Studies on Instructive Construction of exo-Olefin Terminated Five- and Six-Membered Nitrogen Heterocycles: SmI2-Mediated Intramolecular Cyclization of Haloalkynals.

Stereoselective construction of exo-olefin terminated pyrrolidine and piperidine frameworks was developed by employing SmI2-mediated intramolecular radical cyclization of haloalkynaks. The radical cyclization affording 2,3-disubstituted pyrrolidines and piperidines proceeded in a highly stereoselective manner. However, decreasing stereoselectivety was observed in the preparation of 2,4-disubstituted pyrrolidine and 3,4-disubstituted piperidine derivatives in the cyclization.

Investigation of innovative synthesis of biologically active compounds on the basis of newly developed reactions.

Synthesis of biologically active compounds, including natural products and pharmaceutical agents, is an important and interesting research area since the large structural diversity and complexity of bioactive compounds make them an important source of leads and scaffolds in drug discovery and development. Many structurally and also biologically interesting compounds, including marine natural products, have been isolated from nature and have also been prepared on the basis of a computational design for the purpose of developing medicinal chemistry. In order to obtain a wide variety of derivatives of biologically active compounds from the viewpoint of medicinal chemistry, it is essential to establish efficient synthetic procedures for desired targets. Newly developed reactions should also be used for efficient synthesis of desired compounds. Thus, recent progress in the synthesis of biologically active compounds by focusing on the development of new reactions is summarized in this review article.

Structural features of polyacylated anthocyanins using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

In our continuing studies to isolate water-soluble vacuolar pigments, we expect to elucidate more structural details using mass spectrometry (MS). Because of its sensitivity, only a small amount of pigment extracted from natural plants is required for MS measurement. Nuclear magnetic resonance is also a useful spectroscopic method for structural determination. In this study, two soft ionization techniques, electrospray ionization (ESI) and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), on time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometers, were used to analyze five polyacylated anthocyanins with more than two aromatic acid molecules in the side chains. ESI is advantageous for the detection of individual molecular ions, while MALDI is essential for the detection of characteristic fragment ions originating from the anthocyanidin. Although 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) is an effective matrix in MALDI-TOFMS to obtain informative fragment ions of polyacylated anthocyanins, α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) is the preferred matrix for the identification of aglycones. In particular, in measurements of polyacylated anthocyanins with two acylated glycoside chains, fragment ions originating from anthocyanidin can only be observed in MALDI-TOFMS using CHCA as the matrix.

Efficient total synthesis of (-)-stemoamide.

An efficient diastereoselective synthesis of (-)-stemoamide has been accomplished from a pyroglutamic acid derivative in eight steps and with 24% overall yield. The synthesis features an intramolecular samarium diiodide-promoted 7-exo-trig cyclization of a ketyl radical generated from the corresponding aldehyde.

Protection against dopaminergic neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease-model animals by a modulator of the oxidized form of DJ-1, a wild-type of familial Parkinson's disease-linked PARK7.

DJ-1, Parkinson's disease PARK7, acts as an oxidative stress sensor in neural cells. Recently, we identified the DJ-1 modulator UCP0054278 by in silico virtual screening. However, the effect of the peripheral administration of UCP0054278 on an in vivo Parkinson's disease (PD) model is unclear. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the effects of the peripheral administration of UCP0054278 on both 6-OHDA-microinjected rats and rotenone-treated mice as acute and chronic animal models of PD, respectively. The peripheral administration of UCP0054278 prevented 6-OHDA- and rotenone-induced dopaminergic neural cell death and restored the defect in locomotion in these models of PD. In addition, 6-OHDA- or rotenone-induced neural cell death and the production of reactive oxygen species were significantly inhibited by UCP0054278 in normal SH-SY5Y cells, but not in DJ-1-knockdown cells. These results suggest that UCP0054278 interacts with endogenous DJ-1 and then produces antioxidant and neuroprotective responses in both in vivo and in vitro models of PD. The present study raises the possibility that DJ-1 stimulatory modulators, such as UCP0054278, may be a new type of dopaminergic neuroprotective drug for the treatment of PD.

Vasodilator effect of Cassiarin A, a novel antiplasmodial alkaloid from Cassia siamea, in rat isolated mesenteric artery.

The aim of this study was to investigate the vasorelaxant effect induced by cassiarin A, a novel antiplasmodial alkaloid from Cassia siamea, in rings cut from rat superior mesenteric arteries. In rings precontracted with phenylephrine, cassiarin A induced a concentration-dependent relaxation. This relaxation was attenuated: 1) after removal of the endothelium or after pretreatment of rings with 100 microM of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) or 10 microM of 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]-quinoxalin-1-one (guanylyl cyclase inhibitor), but not after pretreatment with 10 microM of indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor); and 2) after pretreatment of preparations with either a nonselective or selective inhibitor of large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK(Ca)) channels [1 mM of tetraethylammonium or 100 nM of iberiotoxin, respectively]. The cassiarin A-induced relaxation was also attenuated by these BK(Ca) inhibitors in endothelium-denuded preparations. The cassiarin A-induced relaxation was not altered by treatment with the ATP-sensitive K(+)-channel inhibitor glibenclamide (10 microM) or with the voltage-dependent K(+)-channel inhibitor 4-aminopyridine (1 mM). In isolated mesenteric artery rings, cassiarin A tended to increase nitric oxide (NO) levels. These results suggest that in the rat mesenteric artery, cassiarin A-induced relaxation may be mediated by endothelial NO and may occur partly via BK(Ca)-channel activation.

Practical ruthenium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation of allenyl alcohols in 2,4,6-collidine leading to alpha,beta-unsaturated lactones: concise stereoselective synthesis of (+)-isomintlactone.

We have found that ruthenium-catalyzed cyclocarbonylation of allenyl alcohols in 2,4,6-collidine under atmospheric pressure of carbon monoxide smoothly proceeds to afford alpha,beta-unsaturated five- and six-membered lactones in moderate to good yields. Furthermore, we have completed a highly stereoselective synthesis of (+)-isomintlactone by the cyclocarbonylation of allenyl alcohol using 2,4,6-collidine.

Efficient diastereoselective synthesis of trifarane-type sesquiterpenes, trifarienols A and B.

Diastereoselective total synthesis of trifarienols A and B, trifarane-type sesquiterpenes isolated from the Malaysian Cheilolejeunea trifaria, was achieved via an intramolecular Hosomi-Sakurai reaction of the aldehyde to construct a substituted bicyclo[3.3.1]nonane skeleton having the exo-methylene moiety of the target compounds in one step.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of cassiarin A as potential antimalarials with vasorelaxant activity.

Cassiarin A 1, a tricyclic alkaloid, isolated from the leaves of Cassia siamea (Leguminosae), shows powerful antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro as well as P. berghei in vivo, which may be valuable leads for novel antimalarials. Interactions of parasitized red blood cells (pRBCs) with endothelium in aorta are especially important in the processes contribute to the pathogenesis of severe malaria. Nitric oxide (NO) reduces endothelial expression of receptors/adhesion molecules used by pRBC to adhere to vascular endothelium, and reduces cytoadherence of pRBC to vascular endothelium. Cassiarin A 1 showed vasorelaxation activity against rat aortic ring, which may be related with NO production. A series of a hydroxyl and a nitrogen-substituted derivatives and a dehydroxy derivative of 1 have been synthesized as having potent antimalarials against P. falciparum with vasodilator activity, which may reduce cytoadherence of pRBC to vascular endothelium. Cassiarin A 1 exhibited a potent antimalarial activity and a high selectivity index in vitro, suggesting that the presence of a hydroxyl and a nitrogen atom without any substituents may be important to show antimalarial activity. Relative to cassiarin A, a methoxy derivative showed more potent vasorelaxant activity, although it did not show improvement for inhibition of P. falciparum in vitro. These cassiarin derivatives may be promising candidates as antimalarials with different mode of actions.

Analyses of biologically active steroids: antitumor active OSW-1 and cardiotonic marinobufotoxin, by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization quadrupole ion trap time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

Naturally occurring constituents of biological or pharmaceutical interest often exist in the form of glycosides or conjugates. Mass spectral investigations of these compounds require soft ionization techniques if information on molecular mass, sugar sequence, or conjugate content is desired. In this study, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) quadrupole ion trap (QIT) time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (TOF-MS(n)) was used to identify both OSW-1, an acetylated cholestane diglycoside showing antitumor activity, and the cardiotonic steroid, bufotoxin. Each molecular-related ion was identified, and subsequent collision-induced dissociation experiments in which a molecular-related ion was selected as a precursor ion produced the characteristic product ions that are essential for structural elucidation. OSW-1 and its analogue with a modified side chain, thienyl OSW-1, were synthesized, and bufotoxins, i.e., marinobufotoxin and its homologue, marinobufagin 3-pimeloylarginine ester, were isolated from toad venom. On MALDI-TOF-MS, sodium-adduct [M+Na](+) ions were observed in the steroid glycosides, although protonated [M+H](+) ions were relatively more abundant than sodium-adduct [M+Na](+) ions in the bufotoxins. On the basis of tandem MS results, we propose key fragmentation pathways. The sugar moiety or side chain from the precursor ion was eliminated in OSW-1. However, characteristic product ions originating from the cleavage of the side chain with an ester formation were observed in the bufotoxins. Post-source decay (PSD) on MALDI-TOF-MS is also described when evaluating alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid or 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid as a matrix to obtain useful ions required for the identification of compound.

First total synthesis of cassiarin A, a naturally occurring potent antiplasmodial alkaloid.

The first total synthesis of cassiarin A, an antiplasmodial alkaloid isolated from Cassia siamea, was achieved via sequential alkynylation of arenes with Sonogashira coupling and 6- endo-dig-cyclization of phenolic oxygens to the resulting alkynes.

7-O-Methylated anthocyanidin glycosides from Catharanthus roseus.

Anthocyanins were isolated from orange-red flowers of Catharanthus roseus cv 'Equator Deep Apricot', and identified as rosinidin 3-O-[6-O-(alpha-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-galactopyranoside] (1), and also 7-O-methylcyanidin 3-O-[6-O-(alpha-rhamnopyranosyl)-beta-galactopyranoside] (2) by chemical and spectroscopic methods. Pigment 1 was found to be a major anthocyanin in the flowers of this cultivar. By contrast, the distribution of rosinidin glycosides is very limited in plants, and reported only in the flowers of Primula. Pigment 2 was found in smaller concentrations, but its aglycone, 7-O-methylcyanidin, has been reported only once before, from the fruit of mango.

Triacylated cyanidin 3-(3X-glucosylsambubioside)-5-glucosides from the flowers of Malcolmia maritima.

Three acylated cyanidin 3-(3(X)-glucosylsambubioside)-5-glucosides (1-3) and one non-acylated cyanidin 3-(3(X)-glucosylsambubioside)-5-glucoside (4) were isolated from the purple-violet or violet flowers and purple stems of Malcolmia maritima (L.) R. Br (the Cruciferae), and their structures were determined by chemical and spectroscopic methods. In the flowers of this plant, pigment 1 was determined to be cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(trans-sinapoyl)-3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-6-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-(beta-D-glucopyranoside) as a major pigment, and a minor pigment 2 was determined to be the cis-p-coumaroyl isomer of pigment 1. In the stems, pigment 3 was determined to be cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(trans-sinapoyl)-3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-6-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-d-glucopyranoside]-5-O-(beta-D-glucopyranoside) as a major anthocyanin, and also a non-acylated anthocyanin, cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside]-5-O-(beta-D-glucopyranoside) was determined to be a minor pigment (pigment 4). In this study, it was established that the acylation-enzymes of malonic acid has important roles for the acylation of 5-glucose residues of these anthocyanins in the flower-tissues of M. maritima; however, the similar enzymatic reactions seemed to be inhibited or lacking in the stem-tissues.

Tetra-acylated cyanidin 3-sophoroside-5-glucosides from the flowers of Iberis umbellata L. (Cruciferae).

The structures of 11 acylated cyanidin 3-sophoroside-5-glucosides (pigments 1-11), isolated from the flowers of Iberis umbellata cultivars (Cruciferae), were elucidated by chemical and spectroscopic methods. Pigments 1-11 were acylated with malonic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid and/or glucosylhydroxycinnamic acids. Pigments 1-11 were classified into four groups by the substitution patterns of the linear acylated residues at the 3-position of the cyanidin. In the first group, pigments 1-3 were determined to be cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(acyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-beta-glucopyranoside], in which the acyl moiety varied with none for pigment 1, ferulic acid for pigment 2 and sinapic acid for pigment 3. In the second one, pigments 4-6 were cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(acyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(4-O-(beta-glucopyranosyl)-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-beta-glucopyranoside], in which the acyl moiety varied with none for pigment 4, ferulic acid for pigment 5 and sinapic acid for pigment 6. In the third one, pigments 7-9 were cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(acyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(4-O-(6-O-(trans-feruloyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl)-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-beta-glucopyranoside], in which the acyl moiety varied with none for pigment 7, ferulic acid for pigment 8, and sinapic acid for pigment 9. In the last one, pigments 10 and 11 were cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-(2-O-(acyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl)-6-O-(4-O-(6-O-(4-O-(beta-glucopyranosyl)-trans-feruloyl)-beta-glucopyranosyl)-trans-p-coumaroyl)-beta-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-beta-glucopyranoside], in which acyl moieties were none for pigment 10 and ferulic acid for pigment 11. The distribution of these pigments was examined in the flowers of four cultivars of I. umbellata by HPLC analysis. Pigment 1 acylated with one molecule of p-coumaric acid was dominantly observed in purple-violet cultivars. On the other hand, pigments (9 and 11) acylated with three molecules of hydroxycinnamic acids were observed in lilac (purple-violet) cultivars as major anthocyanins. The bluing effect and stability on these anthocyanin colors were discussed in relation to the molecular number of hydroxycinnamic acids in these anthocyanin molecules.

Chrobisiamone A, a new bischromone from Cassia siamea and a biomimetic transformation of 5-acetonyl-7-hydroxy-2-methylchromone into cassiarin A.

A new bischromone, chrobisiamone A (1) with an antiplasmodial activity has been isolated from the leaves of Cassia siamea and the structure was elucidated by 2D NMR analysis. Cyclization of 5-acetonyl-7-hydroxy-2-methylchromone (2) in the presence of ammonium acetate resulted in generation of cassiarin A (3) with an unprecedented tricyclic skeleton, supporting a biogenetic pathway proposed for 3.

Cassiarins A and B, novel antiplasmodial alkaloids from Cassia siamea.

Two novel alkaloids with an unprecedented tricyclic skeleton, cassiarins A (1) and B (2), have been isolated from the leaves of Cassia siamea, and the structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Cassiarin A (1) showed a potent antiplasmodial activity.

7-Polyacylated delphinidin 3,7-diglucosides from the blue flowers of Leschenaultia cv. Violet Lena.

The triacyl anthocyanins, Leschenaultia blue anthocyanins 1 and 2 (LBAs 1 and 2) were isolated from the blue flowers of Leschenaultia R. Br. cv. Violet Lena (Goodeniaceae), in which LBA 1 was present as a dominant pigment. The structure of LBA 1 was elucidated to be delphinidin 3-O-[6-O-(malonyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside]-7-O-[6-O-(4-O-(6-O-(4-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-trans-caffeoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-trans-caffeoyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside] by application of chemical and spectroscopic methods. Since LAB 2 was isolated in small amount, its structure was tentatively assigned as either delphinidin 3-(malonylglucoside)-7-[(glucosyl-p-coumaroyl)-(glucosylcaffeoyl)-glucoside] or delphinidin 3-(malonyl-glucoside)-7-[(glucosyl-caffeoyl)(glucosyl-p-coumaroyl)-glucoside]. This is the first report of the occurrence of 7-polyacylated anthocyanins in the family of Goodeniaceae, although others have been found in the families of the Ranunculaceae, Campanulaceae, and Compositae. Moreover, delphinidin 3-glycoside-7-di-(glucosylcaffeoyl)-glucoside has been reported only in the flowers of Platycodon grandiflorum (Campanulaceae). From a chemotaxonomical viewpoint, the Goodeniaceae may be closely related to the Campanulaceae.

Novel and efficient synthetic path to proaporphine alkaloids: total synthesis of (+/-)-stepharine and (+/-)-pronuciferine.

[reaction: see text] A novel synthetic path to proaporphine alkaloids was established by employing aromatic oxidation with a hypervalent iodine reagent, where an unprecedented carbon-carbon bond forming reaction between the para-position of a phenol group and an enamide-carbon took place smoothly to give the desired spiro-cyclohexadienone.

Acylated cyanidin 3-sambubioside-5-glucosides in three garden plants of the Cruciferae.

Seven acylated cyanidin 3-sambubioside-5-glucosides were isolated from the flowers of three garden plants in the Cruciferae. Specifically, four pigments were isolated from Lobularia maritima (L.) Desv., together with a known pigment, as well as, three pigments from Lunaria annua L., and two known pigments from Cheiranthus cheiri L. These pigments were determined to be cyanidin 3-O-[2-O-((acyl-II)-(beta-d-xylopyranosyl))-6-O-(acyl-I)-beta-d-glucopyranoside]-5-O-[6-O-(acyl-III)-beta-d-glucopyranoside], in which the acyl-I group is represented by glucosyl-p-coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid, acyl-II by caffeic acid and ferulic acid, and acyl-III by malonic acid, respectively. The distribution and biosynthesis of acylated cyanidin 3-sambubioside-5-glucosides are discussed according to the variations of acylation and glucosylation at their 3-sambubiose residues.