Lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolution of 2-methylene-substituted cycloalkanols in batch and continuous-flow modes

Kinetic resolutions of cyclic racemic secondary alcohols (2-methylenecyclopentan-1-ol rac-1a, 2-methylenecyclohexan-1-ol rac-1b, 2-methylenecycloheptan-1-ol rac-1c, 6-methylene-[1,3]dioxepan-5-ol rac-1d, 2,2-dimethyl-6-methylene-[1,3]dioxepan-5-ol rac-1e and trans-2-bromocyclohexan-1-ol rac-3) catalyzed by different (commercial and in-house-made) lipases were performed using vinyl acetate in THF-hexane. In the most typical cases (rac-1b, rac-1d and rac-3), the immobilized Candida antarctica lipase B (CaLB, for rac-1b and rac-3)- or sol–gel immobilized Pseudomonas fluorescens lipase (sol–gel LAK, for rac-1d)-catalyzed batch mode reactions were compared to the continuous mode reactions carried out in an enzyme-filled stainless steel bioreactor. The effect of temperature (20–60 °C) and flow rate (0.1–0.3 ml min⁻¹) on the continuous-flow acetylation of rac-1b, rac-1d and rac-3 were investigated. In the kinetic resolutions of rac-1b, rac-1d and rac-3, the enantiomeric selectivities (E) were similar in the continuous-flow and batch (shake flask) modes. However, the productivities (specific reaction rate: r), were significantly higher in the continuous-flow mode biotransformations of rac-1b, rac-1d and rac-3.     

Synthesis of acetylenic sugars and uronic acids via two-carbon chain extension of d-ribose

Treatment of methyl β-d-ribofuranoside with acetone gave methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-d-ribofuranoside (1, 90%), whereas methyl α-d-ribofuranoside gave a mixture (30%) of 1 and methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-d-ribofuranoside (1a). On oxidation, 1 gave methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-d-ribo-pentodialdo-1,4-furanoside (2), whereas no similar product was obtained on oxidation of 1a. Ethynylmagnesium bromide reacted with 2 in dry tetrahydrofuran to give a 1:1 mixture (95%) of methyl 6,7-dideoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-d-allo- (3) and -α-l-talo-hept-6-ynofuranoside (4). Ozonolysis of 3 and 4 in dichloromethane gave the corresponding d-allo- and l-talo-uronic acids, characterized as their methyl esters (5 and 6) and 5-O-formyl methyl esters (5a and 6a). Ozonolysis in methanol gave a mixture of the free uronic acid and the methyl ester, and only a small proportion of the 5-O-formyl methyl ester. Malonic acid reacted with 2 to give methyl 5,6-dideoxy-2,3-O-isopropylidene-β-d-ribo-trans-hept-5-enofuranosiduronic acid (7).     

Photochemical addition of 2-propanol and of acetone to 2-acetoxy-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal

Irradiation of a solution of 2-acetoxy-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-D-glucal (1) in 1:200 acetone-2-propanol with a high-pressure mercury-lamp gave 4,5,6,8-tetra-O-acetyl-3,7-anhydro-1-deoxy-2-C-methyl-D-glycero-D-gulo-octitol (2) (51.2%), -D-glycero-D-ido-octitol (3) (16.2%), and-D-glycero-D- galacto-octitol (4) (21.0%). The irradiation of 1 in 1:1 acetone-2-propanol gave 5,6,8-tri-O-acetyl-3,7-anhydro-1-deoxy-4-C-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-2-C-methyl-D-glycero-D-(gluco or manno, etc.)-octitol 2,4,4¹-orthoacetate (17%) and a 2:1:1 mixture of 2, 3, and 4 (64%). Moreover, the irradiation of 1 in 1:9 acetone-tert-butyl alcohol gave 2 (15%), 3 (9%), 4 (7%), and (4S)-4,5,6,8-tetra-O-acetyl-2,4:3,7-dianhydro-1-deoxy-2-C-methyl-D-gluco-octos-4-ulose (14%).     

Photochemical addition of 1,3-dioxolane and of 2-propanol to 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-α- and -β-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranose

Photoirradiation of a solution of 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-β-D-erythro-hex-2-enopyranose (1) in 1:50 acetone-1,3-dioxolane with a high-pressure mercury-lamp, followed by chromatographic separation, gave 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-C-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)-β-D-glucopyranose (3) (44%) and-mannopyranose (4) (35%). Similar treatment of the α anomer (2) of 1 afforded 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-C-(1,3-dioxolan-2-yl)-α-D-glucopyranose (5) (38%), -mannopyranose (6) (31%), and -allopyranose (7) (21%).On the other hand, irradiation of 2 in 1:100 acetone-2-propanol gave 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-C-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-α-D-mannopyranose (8) (76%). Moreover, irradiation of 2 in 1:1 acetone-2-propanol yielded 1,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-2,3-di-C-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl)-α-D-gluco- or -manno-pyranose 2,2¹,3¹-orthoacetate (10) (15%), in addition to 8 (44%).     

Triterpenoid saponins from Fatsia japonica

Five triterpenoid saponins isolated from the flowers, the mature fruits and the leaves of Fatsia japonica were identified as 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-hederagenin (1), 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl]-oleanolic acid (2), 3-O-[α-l-arabinopyranosyl]-hederagenin (3), 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl]-hederagenin (4) and 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl(1→4)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl]-hederagenin (5). The saponins 1 and 2 are new, naturally occurring, triterpenoid saponins. The distribution of the five saponins in three parts of the plant was investigated. Saponins 2, 3 and 5 were present in the flowers, saponins 1, 3, 4 and 5 were in the mature fruits and saponins 2, 3, 4 and 5 were in the leaves.     

Angkorensides A and B – Two anti-inflammatory acyl glycosides from Gardenia angkorensis

Two new acyl glycosides, angkorensides A and B (1 and 2) together with twelve known compounds including hedyotol C 7″-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), proanthocyanidin A-1 (4), (-)-epicatechin (5), (+)-lyoniresinol 3α-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (6), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (7), cuneataside E (8), 4-hydroxyacetophenone 4-O-(6′-O-β-D-apiofuranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), cinnamtannin B-1 (10), aesculitannin B (11), quercetin 3-O-rham-(1−6)-β-D-galactopyranoside (12), quercetin 3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (13), and proanthocyanidin A-2 (14) have been unprecedentedly isolated from Gardenia angkorensis Pit. Angkorensides A and B (1 and 2) showed moderate anti-inflammatory inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 macrophages and the known compounds (4, 10-14) exhibited strong 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity.     

Microbial oxygenation of dialkylbenzenes (I)

The use of the microorganism Sporotrichum sulfurescens (ATCC 7159) to oxygenate organic molecules has been extended to several dialkylbenzenes. Oxygenation of 1,4-di-t-butylbenzene (1) gave 4-t-butyl(1-hydroxy-2-methyl)isopropylbenzene (2) and 1,4-di-(1-hydroxy-2-methyl)isopropylbenzene (3); of 1,4-diisopropylbenzene (4) gave (R,R)-1,4-di-(1-hydroxy)isopropylbenzene (5); of 1,3-diisopropylbenzene (6) gave 1,3-di-(2-hydroxy)isopropylbenzene (7), 3-(1-hydroxy)isopropyl-(2-hydroxy)isopropylbenzene (8), and 1,3-di-(1-hydroxy)isopropylbenzene (9); and of p-isobutylisopropylbenzene (20) gave 1-(p-2-hydroxyisopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropan-2-ol (15) and 1-(p-1-hydroxyisopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropan-2-ol (16). Monohydroxydialkylbenzenes also served as useful substrates in this reaction as suggested by the fact that 2 is an intermediate in the formation of 3 from 1. Oxygenation of 1-(p-isopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropan-2-ol (14), conveniently prepared from 2-(p-isopropylphenyl)propene (12) via oxygenative isomerization with thallium trinitrate to 13 followed by addition of methyl magnesium bromide, gave 15 and 16. Oxygenation of 2-(p-isobutylphenyl)propan-2-ol (18) gave 15, 2-(p-isobutylphenyl)-propan-1,2-diol (21), and 1-(p-2-hydroxyisopropylphenyl)-2-methylpropan-3-ol (22). Compound 16, obtained from substrate 14, was converted to (2R)-2-[4-(2-hydroxy-2-methylpropyl)phenyl]propionic acid (11), the enantiomer of a metabolite of the antiinflammatory agent, 2-(4-i-butyl)phenylpropionic acid (10).     

The synthesis of new deoxynitroinositols by cyclization of 6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-6-nitro-d-allose and -l-talose

6-Deoxy-3-O-methyl-6-nitro-d-allose (5) and -l-talose (6) were synthesized from 1,2-O-isopropylidene-3O-methyl-α-d-allofuranose (1) by the nitromethane method via their furanoid, 1,2-O-isopropylidene derivatives (2 and 3). The barium hydroxide-catalyzed cyclization of the free nitrohexoses (5 and 6) was investigated. Under conditions favoring kinetic control (pH ～8, 0°), 5 gave mainly 1d-5-deoxy-2-O-methyl-5-nitro-allo-inositol (7), with the 1l-epi-1 (8) and epi-6 (9) stereoisomers as minor products. Compound 6 afforded a high yield of the myo-5-isomer (11); the 1l-allo-5 (13) and 1d-epi-1 (14) isomers were formed in small proportions but not isolated. The thermodynamically controlled, mutual interconversion of the stereoisomeric products was studied, as was the formation of nitronate salts and the regeneration of free nitroinositols. Upon immediate acidification, the nitronate obtained from 11 gave 11 and the neo-2 epimer (12) in a ratio of 2:3. The nitronate produced by 7 underwent rapid β-epimerization. The five isolated deoxynitroinositol monomethyl ethers were further characterized as tetra-acetates (7a, 9a, 11a, and 12a) and isopropylidene derivatives (7b, 8b, and 9b).     

Chemo-sensitizing activity of natural cadinanes from Heterotheca inuloides in human uterine sarcoma cells and their in silico interaction with ABC transporters

Sensitizing activities exerted by 3,4-dihydro-7-hydroxycadalene (1), rac-3,7-dihydroxy-3(4H)-isocadalen-4-one (4) and (1R,4R)-4H-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-1-hydroxycadalen-15-oic acid (9), the major cadinanes isolated from Heterotheca inuloides, towards multidrug-resistant MES-SA/MX2 and parental MES-SA epithelial human uterine sarcoma cell lines were evaluated. We also evaluated the in silico interactions (expressed as ΔG_binding in kcal/mol) of cadinanes 1, 4 and 9 in an in vitro assay, and also tested several structurally related natural compounds with the multidrug resistance protein (MDR1, P-glycoprotein), human multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) structures as pharmacological targets using AutoDock and AutoDock Vina. Compound 1 potentiated the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and mitoxantrone drugs in resistant MES-SA/MX2 cells, compared to cells treated with each drug alone. Compound 1 could reverse the resistance to doxorubicin 12.44 fold at a concentration of 5 μM. It also re-sensitized cells to mitoxantrone 3.94 fold. Hence, compound 1 may be considered as a potential chemosensitizing agent to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer. The docking analysis suggested that there are interactions between cadinanes from H. inuloides and MDR1, MRP1, and BCRP proteins mainly through π-π interactions and hydrogen bonds.     

Reaction of 2-amino-2-deoxyheptoses with cyclic β-dicarbonyl compounds

The reaction between 2-amino-2-deoxyaldoses and β-dicarbonyl compounds yields polyhydroxyalkylpyrroles. Thus, 6,6-dimethyl-2-(D-galacto-pentitol-1-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one (4a), 6,6-dimethyl-2-(D-gluco-pentitol-1-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one (4b), and 6,6-dimethyl-2-(D-manno-pentitol-1-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one (4c) have been obtained from 5,5-dimethylcyclohexane-1,3-dione (2) and 2-amino-2-deoxyheptoses having D-glycero-L-gluco (1a), D-glycero-D-ido (1b), and D-glycero-D-talo (1c) configurations, respectively. 2-Amino-2-deoxy-D-glycero-L-manno-heptose (1d), the epimer of 1a, also reacts with 2, to yield 4a. In a similar way, 1a, 1b, and 1c react with cyclohexane-1,3-dione (3), to give 2-(D-galacto-pentitol-1-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one (5a), 2-D-gluco-pentitol-1-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one (5b), and 2-(D-manno-pentitol-1-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one (5c), respectively.     

The cyclization of 3-O-benzyl-6-deoxy-6-nitro-D-glucose and -L-idose to O-benzyldeoxynitroinositols,and epimerizations related thereto

3-O-Benzyl-1,2-O-isopropylidene-α-D-xylo-pentodialdo-1,4-furanose (1) was found to give, with nitromethane under catalysis by sodium methoxide, 3-O-benzyl-6-deoxy-1,2-O-isopropylidene-6-nitro- α-D-glucofuranose (2) as the kinetically favored product. Subsequent, spontaneous epimerization led to a 2:1 mixture of 2 and its β-L-ido isomer (3), from which crystalline 3 was isolated. The free nitro hexoses (4 and 5) obtained by deacetonation of 2 and 3 were subjected to barium hydroxide-catalyzed cyclization (internal Henry reaction) to give mixtures of O-benzyldeoxynitroinositols. Under conditions of kinetic control, the α-D-gluco derivative 4 furnished 6-O-benzyl-3-deoxy-3-nitro-muco-inositol (6) and optically active 4-O-benzyl-1-deoxy-1-nitro-L-myo-inositol (L-7) in a ratio of 3:1. The β-L-ido derivative 5 gave the enantiomer (D-7) of the myo compound and 4-O-benzyl-1-deoxy-1-nitro-scyllo-inositol (8) in a similar ratio. Slow, thermodynamically controlled epimerization led from each individual nitro inositol to mixtures of the same composition, with 17–18% of 6, 68–69% of DL-7, and 11–12% of 8. All of the nitroinositol benzyl ethers were isolated crystalline and characterized further as crystalline tetraacetates (6a–8a). The muco isomer 6 gave a di-O-isopropylidene derivative (6b).     

Antimicrobial terpenoids of Gossypium: Hemigossypol, 6-methoxyhemigossypol and 6-deoxyhemigossypol

The sesquiterpenoid aldehydes, hemigossypol (1a), 6-methoxyhemigossypol (1b), and 6-deoxyhemigossypol (1c), were isolated and identified from Verticillium-infected stele tissue of Gossypium barbadense. Structures were established by spectral (UV, IR, NMR, MS) evidence and chemical transformations. This is the first report of (1b) and (1c) in nature, and of NMR and m.p. data for crystalline pure (1a). Compound (1a) occurred in diseased stele tissues of all 21 Gossypium species examined and in the genera, Cienfuegosia, Gossypioides, Hampea, and Thespesia; it was absent in three Hibiscus spp. Compound (1b) occurred in the same taxa as (1a), except that it was absent in species of two cytogenetic groups (A and B genome) of Gossypium. Compound (1c) occurred in trace quantities, or was not detected, in most species; however, its distribution appeared to besimilar to that     

Diazomethane-catalysed rearrangement of α-d-glucopyranosyl esters of N-acylamino acids into 2-O-acylaminoacyl-α-d-glucopyranoses

Both anomers of 1-O-[N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-α-glutamyl]-d-glucopyranose (2) were converted into the unprotected 1-esters, characterised as the trifluoroacetate salts 3α and 3β. On esterification with diazomethane and acetylation, the N-acetylated derivative of 3β and 2β gave the peracetylated 1-O-[5-methyl N-acetyl- and -tert-butoxycarbonyl-L-glutam-1-oyl]-β-d-glucopyranoses (4β and 6β), respectively. Similar treatment of 2α and 3β led to acyl migration, to yield 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-2-O-[5-methyl N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-glutam-1-oyl]-α-d-glucopyranose (7α,64%) with traces of 7β, and a mixture (≈2:1:0.2) of the N-acetyl analogue of 7α (8α), 4α, and 8β, respectively. Treatment of 1-O-[5-methyl N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-L-glutam-1-oyl]-α-d-glucopyranose (10) and the corresponding glutam-5-oyl isomer 12 in N,N-dimethylformamide with diazomethane for 1 h resulted in 1 → 2 O-acyl transfer to give, upon acetylation, 7α and the fully acetylated 2-O-[1-methyl N-(tert-butoxy- carbonyl)-L-glutam-5-oyl]-α-d>-glucopyranose in yields of 70 and 90 %, respectively; in the absence of diazomethane, 10 and 12 remained unchanged. Similar experiments with α-d-glucopyranosyl esters of N-acetylglycine, N-acetylalanine, and N-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)phenylalanine yielded the 2-O-acyl derivatives in high yields and with high retention of anomeric configuration. The structures of the rearrangement products were proved both spectroscopically and chemically. The results imply that diazomethane functions as a base in the migration process.     

Evaluation of enantioselectivity in lipase-catalyzed acylation of hydroxyalkylphosphine oxides

The lipase-catalyzed optical resolution of 2-, 3-, and 5-hydroxyalkyl phosphorus compounds 1 provided the corresponding optically pure diastereomers in good yields. (S_P, R)- and (R_P, S)-1 were acylated faster than (S_P, S)- and (R_P, R)-1. The stereoselectivity at the phosphorus atom changed with the flexibility of the active sites in the lipases. The stereoselectivity at the phosphorus atom was higher in the reaction of 1a than in the reaction of 1b,c. The reaction rate of ɛ-hydroxyalkylphosphine oxide 1c was faster than that of 1a, although less enantioselectivity was observed at the phosphorus atom.     

Synthesis of 2- (and 6-) -dithian-2-yluracil nucleosides and their conversion into nucleoside derivatives

Addition of 2,2′-anhydro-[1-(3-O-acetyl-5-O-trityl-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)uracil] (1) to excess 2-litho-1,3-dithiane (2)in oxolane at ?78° gave 2-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-1-(5-O-trityl-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-4(1H)pyrimidinone (3), O²,2′-anhydro-5,6-di-hydro-6-(S)-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-5′-O-trityluridine (4), and 2-(1,4-dihydroxybutyl)-1,3-dithiane (5) in yields of 15, 30, and 10% respectively. The structure of 3 was proved by its hydrolysis in acid to give 2-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-4-pyrimidinone (6) and arabinose, and by desulfurization with Raney nickel to yield the known 2-methyl-1-(5-O-trityl-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-4(1H)-pyrimidinone (7). Detritylation of 3 without glycosidic cleavage could only be effected by prior acetylation to 1-(2,3-di-O-acetyl-5-O-trityl-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)-2-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-4(1H)-pyrimidinone (8) which, after treatment with acetic acid at room temperature for 65 h followed by the action of sodium methoxide gave 2-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-1-β-D-arabinofuranosyl-4(1H)-pyrimidinone (10) in 45% yield. Detritylation of 4 in boiling acetic acid gave 5,6-dihydro-6-(S)-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)-1-β-D-arabinofuranosyluracil (12) and 3-[(S)-1-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)]propionamido-(1,2-dideoxy-β-D-arabinofurano)-[1,2-d]-2-oxazolidinone (13) in 10 and 90% yields, respectively. When 12 was kept in water or methanol for 7 days, quantitative conversion into 13 occurred. Acid hydrolysis of 12 afforded arabinose and 5,6-di-hydro-6-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)uracil (14), which was desulfurized with Raney nickel to the known 5,6-dihydro-6-methyluracil (15). Treatment of 13 with trifluoroacetic anhydride-pyridine yielded 77% of the cyano derivative 17. Similar dehydration of 3-(R)-1-methylpropionamido-(1,2-dideoxy-β-D-arabinofurano)-[1,2-d]-2-oxalidinone (18), obtained by desulfurization of 13, gave 60% of the nitrile 19. Hydrogenation of 19 over platinum oxide in acetic anhydride gave the acetamide derivative 20 in 95% yield. Nitrobenzoylation of 13 gave 3-[(S)-1-(1,3-dithian-2-yl)]cyanomethyl-3,5-di-O-p-nitrobenzoyl-(1,2-dideoxy-β-D-arabinofurano)-[1,2-d]-2-oxazolidinone (22), which was converted in 37% yield by treatment with methyl iodide in dimethyl sulfoxide into the aldehyde 24, characterized as the semicarbazone 25. The purification of 5 and its characterization as 2-(1,4-di-O-p-nitrobenzoylbutyl)-1,3-dithiane (27) is described.     

Chemical constituents from Cistanche sinensis (Orobanchaceae)

Phytochemical investigation of 70% aqueous EtOH extract of Cistanche sinensis led to the isolation of fifteen compounds (1–15), including nine phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs, 1–9), five iridoid glycosides (10–14), and one lignan glycoside (15). Their structures were determined on the basis of 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments and by comparison with physical data of known compounds. Among the isolated compounds, 1 was identified as a new compound, three compounds (9, 14, and 15) were firstly reported from the genus Cistanche, and seven compounds (2–6, 11, and 12) were isolated from C. sinensis for the first time. PhGs with a 6′-O-rhamnosyl moiety such as cistansinenside B (1), poliumoside (7), and 2′-O-acetylpoliumoside (9) could serve as chemotaxonomic markers to differentiate C. sinensis from other species of Cistanche.     

Crystal and molecular structures of substituted α-d-glucopyranosides

The crystal and molecular structures of methyl 2,4,6-tri-O-pivaloyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (1), methyl 4,6-O-(R)-benzylidene-2-O-pivaloyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (2), and methyl 4,6-O-(R)-benzylidene-2,3-di-O-pivaloyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (3) were determined by X-ray analysis. Crystals of 1 are orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁ with the unit cell a = 13.026(2), b = 16.832, c = 11.929(2) Å, Z = 4. Crystals of 2 are monoclinic, space group P2₁. The unit-cell parameters are a = 6.519(1), b = 14.664(4), c = 10.635(4) Å, β = 93.18(1)°, Z = 2. Crystals of 3 are orthorhombic, space group P2₁2₁2₁ with a = 10.006(3), b = 13.874(3), c = 18.527(5) Å, Z = 4. The structures were solved by MULTAN and refined by a full-matrix procedure to final values of R = 0.084 (1), 0.048 (2), and 0.069 (3). The pyranose ring in each compound adopts the ⁴C₁ conformation. The 1,3-dioxane rings in 2 and 3 show a chair conformation. The molecular packing in 1 is through the hydrogen bonds involving HO-3 and the 6-O-pivaloyl carbonyl group [HO-3 ⋯ O-9, 2.855(8) Å], which connect the molecules into a chain along

. The endocyclic oxygen atom is involved in an intermolecular hydrogen-bond with HO-3 [2.848(4) Å], joining molecules of 2 into the chains along

. There are no free hydroxyl groups in 3 and molecular packing reflects van der Waals interactions only.     

New derivatives of ursolic acid through the biotransformation by Bacillus megaterium CGMCC 1.1741 as inhibitors on nitric oxide production

Microbial transformation of ursolic acid (1) by Bacillus megaterium CGMCC 1.1741 was investigated and yielded five metabolites identified as 3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (2); 1β,11α-dihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (3); 1β-hydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28, 13-lactoe (4); 1β,3β, 11α-trihydroxyurs-12-en-28-oic acid (5) and 1β,11α-dihydroxy-3-oxo-urs-12-en-28-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (6). Metabolites 3, 4, 5 and 6 were new natural products. Their nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory activity was assessed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) – stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited significant activities with the IC₅₀ values of 1.243 and 1.711 μM, respectively. A primary structure-activity relationship was also discussed.     

Flavonoid glycosides from the aerial parts of Curcuma comosa

Four new flavonoid glycosides, curcucomosides A–D (1–4), three known flavonoid glycosides, 5–7, and four known diarylheptanoids, 8–11, were isolated from the ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Curcuma comosa. The structures of the new compounds were established as rhamnazin 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (1), rhamnocitrin 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (2), rhamnazin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (3), and rhamnocitrin 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside (4) by spectroscopic analysis and chemical reactions whereas those of the known compounds were identified by spectral comparison with those of the reported values.     

Two new nonacosanetriols from Ginkgo biloba sarcotesta

Two new fatty alcohols named as (7S,8R,11S)-nonacosanetriol (1) and (10R,12R,15S)-nonacosanetriol (2), along with eight known compounds including ginkgolic acid (3), hydroginkgolic acid (4), sciadopitysin (5), ginkgetin (6), isoginkgetin (7), ginkgolide A (8), ginkgolide B (9) and ginkgolide C (10) have been isolated from the petroleum ether extract of Ginkgo biloba sarcotesta. Their structures were elucidated by means of chemical and extensive spectroscopic analysis. The absolute stereochemistry of compounds 1 and 2 was elucidated on the spectroscopic analysis of the R- and S-MTPA esters. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited slight activity of antithrombin and moderate activity of antiplatelet aggregation in vitro. This was the first report regarding the anticoagulative activities of biflavonoids in G. biloba, and isoginkgetin (7) showed significant antithrombin and antiplatelet aggregation activity.