Preparation of 6,6,1',1',6',6'-hexadeutero sucrose

The preparation of 6,6,1',1',6',6'-hexadeutero sucrose is reported. The synthesis is based on a triple oxidation of a protected sucrose 6,1',6'-triol to the corresponding 6,1',6'-tricarboxylic acid or ester, followed by reduction with lithium aluminium deuteride. This triple oxidation could be achieved either using cat. TEMPO-NaOCl (to the acid) or PDC-Ac(2)O-t-BuOH (to the t-butyl carboxylic ester).     

Mechanisms of inactivation of human S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase by 5',5',6',6'-tetradehydro-6'-deoxy-6'-halohomoadenosines

In an effort to design more specific and potent inhibitors of S-adenosylhomocysteine (AdoHcy) hydrolase, we investigated the mechanisms by which 5',5',6', 6'-tetradehydro-6'-deoxy-6'-halohomoadenosines (X = Cl, Br, I) inactivated this enzyme. The 6'-chloro (a) and 6'-bromo (b) acetylenic nucleoside analogues produced partial ( approximately 50%) loss of enzyme activity with a concomitant ( approximately 50%) reduction of E-NAD(+) to E-NADH. In addition, Ade and halide ions were released from the inhibitors in amounts suggestive of a process involving enzyme catalysis. AdoHcy hydrolase, which was inactivated with compound a, was shown to contain 2 mol of the inhibitor covalently bound to Lys318 of two subunits of the homotetramer. These data suggest that the enzyme-mediated water addition at the 5' position of compound a or b produces an alpha-halomethyl ketone intermediate, which is then attacked by a proximal nucleophile (i.e., Lys318) to form the enzyme-inhibitor covalent adduct (lethal event); in a parallel pathway (nonlethal event), addition of water at the 6' position produces an acyl halide, which is released into solution and chemically degrades into Ade, halide ion, and sugar-derived products. In contrast, compound c completely inactivated AdoHcy hydrolase by converting 2 equiv of E-NAD(+) to E-NADH and causing the release of 2 equiv of E-NAD(+) into solution. Four moles of the inhibitor was shown to be tightly bound to the tetrameric enzyme. These data suggest that compound c inactivates AdoHcy hydrolase by a mechanism similar to the acetylenic analogue of Ado described previously by Parry et al. [(1991) Biochemistry 30, 9988-9997].     

Synthesis, topoisomerase I inhibition and antitumor cytotoxicity of 2,2':6',2"-, 2,2':6',3"- and 2,2':6',4"-terpyridine derivatives

For the development of new anticancer agents, 2,2':6',2"-, 2,2':6',3"- and 2,2':6',4"-terpyridine derivatives were designed and evaluated for their topoisomerase I inhibitory activity and antitumor cytotoxicity. Structure-activity relationship studies indicated that 2,2':6',2"-terpyridine derivatives were highly cytotoxic toward several human tumor cell lines, whereas 2,2':6',3"- and 2,2':6',4"-terpyridine derivatives were potent topoisomerase I inhibitors.     

Cyclic acetals of 4,1',6'-trichloro-4,1',6'-trideoxy-galacto-sucrose and their conversion into methyl ether derivatives

The acid-catalysed reaction of 4,1',6'-trichloro-4,1',6'-trideoxy-galacto- sucrose (1) with 5.5 equiv. of 2-methoxypropene in N,N-dimethylformamide followed by acetylation gave 3',4'-di-O-acetyl-4,1',6'-trichloro-4,1',6'-trideoxy-2,3-O- isopropylidene-6-O-(1-methoxy-1-methylethyl)-galacto-sucrose (2, 2%), 6,3',4'- tri- O-acetyl-4,1',6'-trichloro-4,1',6'-trideoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-galacto -sucrose (3, 31%), 3',4'-di-O-acetyl-4,1',6'-trichloro-4,1',6'-trideoxy-2,3-O- isopropylidene- galacto-sucrose (4, 38%), 3'-O-acetyl-4,1',6'-trichloro-4,1',6'-trideoxy-2,3-O- isopropylidene- galacto-sucrose (5, 13%), and 2,3',4'-tri-O-acetyl-4,1',6'-trichloro- 4,1',6'-trideoxy-galacto-sucrose (6, 13%). Methylation of 4 followed by removal of the protecting groups gave 4,1',6'-trichloro-4,1',6'-trideoxy-6-O-methyl- galacto- sucrose (8). 4,1',6'-Trichloro-4,1',6'-trideoxy-3-O-methyl-galacto-sucrose (11) was synthesised from 6 by preferential tert-butyldiphenylsilylation of HO-6 followed by methylation and removal of the protecting groups. Likewise, 4,1',6'-trichloro- 4,1',6'-trideoxy-4'-O-methyl-galacto-sucrose (14) was synthesised from 5. Treatment of 3 with aqueous acetic acid followed by methylation and removal of the protecting groups afforded 4,1',6'-trichloro-4,1'6'-trideoxy-2,3-di-O-methyl- galacto-sucrose (17).     

Effects of molecular substitution patterns on the cytochrome P-450-dependent metabolism of 2,2',3,5,5',6- and 2,2',3,4,4',6-hexachlorobiphenyl by rat liver microsomal monooxygenases

The metabolism by rat hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases of several model substrates that are specific for individual isoforms of cytochrome P-450 and the metabolism by these monooxygenases of two structurally related isomers of hexachlorobiphenyl was studied. The most striking result was that 2,2',3,5,5',6-hexachlorobiphenyl was metabolised in vitro at the rate of 4.5 pmol/mg microsomal protein per min, whereas the other isomer 2,2',3,4,4',6-hexachlorobiphenyl was not metabolised at detectable rates. This finding provides strong evidence for a regioselective oxidative attack by cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase with preferential insertion of oxygen at meta-para unsubstituted carbon atoms. Investigations into the mechanism of this oxidative attack suggest that the ortho hydrogen atom at carbon atom C-6' of 2,2',3,4,4',6-hexachlorobiphenyl was associated with a lower charge (0.075 e) compared with the meta or para hydrogen atoms at carbon atom C-3' and C-4' of 2,2',3,5,5',6-hexachlorobiphenyl (0.086 e). In addition, measurement of the main C-C bond length using MOPAC calculations and X-ray crystalographic data suggests significant differences in the bond-length distance, with the main bond lengths of 1.390, 1.385 and 1.374 A, respectively, for bridgehead to ortho (C1-C2), for ortho to meta (C2-C3), and for meta to para bonds. These results provide evidence that the preferential meta-para oxidative attack is linked to a shorter carbon-carbon bond length and a more positive charge distribution of the corresponding hydrogen atoms.     

5',6'-dehydroguiachrysine and 5',6'-dehydroguiaflavine, two curarizing quaternary indole alkaloids from the stem bark of Strychnos guianensis

Two new quaternary indole alkaloids 5',6'-dehydroguiachrysine (1) and 5',6'-dehydroguiaflavine (2) were isolated from Strychnos guianensis stem bark. Their structures were determined by analysis of spectral data. Their inhibitory effects on neuromuscular transmission are also reported and compared to that of other quaternary alkaloids.     

Non-covalent interaction of 2', 4', 5', 7'-tetrabromo-4, 5, 6, 7-tetrachlorofluorescein with proteins and its application

The interactions of 2', 4', 5', 7'-tetrabromo-4, 5, 6, 7-tetrachlorofluorescein (TBTCF) with BSA, ovalbumin (OVA) and poly-L-lysine (PLYS) at pH 3.70 have been investigated by combination of the spectral correction technique and the Langmuir isothermal adsorption. The active connection actions such as ion pairs, van der Waals' force, hydrogen bond, hydrophobic bond were proposed to explain the non-covalent interaction between TBTCF and BSA, OVA and PLYS. Effects of the electrolyte and high temperature indicated that union of the active connections between TBTCF and BSA and OVA was too firm to be destroyed. The relationship between the binding number of TBTCF and variety fraction of the amino acid residues was analyzed. The binding number of TBTCF depended on the number of positively charged amino acid residues. The other amino acid residues surrounded and seized TBTCF by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic bonds when the electrostatic attraction pulled TBTCF to link protein. In addition, a novel method named the absorbance ratio difference was established for determination of protein in trace level and was applied with much higher sensitivity than the ordinary method.     

Synthesis of novel 2-phenylsulfonylhydrazono-3-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)thiazolidine-4-ones from thiosemicarbazide precursors

To develop novel biologically active organic compounds possessing a sugar moiety, a series of 2-phenylsulfonylhydrazono-3-(2',3',4',6'-tetra-O-acetyl-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)thiazolidine-4-one were synthesized via reaction of the thiosemicarbazide with ethyl bromoacetate. Their chemical structures were characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and MS. The bioassay results indicated that some of these compound exhibit moderate fungicidal and herbicidal activities. Furthermore, the effect of various solvents at reflux temperature on the reactions of ethyl bromoacetate with the related thiosemicarbazides was investigated.     

Selective deprotection of 2',6'-di-O-benzyl-2,3:5,6:3',4'-tri-O-isopropylidenelactose dimethyl acetal

The reactivity order of O-deisopropylidenation of the three isopropylidene protecting groups of 2',6'-di-O-benzyl-2,3:5,6:3',4'-tri-O-isopropylidenelactose dimethyl acetal (2) with various reagents was established. The 5,6-acetal group was, although to a limited extent, more reactive as compared with the 3',4' group, while the 2,3-O-isopropylidene group was definitely less reactive. Conditions were determined for the direct preparation of the 5,6,3',4'-tetraol 5 (60% aqueous acetic acid, room temperature, 48 h, 73% yield) and the 5,6-diol 4 (propylene glycol and p-toluenesulphonic acid in dichloromethane, 46% yield). The diacetonated derivative 3, formally arising from a selective 3',4'-O-deisopropylidenation, was obtained in high yield (90%) through a selective acetonation with 2-methoxypropene of the tetraol 5.     

Synthesis and evaluation of 2',4',6'-trihydroxychalcones as a new class of tyrosinase inhibitors

In this study, we synthesized a series of hydroxychalcones and examined their tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The results showed that 2',4',6'-trihydroxychalcone (1), 2,2',3,4',6'-pentahydroxychalcone (4), 2',3,4,4',5,6'-hexahydroxychalcone (5), 2',4',6'-trihydroxy- 3,4-dimethoxychalcone (9) and 2,2',4,4',6'-pentahydroxychalcone (15) exhibited high inhibitory effects on tyrosinase with respect to l-tyrosine as a substrate. By the structure-activity relationship study, it was suggested that the 2',4',6'-trihydroxyl substructure in the chalcone skeleton were efficacious for the inhibition of tyrosinase activity. And also, the catechol structure on B-ring of chalcones was not advantageous for the inhibitory potency. Furthermore, 15 (IC(50)=1microM) was found to show the highest activity out of a set of 15 hydroxychalcones, even better than both 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxychalcone (13, IC(50)=5microM) and kojic acid (16, IC(50)=12microM), which were known as potent tyrosinase inhibitors. Kinetic study revealed that 15 acts as a competitive inhibitor of tyrosinase with K(i) value of 3.1microM.     

Biotransformations of 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin and 6',7'-epoxybergamottin by the citrus-pathogenic fungi diminish cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitory activity

Penicillium digitatum, as well as five other citrus pathogenic species, (Penicillium ulaiense Link, Geotrichum citri Link, Botrytis cinerea P. Micheli ex Pers., Lasiodiplodia theobromae (Pat.) Griffon & Maubl., and Phomopsis citri (teleomorph Diaporthe citri)) were observed to convert 6',7'-epoxybergamottin (1) into 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin (2), bergaptol (3), and an opened lactone ring metabolite 6,7-furano-5-(6',7'-dihydroxy geranyloxy)-2-hydroxy-hydrocoumaric acid (4). Metabolism of 2 by these fungi also proceeded to 4. The structure of 4 was established by high resolution mass spectrometry and (1)H and (13)C NMR techniques. The inhibitory activity of 4 towards human intestinal cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) was greatly decreased (IC(50) >172.0 μM) compared to 2 (IC(50)=0.81 μM).     

Acylated 5,7,2',6'-oxygenated flavone glycosides from Andrographis alata

Five acylated 5,7,2',6'-oxygenated flavone glycosides along with the known 5,2',6'-trihydroxy-7-methoxyflavone-2'-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside have been isolated from the whole plant of Andrographis alata. The structures of the compounds were established from spectral (mainly 1D and 2D NMR) and chemical studies.     

An experimental and theoretical approach to 5alpha-cholestan-6-spiro-1',2',4'-triazolidine-3'-one

The 5alpha-cholestan-6-one semicarbazone (1) on reaction with hydrogen peroxide at 0 degrees C affords selectively 5alpha-cholestan-6-spiro-1',2',4'-triazolidine-3'-one. (2) The structural assignment of the product was confirmed on the basis of its elemental, analytical and spectral analysis. The Hartree-Fock method using 6-31G* basis set was employed in order to explore the reaction mechanism. The results of the computational study show that the reaction proceeds through two radical intermediates formation. The different characteristics involved during the reaction were explained, firstly, the lower energy conformation of each molecule using total energy, hardness and dipole moment, and secondly, the explanation of the free radical mechanism, using frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory, encoded electrostatic potential, spin electronic density and atomic charges. The localization of highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) or alpha-HOMO, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) or alpha-LUMO and the flow of atomic charges are in good agreement to support the present mechanism of the reaction. Stability and feasibility of all the optimized structures were supported by their respective fundamental frequencies and energy minima.