An Efficient Chemoenzymatic Synthesis of S-(-)-Fenpropimorph

First enantioselective synthesis of S-(-)-1-[3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methyl]propyl-cis-3,5-dimethylmorpholine (6), biologically active enantiomer of the systematic fungicide fenpropimorph, is reported. It comprises reacting 4-tert-butylbenzylbromide with methyldiethylmalonate, decarbethoxylation of 2 into racemic 3-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-2-methylpropionic acid ethylester (3) in DMSO in the presence of alkali, then Pseudomonas sp. lipase catalyzed kinetic resolution of racemic 3 into S-(+)-acid (4), base-catalyzed racemization and recycling of the R-(-)-ester 3, acylation of cis-3,5-dimethylmorpholine, and final reduction of the intermediary amide 5 to provide enantiomerically pure S-(-)-6.     

Stereochemistry of the Enzymatic Reduction of 2-(4-Methoxybenzyl)-1-Cyclohexanone by Solanum Aviculare Cells in vitro

During the investigation of chemical properties of the dicyclic system of insect juvenile hormone analogues, biotransformation of 2-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1-cyclohexanone (1) by plant cell cultures was studied. Among other components, the cis-(1S, 2S)- and cis-(1R, 2R)-2-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1-cyclohexanol enantiomers 2a and 2b were found in the reaction mixture. Higher stereoselectivity of the biotransformation was observed for trans-(1S, 2R)-enantiomer 3a formation, which occurred in at least 60% of calculated enantiomeric excess.     

Regioselective acylation of several polyhydroxylated natural compounds by Candida antarctica lipase B

Regioselective acylation of four polyhydroxylated natural compounds, deacetyl asperulosidic acid (1), asperulosidic acid (2), puerarin (3) and resveratrol (4) by Candida antarctica Lipase B in the presence of various acyl donors (vinyl acetate, vinyl decanoate or vinyl cinnamoate) was studied. Compounds 1, 2 and 4 were regioselectively acetylated with vinyl acetate to afford products, 3'-O-acetyl-10-O-deacetylasperulosidic acid (1a), 3',6'-O-diacetyl-10-O-deacetylasperulosidic acid (1b), 3'-O-acetylasperulosidic acid (2a), 3',6'-O-diacetylasperulosidic acid (2b), 4'-O-acetylresveratrol (4a), respectively, with yields of 22 to 50%, while reactions with vinyl decanoate and vinyl cinnamoate were slow with lower yields. Compound 3 was readily acylated with all three acyl donors and quantitatively converted to products 6'-O-acetylpuerarin (3a), 6'-O-decanoylpuerarin (3b), 6'-O-cinnamoylpuerarin (3c), respectively. The structures of these acylated products were determined by spectroscopic methods (MS and NMR).     

Lactones 29 . Enzymatic resolution of racemic γ-lactones

Studies on the application of commercially available enzymes to resolution of the racemic unsaturated γ-lactones: 5-(3-methylbutylidene)-4-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-one (1a) and 5-(3,3-dimethylbutylidene)-4-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-one (2a) are presented. Lipase PS, Rhizopus niveus lipase, Rhizopus arrhizus lipase, porcine pancreas lipase and hog liver esterase transformed substrates into their respective γ-keto acids with good efficiency (50-75%). Three of them hydrolysed the studied lactones with moderate enantioselectivity. Enantiomeric excesses determined by GC for the unreacted lactones were in the range of 20-60%. Lipase PS preferentially hydrolysed the (+) enantiomers of lactones 1a and 2a whereas R. niveus lipase hydrolysed the (-) enantiomers, respectively.     

Microbial reduction of cyclohexanones

A Brazilian strain of the bacteria Serratia rubidaea CCT 5742 quantitatively reduced 4-tert-butylcyclohexanone and 4-methylcyclohexanone to the less thermodynamically stable diastereoisomeric alcohols cis-4-tert-butylcyclohexanol and cis-4-methylcyclohexanol with a diastereoisomeric excesses (de) of 96% and 44%, respectively. 2-Methylcyclohexanone was also totally reduced to the corresponding alcohols affording the trans-(+)-(1S, 2S)-2-methylcyclohexanol with 78% of de and an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 80%. The cis-(+)-(1S, 2R)-2-methylcyclohexanol was obtained in 98% ee.     

Reactivity of ubiquinones and ubiquinols with free radicals

The reactivity of quinones 1-4 and of the corresponding quinols 5-8 towards carbon- and oxygen-centred radicals were studied. All quinones bearing at least one nuclear position free, readily react with alkyl and phenyl radicals to afford the alkylated quinones 12-24; however, quinones 1 and 3 reacted with 2-cyano-2-propyl radical to yield products (the mono- and di-ethers 9-11) derived from the attack on the carbonylic oxygen. The reactions carried out on quinones with the benzoyloxy radical led to no reaction products and in the case of Q₁₀, the isoprenic chain also remained unchanged. Quinols 5-8 reacted only with oxygencentred radicals (benzoyloxy and 2-cyano-2-propylperoxy radicals) to give the corresponding quinones. The isoprenic chain of Q₁₀ did not undergo attack even with peroxy radicals. Carbon-centred radicals resulted unable to abstract hydrogen from the studied quinols.     

Biotransformation of podophyllotoxin by Hordeum vulgare cell suspension cultures

Hordeum vulgare cell suspension cultures were used to modify podophyllotoxin (1) One major product (1a) and one minor product (1b) were detected in both the culture medium and cells. To optimize the yield of compound 1a, we showed that: (1) the optimal concentration of added podophyllotoxin (1) was 33 mg L^-1; higher concentrations caused cell toxicity; (2) the stage of the cell cycle (lag/log/stationary) at which podophyllotoxin was added only marginally affected the yield of compound 1a; the optimal addition time was after lag phase, in which the yield of compound 1a reached ca. 76%, and (3) biotransformation of podophyllotoxin (1) was relatively slow; podophyllotoxin fed at 4 days after subculture resulted in yields of compound 1a of ca. 56, 64 and 76% after an additional 3, 6 and 10 days of incubation, respectively. Product 1a was purified and identified as isopicropodophyllone (1a) based on MS and NMR data.     

Spin Trapping by Use of N-Tert-Butylhydroxylamine. Involvement of Fenton Reactions

Spin trapping of short-lived R. radicals is done by use of N-tert-butylhydroxylamine (1) and H²O². The hydroxylamine is oxidized to the radical t-BuN(O)H (2) which is converted into the spin trap 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (3). Simultaneously, hydroxyl radicals. OH are formed from H²O². The latter radical species abstracts hydrogen atoms from suitable molecules HR to give R. radicals, which are trapped with the formation of aminooxyl radicals, i. e., t-BuN(O)R (4) detectable by EPR spectroscopy. The reaction is enhanced by the presence of iron ions. The cleavage of H²O² into. OH radicals is considered to involve both a radical-driven (t-BuN(O)H 2) and an iron-driven Fenton reaction.     

Temperature-dependence of enantioselectivity and desymmetrization in the acetylation of 2-mono- and 2,2-di-substituted 1,3-propanediols by a novel lipase isolated from the yeast Cryptococcus spp. S-2

The effect of temperature on enantioselectivity and desymmetrization in the acetylation of 2-phenyl-1,3-propanediol (1a), 2-benzyl-1,3-propanediol (1b), 2-methyl-2-phenyl-1,3-propanediol (1c) and 2-benzyl-2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (1d) by a novel lipase (CSL) isolated from the yeast Cryptococcus spp. S-2 was studied. Desymmetrization of 1a, 1c and 1d by CSL-catalyzed acetylation was observed in the temperature range of -20°C to 40°C, while diacetylation of 1b occurred considerably even at 0°C. The kinetic parameters of the selectivity indicated that the acetylation of 1a is an entropy controlled process whereas the reaction of 1c and 1d is mainly controlled by the enthalpy term. In the monoacetylation of the diol 1d, the preferred configuration in the enantiomeric induction by CSL was opposite to that of immobilized porcine pancreatic lipase (PPL).     

Twenty-Four-Hour Variations in the Sensitivity of Rat Aorta to Vasoactive Agents

The presence of time-dependent variations in the in vitro sensitivity of aorta preparations to either vasoconstricting or relaxing agents was investigated in rats maintained in light from 08: 00 to 20: 00 and in darkness from 20: 00 to 08: 00. Rat thoracic aorta rings were obtained from animals sacrificed at four different times of the day. The rat aorta was found to be more sensitive to the constricting effect of phenylephrine at 15: 00, and of 5-hydroxytryptamine at 21: 00. On the other hand, both endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations were more remarkable at 03: 00 than at other times of the day. These variations represented significant circadian rhythms when analyzed by analysis of variance. Different in vitro responsiveness to these agents might reflect changes in the sensitivity and/or number of related receptors in vascular preparations. In conclusion, the circadian time of animal sacrifice to obtain vascular preparations constitutes an important aspect of the research method and a key determinant of findings. (Chronobiology International, 13(6), 465-475, 1996)     

Biotransformation of γ-terpinene using Stemphylium botryosum (Wallroth) yields p-mentha-1,4-dien-9-ol, a novel odorous monoterpenol

A wild strain of Stemphylium botryosum, when grown submerged in the presence of γ-terpinene (1), yielded the novel highly odour active terpene alcohol (2), whose structure was established by spectroscopic means as p-mentha-1,4-dien-9-ol. During cultivation (2) was further oxidized, predominantly to the corresponding aromatic alcohol p-cymene-9-ol (5). The enantioselective enzymatic introduction of the hydroxyl group at the non-activated C9 of (1) resulted in an enantiomeric excess (ee) of 74% for (2) and 70% for (5), respectively.     

Book Review

LEGGETT, W. F. Ancient and Medieval Dyes. 5 × 8 in. 96 pp. Cloth. Chemical Publishing Co., Brooklyn, N. Y. 1944. $2.25.

Microtechnic In General. McCARTNEY, J. E. A new immersion oil “polyric”. J. Path. & Bact., 56, 265-6. 1944.

NICKERSON, MARK. A dry ice freezing unit for rotary microtomes. Science, 100, 177-8. 1944.

Dyes And Thedx Biological Uses. BERGEIM, FRANK H., and BRAKER, WILLIAM. Homosulfanilamides. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 66, 1459. 1944.

CALDWELL, W. T., TYSON, F. T., and LAUER, LOTHAR. Substituted 2-sulfonamido-5-aminopyridines. II. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 66, 1479. 1944.

JOHNS, C. K. Dye concentration in resazurin tablets. Amer. J. Pub. Health, 34, 955-8. 1944.

SMITH, WINSLOW WHITNEY. Relative sensitivity of different phases of growth curve of Bact. salmonicida to alkaline acriflavine. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. & Med., 56, 240-2. 1844.

VAN ARENDONK, A. M., and SHOULE, H. A. Dialkylaminoalkyl derivatives of substituted quinolines and quinaldines. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 66, 1284. 1944.

WHEELER, KEITH, and DEGERING, E. F. Preparation and properties of certain derivatives of sulfamide. J. Amer. Chem. Soc., 66, 1242. 1944.

Animal Microtechnic. BOARDMAN, EDWARD T. Methods for collecting ticks for study and delineation. J. Parasitology, 30, 57-9. 1944.

DICKIE, MARGARET M. A new differential stain for mouse pituitary. Science, 100, 297-8. 1944.

GOVAN, A. D. TELFORD. Fat staining by Sudan dyes suspended in watery media. J. Path. & Bact., 56, 262-4. 1944.

LILLIE, R. D., and ASHBURN, L. L. Supersaturated solutions of fat stains in dilute isopropanol for demonstration of acute fatty degenerations not shown by Herxheimer technic. Arch. Path., 36, 432. 1943.

MULLEN, J. P. A convenient and rapid method for staining glycogen in paraffin sections with Best's carmine stain. Amer. J. Clin. Path., Tech. Sect., 8, 9-10. 1944.

NYKA, W. A method for staining the rickettsiae of typhns in histological sections. J. Path. & Bact., 56, 264. 1944.

POPPER, HANS, GYORGY, PAUL, and GOLDBLATT, H. Fluorescent material (ceroid) in experimental nutritional cirrhosis. Arch. Path., 37, 161. 1944.

SMALL, C. S., and SCHULTZ, M. A. Sustaining faded tissue sections. Amer. J. Clin. Path., Tech. Sect., 7, 66-7. 1943.

YOFFEY, J. M., and PARNELL, J. The lymphocyte content of rabbit bone marrow. J. Anat., 78, 109-12. 1944.

ZIEGLER, E. E. Hematoxylin-eosin tissue stain. An improved, rapid, and uniform technic. Arch. Path., 37, 68. 1044.

Plant Microtechnic. HAASIS, FERDINAND W. Staining rubber in ground or milled plant tissues. Ind. and Eng. Chem., Anal. Ed., 16, 480. 1944.

PARRIS, G. K. A simple nuclear stain and staining technique for Helminthosporia. Phytopathology, 34, 700. 1944.

Microorganisms. DARZINS, E. Rickettsienstudien. Zentbl. Bakl., Abt. I, Orig., 151, 18-20. 1943.

GOHAR, M. A. A staining method for Corynebacterium diphtheriae. J. Bact., 47, 575. 1944.

GRAY, P. H. H. Two-stain method for direct bacteria count. J. Milk Techn., 6, 76. 1943.     

Dyes and their Biological Uses

SCHEIBE, O., and EDER, M. Lichtelektrische Emissionsmessung Akridin-orange-fluorochromierter Gewebesschnitte. Acta Histochemica 3, 6-18. 1956.     

On the, stoichiometry between uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation and respiratory chains. The catalytic action of SF 6847 (3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile)

Titration of State 4 rat-liver mitochondria at pH 7.2 with the uncoupler 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile (SF 6847) at various concentrations of mitochondria and using various substrates indicates that under optimal conditions less than 0.2 molecule of 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile per respiratory chain is sufficient to induce complete uncoupling. This result suggests that there is not a stoichiometric relationship between uncoupler molecules and cytochrome c oxidase, involved in oxidative phosphorylation, or between the former and phosphorylation assemblies.

Experiments on the release by 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidenemalononitrile of azide-inhibited respiration of State 3 mitochondria and titrations with 5-chloro-3-tert-butyl-2′-chloro-4′-nitrosalicylanilide (S₁₃) of State 4 mitochondria at various mitochondrial concentrations confirm this conclusion.     

Lipase Catalyzed Resolution of (±)-2-Substituted 1-Propanol Derivatives Possessing an Aromatic Ring

For the purpose of the chiral synthesis of natural products, lipase-catalyzed kinetic resolutions of three types of 2-substituted 1-propanol derivatives (each having an aromatic ring) was investigated. In every case, chiral recognition of the primary alcohol unit took place to provide the corresponding alcohols and the acetates in high optical purity. The (2S,3S)-5-aryl-2-methyl-3-hydroxy-4E-pentenol 5 was formally converted into the antibiotic, (-)-oudemansin X.     

In vitro antioxidative activity of (-)-epicatechin glucuronide metabolites present in human and rat plasma

Recently we identified four conjugated glucuronide metabolites of epicatechin, (-)-epicatechin-3'-O-glucuronide (E3'G), 4'-O-methyl-(-)-epicatechin-3'-O-glucuronide (4'ME3'G), (-)-epicatechin-7-O-glucuronide (E7G) and 3'-O-methyl-(-)-epicatechin-7-O-glucuronide (3'ME7G) from plasma and urine. E3'G and 4'ME3'G were isolated from human urine, while E7G and 3'ME7G were isolated from rats that had received oral administration of (-)-epicatechin (Natsume et al. (2003), Free Radic. Biol. Med. 34, 840-849). It has been suggested that these metabolites possess considerable in vivo activity, and therefore we carried out a study to compare the antioxidant activities of the metabolites with that of the parent compound. This was achieved by measuring superoxide scavenging activity, reduction of plasma TBARS production and reduced susceptibility of low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation. (-)-Epicatechin was found to have more potent antioxidant activity than the conjugated glucuronide metabolites. Both (-)-epicatechin and E7G had marked antioxidative properties with respect to superoxide radical scavenging activity, plasma oxidation induced by 2,2'-azobis-(2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and LDL oxidation induced by copper ions or 2,2'-azobis(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile) (MeO-AMVN). In contrast, the other metabolites had light antioxidative activities over the range of physiological concentrations found in plasma.     

Reactions of the haloalcohols HO(CH2)nCl (n = 2, 3) with platinum(II) - alkynyl and -alkyne complexes. X-ray crystal structure of trans-[Pt(Me) {C(OCH2CH2Cl) (CH2Ph)} (PPh3)2] [BF4]

The chloro complexes trans-[Pt(Me)(Cl)(PPh₃)₂], after treatment with AgBF₄, react with 1-alkynes HC---C---R in the presence of NEt₃ to afford the corresponding acetylide derivatives trans-[Pt(Me) (C---C---R) (PPh₃)₂] (R = p-tolyl (1), Ph (2), C(CH₃)₃ (3)). These complexes, with the exception of the t-butylacetylide complex, react with the chloroalcohols HO(CH₂)_nCl (n = 2, 3) in the presence of 1 equiv. of HBF₄ to afford the alkyl(chloroalkoxy)carbene complexes trans-[Pt(Me) {C[O(CH₂)_nCl](CH₂R) } (PPh₃)₂][BF₄] (R = p-tolyl, N = 2 (4), N = 3 (5); R=Ph, N = 2 (6)). A similar reaction of the bis(acetylide) complex trans-[Pt(C---C---Ph)₂(PMe₂Ph)₂] with 2 equiv. HBF₄ and 3-chloro-1-propanol affords trans-[Pt(C---CPh) {C(OCH₂CH₂CH₂Cl)(CH₂Ph) } (PMe₂Ph)₂][BF₄] (7). T alkyl(chloroalkoxy)-carbene complex trans-[Pt(Me) {C(OCH₂CH₂Cl)(CH₂Ph) } (PPh₃)₂][BF₄] (8) is formed by reaction of trans-[Pt(Me)(Cl)(PPh₃)₂], after treatment with AgBF₄ in HOCH₂CH₂Cl, with phenylacetylene in the presence of 1 equiv. of n-BuLi. The reaction of the dimer [Pt(Cl)(μ-Cl)(PMe₂Ph)]₂ with p-tolylacetylene and 3-chloro-1-propanol yields cis-[PtCl₂{C(OCH₂CH₂CH₂Cl)(CH₂C₆H₄-p-Me}(PMe₂Ph)] (9). The X-ray molecular structure of (8) has been determined. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, space group Pna2₁, with a = 11.785(2), B = 29.418(4), C = 15.409(3) Å, V = 4889(1) ų and Z = 4. The carbene ligand is perpendicular to the Pt(II) coordination plane; the PtC(carbene) bond distance is 2.01(1) Å and the short C(carbene)-O bond distance of 1.30(1) Å suggests extensive electronic delocalization within the Pt---C(carbene)---O moietry.     

Laboratory Hints from the Literature

Microscope and Other Apparatus: Bernard, J. E. The principles of fluorescence microscopy. J. Royal Micro. Soc., 57, 256-9. 1937.

Wrighton, H. A new light source for microscopy. J. Royal Micro. Soc., 57, 260-1. 1938.

Microtechhic in general: Comandon, J. and De Fonbrune, P. La chambre $aG huile. Ses avantages pour l'$eGtude des microorganisms vivants, la culture des tissus et la micromanipulation. Ann. Inst. Pasteur, 60, 113-41. 1938.     

A series of heteroleptic complexes of the type fac-[MnL2] [H2L=derivatives of N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)glycine or N-(5-nitro-2-hydroxybenzyl)sarcosine] possessing unusual Mn(III) co-ordination spheres

The mononuclear manganese(III) complexes [C₅H₁₀NH₂][MnL₂] [L²⁻=a substituted N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)glycinate (hbg²⁻) viz. 3,5-dibromo- (3,5-Br-hbg²⁻), 3,5-dichloro- (3,5-Cl-hbg²⁻), 3-methyl-5-chloro- (3,5-Me,Cl-hbg²⁻), 5-bromo- (5-Br-hbg²⁻), 5-chloro- (5-Cl-hbg²⁻), 5-nitro- (5-NO₂-hbg²⁻) or N-(5-nitro-2-hydroxybenzyl)sarcosine (5-NO₂-hbs²⁻)] have been synthesised by reaction of the appropriate ligand with manganese(II) perchlorate under ambient conditions in a 2:1 molar ratio using piperidine as base. The structures of three of these complexes, [C₅H₁₀NH₂][Mn(3,5-Cl-hbg)₂] (2), [C₅H₁₀NH₂][Mn(5-NO₂-hbg)₂] (6) and [C₅H₁₀NH₂][Mn(5-NO₂-hbs)₂] (7) have been elucidated by single-crystal X-ray crystallography and each displays two similar, independent [MnL₂]⁻ ions in the asymmetric unit linked via piperidinium cations through hydrogen bonding. The ligands co-ordinate in a facial tridentate fashion with the three donor atoms being the phenolate and carboxylate oxygens and the amine nitrogen. The geometry at the Mn centres is compressed rhombic octahedral consistent with a pseudo-Jahn–Teller compression along the Mn–O(phenolate) axis. Mean bond lengths are in the ranges 1.886–1.889 Å for the Mn–O(phenolate), 2.062–2.125 Å for the Mn–O(carboxylate) and 2.091–2.184 Å for the Mn–N(amine) distances. The magnetic susceptibility and electronic and IR spectroscopic data are discussed with reference to the crystal structures.