Minor diterpenoid glycosides from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana

From the commercial extract of the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, three new diterpenoid glycosides were isolated besides eight known steviol glycosides including stevioside, rebaudiosides A–F and dulcoside A. The structures of the three compounds were identified as 13-[(2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) oxy]-kaur-16-en-18-oic acid-(6-O-β-d-xylopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) ester (1), 13-[(2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) oxy]-17-hydroxy-kaur-15-en-18-oic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (2), and 13-[(2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) oxy]-17-oxo-kaur-15-en-18-oic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (3) on the basis of extensive NMR and MS spectral studies. Another known diterpenoid glycoside, 13-[(2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl) oxy]-kaur-15-en-18-oic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (4) was also isolated and its complete NMR spectral assignments were made on the basis of COSY, HSQC and HMBC spectral data.     

Structures of the novel α-glucosyl linked diterpene glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana

From the commercial extract of the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, two new minor diterpene glycosides having α-glucosyl linkage were isolated besides the known steviol glycosides including stevioside, steviolbioside, rebaudiosides A–F, rubusoside and dulcoside A. The structures of the two compounds were identified as 13-[(2-O-(3-α-O-d-glucopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1), and 13-[(2-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3-O-(4-O-α-d-glucopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (2), on the basis of extensive NMR and MS spectral data as well as chemical studies.     

Structures of the novel diterpene glycosides from Stevia rebaudiana

From the commercial extract of the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana, two new diterpenoid glycosides were isolated besides the known steviol glycosides including stevioside, rebaudiosides A–F, rubusoside, and dulcoside A. The structures of the two new compounds were identified as 13-[(2-O-6-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (1), and 13-[(2-O-6-deoxy-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-β-d-glucopyranosyl)oxy] ent-kaur-16-en-19-oic acid β-d-glucopyranosyl ester (2), on the basis of extensive NMR and MS spectral data as well as chemical studies.     

Synthesis of 3-fluoro-6-S-(2-S-pyridyl) nucleosides as potential lead cytostatic agents

The 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-6-S-(2-S-pyridyl)-6-thio-β-d-glucopyranosyl nucleoside analogs 7 were prepared via two facile synthetic routes. Their precursors, 3-fluoro-6-thio-glucopyranosyl nucleosides 5a-e, were obtained by the sequence of deacetylation of 3-deoxy-3-fluoro-β-d-glucopyranosyl nucleosides 2a-e, selective tosylation of the primary OH of 3 and finally treatment with potassium thioacetate. The desired thiolpyridine protected analogs 7a-c,f,g were obtained by the sequence of deacetylation of 5a-c followed by thiopyridinylation and/or condensation of the corresponding heterocyclic bases with the newly synthesized peracetylated 6-S-(2-S-pyridyl) sugar precursor 13, which was obtained via a novel synthetic route from glycosyl donor 12. None of the compounds 6 and 7 showed antiviral activity, but the 5-fluorouracil derivative 7c and particularly the uracil derivative 7b were endowed with an interesting and selective cytostatic action against a variety of murine and human tumor cell cultures.     

Two new steroidal saponins from Dioscorea panthaica

Two new furostanol saponins, 3-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-25(R)-furosta-5,22(23)-dien-3β,20α,26-triol (1), 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-20(R)-methoxyl-25(R)-furosta-5,22(23)-dien-3β,26-diol (2) were isolated from the Dioscorea panthaica along with five known steroidal saponins (3–7). The structures of the new saponins were determined by detailed analysis of spectral data (including 2D NMR spectroscopy). The inhibitory activities of the saponins against α-glucosidase were investigated, gracillin (4) and 3-O-[α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-26-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-25(R)-furosta-5,20(22)-dien-3β,26-diol (5) were found to exhibit potent activities with IC₅₀ values of 0.11 ± 0.04 mM and 0.09 ± 0.01 mM.     

Preparation of new C-nucleosides by intramolecular dehydration of 2-pentahydroxypentyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-ones

Acid-catalysed dehydration of the polyhydroxyalkyl chain of 6,6-dimethyl-2-(d-gluco-pentitol-l-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one and of 6,6-dimethyl-2-(d-manno-pentitol-l-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one gave 2-α-d-arabinofuranosyl-6,6-dimethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one (3). In a similar way, 2-β-d-lyxopyranosyl-6,6-dimethyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one (8) and 2-β-d-lyxopyranosyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one (9) were obtained by dehydration of 6,6-dimethyl-2-(d-galacto-pentitol-l-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one and 2-(d-galacto-pentitol-l-yl)-4,5,6,7-tetrahydroindol-4-one, respectively. The structures of the new C-nucleosides described (3, 8, and 9) were elucidated by chemical and physical methods.     

Microbial transformation of ginsenoside Rb1 by Rhizopus stolonifer and Curvularia lunata

Of 49 microbial strains screened for their capabilities to transform ginsenoside Rb₁, Rhizopus stolonifer and Curvularia lunata produced four key metabolites: 3-O-[-d-glucopyranosyl-(1,2)--d-glucopyranosyl]- 20-O-[-d-glucopyranosyl]-3,12, 20(S)-trihydroxydammar-24-ene (1), 3-O-[-d-glucopyranosyl-(1,2)--d- glucopyranosyl]-20-O-[-d-glucopyranosyl]-3,12, 20(S)-trihydroxydammar-24-ol (2), 3-O-[-d-gluco- pyranosyl-(1,2)--d-glucopyranosyl]-3, 12, 20(S)-trihydroxydammar-24-ene (3), and 3-O--d-glucopyranosyl-3, 12, 20(S)-trihydroxydammar-24-ene (4), identified by TOF-MS, ¹H- and ¹³C-NMR spectral data. Metabolites 1, 3 and 4 were from the incubation with R. stolonifer, and 1 and 2 from the incubation with C. lunata. Compound 2 was identified as a new compound.     

Synthesis of a novel pentasaccharide core component from the lipooligosaccharide of Moraxella catarrhalis

The novel pentasaccharide [p-(trifluoroacetamido)phenyl]ethyl 3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-4-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-6-O-[2-O-(α-d-glucopyranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranosyl]-α-d-glucopyranoside (1), which includes a linker moiety to enable facile coupling to an antigenic protein, was synthesised as a component of a potential vaccine candidate against the Gram-negative bacterium Moraxella catarrhalis. This microorganism is one of three principal causative agents of otitis media in children. The pentasaccharide represents a common cross-serotype (A, B and C) structure from the lipooligosaccharides of Moraxella catarrhalis.     

Design and synthesis of novel cell wall inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis GlmM and GlmU

GlmM and GlmU are key enzymes in the biosynthesis of UDP-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), an essential precursor of peptidoglycan and the rhamnose–GlcNAc linker region in the mycobacterial cell wall. These enzymes are involved in the conversion of two important precursors of UDP-GlcNAc, glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN-6-P) and glucosamine-1-phosphate (GlcN-1-P). GlmM converts GlcN-6-P to GlcN-1-P, GlmU is a bifunctional enzyme, whereby GlmU converts GlcN-1-P to GlcNAc-1-P and then catalyzes the formation of UDP-GlcNAc from GlcNAc-1-P and uridine triphosphate. In the present study, methyl 2-amino-2-deoxyl-α-d-glucopyranoside 6-phosphate (1α), methyl 2-amino-2-deoxyl-β-d-glucopyranoside 6-phosphate (1β), two analogs of GlcN-6-P, were synthesized as GlmM inhibitors; 2-azido-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranosyl phosphate (2) and 2-amino-2,3-dideoxy-3-fluoro-α-d-glucopyranosyl phosphate (3), analogs of GlcN-1-P, were synthesized firstly as GlmU inhibitors. Compounds 1α, 1β, 2, and 3 as possible inhibitors of mycobacterial GlmM and GlmU are reported herein. Compound 3 showed promising inhibitory activities against GlmU, whereas 1α, 1β and 2 were inactive against GlmM and GlmU even at high concentrations.     

Ritter-type reaction of C-(1-bromo-1-deoxy-d-glycopyranosyl)formamides and its application for the synthesis of oligopeptides incorporating anomeric α-amino acids

O-Peracetylated or -perbenzoylated C-(1-bromo-1-deoxy-d-glycopyranosyl)formamides of d-gluco, d-galacto, and d-arabino configuration were reacted with Ag(I)-salts or HgO in nitrile solvents to give N-acyl-1-cyano-d-glycopyranosylamines with an axial C–N bond at the anomeric centre. In the presence of HgBr₂, Hg(CN)₂, or InCl₃ the anomer of the above glycosylamine with an equatorial C–N bond was also isolated or detected. In CH₃NO₂ solutions as few as 5–10 equiv of the nitrile were sufficient to get acceptable yields for the products. Under similar conditions N-substituted C-(2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-1-bromo-1-deoxy-β-d-galactopyranosyl)formamides gave anomeric spiro-oxazoline derivatives which, upon mild acidic hydrolysis, opened up to di- and tripeptides of anomeric α-amino acids.     

Crystal structures of (2R,4R)-2-(polyhydroxyalkyl)-1,3-thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acids: condensation products of l-cysteine with d-hexoses

We report herein the first crystal structures of (4-carboxy-1,3-thiazolidin-2-yl)pentitols [2-(polyhydroxyalkyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acids], condensation products of l-cysteine with d-galactose and d-mannose: 2-(d-galacto-pentahydroxypentyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid hydrate, Gal-Cys·H₂O (1), and 2-(d-manno-pentahydroxypentyl)thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid hydrate, Man-Cys·H₂O (2). In 1 and 2 the compounds crystallize as zwitterions, with the carboxylic groups deprotonated and the thiazolidine N atoms protonated. The sugar moiety and carboxylate group are in a cis configuration relative to the thiazolidinium ring, which adopts different conformation: twisted (T) on C^β–S in 1, and S-puckered envelope (E) in 2. The carbon chain of the galactosyl/mannosyl moiety remains in an extended zig-zag conformation. The orientation of the sugar O2 atom with respect to the thiazolidinium S and N atoms is trans–gauche in 1 and gauche–gauche in 2. The molecular conformation is stabilized by the intramolecular N–H?O_Cys contacts in both 1 and 2 and by the additional N–H?O_Man interaction in 2. The crystal packing of orthorhombic 1 and monoclinic 2 is determined mainly by N/O/C–H?O hydrogen bonds forming ribbons linked to each other by direct and water-mediated O/C–H?O/S contacts.     

Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationship of [Nle10]Neurokinin A (4–10) Analogs with Constraint in the Backbone and at Position Six

Steric requirements of binding [Nle¹⁰]NKA(4–10) to NK-2 receptor were studied by introducing conformationally constrained amino acid analogs into its sequence. Two series of [Nle¹⁰]NKA(4–10) analogs were synthesized to investigate (i) the significance of a putative β-turn in the receptor-ligand interaction by insertion of either (S)- or (R)-Gly⁸{ANC-2}Leu⁹ γ-lactams to mimic a β-turn constraint, and (ii) the effect of hindered rotation in the Φ, χ¹ and χ² dihedral angle space of the crucially important Phe⁶ which was replaced systematically with d-Phe, d- and l-Tyr, as well as with their conformationally constrained analogs, Tic, HOTic and β-MePhe. Competition binding experiments with [³H]NKA were performed using cloned human NK-2 receptors expressed in CHO cells. The analog possessing only an (R)-Gly⁸{ANC-2}Leu⁹ constraint, had the same binding affinity as that of the parent peptide. The rank order of potency of the other analogs showed a cumulative effect of different structural modifications in decreasing the binding affinity, i.e., when changing the configuration of the lactam ring to S, replacing Phe⁶ with constrained analogs, Tic or β-MePhe, changing the configuration of the amino acid at position six to d, and introducing a hydroxyl group on the aromatic ring. Ferenc ?tv?s and Dmitry S. Gembitsky - Made an equal contribution. Abbreviations used for amino acids and peptides follow the recommendations of the IUPAC-IUB Commission of Biochemical Nomenclature, Eur. J. Biochem. (1984) 138, 9–37     

Novel O-glycosidic gossypol isomers and their bioactivities

Novel glycosidic gossypol analogs, 7,7′-gossypol diglucoside tetraacetate GS1, 6,7′-gossypol diglucoside tetraacetate GS2, 7,7′-gossypol diglycoside GS1′, 6,7′-gossypol diglycoside GS2′ were obtained by the ultrasound-assisted reaction of the potassium salt of gossypol with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl bromide under PTC conditions and were fully characterized by 1D NMR (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, DEPT, 1D NOE), 2D NMR (HMBC, HMQC), FTIR, HRMS and HPLC. The anticancer activities, cytotoxic effects as well as anti-trypanosomal activities of these novel glycosidic gossypols were explored and suggest that gossypol glycosides could be used to develop new candidates for anticancer drugs and anti-trypanosomal agents.     

Synthesis of variously coupled conjugates of d-glucose, 1,3,4-oxadiazole, and 1,2,3-triazole for inhibition of glycogen phosphorylase

5-(O-Perbenzoylated-β-d-glucopyranosyl)tetrazole was obtained from O-perbenzoylated-β-d-glucopyranosyl cyanide by Bu₃SnN₃ or Me₃SiN₃–Bu₂SnO. This tetrazole was transformed into 5-ethynyl- as well as 5-chloromethyl-2-(O-perbenzoylated-β-d-glucopyranosyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazoles by acylation with propiolic acid–DCC or chloroacetyl chloride, respectively. The chloromethyl oxadiazole gave the corresponding azidomethyl derivative on treatment with NaN₃. These compounds were reacted with several alkynes and azides under Cu(I) catalysed cycloaddition conditions to give, after removal of the protecting groups by the Zemplén protocol, β-d-glucopyranosyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-1,2,3-triazole, β-d-glucopyranosyl-1,2,3-triazolyl-1,3,4-oxadiazole, and β-d-glucopyranosyl-1,3,4-oxadiazolylmethyl-1,2,3-triazole type compounds. 5-Phenyltetrazole was also transformed under the above conditions into a series of aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazolyl-1,2,3-triazoles, aryl-1,2,3-triazolyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoles, and aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazolylmethyl-1,2,3-triazoles. The new compounds were assayed against rabbit muscle glycogen phosphorylase b and the best inhibitors had inhibition constants in the upper micromolar range (2-phenyl-5-[1-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole 36: K_i = 854 μM, 2-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-5-[1-(naphthalen-2-yl)-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl]-1,3,4-oxadiazole 47: K_i = 745 μM).     

Enzymatic epimerization of d-erythro-dihydroneopterin triphosphate to l-threo-dihydroneopterin triphosphate

An enzyme has been discovered in Escherichia coli that catalyzes the conversion of the triphosphate ester of 2-amino-4-hydroxy-6-(d-erythro-1′,2′,3′-trihydroxypropyl)-7,8-dihydropteridine, (i.e. d-erythro-dihydroneopterin triphosphate) to an epimer of this compound, l-threo-dihydroneopterin triphophate. The enzyme, which is here named “d-erythro-dihydroneopterin triphosphate 2′-epimerase,” needs a divalent cation (Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ is most effective) for maximal activity. Its molecular weight is estimated at 87 000–89 000. Little or no activity can be detected if either the monophosphate or the phosphate-free form of the substrate is incubated with the enzyme. Evidence is presented to establish that all three phosphate residues of the substrate are retained in the product and that the product is of the l-threo configuration.     

Synthesis and Antimicrobial Screening of Novel Thioglycosides and Acyclonucleoside Analogs Carrying 1,2,3-Triazole and 1,3,4-Oxadiazole Moieties

The solvent-free 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of dimethylacetylene dicarboxylate (1) with 2-chlorophenyl azide (2) afforded 1,2,3-triazole diester 3 that upon hydrazinolysis, furnished the corresponding bis-acid hydrazide 4. The treatment of compound 4 with carbon disulfide in a refluxing potassium hydroxide solution furnished the desired bis-1,3,4-oxadiazole-2-thione 5 tethered to a 1,2,3-triazole moiety. The respective SOx-glycosides 9–11 were obtained by glycosylation of bis-oxadiazole 5 with 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-glucopyranosyl bromide (6), 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl bromide (7), and 2-acetamido-3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranosyl chloride (8) in dry acetone in the presence of Et₃N, which acted as a base. However, alkylation of 5 with halogeno-alkanol 12 or 13, chloroglycerol 14, bromoethers 20 or 21, and epichlohydrin 22 in the presence of K₂CO₃ in DMF yielded the corresponding acyclonucleoside analogs 16–18 and 23–25. The isopropylidenes 19 and acetyl derivatives 26–28 of the products were also prepared. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, 2D NMR, and mass spectra. The compounds were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal activities. A number of the tested compounds exhibited significant antimicrobial activity compared to the reference drugs.     

Efficient synthesis of exomethylene- and keto-exomethylene-d-glucopyranosyl nucleoside analogs as potential cytotoxic agents

A novel series of exomethylene- and keto-exomethylene-d-glucopyranonucleosides with thymine, uracil, and 5-fluorouracil as heterocyclic bases have been designed and synthesized. Wittig condensation of the 3-keto glucoside 1 gave the corresponding 1,2:5,6-di-O-isopropylidene-3-deoxy-3-methylene-d-glucofuranose (2), which after hydrolysis and acetylation led to the precursor 1,2,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-3-deoxy-3-methylene-d-glucopyranose (4).Compound 4 was condensed with silylated thymine, uracil, and 5-fluorouracil, respectively, deacetylated and acetalated to afford 1-(3′-deoxy-4′,6′-O-isopropylidene-3′-methylene-β-d-glucopyranosyl)pyrimidines 7a–c. Oxidation of the free hydroxyl group in the 2′-position of the sugar moiety led to the formation of the labile 1-(3′-deoxy-4′,6′-O-isopropylidene-3′-methylene-β-d-glucopyranosyl-2′-ulose)pyrimidines 8a–c. Finally, deisopropylidenation of the resulted derivatives 8a–c afforded the diol nucleosides 9a–c. The target keto-exomethylene analogs 9a–c were more cytostatic against a variety of tumor cell lines than the corresponding saturated-hydroxy-exomethylene derivatives 6. In particular, the 5-fluorouracil derivative 9c was highly cytostatic at an IC₅₀ (50% inhibitory concentration) ranging between 0.56 and 9.4 μg/mL, which was comparable to the free parental 5-fluorouracil base.     

柯拉斯那沉香的生物活性成分研究

为了解柯拉斯那(Aquilaria crassna)的化学成分,从其所产沉香中分离得到10个化合物,经波谱分析分别鉴定为:6,8-羟基-2-(2-苯乙基)色酮(1),6,8-二羟基-2-[2-(4-甲氧基苯)乙基]色酮(2),rel-(1a R,2R,3R,7b S)-1a,2,3,7b-tetrahydro-2,3-dihydroxy-5-(2-phenylethyl)-7H-oxireno[f][1]benzopyran-7-one(3),rel-(1a R,2R,3R,7b S)-1a,2,3,7b-tetrahydro-2,3-dihydroxy-[2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl]-7H-oxireno[f][1]benzopyran-7-one(4),rel-(1a R,2R,3R,7b S)-1a,2,3,7b-tetrahydro-2,3-dihydroxy-5-[2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-ethyl]-7H-oxireno[f][1]benzopyran-7-one(5),oxidoagarochromone B(6),oxidoagarochromone C(7),(5S,6R,7S,8R)-2-[2-(3′-hydroxy-4′-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone(8),6,7-cis-dihydroxy-2-(2-phenylethyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydrochromone(9),N-trans-feruloyltyramine(10)。化合物3~5和8~10为首次从柯拉斯那沉香中分离得到。化合物1,3,6,7,9和10对乙酰胆碱酯酶具有一定的抑制活性,化合物4对人慢性髓原白血病细胞株K-562和人胃癌细胞株SGC-7901均具有较小的抑制作用,化合物1和3对人肝癌细胞株BEL-7402也有抑制活性。     

Dehydration of 2-(d-arabino-tetrahydroxybutyl)furans : Part II. The steric course and mechanism of the reaction

Acid-catalyzed dehydration of methyl and ethyl 2-methyl-5-(d-arabino-tetrahydroxybutyl)-3-furoate (4a, b) takes place preferentially with inversion of configuration at C-1′, yielding the corresponding 5-(1,4-anhydro-d-ribo-tetrahydroxybutyl)-2-methyl-3-furoate (6a, b), and, to a much smaller extent, with retention of configuration giving the isomeric d-arabino anhydro-derivative (5a, b). The reaction is reversible, the equilibrium being set up when there is a high concentration of the thermodynamically more-stable d-ribo anhydro-derivative in the presence of the d-arabino isomer, the starting (d-arabino-tetrahydroxybutyl)furan (4a, db), and a compound thought to be methyl (or ethyl) 2-methyl-5-(d-ribo-tetrahydroxybutyl)-3-furoate (13). A mechanism is proposed for this reaction which involves the C-1′ carbonium ion 15 as the key intermediate. The anhydro derivatives of the d-ribo and d-arabino configurations can be distinguished by their optical rotations, the chemical shifts of H-1′, and the J_1′,2′ coupling constants.