The unusual canangafruticosides A-E: Five monoterpene glucosides, two monoterpenes and a monoterpene glucoside diester of the aryldihydronaphthalene lignan dicarboxylic acid from leaves of Cananga odorata var. fruticosa

From the leaves of Cananga odorata var. fruticosa, five unusual monoterpene glucosides, named canangafruticosides A-E (1-5), along with two unusual non-glucosidic monoterpenes (6, 7) were isolated. An aryldihydronaphthalene-type lignan dicarboxylate (8) was also isolated, with two moles of canangafruticoside A (1) on its ester moiety. This lignan also showed strong blue fluorescence emission under basic conditions. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods, with their absolute configurations determined by application of the modified Mosher’s method to a compound chemically derived from canangafruticoside E.     

Molecular modeling and UV-vis spectroscopic studies on the mechanism of action of reversed chloroquine (RCQ)

Reversed chloroquine (RCQ) is a multiple ligand compound active against chloroquine-sensitive and resistant falciparum malaria. It is composed by a 4-aminoquinoline moiety (like that present in chloroquine (CQ)) joined to imipramine (IMP), a modulating agent that also showed intrinsic antiplasmodial activity against Brazilian Plasmodium falciparum isolates resistant to CQ. Molecular modeling and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis) studies strongly suggest that the interaction between RCQ and heme is predominant through the quinoline moiety in a mechanism of action similar to that observed for CQ.     

Synthesis, crystal structures and properties of substituted-pyridyl functionalized bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene derivatives and their corresponding Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes

Three substituted-pyridyl functionalized bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene (BEDT-TTF) derivatives 1-3 and their corresponding Ni(II) and Co(II) complexes have been synthesized and characterized. Their electrochemical properties in CH₂Cl₂ solution have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and two reversible single-electron oxidation waves for the TTF moiety are observed. Crystal structure analyses were carried out for compound 2 as well as for the Co(II) complex of 1 (7).     

Phytotoxic constituents from Nimbya alternantherae

A phytotoxic compound identified as 6-(3,3-dimethylallyloxy)-4-methoxy-5-methylphthalide (1), was isolated from the phytopathogenic fungus Nimbya alternantherae, cultivated on solid media. Catalytic hydrogenation of 1 resulted in the quantitative formation of second compound (2). Both compounds (1, 2) act by inhibiting the ATP synthesis in spinach thylakoids. A detailed investigation on the mechanism of action indicates that compound 1 acts as a Hill reaction inhibitor and uncoupler of photosynthesis.     

Chemical aromatization of 19-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione with acid or alkaline: Elimination of the 19-hydroxymethyl group as formaldehyde

In order to determine whether or not a 19-hydroxymethyl group of 19-hydroxyandrosta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (2, 19-hydroxy ADD), an intermediate of aromatase-catalyzed estrone formation from ADD, a suicide substrate of aromatase, is eliminated as formaldehyde, we examine chemical nature of removal of the 19-hydroxymethyl group. 19-Acetate 3 and 19-tert-butyldimethylsiloxy compound 4 are known to convert rapidly to estrone with treatment of NaOH or n-Bu₄NF. Since compound 2 was unstable and unobtainable under these conditions, compounds 3 and 4 as equivalents to compound 2 were used in this study. The acetate 3 with 5 mol/l HCl in acetone and 10% KOH in MeOH along with the silyl ether 4 with 5 mol/l HCl in acetone and 1 mol/l n-Bu₄NF in THF gave formaldehyde and estrone in which a ratio of the aldehyde to estrone was near 1. This result indicates that the 19-hydroxymethyl groups of compound 3 and 4 are eliminated as formaldehyde along with estrone derived from the steroid skeleton under the acid or base treatment. The findings suggest that a single hydroxylation at the 19 carbon of ADD (1) would be, chemically, all that was required for estrone formation.     

Nortriterpenoids and lignans from Schisandra sphenanthera

Nortriterpenoids, sphenadilactone C (1) and sphenasin A (2), together with four known lignans (3-6), were isolated from the leaves and stems of Schisandra sphenanthera. Their structures were elucidated by extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data and compound 2 was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Compound 1 features a partial enol moiety and an acetamide group in its structure. In addition, compounds 1, 3-6 showed weak anti-HIV-1 activity with EC₅₀ values in the range of 15.5-29.5 μg/mL.     

Pyrinodemins E and F, new 3-alkylpyridine alkaloids from sponge Amphimedon sp

Two new 3-alkylpyridine alkaloids, pyrinodemins E (1) and F (2), were isolated from an Okinawan marine sponge Amphimedon sp. and the structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Pyrinodemins E (1) and F (2) were novel 3-alkylpyridine alkaloids possessing a 4-(methoxyamino)piperidinone moiety and an indol-3-glyoxylamide moiety, respectively. Pyrinodemin E (1) showed cytotoxicity against P388 and L1210 murine leukemia cells.     

Mn(II) coordination architectures with mixed ligands of 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole and carboxylic acids bearing different secondary coordination donors and pendant skeletons

In our efforts to investigate the factors that affect the formation of coordination architectures, such as secondary coordination donors and pendant skeletons of the carboxylic acid ligands, as well as H-bonding and other weak interactions, two kinds of ligands: (a) 3-(2-pyridyl)pyrazole (L¹) with a non-coordinated N atom as a H-bonding donor, a 2,2′-bipyridyl-like chelating ligand, and (b) four carboxylic ligands with different secondary coordination donors and/or pendant skeletons, 1,4-benzenedicarboxylic acid (H₂L²), 4-sulfobenzoic acid (H₂L³), quinoline-4-carboxylic acid (HL⁴) and fumaric acid (H₂L⁵), have been selected to react with Mn(II) salts, and five new complexes, [Mn(L¹)₂(SO₄)]₂ (1), [Mn(L¹)₂(L²)]_∞ (2), [Mn(L¹)(HL³)₂]_∞ (3), Mn(L¹)₂(L⁴)₂ (4), and [Mn(L¹)₂(L⁵)]_∞ (5), have been obtained and structurally characterized. The structural differences of 1-5 can be attributed to the introduction of the different carboxylic acid ligands (H₂L², H₂L³, HL⁴, and H₂L⁵) with different secondary coordination donors and pendant skeletons, respectively. This result also reveals that the typical H-bonding (i.e. N-H?O and O-H?O) and some other intra- or inter-molecular weak interactions, such as C-H?O weak H-bonding and π?π interactions, often play important roles in the formation of supramolecular aggregates, especially in the aspect of linking the multi-nuclear discrete subunits or low-dimensional entities into high-dimensional supramolecular networks.     

Inhibition of P-glycoprotein-mediated Multidrug Resistance (MDR) by N,N-bis(cyclohexanol)amine aryl esters: further restriction of molecular flexibility maintains high potency and efficacy

Conformational modulation of the aryl portion of a set of N,N-bis(cyclohexanol)amine aryl esters (1a-d) that are potent Pgp-dependent MDR inhibitors has been performed. Toward this end the trans-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)acrylic acid present in set 1 was substituted with 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propanoic and 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propiolic moieties to give sets 2 and 3, respectively. While the introduction of 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propanoic moiety resulted in a definite drop in potency and efficacy, esterification with 3-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)propiolic acid gave four isomers (3a-d) that maintain high potency and possess optimal efficacy. These results are discussed in terms of conformational flexibility of the different sets of compounds.     

Tetra-acylated cyanidin 3-sophoroside-5-glucosides from the flowers of Iberis umbellata L. (Cruciferae)

The structures of 11 acylated cyanidin 3-sophoroside-5-glucosides (pigments 1-11), isolated from the flowers of Iberis umbellata cultivars (Cruciferae), were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods. Pigments 1-11 were acylated with malonic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid and/or glucosylhydroxycinnamic acids.Pigments 1-11 were classified into four groups by the substitution patterns of the linear acylated residues at the 3-position of the cyanidin. In the first group, pigments 1-3 were determined to be cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(acyl)-β-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-β-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-β-glucopyranoside], in which the acyl moiety varied with none for pigment 1, ferulic acid for pigment 2 and sinapic acid for pigment 3. In the second one, pigments 4-6 were cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(acyl)-β-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(4-O-(β-glucopyranosyl)-trans-p-coumaroyl)-β-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-β-glucopyranoside], in which the acyl moiety varied with none for pigment 4, ferulic acid for pigment 5 and sinapic acid for pigment 6. In the third one, pigments 7-9 were cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(acyl)-β-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(4-O-(6-O-(trans-feruloyl)-β-glucopyranosyl)-trans-p-coumaroyl)-β-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-β-glucopyranoside], in which the acyl moiety varied with none for pigment 7, ferulic acid for pigment 8, and sinapic acid for pigment 9. In the last one, pigments 10 and 11 were cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(acyl)-β-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(4-O-(6-O-(4-O-(β-glucopyranosyl)-trans-feruloyl)-β-glucopyranosyl)-trans-p-coumaroyl)-β-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-β-glucopyranoside], in which acyl moieties were none for pigment 10 and ferulic acid for pigment 11.The distribution of these pigments was examined in the flowers of four cultivars of I. umbellata by HPLC analysis. Pigment 1 acylated with one molecule of p-coumaric acid was dominantly observed in purple-violet cultivars. On the other hand, pigments (9 and 11) acylated with three molecules of hydroxycinnamic acids were observed in lilac (purple-violet) cultivars as major anthocyanins. The bluing effect and stability on these anthocyanin colors were discussed in relation to the molecular number of hydroxycinnamic acids in these anthocyanin molecules.     

Synthesis of substituted triazolyl curcumin mimics that inhibit RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis

Some promising new antiresorptive agents of potential utility for treating osteoporosis were uncovered in a curcumin mimics library possessing a substituted triazole moiety, which is synthesized by the Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen 1,3-cycloaddition reaction between two azido intermediates (9 and 10) and various alkynes (a-k). A tartarate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity assay was carried out with RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis of mouse monocyte/macrophage RAW264.7 cells; the results indicated that the curcumin mimics derived from intermediate 10 exhibited stronger inhibitory activity than 9. In particular, curcumin mimics 12h, 13c, and 13e strongly inhibited osteoclast differentiation.     

Steric influence on platinum(II) ascorbate complexes

From the reaction between dihydroxoplatinum(II) and l-ascorbic acid, two types of platinum(II) ascorbate complexes were obtained and structurally characterized with ethylenediamine (en), N,N-dimethylethylenediamine (dmen) and N,N,N′-trimethylethylenediamine (trimen) as stabilizing ligands. In [Pt(en)(asc-C,O)] (1), [Pt(dmen)(asc-C,O)] (2) and [Pt(trimen)(asc-C,O)] (4), the ascorbate dianion forms a five-membered chelate ring, coordinating to the Pt(II) ion at the 2-carbon and the 5-oxygen atoms (C,O-chelate). From the same mother solution, crystals of [Pt(trimen)(asc-O,O′)] (3) were obtained during the precipitation of 4; in 3 the ascorbate is bound to the Pt at the 2- and 3-oxygen atoms (O,O′-chelate). Compounds 3 and 4 are the first well-characterized linkage isomers among the transition-metal ascorbate complexes. The O,O′-chelated 3 slowly changes to the C,O-chelated 4 in an aqueous solution. Bulkiness of the stabilizing ligand, i.e. en, dmen and trimen has an influence on the formation of the C,O-chelated species, 1, 2 and 4.     

Synthesis and photophysical properties of dansyl-based polyamine ligands and their Zn(II) complexes

The synthesis, potentiometric studies and photophysical properties of two new polyamine ligands (L1 and L2) possessing the dansyl chromophore were studied in aqueous 0.15 M NaCl. The compounds show the absorption and emissions bands characteristic of the dansylamide fluorophore and both present intramolecular excited state proton transfer at intermediate pH ranges. One of the ligands (L2) strongly coordinates Zn(II) leading to fluorescence quenching. A model compound (L3) of the dansyl moiety was also investigated.     

Anti-inflammatory activity of constituents from Glechoma hederacea var. longituba

Rosmarinic acid, its analogues, and a phenolic compound were obtained from G. hederacea var. longituba. There were two new compounds, methyl isoferuloyl-7-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) lactate (1) and benzyl-4′-hydroxy-benzoyl-3′-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (4), and four known compounds (2, 3, 5 and 6). The structures of these compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Each compound was tested by NF-κB luciferase assay and three rosmarinic acid analogues inhibited NF-κB production and the induction of COX-2 and iNOS mRNA in HepG2 cells.     

Efficient synthesis of 3-O-thia-cPA and preliminary analysis of its biological activity toward autotaxin

The efficient synthesis of 3-O-thia-cPAs (4a-d), sulfur analogues of cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA), has been achieved. The key step of the synthesis is an intramolecular Arbuzov reaction to construct the cyclic thiophosphate moiety. The present synthetic route enables the synthesis of 4a-d in only four steps from the commercially available glycidol. Preliminary biological experiments showed that 4a-d exhibited a similar inhibitory effect on autotaxin (ATX) as original cPA.     

Synthesis, characterization and crystal structures of the organotin(IV) compounds with the Schiff base ligands of pyruvic acid thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone and salicylaldehyde thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone

A series of organotin (IV) compounds of the type [R₃SnL]₂, R is Me (1), Bu (2), [R₂SnL]₂, R is Ph (3), Me (4), Bu (5), L is pyruvic acid thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone, and R₂SnL, R is Me (6), Bu (7), Ph (8), L is salicylaldehyde thiophene-2-carboxylic hydrazone have been synthesized in 1:1 molar ratio. All compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR spectra. The crystal structure of compounds 1, 3, 4, 8 have been determined by X-ray single crystal diffraction analyses, study found that the compounds 1 and 3 are rendered one-dimensional chain structure and the tin atoms are five-coordinated in a distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry. The compound 4 has a dimeric structure and the central tin atom is rendered seven-coordinate in a distorted pentagonal-bipyramid configuration. While the compound 8 is a monomer in which the tin atom adopts five-coordinated in distorted trigonal-bipyramidal geometry.     

A new ursane-type triterpenoid glycoside from Centella asiatica leaves modulates the production of nitric oxide and secretion of TNF-α in activated RAW 264.7 cells

One new ursane-type triterpenoid glycoside, asiaticoside G (1), five triterpenoids, asiaticoside (2), asiaticoside F (3), asiatic acid (4), quadranoside IV (5), and 2α,3β,6β-trihydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] ester (6), and four flavonoids, kaempferol (7), quercetin (8), astragalin (9), and isoquercetin (10) were isolated from the leaves of Centella asiatica. Their chemical structures were elucidated by mass, 1D- and 2D-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. The structure of new compound 1 was determined to be 2α,3β,23,30-tetrahydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid 28-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] ester. The anti-inflammatory activities of the isolated compounds were investigated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Asiaticoside G (1) potently inhibited the production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α with inhibition rates of 77.3% and 69.0%, respectively, at the concentration of 100 μM.     

5α,8α-Epidioxysterols from the gorgonian Eunicella cavolini and the ascidian Trididemnum inarmatum: Isolation and evaluation of their antiproliferative activity

Three new (1, 4, 9) and nine previously reported (2, 3, 5-8, 10-12) 5α,8α-epidioxysterols were isolated from the organic extracts of the gorgonian Eunicella cavolini and the ascidian Trididemnum inarmatum. The structures and relative configurations of 1-12 were established on the basis of detailed NMR spectroscopic analyses and comparison with the literature. The growth inhibitory effects of 1-12 were evaluated against MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Compound 1, bearing a cyclopropyl moiety in the side chain, exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity.     

First microwave-assisted synthesis of an electron-rich phosphane and its coordination chemistry with platinum(II) and palladium(II)

The P-O ligand 3-(di(2-methoxyphenyl)phosphanyl)propionic acid (HL) was synthesized by a microwave-assisted reaction of a secondary phosphane. The coordination of HL to Pt^II yielded the neutral mononuclear complex trans-[PtCl(κ²-P,O-L)(κ-P-HL)] (1), while the reaction of PdClMe(η⁴-COD) (COD = 1,4-cyclooctadiene) with HL in the presence of NEt₃ gave the anionic Pd^II compound of the formula (HNEt₃)[PdClMe(κ²-P,O-L)] (2). Upon crystallization of the latter compound the neutral chloride-bridged dimetallic compound cis-[Pd(μ-Cl)Me(HL)]₂ (3) was obtained. HL, 1 and 3·CH₂Cl₂ have been characterized by single crystal X-ray structure analyses.