Decomposition reactions of amino sugars: the dehydration of 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose

The stability of the title compound (1) was investigated at 100° in acidified aqueous solutions containing, in some instances, glycine or pyridine. In strong acid (3M hydrochloric acid), the sugar was relatively stable, and no identifiable decomposition-products were observed. In less-acidic solutions (≤0.5M hydrochloric acid) in the presence of glycine, substantial decomposition occurred with the production of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furaldehyde (2) in 0.5-5.2% yield. The major dehydration products, however (up to 18% of the starting sugar), were pyrazine derivatives bearing dissimilar, four-carbon, acyclic-sugar side-chains attached to C-2 and C-5 of the ring, respectively, arising, most probably, from C-3-C-6 of the original sugar molecules. When the conversions were performed in deuterium oxide solution, carbon-bound isotope was observed in 2 (at the aldehyde carbon and at C-3) and, in the pyrazine derivatives, on the ring (positions 3 and 6), and on the sugar-derived, side-chains.     

Fatty acid derivatives and dammarane triterpenes from the glandular trichome exudates of Ibicella lutea and Proboscidea louisiana

Ibicella lutea and Proboscidea louisiana, both of the Martyniaceae family, are known for rich glandular trichomes on their leaves and stems. Chemical investigations of the glandular trichome exudates on leaves of the two plants furnished three types of secondary metabolites, glycosylated fatty acids, glycerides (2-O-(3,6-diacetyloxyfattyacyl)glycerols and 2-O-(3-acetyloxyfattyacyl)glycerols) and dammarane triterpenes. The glycosylated fatty acids from I. lutea were determined to be 6(S)-(6-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-octadecanoic acid (1A), -eicosanoic acid (1B) and -docosanoic acid (1C), as well as their respective deacetyl congeners (2A, 2B and 2C), whereas P. louisiana furnished 8(S)-(6-O-acetyl-β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-eicosanoic acid (3A) and -docosanoic acid (3B) and their respective deacetyl congeners (4A and 4B), together with 2B. Both plants contained 12 identical 2-O-[(3R,6S)-3,6-diacetyloxyfattyacyl]glycerols (5A-L), in which the fatty acyl moieties contained between 17 and 21 carbon atoms. The corresponding mono-acetyloxy compounds, 2-O-[(3R)-3-acetyloxyfattyacyl]glycerols (6A–L) were detected in both plants. Among these glycerides, ten compounds (5A, 5C, 5F, 5H, 5K, 6A, 6C, 6F, 6H and 6K) had iso-fattyacyl structures and four (5E, 5J, 6E and 6J) had anteiso-fattyacyl structures. A previously unknown dammarane triterpene, betulatriterpene C 3-acetate (7), was isolated together with three known dammarane triterpenes, 24-epi-polacandrin 1,3-diacetate (8), betulatriterpene C (9) and 24-epi-polacandrin 3-acetate (10) from I. lutea, whereas 12 dammarane triterpenes, named probosciderols A–L (12–23), and the known compound betulafolienetriol (11) were isolated from P. louisiana. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including 2D-NMR techniques and chemical transformations. The 6-O-acetylglucosyloxy-fatty acids 1A–C (42%) and the dammarane triterpenes 7–10 (31%) were the two most abundant constituents in the glandular trichome exudate of I. lutea, whereas the dammarane triterpenes 11–23 (47%) and the glucosyloxy-fatty acids (4A, 4B and 2B) (38%) were the most abundant constituents in the glandular trichome exudate of P. louisiana.     

Incorporation of the 1-pro-R and the 1-pro-S hydrogen atoms of ethanol into steroids and phosphatidylcholines in vivo.

The transfer of deuterium from chiral 1-monodeuteroethanols to various metabolites formed in the liver was studied in order to investigate the coupling of metabolic reductions to the alcohol dehydrogenase and the aldehyde dehydrogenase reactions. The ethanols were administered to female bile fistula rats for 10 h. The hydrogen at C-2 in the glycerol moiety of newly formed phosphatidylcholine molecules in bile, liver and plasma was derived to 22-25% from the 1-pro-R position and to 5-6% from the 1-pro-S position in the ethanol. sn-Glycerol 3-phosphate isolated from liver had a lower deuterium content at C-2. The ratio between the contributions from the two positions in ethanol to C-2 of free sn-glycerol 3-phosphate was the same as in the phosphatidylcholines. This indicates that the higher degree of labelling of this position in phosphatidylcholines is not due to a specific coupling between alcohol dehydrogenase and the formation of a phosphatidylcholine precursor. Cholesterol and chenodeoxycholic acid in bile became increasingly labelled, and the ratio between the incorporations from the 1-pro-S and the 1-pro-R positions of ethanol was about 0.37 in cholesterol and 0.46 in chenodeoxycholic acid. Thus, these NADPH-dependent reactions utilized hydrogen from the 1-pro-S position to a larger extent than NADH-dependent reactions.     

A tetramic acid derivative with protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibitory activity and a new nortriterpene glycoside from the Indonesian marine sponge Petrosia sp.

During the search for protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitors from marine organisms, the known tetramic acid derivative, melophlin C (1), was isolated as an active component together with the new nortriterpenoid saponin, sarasinoside S (2), and three homologues: sarasinosides A₁ (3), I₁ (4), and J (5), from the Indonesian marine sponge Petrosia sp. The structure of 2 was elucidated on the basis of its spectroscopic data. Compound 1 inhibited PTP1B activity with an IC₅₀ value of 14.6 μM, while compounds 2–5 were not active at 15.2–16.0 μM. This is the first study to report the inhibitory effects of a tetramic acid derivative on PTP1B activity.     

Characterization of new PPARγ agonists: Benzimidazole derivatives—importance of positions 5 and 6, and computational studies on the binding mode

In this and previous studies we investigated the importance of partial structures of Telmisartan on PPARγ activation. The biphenyl-4-ylmethyl moiety at N1 and residues at C2 of the central benzimidazole were identified to be essential for receptor activation and potency of receptor binding. Now we focused our attention on positions 5 and 6 of the central benzimidazole and introduced bromine (3b–5/6, 3c), phenylcarbonyl (3d–5/6), hydroxy(phenyl)methyl (3g–5/6), hydroxymethyl (3h–5/6) and formyl (3i) groups. The selection of these moieties was inspired by the structure of Losartan and its metabolite EXP3179. In order to increase the hydrophobicity of the central part of the molecule, the benzimidazole was exchanged by a naphtho[2,3-d]imidazole (5). The compounds 3a–3i and 5 were tested in a differentiation assay using 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and a luciferase assay using COS-7 cells, transiently transfected with pGal4-hPPARγDEF, pGal5-TK-pGL3 and pRL-CMV, as established models for the assessment of cellular PPARγ activation. An enhanced effect on PPARγ activation could be observed if lipophilic moieties are introduced in these positions. 4′-[(2-Propyl-1H-naphtho[2,3-d]imidazol-1-yl)methyl]biphenyl-2-carboxylic acid (5) was identified as the most potent compound with an EC₅₀ of 0.26 μM and the profile of a full agonist.Together with compounds of the former structure–activity relationship study (position 2-substituted benzimidazole derivatives 4a–4j), the binding mode of Telmisartan and its derivatives have been analyzed in 3D pharmacophore-driven docking experiments.     

Antimicrobial constituents of Thompson seedless raisins (Vitis vinifera) against selected oral pathogens

As a part of a project directed toward the discovery of oral antimicrobial compounds from plants, eight known compounds, oleanolic acid (1), oleanolic aldehyde (2), linoleic acid (3), linolenic acid (4), betulin (5), betulinic acid (6), 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural (7), and β-sitosterol were isolated from an hexane-soluble partition of a methanol extract of Thompson seedless raisins (Vitis vinifera). From an EtOAc-soluble partition rutin (8) and β-sitosterol glycoside were isolated. In an attempt to increase the resultant antimicrobial activity of oleanolic acid (1), a series of acylation and etherification reactions were performed on oleanolic acid to obtain derivatives 1a–1f. All the compounds isolated and the derivatives 1a–1f were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity against two oral pathogens, Streptococcus mutans and Porphyromonas gingivalis associated with caries and periodontal disease, respectively. Compounds 1, 2, 7 and 1f inhibited the growth of the test bacteria with concentrations ranging from 3.9 to 500 μg/mL. Derivative 1f showed greatly enhanced antimicrobial activity when compared with oleanolic acid (1).     

Austdiol,fulvic acid and citromycetin derivatives from an endolichenic fungus,Myxotrichum sp.

A new austdiol analog myxodiol A (1), three novel fulvic acid derivatives myxotrichin A–C (2–4), and a new citromycetin analog myxotrichin D (5), were isolated from an endolichenic fungus Myxotrichum sp. inhabiting the lichen Cetraria islandica (L.) Ach. The structures of these compounds were elucidated unequivocally on the basis of comprehensive analysis of MS and NMR data. Compounds 2 and 5 displayed very weak cytotoxicity against human leukemia cell line K562, and compounds 1 showed very weak antifungal activity against Candida albicans (sc5314).     

Synthesis and structure–activity relationships of carboxylic acid derivatives of pyridoxal as P2X receptor antagonists

Carboxylic acid derivatives of pyridoxal were developed as potent P2X₁ and P2X₃ receptor antagonists with modifications of a lead compound, pyridoxal-5′-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2′,5′-disulfonate (5b, iso-PPADS). The designing strategies included the modifications of aldehyde, phosphate or sulfonate groups of 5b, which may be interacted with lysine residues of the receptor binding pocket, to weak anionic carboxylic acid groups. The corresponding carboxylic acid analogs of pyridoxal-5′-phosphate (1), 13 and 14, showed parallel antagonistic potencies. Also, most of 6-azophenyl derivatives (24–28) of compound 13 or 14 showed potent antagonistic activities similar to that of 5b at human P2X₃ receptors with 100 nM range of IC₅₀ values in two-electrode voltage clamp (TEVC) assay system on the Xenopus oocyte. The results indicated that aldehyde and phosphoric or sulfonic acids in 5b could be changed to a carboxylic acid without affecting antagonistic potency at mouse P2X₁ and human P2X₃ receptors.     

Acid-catalyzed isomerization and dehydration of dl-glyceraldehyde and 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propanone

The interconversion of 2,3-dihydroxypropanal (1) and 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propanone (3) and their dehydration to pyruvaldehyde (5) has been studied in 0.5m sulfuric acid at 100°. The conversion of 1 and 3 into 5 under these conditions, in tritiated water, was monitored by isolation of 5 and determination of the distribution of carbon-bound tritium (namely, that at the aldehyde and methyl groups). This was accomplished by conversion of 5 into the phenylosazone and counting, and by conversion of 5 into pyruvic acid (isolated as the p-nitrophenylhydrazone), counting, and a difference calculation. In all cases negligible activity (about 0.8 % the activity of the solvent) was found at the aldehyde carbon of 5, derived from either 1 or 3, and parallel chromatographic studies indicated only a small extent of interconversion. As 5 incorporated tritium under conditions of its formation, plots of incorporation versus time were made and the curves extrapolated to zero time, in order to determine initial activity at the methyl group of 5, derived from either 1 or 3. This method showed that the 5 derived from 3 contained 10 % of the activity of the solvent at the methyl group as it was produced, whereas the 1-derived 5 contained no activity. In another experiment, [2-³H]1 was prepared and converted into 5. The resulting 5 was found to be labeled at C-3, indicating at C-2 → C-3 intramolecular, hydrogentransfer reaction during the conversion of 1 into 5.     

Acid-catalyzed isomerization and dehydration of dl-glyceraldehyde and 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propanone

The interconversion of 2,3-dihydroxypropanal (1) and 1,3-dihydroxy-2-propanone (3) and their dehydration to pyruvaldehyde (5) has been studied in 0.5m sulfuric acid at 100°. The conversion of 1 and 3 into 5 under these conditions, in tritiated water, was monitored by isolation of 5 and determination of the distribution of carbon-bound tritium (namely, that at the aldehyde and methyl groups). This was accomplished by conversion of 5 into the phenylosazone and counting, and by conversion of 5 into pyruvic acid (isolated as the p-nitrophenylhydrazone), counting, and a difference calculation. In all cases negligible activity (about 0.8 % the activity of the solvent) was found at the aldehyde carbon of 5, derived from either 1 or 3, and parallel chromatographic studies indicated only a small extent of interconversion. As 5 incorporated tritium under conditions of its formation, plots of incorporation versus time were made and the curves extrapolated to zero time, in order to determine initial activity at the methyl group of 5, derived from either 1 or 3. This method showed that the 5 derived from 3 contained 10 % of the activity of the solvent at the methyl group as it was produced, whereas the 1-derived 5 contained no activity. In another experiment, [2-³H]1 was prepared and converted into 5. The resulting 5 was found to be labeled at C-3, indicating at C-2 → C-3 intramolecular, hydrogentransfer reaction during the conversion of 1 into 5.     

Biosynthesis of an antibiotic,siccanin

The biosynthetic pathway of the antibiotic siccanin (1) is based on the experiments using cell-free systems and intact cell systems of Helminthosporium siccans Drechsler. It involves (a) formation of trans-y-monocyclofarnesol (5) from mevalonic acid lactone or farnesyl pyrophosphate; (b) coupling reaction of the terpenic precursor with orsellinic acid; (c) oxidative conversion of presiccanochromenic acid (8), nto siccanochromenic acid (9), followed by decarboxylation to siccanochromen-A (10); and (d) epoxy-olefin type cyclization of siccanochromen-B (11) to siccanin (1).     

Synthesis and pharmacological characterization of a new series of 5,7-disubstituted-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a][1,3,5]triazine derivatives as adenosine receptor antagonists: A preliminary inspection of ligand–receptor recognition process

A new series of triazolotriazines variously substituted at the C5 and N7 (5–25) positions was synthesized and fully characterized at the four adenosine receptor (AR) subtypes. In particular, arylacetyl or arylcarbamoyl moieties were introduced at the N7 position, which enhanced affinity at the hA_2B and hA₃ ARs, respectively, when utilized on the pyrazolo-triazolopyrimidine nucleus as we reported in the past. In general, compounds with a free amino group at the 7 position (5, 6), showed good affinity at the rat (r) A_2A AR (range 18.3–96.5 nM), while the introduction of a phenylcarbamoyl moiety at the N7 position (12, 19, 24) slightly increased the affinity at the hA₃ AR (range 311–633 nM) with respect to the unsubstituted derivatives. The binding profiles of the synthesized analogues seemed to correlate with the substitutions at the C5 and N7 positions. At the hA_2B AR, derivative 5, which contained a free amino group at the 7 position, was the most potent (EC₅₀ 3.42 μM) and could represent a starting point for searching new non-xanthine hA_2B AR antagonists. Molecular models of the rA_2A and hA₃ ARs were constructed by homology to the recently reported crystallographic structure of the hA_2A AR. A preliminary receptor-driven structure–activity relationship (SAR) based on the analysis of antagonist docking has been provided.     

Conformations of the d-glucarolactones and d-glucaric acid in solution

The conformations of d-glucaric acid (1), d-glucaro-1,4-lactone (2), d-glucaro-6,3-lactone (3), and d-glucaro-1,4:6,3-dilactone (4) in solution were investigated by ¹H-n.m.r. and ¹³C-p.F.t., n.m.r. spectroscopy. The solvents used were deuterium oxide, methanol-d₄, and dimethyl sulfoxide-d₆, and praseodymium chloride was employed as a lanthanide shift-reagent. For 2, it was found that the conformational equilibrium ³E(d)

E₃(d) exists in solution, and that the OH-5 group tends to occupy the position over the lactone ring in the favored E₃(d),gg conformation. The n.m.r. data for 3 indicated that the conformational equilibrium is shifted in favor of the ⁴E(d)

E₄(d),gt conformation in solution. The dienvelope conformation ³E:E₄(d) was found to be the favored conformation of 4. For 1, a conformational equilibrium between one planar, zigzag form and two sickle forms was indicated by the n.m.r. data observed. ¹³C-N.m.r. spectroscopy proved to be a convenient method for monitoring the lactonization of 1, and the hydrolysis of its lactones. Lactones other than 2–4 were not found in solutions prepared from 1–4, either during their mutarotation or after equilibration at 30°.     

Acylated hydroxycinnamic acid glucosides from flowers of Telekia Speciosa

One new derivative of ferulic acid (1), two new caffeic acid derivatives (2 and 3) and three known derivatives of caffeic acid: 6-O-(E)-caffeoyl-glucopyranose (4), (E)-caffeic acid 4-O-β-glucopyranoside (5) and 5-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid, 6) were isolated from a butanolic fraction of extract from Telekia speciosa flowers. Moreover, the flavonol glucoside–patulitrin (7) was identified in the analyzed extract. Structures of (E)-ferulic acid 4-O-β-(6-O-2-hydroxyisovaleryl)-glucopyranoside (1), (E)-caffeic acid 4-O-β-(6-O-2-hydroxyisovaleryl)-glucopyranoside (2) and (E)-caffeic acid 4-O-β-(6-O-3-hydroxy-2-methylpropanoyl)-glucopyranoside (3) were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS and other spectral analyses.     

Selective binding and controlled release of anticancer drugs by polyanionic cyclodextrins

The binding stoichiometry, binding constants, and inclusion mode of some water-soluble negatively charged cyclodextrin derivatives, i.e. heptakis-[6-deoxy-6-(3-sulfanylpropanoic acid)]-β-cyclodextrin(H1), heptakis-[6-deoxy-6-(2-sulfanylacetic acid)]-β-cyclodextrin(H2), mono-[6-deoxy-6-(3-sulfanylpropanoic acid)]-β-cyclodextrin (H3) and mono-[6-deoxy-6-(2-sulfanylacetic acid)]-β-cyclodextrin (H4), with three anticancer drugs, i.e. irinotecan hydrochloride; topotecan hydrochloride; doxorubicin hydrochloride, were investigated by means of ¹H NMR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, mass spectra and 2D NMR. Polyanionic cyclodextrins H1-H2 showed the significantly high binding abilities of up to 2.6?×?10⁴–2.0?×?10⁵ M^?1 towards the selected anticancer drugs, which were nearly 50–1000 times higher than the corresponding Ks values of native β-cyclodextrin. In addition, these polyanionic cyclodextrins also showed the pH-controlled release behaviors. That is, the anticancer drugs could be efficiently encapsulated in the cyclodextrin cavity at a pH value similar to that of serum but sufficiently released at an endosomal pH value of a cancer cell, which would make these cyclodextrin derivatives the potential carriers for anticancer drugs.     

Phytochemical and chemotaxonomic study on Ziziphus Jujuba Mill. (Rhamnaceae)

Fourteen compounds were isolated from fruits of Ziziphus jujuba Mill., including two flavonoids (1–2), one phenolic glycosides (3), one lignan (4), four phenols (5–8), three alkaloid (9–10, 14), three sesquiterpenoid (11–13). The structures of all the compounds were established by the NMR techniques, as well as by comparison with previously reported data in literature. Compounds 2″-glucosyl-8-C-glucosyl-4′-O-methylapigenin (1), 3′, 4′, 5′-trimethoxycinnamyl alcohol (5), 2-{4-[(1E)-3-Hydroxyprop-1-en-1-yl]-2, 6-dimethoxy-phenoxy}propane-1, 3-diol (6), 1-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)ethane-1, 2-diol (8), (1S, 3S)-1-Methyl-l, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (9), (1R, 3S)-1-Methyl-l, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (10), grasshopper ketone (12), methyl (3R, 5R)-5-methoxy-3-phenylisoxazolidine-5-carboxylate (14) were firstly reported from the genus Ziziphus and the family Rhamnaceae. Furthermore, the chemotaxonomic significance of the isolates was discussed.     

Novel biotransformation processes of dihydroartemisinic acid and artemisinic acid to their hydroxylated derivatives by two plant cell culture systems

Novel biotransformation processes of dihydroartemisinic acid (1) and artemisinic acid (2) to their hydroxylated derivatives were investigated using the cell suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus and Panax quinquefolium crown galls as two biocatalyst systems. Five biotransformation products, 3-α-hydroxydihydroartemisinic acid (3), 3-β-hydroxydihydroartemisinic acid (4), 15-hydroxy-cadin-4-en-12-oic acid (5), 3-α-hydroxyartemisinic acid (6) and 3-β-hydroxyartemisinic acid (7), were isolated by chromatograph methods and identified by the analysis of ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, and ESI-MS spectra. Compounds 3–5 were obtained for the first time by biotransformation process. It was also the first time to transform artemisinic acid to yield epimeric 3-hydroxy artemisinic acids in plant cell culture system. The biocatalyst system of C. roseus cell cultures showed a great capacity of regio- and stereo-selective hydroxylation in allyl group of the exogenous substrates. The results also showed that the biocatalyst system of P. quinquefolium crown galls possessed the ability to hydroxylate propenyl group of exogenous substrates in a regio- and substrate-selective manner. Furthermore, the in vitro antitumor activity of the hydroxyl products was evaluated by MTT assay. The result indicated that α-hydroxyl products possessed stronger antitumor activity than β-hydroxyl products against the HepG2 and GLC-82 cell lines.     

Steroidal saponins from the fresh tubers of Ophiopogon japonicus

Eleven novel furostanol saponins, named ophiofurospisides C–E, G–N (1–3, 5–12), one new spirostanol saponin, named ophiopogonin R (13), were isolated from the fresh tubers of Ophiopogon japonicus. Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic techniques (1D and 2D NMR) and HRESIMS. The isolated furostanol saponins possessed two sugar chains located at C-3 and C-26, respectively. Six furostanol saponins (1, 5–9) with disaccharide moiety linked at position C-26 of the aglycone were rare in the plant kingdom.     

Three new phenolic acid derivatives from Oenothera biennis

Three new phenolic acid derivatives, 1-methyl glyceric acid-2-vanillic acid ether (1), methyl 2-hydroxy-6-(3-methoxy-3-oxoprop-1-en-2-yloxy) benzoate (2), methyl 2-hydroxy-6-(1-Carboxyvinyloxy) benzoate (3) and five known compounds namely 4-hydroxymellein (4), mellein methyl ether (5), 2-methyl-5,7-dihydroxychromone (6), latifolicinin C (7) and oresbiusin A (8) were isolated from Oenothera biennis L. The structures of these secondary metabolites were elucidated using different spectroscopic techniques, including ¹H, ¹³C NMR, HR-ESI-MS, ECD and comparison with published data.     

Design,synthesis, and biological evaluation of deuterated phenylpropionic acid derivatives as potent and long-acting free fatty acid receptor 1 agonists

The free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFA1) is a potential target due to its function in enhancement of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Takeda’s compound 1 has robustly in vitro activity for FFA1, but it has been suffered from poor pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles because the phenylpropanoic acid is vulnerable to β-oxidation. To identify orally available agonists, we tried to interdict the metabolically labile group by incorporating two deuterium atoms at the α-position of phenylpropionic acid. Interestingly, the differences of physicochemical properties between hydrogen and deuterium are quite small, but there are many differences in the structure-activity relationship between phenylpropionic acid series and present deuterated series. Further optimizations of deuterated series led to the discovery of compound 18, which exhibited a superior balance in terms of in vitro activity, lipophilicity, and solubility. Better still, compound 18 revealed a lower clearance (CL = 0.44 L/h/kg), higher maximum concentration (C_max = 7584.27 μg/L), and longer half-life (T_1/2 = 4.16 h), resulting in a >23-fold exposure than compound 1. In subsequent in vivo pharmacodynamic studies, compound 18 showed a robustly glucose-lowering effect in rodent without the risk of hypoglycemia.