthesis and pharmacological characterization at human beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes

Isoxazole derivative (+/-)-4 and the three pairs of stereoisomeric 3-bromo-isoxazolyl amino alcohols (S,R)-(-)-7a/(R,R)-(+)-7b, (S,R)-(-)-8a/(R,R)-(+)-8b, and (S,R)-(-)-9a/(R,R)-(+)-9b were synthesized and assayed for their affinity and efficacy at human beta(1)-, beta(2)-, and beta(3)-adrenergic receptors (beta-ARs) in membranes from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with the respective receptor subtype. Whereas derivative (+/-)-4 did not bind at all three beta-ARs, stereoisomers (S,R)-7a-(S,R)-9a behaved as high-affinity ligands at beta(1)- and, particularly, at beta(2)-ARs (K(i) 2.82-66.7 nM). The K(i) values of isomers (R,R)-7b-(R,R)-9b at beta(1)- and beta(2)-subtypes were about 30-100 times higher than those of their (S,R)-7a-9a counterparts, indicating a sizable stereochemical effect. The affinity at beta(3)-ARs was negligible for all the investigated compounds. When submitted to a functional assay, the three stereoisomeric pairs showed a comparable pattern of efficacy at all three beta-AR subtypes. The highest value of efficacy (75-90%) was observed at beta(2)-ARs, whereas all compounds behaved as partial agonists (30-60%) at the beta(3)-subtype. The lowest degree of efficacy (15-35%) was found at beta(1)-ARs. The affinity/efficacy profile of the derivatives under study has been compared with that of the two model compounds, Broxaterol [(+/-)-1] and BRL 37344 [(+/-)-6].