Minor xanthones from Rheedia gardneriana

8-Deoxygartanin and two new xanthones, 1,5-dihydroxy-6′,6′-dimethyl-2H-pyrano(2′,3′:3,2)-6″,6″-dimethyl-2H-pyrano(2″,3″:6,7)xanthone and 1,5,6-trihydroxy-6′,6′-dimethyl-2H-pyrano(2′,3′:3,2)-7-(3-methylprop-2-enyl)xanthone, have been isolated from the roots of Rheedia gardneriana. The latter of the two new xanthones has been assigned the trivial name 7-prenyljacareubin while the former has the structure erroneously assigned to pyranojacareubin reported from Garcinia densivenia. The correct identity of the G. densivenia xanthone has been shown to be rheediaxanthone-A.     

Alkaloids of some Mexican Zanthoxylum species

Two new 4-quinazolone alkaloids have been isolated from seed husks of Zanthoxylum arborescens. Based on their spectroscopic properties they have been assigned structures, 1-methyl-3-(2′-phenylethyl)-1H,3H-quinazoline-2,4-dione and 1-methyl-3-[2′-(4″-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-1H,3H-quinazoline-2,4-dione. These structural assignments have been confirmed by synthesis. Skimmianine has been obtained from leaf extracts of Z. dimoncillo and Z. caribaeum while skimmianine and scopeletin have been isolated from leaf extracts of Z. fagara.     

(—)-Massoniresinol,a lignan from Pinus massoniana

A new lignan, named (—)-massoniresinol, has been isolated from Pinus massoniana needles. Its structure has been proved to be (2R,3S,4R)-3,4-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-3-tetrahydrofuranmethanol by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, mass and CD spectroscopy.     

Lignans from Piper cubeba

From the hot petrol extract of Piper cubeba ftuits, six lignans were isolated. Two of these, which have been obtained from a natural source for the first time, have been characterized as (2R,3R)-2-(3″,4″,5″-trimethoxybenzyl)-3-(3′,4′-methylenedioxybenzyl)-1,4-butanediol [(?)-dihydroclusin] and (3R,4R)-3,4-bis-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzyl)tetra-hydro-2-furanol [(?)-cubebinin]. (?)Cubebin, (?)-hinokinin, (?)-clusin and (?)-dihydrocubebin were also found in this plant. Only (?)-cubebin has been reported so far from this source.     

Partial purification and properties of a cis-3: trans-2-enal isomerase from cucumber fruit

An enzyme, which catalyses the isomerisation of cis-3-enals to trans-2-enals, has been partially purified from cucumber fruit. The isomerase activity has been resolved from significant contamination by the related activities, lipoxygenase and hydroperoxide cleavage enzymes. An examination of the substrate specificity of the isomerase enzyme showed it to be specific for the cis-3-enals. The most efficient isomerisation was achieved with cis-3-hexenal and cis-3-nonenal which are, physiologically, the two most significant substrates. The trans-3-enal and cis-3-enol were not suitable substrates for the enzyme.     

Cytokinins in Corynebacterium fascians Cultures: Isolation and Identification of 6-(4-Hydroxy-3-methyl-cis-2-butenylamino)-2-methylthiopurine

In addition to the four cytokinins, 6-(3-methyl-2-butenylamino)purine, 6-methylaminopurine and the cis and trans isomers of 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-butenylamino)purine, reported earlier from our laboratories, three cytokinin-active fractions have been obtained from the aqueous medium of 6-day-old Corynebacterium fascians cultures. One of these has been identified as 6-(4-hydroxy-3-methyl-cis-2-butenylamino)-2-methylthiopurine (2-methylthio-cis-zeatin, c-ms²io⁶ Ade).     

Proacaciberin,A cyanogenic glycoside from Acacia sieberiana var. Woodii

A new cyanogenic glycoside isolated from pods of Acacia sieberiana var. woodii has been shown by chemical and spectroscopic methods to be (2S)-2-[(6-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-3-methylbut-3-enenitrileo. Acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the glycoside afforded arabinose and proacacipetalin, and base-catalysed double-bond migration gave 2- [(6-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl-β- d-glucopyranosyl)oxy ]-3-methylbut-2-enenitrile.     

Synthesis and SAR of hydroxyethylamine based phenylcarboxyamides as inhibitors of BACE

A series of N-((2S,3R)-1-(3,5-difluorophenyl)-3-hydroxy-4-(3-methoxybenzylamino)-butan-2-yl)benzamides has been synthesized as BACE inhibitors. A variety of P2 and P3 substituents has been explored, and these efforts have culminated in the identification of several 1,3,5-trisubstituted phenylcarboxyamides with potent BACE inhibitory activity.     

Veprisilone,a prenylated 2-quinolone,and limonin from Vepris louisii

A new 2-quinolone alkaloid, veprisilone, isolated from the trunk bark of Vepris louisii has been characterized as 3-(3-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-oxobutyl)- 4,7,8-trimethoxy-1-methyl-2-quinolone from spectral and chemical data. Limonin was also identified in the extracts.     

Glucosinolates in Sesamoides canescens and S. pygmaea: Identification of 2-(α-l-arabinopyranosyloxy)-2-phenylethylglucosinolate

A new natural product, 2-(α-l-arabinopyranosyloxy)-2-phenylethylglucosinolate, has been isolated from Sesamoides canescens. This glucosinolate together with 2-hydroxy-2-phenylethylglucosinolate and 2-phenetliylglucosinolate in a 1:1:1 ratio constitutes about 90 % of the total glucosinolate pool in green parts of the plant. Phenethylglucosinolate constitutes about 70 % of the total glucosinolate pool in green parts of S. pygmaea together with minor amounts of the two other glucosinolates. In addition, both plants contain at least seven other glucosinolates. The structure of the new natural product has been confirmed by transformations into d-glucose, l-arabinose, N-(2-(α-l-arabinopyranosyloxy)-2-phenylethyl)thiourea, 3-(α-l-arabinopyranosyloxy)-3-phenylpropionitrile and 3-hydroxy-3-phenylpropionic acid, respectively. The significance of this investigation is briefly discussed in relation to the methods used in glucosinolate analysis, chemotaxonomy and possible catabolic transformation of glucosinolates into amines.     

A convenient synthesis of 2-deoxy-2-[(R)-1-hydroxytetradecanamido]-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl]-α-d-glucopyranose 1-phosphate (lipid X)

The crystalline tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (“Tris”) salt of 2-deoxy-2-[(R)-3-hydroxytetradecanamido]-3-O-[(R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoyl]-α-d-glucopyranose 1-phosphate (lipid X) has been synthesised from 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-glucose hydrochloride in five steps in ∼ 50% overall yield. The key step was 1-O-(dibenzyl) phosphorylation of 4,6-O-benzylidene-2-[(R)-3-benzyloxytetradecanamido]-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose, catalysed by butyl-lithium. The product was then 3-(R)-3-benzyloxytetradecanoylated, and the benzyl and benzylidene groups were removed by catalytic hydrogenation.     

Isolation and structure of wallichoside,a novel pteroside from Pteris wallichiana

Wallichoside has been isolated from the rhizomes of Pteris wallichiana and its structure and absolute configuration has been established as the 3-β-d-glucoside of 2S, 3S-pterosin C on the basis of UV, IR, NMR and MS data of wallichoside and its derivatives.     

Torvonin-A,a spirostane saponin from Solanum torvum leaves

A new steroidal saponin, torvonin-A, has been isolated from S. torvum leaves and its structure has been established as neochlorogenin-3-O-β-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1→2)β-L-rhamnopyranoside.     

Tetrahydrolathyrine: A new amino acid from seeds of Lonchocarpus costaricensis

A new non-protein amino acid, tetrahydrolathyrine (2(S)-3(2-amino-1,4,5,6- tetrahydropyrimidin-4-yl)alanine), has been isolated from seeds of Lonchocarpus costaricensis.     

New chromenochalcones from Flemingia

2-Methyl-2-(4′-methylpent-3′-enyl)-5,8-dihydroxy-6-(4-hydroxycinnamoyl)-chromene (flemingin-D) has been isolated from inflorescences of Flemingia congesta, together with the known flemingin-C and two other chalcones. These (flemingin-E and -F) are allylic alcohols which differ from flemingin-D by an additional OH group in the side chain. Photooxidation of model 2-methyl-2-(4′-methylpent-3′-enyl)-chromenes gave pairs of allylic alcohols with the same structural feature. The known flemingin-A, -B, -C and homoflemingins have been isolated from F. grahamiana, and another new chalcone from F. bracteata.     

Isolation and structural elucidation of a triterpenoid saponin from guar,Cyamopsis tetragonoloba

A new saponin has been isolated from the methanolic extract of the seed meal of Cyamopsis tetragonoloba and its structure elucidated as 3-O-{[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 → 2)]-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1 → 4)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl(1 → 2)-     

Muellitol,a novel trialkenyl inositol from Evodiella muelleri

Muellitol has been isolated from the leaves of Evodiella muelleri and the structure established as 1,3,5-tri-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)cyclohexane-r-1-t-2-c-3-t-4-c-5-t-6-hexol. Chemical and spectroscopic examination of the compound and its derivatives showed it to be conformationally similar to scyllitol. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of a triprenylinositol.     

Engineering cyanobacteria for photosynthetic production of 3-hydroxybutyrate directly from CO2

(S)- and (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) are precursors to synthesize the biodegradable plastics polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and many fine chemicals. To date, however, their production has been restricted to petroleum-based chemical industry and sugar-based microbial fermentation, limiting its sustainability and economical feasibility. With the ability to fix CO₂ photosynthetically, cyanobacteria have attracted increasing interest as a biosynthesis platform to produce fuels and chemicals from alternative renewable resources. To this end, synthesis metabolic pathways have been constructed and optimized in cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to photosynthetically produce (S)- and (R)-3HB directly from CO₂. Both types of 3HB molecules were produced and readily secreted from Synechocystis cells without over-expression of transporters. Additional inactivation of the competing pathway by deleting slr1829 and slr1830 (encoding PHB polymerase) from the Synechocystis genome further promoted the 3HB production. Up to 533.4 mg/L 3HB has been produced after photosynthetic cultivation of the engineered cyanobacterium Synechocystis TABd for 21 days. Further analysis indicated that the phosphate consumption during the photoautrophic growth and the concomitant elevated acetyl-CoA pool acted as a key driving force for 3HB biosynthesis in Synechocystis. For the first time, the study has demonstrated the feasibility of photosynthetic production of (S)- and (R)-3HB directly from sunlight and CO₂.     

2(S),4(R)-4-(β-d-Galactopyranosyloxy)-4-isobutyl-glutamic acid: A new amino acid in Reseda odorata

2(S),4(R)-4-(β-d-Galactopyranosyloxy)-4-isobutylglutamic acid (I) has been isolated from the flowers of Reseda odorata, wherein it occurs in substantial quantity. Hydrolysis of I gives d-galactose, 2(S),4(R)-4-hydroxy-4-isobutylglutamic acid (II) and 3(R),5(S)-3-hydroxy-3-isobutyl-2-pyrrolidone-5-carboxylic acid (III) and its treatment with nitrous acid yields a galactoside of a non-nitrogenous hydroxy acid lactone (IV). The structures of I and its degradation products are supported by PMR, ¹³C-NMR and other spectroscopic methods. ¹³C-NMR spectroscopy of the model compound 2-(β-d-galactopyranosyloxy)isobutyric acid confirmed the structure of the natural product. The S- (or l-) configuration at C(2) in the amino acid moiety of I has been established by the use of the Clough—Lutz—Jirgenson rule and the R-configuration at C(4) of the same unit has been assigned tentatively. I represents the first example of a glycoside of a higher plant amino acid in which the carbohydrate residue is linked to an aliphatic hydroxy group.     

4-(2′-Carboxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyrate: An obligatory intermediate in lawsone biosynthesis

4-(2′-Carboxyphenyl)-4-oxobutyric acid (6) has been detected in cuttings of Impatiens balsamina. It is labelled under conditions where activity from U-¹⁴C-glutamate is incorporated effectively into lawsone (1). 3-(2′-Carboxyphenyl)-3-oxopropionic acid (7) has also been encountered in the cuttings.