Steroid catechol degradation: disecoandrostane intermediates accumulated by Pseudomonas transposon mutant strains

Eleven transposon mutant strains affected in bile acid catabolism were each found to form yellow, muconic-like intermediates from bile acids. To characterize these unstable intermediates, media from the growth of one of these mutants with deoxycholic acid was treated with ammonia, then the crude product was methylated with diazomethane. Four compounds were subsequently isolated; spectral evidence suggested that they were methyl 12 alpha-hydroxy-3-oxo-23,24-dinorchola-1,4-dien-22-oate, methyl 4-aza-12 beta-hydroxy-9(10)-secoandrosta-1,3,5-triene-9,17-dione-3-carboxyl ate, 4-aza-9 alpha, 12 beta-dihydroxy-9(10)-secoandrosta-1,3,5-trien-17-one-3- methyl carboxylate and 4 alpha-[3'-propionic acid]-5-amino-7 beta-hydroxy-7 alpha beta-methyl- 3a alpha, 4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1-indanone-delta-lactam. It is proposed that the mutants are blocked in the utilization of such muconic-like compounds as the 3,12 beta-dihydroxy-5,9,17-trioxo-4(5),9(10)- disecoandrostal (10),2-dien-4-oic acid formed from deoxycholic acid. A further mutant was examined, which converted deoxycholic acid to 12 alpha-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-dien-3,17-dione, but accumulated yellow products from steroids which lacked a 12 alpha-hydroxy function, such as chenodeoxycholic acid. The products from the latter acid were treated as above; spectral evidence suggested that the two compounds isolated were methyl 4-aza-7-hydroxy-9(10)-secoandrosta-1,3,5- triene-9,17-dione-3-carboxylate and 4 alpha-[1'alpha-hydroxy-3'-propionic acid]-5-amino-7a beta-methyl-3a alpha,4,7,7a-tetrahydro-1-indanone-delta-lactam.     

Synthesis of methyl 3-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside and methyl 3-O-alpha-D-talopyranosyl-alpha-D-talopyranoside

Methyl 2-O-benzyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha- D-mannopyranoside (4) and methyl 2-O-benzyl-3-O-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (6) were prepared from a common intermediate, namely, methyl 2-O-benzyl-4,6-O-benzylidene-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D- mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside. On treatment with tert-butylchlorodiphenylsilane, in N,N-dimethylformamide in the presence of imidazole, 4 and 6 afforded methyl 2-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl -alpha-D- mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (7), and methyl 2-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-3-O-(6-O-tert- butyldiphenylsilyl-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-mannopyranoside (8), respectively. Compound 8 was converted into its 2,3-O-isopropylidene derivative (9), and oxidation of 7 and 9 with pyridinium chlorochromate, and reduction of the resulting carbonyl intermediates gave methyl 2-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-3-O-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl -alpha-D- mannopyranosyl)-alpha-D-talopyranoside and methyl 2-O-benzyl-6-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-3-O-(6-O-tert-butyldiphe nylsilyl- 2,3-O-isopropylidene-alpha-D-talopyranosyl)-alpha-D-talopyranoside , respectively. Removal of the protecting groups furnished the title disaccharides.     

Isolation of chlorogenic acids and their derivatives from Stemona japonica by preparative HPLC and evaluation of their anti-AIV (H5N1) activity in vitro

Two chlorogenic acids and five chlorogenic acid derivatives were simultaneously separated and purified from Stemona japonica by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Five of the collected compounds were over 95% pure while the other two compounds were over 90% pure. Their structures were elucidated as 3-O-feruloylquinic acid (1), 4-O-feruloylquinic acid (2), methyl 3-O-feruloylquinate (3), methyl 5-O-caffeyolquinate (4), methyl 4-O-feruloylquinate (5), ethyl 3-O-feruloylquinate (6) and the new compound ethyl 4-O-feruloylquinate (7) by UV, NMR and ESI-MS. All compounds were obtained from Stemona species for the first time, however compounds 6 and 7 are believed to be artefacts from the ethanol extraction. The anti-AIV (H5N1) activities were evaluated by Neutral Red uptake assay. Compounds 3 and 4 exerted moderate inhibitory effect against AIV (H5N1) in vitro.     

Synthesis of coenzyme A esters of 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy- and 3alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy-24-oxo-5beta-cholestan-26-oic acids for the study of beta-oxidation in bile acid biosynthesis

3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-Trihydroxy- and 3alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy-24-oxo-5beta-cholestan-26-oyl CoAs were chemically synthesized by the conventional method for the study of side chain cleavage in bile acid biosynthesis. 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-Triformyloxy- and 3alpha,7alpha-diformyloxy-5beta-cholan-24-als were initially subjected to the Reformatsky reaction with methyl alpha-bromopropionate, and the products were then converted into methyl 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-triformyloxy- and 3alpha,7alpha-diformyloxy-24-oxo-5beta-cholestan-26-oates. Protection by acetalization of the 24-oxo-group of these methyl esters with ethylene glycol, followed by alkaline hydrolysis, gave 3alpha,7alpha,12alpha-trihydroxy- and 3alpha,7alpha-dihydroxy-24,24-ethylenedioxy-5beta-cholestan-26-oic acids. These acids were condensed with coenzyme A by a mixed anhydride method, and the resulting CoA esters were treated with 4M-hydrocholic acid to remove the protecting group to give 24-oxo-5beta-cholestanoic acid CoA esters. The chromatographic behaviors of these CoA esters were also investigated.     

Chromenes of polyketide origin from Peperomia villipetiola

An extract of leaves and stems of Peperomia villipetiola has been found to contain myristicin (3-methoxy-4,5-methylenedioxy-allylbenzene) and seven chromenes, whose structures are methyl 5-hydroxy-7-methyl-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-chromene-6-carboxylate (1), methyl 5-methoxy-7-methyl-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-chromene-8-carboxylate (2), methyl 7-hydroxy-5-methyl-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-chromene-6-carboxylate (3), methyl 7-methoxy-5-methyl-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-chromene-6-carboxylate (4), 5-methanol-7-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-chromene-6-carboxylic acid (5), 5-methanol-7-methoxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-chromene-6-carboxylic acid (6), and methyl 5-acetoxymethanol-7-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-chromene-6-carboxylate (7). A biosynthetic rationale for 1-7 suggests that orsellinic acid may be a common intermediate. The anti-fungal activities of the chromenes were measured bioautographically against Cladosporium cladosporioides and Cladosporium sphaerospermum: compounds 6 and 7 were found to be the most active.     

Synthesis, the crystal structure, and high-resolution NMR spectroscopy of methyl 4-O-acetyl-3-azido-2,3,6-trideoxy-6-iodo-alpha-D-arabino-hexopyranoside

Selective tosylation followed by acetylation of methyl 3-azido-2,3-dideoxy-alpha-D-arabino-hexopyranoside (1) in pyridine at room temperature affords a mixture of methyl 4-O-acetyl-3-azido-2,3-dideoxy-6-di-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-alpha-D-arabino-hexopyranoside (4) and methyl 3-azido-2,3-dideoxy-4,6-di-O-p-tolylsulfonyl-alpha-D-arabino-hexopyranoside (3). Compound 4 undergoes nucleophilic displacement with sodium iodide in acetic anhydride to give methyl 4-O-acetyl-3-azido-2,3,6-trideoxy-6-iodo-alpha-D-arabino-hexopyranoside (7), whose crystal structure and (1H) and (13)C NMR data are reported. This compound adopts the 4C(1) conformation.     

Effects of some prostaglandin E1 analogues on guinea pig and human respiratory tract

The effects of (a) 4, 5, 6-trinor-3, 7-inter-m-phenylene PGE1 methyl ester, (b) 4, 5, 6 trinor-3, 7-inter-m-phenylene 3 oxa PGE1 and (c) 4, 5, 6 trinor-3, 7-inter-m-phenylene 3 oxa PGE1 methyl ester on human and guinea pig respiratory tract muscle in vitro and in vivo have been studied. All the analogues relaxed the isolated preparations of guinea-pig tracheal chain, human tracheal, bronchial and bronchiolar muscles and decreased histamine-induced lung resistance in the anaesthetised guinea pig. On some preparations the effects of the analogues were more pronounced than those of PGE1. The results suggest that some of the inter-m-phenylene analogues of PGE1 may be bronchodilators in asthmatics.     

Substrate specificity of an α-amino acid ester hydrolase produced by Acetobacter turbidans A.T.C.C. 9325

A partially purified preparation of an alpha-amino acid ester hydrolase was obtained from Acetobacter turbidans A.T.C.C. 9325, which catalyses synthesis of 7-(d-alpha-amino-alpha-phenylacetamido)-3-cephem-3-methyl-4- carboxylic acid (cephalexin) from methyl d-alpha-aminophenylacetate and 7-amino-3-deacetoxycephalosporanic acid. The enzyme preparation catalysed both cephalosprin synthesis from 7-amino-3-deacetoxycephalosporanic acid and suitable amino acid esters (e.g. methyl d-alpha-aminophenylacetate, l-cysteine methyl ester, glycine ethyl ester, d-alanine methyl ester, methyl dl-alpha-aminoiso-butyrate, l-serine methyl ester, d-leucine methyl ester, l-methionine methyl ester) and the hydrolysis of such esters. The substrate specificity of the enzyme preparation for the hydrolysis closely paralleled the acyl-donor specificity for cephalosporin synthesis, even to the reaction rates. Only alpha-amino acid derivatives could act as acyl donors. The hydrogen atom on the alpha-carbon atom was not always required by acyl donors. The hydrolysis rate was markedly diminished by adding 7-amino-3-deacetoxycephalosporanic acid to reaction mixtures, but no effect on the total reaction rate (the hydrolysis rate plus synthesis rate) was observed with various concentrations of 7-amino-3-deacetoxycephalosporanic acid. Both the hydrolytic and the synthetic activities of the enzyme preparation were inhibited by high concentrations of some acyl donors (e.g. methyl d-alpha-aminophenylacetate, ethyl d-alpha-aminophenylacetate). The enzyme preparation hydrolysed alpha-amino acid esters much more easily than alpha-amino acid derivatives with an acid-amide bond.     

Novel azido fatty acid ester derivatives from conjugated C(18) enynoate.

Methyl octadec-11Z-en-9-ynoate (1) was epoxidized to give methyl 11,12-Z-epoxy-octadec-9-ynoate (2, 81%). Acid catalyzed ring opening of the epoxy ring of compound 2 gave methyl 11,12-dihydroxy-octadec-9-ynoate (3, 80%). The latter was treated with mesyl chloride to yield methyl 11,12-dimesyloxy-octadec-9-ynoate (4, 76%). Reaction of compound 4 with sodium azide furnished methyl 11-azido-12-mesyloxy-octadec-9-ynoate (5a, 49%) and methyl 11-azido-octadec-11E-en-9-ynoate (5b, 24%). Compound 2 was semi-hydrogenated over Lindlar catalyst to give methyl 11,12-Z-epoxy-octadec-9Z-enoate (6, 90%). This allylic epoxy fatty ester (6) was reacted with sodium azide to give a mixture of methyl 11-azido-12-hydroxy-octadec-9Z-enoate (7a) and methyl 9-azido-12-hydroxy-octadec-9E-enoate (7b), which could not be separated into individual components by silica chromatography. Chromic acid oxidation of the mixture of compounds 7a and 7b furnished methyl 9-azido-12-oxo-octadec-10E-enoate (8, 42% based on amount of compound 6 used) and an intractable mixture of polar compounds. The various products were characterized by NMR spectroscopic and mass spectral analyses.     

DBU assisted expeditious synthesis of glycosyl dienes via glycosylated beta-hydroxy esters

DBU catalyzed condensation of 3-O-benzyl(methyl)-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-beta-L-threo-hept-4-enofuranuronates with different aldehydes produces the corresponding 3-O-benzyl(methyl)-6-carbethoxy-5,6-dideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-7-phenyl-beta-L-threo-hept-4-enofuranoses. The latter on treatment with methanesulfonyl chloride followed by DBU catalyzed E2 reaction of the methanesulfonyloxy intermediates gave the respective 3-O-benzyl(methyl)-6-carbethoxy-5,6,7-trideoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-7-phenyl-beta-L-threo-hept-4,6-dienofuranose in moderate to good yields.     

Preparation of piperazine derivatives as 5-HT7 receptor antagonists

Twenty-four compounds of 4-methoxy-N-[3-(4-substituted phenyl-piperazine-1-yl)propyl] benzene sulfonamides and N-[3-(4-substituted phenyl-piperazine-1-yl)propyl] naphthyl sulfonamides were prepared and evaluated as 5-HT(7) receptor antagonists. Most of the compounds showed the IC(50) values of 12-580nM. Four methyl branched analogues were also obtained, but the activity for methyl branched analogues was almost same as its straight chain congeners. Among the synthesized compounds, 3c showed a good activity on 5-HT(7) receptors and a good selectivity on 5-HT(1a), 5-HT(2a), 5-HT(2c), and 5-HT(6) receptors.     

Synthesis of imidazoline and imidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazole aryl derivatives containing the methylthio group as possible antibacterial agents

1-Arylimidazolidine-2-thiones (1a-g) were synthesized by the condensation reaction of N-arylethylenediamines with carbon disulfide in xylene medium. Their further alkylation with methyl iodide led to the formation of some biologically active 1-aryl-2-methylthio-imidazolines (2a-g). The 7-(4-methylphenyl)-3-methylthio-5H-6,7-dihydroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazole (4b) was obtained by the alkylation of the respective 7-(4-methylphenyl)-2,5,6,7-tetrahydroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazol-3(H)-thione (3b) with methyl iodide. Antimicrobial activities of 1-aryl-2-methylthio-imidazolines (2a-g) and the 7-(4-methylphenyl)-3- methylthio-5H-6,7-dihydroimidazo[2,1-c][1,2,4]triazole (4b) are presented. All tested compounds showed MIC in the range of 11.0-89.2 microM. Compounds 2a,e were found to be equipotent to chloramphenicol in vitro, whereas 2a,c,e-g and 4b showed superior activity (MIC) to ampicillin.     

天山棱子芹化学成分的研究

从天山棱子芹中首次分离得到15个已知化合物,通过NMR、MS及IR等波谱数据,分别鉴定为6,7-二羟基香豆素(1),( )-marmesin(2),marmesinin(3),5,7,4'-三羟基黄酮(4),莰非醇3-O-α-L-吡喃鼠李糖甙(5),藤黄菌素3'-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙(6),(R)-6-hydroxy-3-(2-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-6-methylcyclohex-2-enone(7),4-羟基苯甲酸(8),3-甲氧基4羟基苯甲酸(9),3-甲氧基-4,5-亚甲二氧基苯甲酸(10),丁香酸甲酯(11),丁香酸甲酯4-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙(12),姜油酮4’-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖甙(13),2-(4-羟基苯基)-乙醇(14)和正二十八醇(15)。其中化合物7为一新的天然产物。     

Microwave-assisted synthesis of 4'-azaflavones and their N-alkyl derivatives with biological activities

4'-Azaflavone (=2-(pyridin-4-yl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one; 4) and 3-[(pyridin-4-yl)methyl]-4'-azaflavone (5) were synthesized by a simple environmentally friendly microwave-assisted one-pot method through the cyclization of 3-hydroxy-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)propan-1-one (1), (E)-2'-hydroxy-4-azachalcone (2; chalcone=1,3-diphenylprop-2-en-1-one), and 2'-hydroxy-2-[(hydroxy)(pyridin-4-yl)methyl]-4'-azachalcone (3) under solventless conditions using silica-supported NaHSO(4), followed by treatment with base. In addition, N-alkyl-substituted 4'-azaflavonium bromides 6 and 7 were prepared from compounds 4 and 5, respectively. The antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of compounds 1-7 were tested. The N-alkyl-substituted 4'-azaflavonium bromides 6 and 7 showed high antimicrobial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria and the fungus tested, with MIC values close to those of reference antimicrobials ampicilline and fluconazole. The alkylated compounds 6 and 7 also showed a good antioxidant character in the two antioxidant methods, DPPH (=1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical-scavenging and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) tests.     

Synthesis and stereochemistry of 7β- and 7α-amino-, acetamido-, hemisuccinamido- and terephthalamido derivatives of testosterone

The reduction of 3-ethylenedioxy-7-oximino-5-androsten-17β-yl acetate and of its 17β-tetrahydropyranyl ether analog with sodium in ethanol, followed by thin-layer chromatography, allowed the isolation of the corresponding 17β-hydroxy- and 17β-tetrahydropyranyioxy-5-en-7β- and 7α-amines which were also characte-rized as 7-acetamides. The acylation of the two epimeric 17β-hydroxy-5-en-7-amines with succinic anhydride followed by selective saponification of the 17β-hemisuccinate group and diazomethane esterification, gave the corresponding 17β-hydroxy-5-en-7β- and 7α-hemisuccinamido methyl esters characterized also as 17β-acetates. On the other hand, the acylation of the two 17β-tetrahydropyranyl-oxy-5-en-7-amines with the acid chloride of terephthalic acid monomethyi ester led to the more rigid 7β- and 7α-terephthalamido methyl ester side-chains. The acidolysis of the 3-ethyleneketal protecting group of the preceding 5-en-7-N-acyl derivatives regenerated the 4-en-3-oxo function while the 17β-tetrahydropyranyl ether group was cleaved simultaneously into the 17β-alcohol. The four desired 7β- and 7α-hemisuccinamido- and terephthalamido carboxylic side-chain derivatives of 17β-hydroxy-4-androsten-3-one (testosterone) were finally obtained by saponification of the corresponding methyl esters.     

New Withanolides from Nicandra physaloides (Solanaceae)

Two new withanolides, named nicandrenone methyl ether (1), 26S nicandrenone methyl ether (2), together with ten known compounds were isolated from the whole plants of Nicandra physaloides (Solanaceae). Their chemical structures were deduced on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Ten known compounds were identified as nicandrenone (3), Nic-7 (4), nicaphysalin E (5), pinosylvin monomethyl ether (6), 2S-pinocembrin (7), (1S, 2R)-1, 2-bis (4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1, 3-propanediol (8), vanillin (9), indole-3-carboxylic acid (10), vanillic acid (11) and drummondol (12).     

Bile acids. LXIV. Synthesis of 5α-cholestane-3α,7α,25-triol and esters of new 5α-bile acids

Interest in the structural requirements of a sterol or bile acid for maximal activity by an hepatic microsomal steroid 12α-hydroxylase prompted the preparation of 5α-cholestane-3α, 7α, 25-triol and 5α-analogs of 3α, 7α-dihydroxy-5β-cholane-24-carboxylic acid. Methyl 3α, 7α-dihydroxy-5β-cholane-24-carboxylate derived from methyl chenodeoxycholate via the Arndt-Eistert reaction was allomerized with Raney nickel in boiling p-cymene to provide a number of products of which methyl 3,7-dioxo-5β- and 5α-cholane-24-carboxylates, methyl 3-oxo-7α-hydroxy-5β-and 5α-cholane-24-carboxylates, were identified. Reduction with K-Selectride of methyl 3-oxo-7α-hydroxy-5β-cholane-24-carboxylate, provided a high yield of methyl 3α, 7α-dihydroxy-5α-cholane-24-carboxylate. Treatment of this ester with an excess of methyl magnesium iodide afforded 5α-cholestane-3α, 7α, 25-triol. The products were characterized by thin-layer and gas liquid chromatography, proton resonance, infrared and mass spectrometry.     

Chemical synthesis of the 3-sulfooxy-7-N-acetylglucosaminyl-24-amidated conjugates of 3beta,7beta-dihydroxy-5-cholen-24-oic acid, and related compounds: unusual, major metabolites of bile acid in a patient with Niemann-Pick disease type C1

The chemical synthesis of 3beta,7beta-dihydroxy-5-cholen-24-oic acid, triply conjugated by sulfuric acid at C-3, by N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) at C-7, and by glycine or taurine at C-24, is described. These are unusual, major metabolites of bile acid found to be excreted in the urine of a patient with Niemann-Pick disease type C1. Analogous double-conjugates of 3beta-hydroxy-7-oxo-5-cholen-24-oic acid were also prepared. The principal reactions involved were: (1) beta-d-N-acetylglucosaminidation at C-7 of methyl 3beta-tert-butyldimethylsilyloxy (TBDMSi)-7beta-hydroxy-5-cholen-24-oate with 2-acetamido-1alpha-chloro-1,2-dideoxy-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-d-glucopyranose in the presence of CdCO(3) in boiling toluene; (2) sulfation at C-3 of the resulting 3beta-TBDMSi-7beta-GlcNAc with sulfur trioxide-trimethylamine complex in pyridine; and (3) direct amidation at C-24 of the 3beta-sulfooxy-7beta-GlcNAc conjugate with glycine methyl ester hydrochloride (or taurine) using 4-(4,6-dimethoxy-1,3,5-triazin-2-yl)-4-methylmorpholinium chloride as a coupling agent in DMF. The structures of the multi-conjugated bile acids were characterized by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization probe under the positive and negative ionization modes.     

Reductive activation of the methyl coenzyme M methylreductase system of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum delta H.

When titanium(III) citrate was used as electron donor for the reduction of methyl coenzyme M by the methyl coenzyme M methylreductase system of Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum delta H, component A1 was no longer required. The simpler system thus obtained required components A2, A3, and C as well as catalytic amounts of ATP, vitamin B12, and the disulfide of 7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate in addition to titanium(III) citrate. This three component enzyme system also could produce CH4 when stoichiometric amounts of 7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate were used as a source of electrons under an H2 atmosphere. When 7-mercaptoheptanoylthreonine phosphate or H2 was used alone no CH4 was produced, indicating a dual requirement for reducing equivalents: one to activate the methylreductase system and the other to reduce methyl coenzyme M. This is the first evidence that the activation of methyl coenzyme M methylreductase is a reductive process.     

Synthesis and SAR studies of bis-chromenone derivatives for anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cells

A novel family of 3-((4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)methyl)-4H-chromen-4-one (bis-chromone) derivatives were designed, synthesized and studied for their anti-cancer activity using the XTT assay for the growth inhibition against various human cancer cells. Among them, 3-((5-(cyclohexylmethoxy)-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)methyl)-7-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one and 3-((5-(cyclohexylmethoxy)-4-oxo-4H-chromen-3-yl)methyl)-7-hydroxy-4H-chromen-4-one showed micromolar level of in vitro anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cell lines. The SAR studies indicated bis-chromone as a basic scaffold to design anticancer agents. The 5-cyclohexylmethoxy on the first chromenone ring and electron donating group such as CH₃, OCH₃ or hydrogen bonding group (OH) on the other chromenone ring of bis-chromone increased the activity. However, saturation of one of chromenone to chromanone in bis-chromones decreased the activity.