Phenolic alkaloids from the aerial parts of Dracocephalum heterophyllum

Chemical examination of aerial parts of Dracocephalum heterophyllum resulted in isolation of phenolic alkaloids, including two flavonoidal alkaloids, drahebephins A and B, one imidazole alkaloid with a phenolic substituent, drahebenine, together with 15 other known compounds. Their structures were established by extensive spectroscopic data analyses. Due to the stereogenic center in the pyrrolidin-2-one ring, the flavonoidal alkaloids are chiral, although they were isolated as racemates. The enantiomers were separated by HPLC using a chiral phase and stereochemically characterized by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The structure of compound drahebenine was established by X-ray crystallography.     

Squamocin-O(1) and squamocin-O(2), new adjacent bis-tetrahydrofuran acetogenins from the seeds of Annona squamosa

Two bis-tetrahydrofuran acetogenins, squamocin-O(1) (1) and squamocin-O(2) (2), were isolated from a MeOH extract of seeds of Annona squamosa L. Their structures were determined by spectral means including precursor-ion scanning mass spectral analysis for their aminal derivatives. The configurations at the oxymethine chiral centers were assigned as 12R,15R,16R,19R,20R,23R,24S,28S,36S for 1 and 12S,15R,16R,19R,20R,23R,24S, 28S,36S for 2, based on 1H NMR analysis of their Mosher's ester derivatives and CD data.     

Chiral separation and CD characterisation of enantiomeric cyclotriphosphazene derivatives

The gem-disubstituted cyclotriphosphazene 1 reacted with piperazine (pip) to give the piperazine-bridged derivative 2, which is expected to exist in meso and racemic forms because the two PCl (pip) groups are stereogenic. The proton-decoupled (31)P NMR spectrum of 2 gave rise to two similar sets of ABX signals in a 1:1 ratio, consistent with formation of diastereoisomers. The meso and racemic forms of compound 2 were separated by column chromatography on silica gel and characterised by elemental analysis, mass spectrometry, (31)P NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray crystallography. Using HPLC with a chiral stationary phase, the racemic form of compound 2 was further separated into enantiomers, which were characterised by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. This is the first report of the separation of enantiomers in the field of cyclophosphazene chemistry and hence the first CD spectra of derivatives in which the cyclophosphazene ring is at the chiral centre.     

Enzymatic resolution of racemates with a ‘remote’ stereogenic center as an efficient tool in drug,flavor and vitamin synthesis

The enantioselective recognition of ‘remote’ stereogenic centers represents a scientific task in organic chemistry being also of current interest in the pharmaceutical industry. This is due to a range of pharmaceutically relevant molecules or intermediates thereof bearing a stereogenic center, which is separated from the functional group by a larger non-chiral moiety such as, for example, a longer sequence of bonds of at least three carbon or hetero-atoms or by a planar aromatic moiety. Notably, biocatalysis turned out to provide an excellent solution for a range of challenging syntheses in this field. For example, efficient enzymatic resolution processes of racemates with such a ‘remote’ stereogenic center were developed for the synthesis of pelitrexol, lasofoxifene and (S)-monastrol. In general, good yields accompanied by high enantioselectivities were obtained, thus underlining the tremendous potential of enzymes to recognize and enantioselectively transform enantiomers of racemates with ‘remote’ stereogenic centers. Such or similar types of stereoselective recognitions of ‘remote’ stereogenic centers by means of enzymes have been also reported in the field of flavor and vitamin synthesis. Thus, biocatalysis represents a promising solution for the efficient approach to enantiomerically pure complex chiral molecules with stereogenic centers being located apart from the functional group, and it can be expected that enzymatic resolution will be increasingly applied when searching for an efficient and also technically feasible process for also novel complex chiral molecules bearing a ‘remote’ stereogenic center.     

Synthesis of a cyclic isostere of α-methyl homoserine by a stereoselective acylation–alkylation sequence of a chiral γ-lactam

Starting from a chiral 4-hydroxymethyl pyrrolidin-2-one, an isostere of α-methyl homoserine tethered on a γ-lactam ring was prepared exploiting a stereoselective acylation–methylation sequence, followed by Curtius rearrangement, and structural assignment was confirmed by n.O.e. experiments. By reverting the sequence, the 3-carboxy-3-methyl derivative having the opposite configuration at C-3 was obtained with total stereoselection, but Curtius rearrangement invariably afforded only inseparable mixtures of decomposition products.     

Direct and indirect separations of five isomers of Brivanib Alaninate using chiral high-performance liquid chromatography

Brivanib Alaninate is a novel chiral prodrug possessing two stereogenic centers. Simultaneous HPLC separation of five isomers of Brivanib Alaninate was systematically investigated on a wide variety of polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs) using underivatization and pre-column derivatization methods. The influence of derivatizing groups and mobile phase composition on the enantioseparation and retention behavior of Brivanib Alaninate compounds was studied. To better understand the chiral recognition mechanism, the temperature effect was also evaluated. The results of these studies led to the first complete HPLC resolution of all five isomers of Brivanib Alaninate as carbobenzyloxy (CBZ) derivatives on a cellulose benzoate CSP (OJ-H).     

CD‐sensitive Zn‐porphyrin tweezer host‐guest complexes,part 2: Cis‐ and trans‐3‐hydroxy‐4‐aryl/alkyl‐β‐lactams. A case study

This article describes an application of the host‐guest chiral recognition approach called tweezer methodology for the determination of the absolute configuration of 3‐hydroxy‐β‐lactams. These substrates represent challenging cases due to their chemical reactivity, the presence of multiple stereogenic centers and several functional groups which offer various possibilities of binding to the Zn‐porphyrin host. OPLS‐2005, the force field used in this work to predict the interporphyrin twist, modeled correctly the host‐guest complexation mechanism and revealed conformational details of the bound substrates. The computational study also suggested that in cases where an increase in the magnitude of the stereodifferentiation and an intense experimental CD are observed, the bound conformation of the conjugates are hydrogen bonded. The present investigation provides evidence that when the tweezer method is assisted by the OPLS‐2005 based computational approach, it can be successfully applied to the configurational and conformational elucidation of multi‐functional compounds with multiple stereogenic centers. Chirality, 2010. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans from Kadsura philippinensis

Lignans with the dibenzocyclooctadiene skeleton, kadsuphilols I-L, and one C₁₉-homolignan, kadsuphilol M, were isolated by chromatographic fractionation of an ethyl acetate extract of the aerial parts of Kadsura philippinensis. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic methods, including HRESIMS and 2D NMR experiments (HMQC, COSY and HMBC). The stereochemistry at the chiral centers and the biphenyl moist, were determined using NOESY, as well as analysis of CD spectra, respectively. The relative configuration of heteroclitin J was confirmed by single crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis. The in vitro radical-scavenging activities of these compounds by using DPPH were evaluated.     

Cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of 5-(2,4-dimethylbenzyl)pyrrolidin-2-one extracted from marine Streptomyces VITSVK5 spp.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of 5-(2,4-dimethylbenzyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (DMBPO) extracted from marine Streptomyces VITSVK5 spp. The strain was isolated from sediment samples collected at the Marakkanam coast of Bay of Bengal, India. Systematic screening of isolates for anti-Aspergillus activity resulted in the identification of Streptomyces species designated as Streptomyces VITSVK5 spp. Bioactivity guided extraction and purification yielded a compound 5-(2,4-dimethylbenzyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (DMBPO) and was tested for cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity. The structure of the extracted compound was established by spectroscopic studies and identified as 5-(2,4-dimethylbenzyl)pyrrolidin-2-one (DMBPO). DMBPO exhibited cytotoxic activity on HEP 2 and Hep G2 cell lines with the IC₅₀ value of 2.8 μg/ml and 8.3 μg/ml, respectively, as compared to Vero cell line (22.6). DMBPO showed the hemolytic EC₅₀ value of 288 μg/ml on human erythrocytes. DMBPO treatment showed fewer (31.7%) aberrations, gaps and chromatid breaks as compared to untreated controls (27.8%) of human chromosomes. DMBPO also exhibited significant (44.13% at 5 μg/ml DMBPO) DPPH radical scavenging activity and total antioxidant activity (50.10% at 5 μg/ml DMBPO). The results of this study showed that DMBPO is cytotoxic to cancer cells and possesses antioxidant property.     

Deoxyribonuclease I Inhibitory Properties,Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulations of 1-(Pyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-one Derivatives

Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I) inhibitory properties of two 1-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-one derivatives were examined in vitro. Determined IC₅₀ values of 1-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]propan-2-one ( 1 ) (192.13±16.95 μM) and 1-[1-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)pyrrolidin-2-yl]propan-2-one ( 2 ) (132.62±9.92 μM) exceed IC₅₀ value of crystal violet, used as a positive control, 1.89- and 2.73-times, respectively. Compounds are predicted to be nontoxic and to have favorable pharmacokinetic profiles, with high gastrointestinal absorption and blood-brain barrier permeability. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations suggest that interactions with Glu 39, Glu 78, Arg 111, Pro 137, Asp 251 and His 252 are an important factor for inhibitors affinity toward the DNase I. Determined inhibitory properties along with predicted ADMET profiles and observed interactions would be beneficial for the discovery of new active 1-(pyrrolidin-2-yl)propan-2-one-based inhibitors of DNase I.     

Chiroptical properties of anionic and neutral nickel(II) bis(dithiolene) complexes based on methyl and dimethyl-dddt ligands

Racemic and enantiopure nickel(II) bis(dithiolene) anionic and neutral complexes based on the methyl-5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiin-2,3-dithiolate (me-dddt) and dimethyl-5,6-dihydro-1,4-dithiin-2,3-dithiolate (dm-dddt) ligands have been experimentally and theoretically investigated with a special focus on their chiroptical properties. According to the time-dependent density-functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations, the strong near-infrared absorption bands typical for such complexes are only weakly active in circular dichroism (CD), and moreover, they have opposite signs for the axial and equatorial conformations, due to the variation of the angle between the transition electric and magnetic dipole moments, thus leading to the mutual cancellation of their contributions and the absence of these bands in the experimental CD spectra. The influence of the number of stereogenic centers and of the oxidation state of the complexes on their chiroptical properties is highlighted. The solid-state structure of the complex (TMA)[Ni(rac-me-dddt)₂] (TMA = tetramethylammonium), determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, shows a rather unusual cis arrangement of the two dithiolene ligands, with the methyl substituents adopting an axial conformation, which is not the most stable one in the gas phase.     

Enantiospecific enzymatic preparation of (2S,3S)-3-alkylaspartic acids of current interest in the synthesis of stereoregular poly[β-(2S,3S)-3-alkylmalic acids] as new optically active functional polyesters

(2S,3S)-3-methyl- and 3-isopropylaspartic acids were synthesized by bioconversion of the corresponding alkylfumarates (mesaconate and 3-isopropylfumarate) using β-methylaspartase from cell-free extracts of Clostridium tetanomorphum. Optically pure (2S,3S)-3-alkylaspartic acids were transformed in several steps to benzyl (3S,4R)-3-alkylmalolactonates without any racemization of the two chiral centers. These optically active α,β-substituted-β-lactones were polymerized by anionic ring opening polymerization yielding optically active semi-crystalline polyesters. ¹³C NMR analysis of poly[benzyl β-3-isopropylmalate] in CDCl₃ has shown that only the iso-type stereosequence is present in the polymer, indicating that the macromolecular chain is constituted by the only units of benzyl β-(2S,3S)-3-isopropylmalate monomer. The polymerization reaction was done without any racemization of the two stereogenic centers as in the case of benzyl (3S,4R)-3-methylmalolactonate. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Structure determination of chiral sulfoxide in diastereomeric bicalutamide derivatives

We report on the synthesis and investigation of two diastereomers (5a and 5b) of a new bicalutamide analog with an asymmetric carbon atom and a chiral sulfoxide group. These bicalutamide analogs are novel androgen receptor antagonists with biological activities that depend significantly on the configuration of their stereogenic centers. We determined the absolute configuration at the SO center by combining X-ray and NMR measurements with quantum chemical calculations. Since 5a and 5b failed to yield satisfactory crystals for X-ray crystal structure determination, analogs 6a and 6b differing in only one remote functional group relative to the chiral sulfoxide were synthesized, which yielded satisfactory crystals. X-ray structure determination of 6a and 6b provided the absolute configuration at the chiral sulfoxide. Since the structural difference between 5 and 6 is remote from the chiral sulfoxide, the structural assignment was extended from the diastereomers of 6 to those of 5 provisionally. These assignments were verified with the help of measured and DFT-calculated proton and carbon NMR chemical shifts.     

Guaiane sesquiterpenes from Amoora rohituka

The petroleum ether extract of the stem bark of Amoora rohituka afforded two novel guaiane-derived sesquiterpenoids, 6beta,7beta-epoxyguai-4-en-3-one (1) and 6beta,7beta-epoxy-4beta,5-dihydroxyguaiane (2). The structures of 1 and 2 were determined by extensive NMR and MS analyses and by comparison of their spectral data with related compounds. The relative stereochemistry of the asymmetric centers in 1 and 2, except at C-5 of 2, were determined by selective 1D-NOESY experiments.     

Differential polarization imaging. V. Numerical aperture effects and the contribution of preferential scattering and absorption to the circular dichroism images.

Chiral objects which scatter and absorb preferentially left versus right circularly polarized light give rise to bright-field circular dichroism (CD) images containing contributions from both these two phenomena. These contributions are separated and characterized mathematically, and the effect of the dimensions of the chiral object on their relative magnitude is discussed. CD images of the long-range chiral organization of the thylakoid membranes in chloroplasts are obtained at two different wavelengths to illustrate the diverse wavelength dependence of the preferential absorption and scattering contributions to the images. The bright field CD images not only depend on the magnitude and sign of the preferential scattering and preferential absorption contributions, but also on the numerical aperture of the lens used. This dependence is obtained formally and a method to extract the angle dependent preferential scattering contributions to the images is presented. The validity of this method is confirmed experimentally.     

Chiral high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis of antifungal SCH 56592 and evaluation of its chiral inversion in animals and humans

SCH 56592 is a novel triazole antifungal agent that is active both orally and intravenously in animal models of infection. This compound is in Phase II-III clinical trials for the treatment of systemic fungal infections. SCH 56592 is a single enantiomer with four stereogenic centers; therefore, it was necessary to evaluate the possible chiral inversion of this drug candidate in animals and humans. Thus, chiral high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods have been developed to separate SCH 56592 from its diastereomers and to evaluate its chiral inversion in rats, dogs, cynomolgus monkeys, and humans. Chiral HPLC analysis involved the use of a Chiralcel OD column set at 39 degrees C with a mobile phase of hexane-ethanol-diethylamine and a fluorescence detector set at an excitation wavelength of 270 nm and an emission wavelength of 390 nm. Plasma or serum samples were subjected to solid phase extraction on a C(2) cartridge followed by HPLC analysis. The method was sensitive with a limit of quantitation of 0.1 microg/ml in dog serum. The linearity was satisfactory, as shown by correlations of >0.997 and by visual examination of the calibration curves. The precision and accuracy were satisfactory, as indicated by coefficients of variation (CV) ranging from 1.1 to 12.1% and bias values ranging from -11.0 to 9.0%. Chiral HPLC analysis indicated that SCH 56592 was not subjected to chiral inversion in rats, dogs, cynomolgus monkeys, and humans.     

Supramolecular tilt chirality in crystals of steroids and alkaloids

The concept of supramolecular chirality has assumed increasing importance in association with the development of supramolecular chemistry over the last two decades. In chiral crystals, 2 1 helical molecular assemblies are frequently observed as key motifs. Helical handedness of the 2 1 assemblies, however, has not been determined from the mathematical or crystallographical viewpoints. In this context, we have proposed two new concepts, three-axial chirality and tilt chirality. On the basis of the concepts, we describe supramolecular chirality and determine the handedness of 2 1 assemblies that are composed of relatively complicated molecules with multiple stereogenic centers such as brucine, bile acids, and cinchona alkaloids as well as those of simple molecules.     

Enantioselective anion exchangers based on cinchona alkaloid‐derived carbamates: Influence of C8/C9 stereochemistry on chiral recognition

Four diastereomeric chiral stationary phases (CSPs) based on quinine, quinidine, epiquinine, and epiquinidine tert‐butyl carbamate selectors were synthesized and evaluated under ion exchange HPLC conditions with a set of racemic N‐acylated and N‐oxycarbonylated α‐amino acids as selectands. The enantioseparation potential of quinine‐ and quinidine‐derived CSPs proved to be far superior to that of their C₉‐epimeric congeners. The absolute configuration of C₉ stereogenic center of the cinchonan backbone of these selectors was identified as the structural feature controlling the elution order. Guided by an X‐ray structure of a most favorable selector–selectand complex and the observed chromatographic enantioseparation data, a chiral recognition model was advanced. The contributions of ion‐pairing, π–π donor–acceptor, hydrogen bonding and steric interactions were established as crucial factors. Chirality 11:522–528, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

GC Separation of Enantiomers of Alkyl Esters of 2‐Bromo Substituted Carboxylic Acids Enantiomers on 6‐TBDMS‐2,3‐di‐alkyl‐ β‐ and γ‐Cyclodextrin Stationary Phases

The gas chromatographic separation of enantiomers of 2‐Br carboxylic acid derivatives was studied on four different 6‐TBDMS‐2,3‐di‐O‐alkyl‐ β‐ and ‐γ‐CD stationary phases. The differences in thermodynamic data {ΔH and –ΔS} for the 15 structurally related racemates were evaluated. The influence of structure differences in the alkyl substituents covalently attached to the stereogenic carbon atom, as well as in the ester group of the homologous analytes, and the selectivity of modified β‐ and γ‐ cyclodextrin derivatives was studied in detail. The cyclodextrin cavity size, as well as elongation of alkyl substituents in positions 2 and 3 of 6‐TBDMS‐β‐CD, also affected their selectivity. The quality of enantiomeric separations is influenced mainly by alkyl chains of the ester group of the molecule and this appears to be independent of the CD stationary phase used. In some cases the separations occur as the result of external adsorption rather than inclusion complexations with the chiral selector. It was found that the temperature dependencies of the selectivity factor were nonlinear. Chirality 26:279–285, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.