Chiral Indolizinium Salts Derived from 2-Pyridinecarbaldehyde-First Diastereoselective Syntheses of (-)-1-epi-lentiginosine.

The first diastereoselective synthesis of (-)-1-epi-lentiginosine from a common chiral trans-epoxyamide derived from 2-pyridincarbaldehyde is reported. This methodology involves a sequential oxirane ring opening and intramolecular 5-exo-tet cyclization of tosylate trans-epoxyalcohol to afford a diastereomeric mixture of indolizinium salts in a one-pot fashion, followed by regio- and diastereospecific pyridinium ring reduction.

ß-Secretase-1: In Silico Drug Reposition for Alzheimer's Disease.

The ß-secretase-1 enzyme (BACE-1) performs a key role in the production of beta-Amyloid protein (Aß), which is associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The inhibition of BACE-1 has been an important pharmacological strategy in the treatment of this neurodegenerative disease. This study aims to identify new potential candidates for the treatment of Alzheimer's with the help of in silico studies, such as molecular docking and ADME prediction, from a broad list of candidates provided by the DrugBank database. From this analysis, 1145 drugs capable of interacting with the enzyme with a higher coupling energy than Verubecestat were obtained, subsequently only 83 presented higher coupling energy than EJ7. Applying the oral route of administration as inclusion criteria, only 41 candidates met this requirement; however, 6 of them are associated with diagnostic tests and not treatment, so 33 candidates were obtained. Finally, five candidates were identified as possible BACE-1 inhibitors drugs: Fluphenazine, Naratriptan, Bazedoxifene, Frovatriptan, and Raloxifene. These candidates exhibit pharmacophore-specific features, including the indole or thioindole group, and interactions with key amino acids in BACE-1. Overall, this study provides insights into the potential use of in silico methods for drug repurposing and identification of new candidates for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, especially those targeting BACE-1.

Diastereoselective synthesis of new zwitterionic bicyclic lactams, scaffolds for construction of 2-substituted-4-hydroxy piperidine and its pipecolic acid derivatives.

The synthesis of new chiral highly functionalized zwitterionic bicyclic lactams starting from acyclic ß-enaminoesters derived from (R)-(-)-2-phenylglycinol is described. The key step involved an intramolecular non-classical Corey-Chaykovsky ring-closing reaction of the corresponding sulfonium salts derived from ß-enaminoesters. This methodology permits the generation of two or three new stereogenic centers with high diastereoselectivity. The utility of these intermediates was demonstrated by the stereocontrolled total synthesis of cis-4-hydroxy-2-methyl piperidine and its corresponding pipecolic acid derivative.

Curcumin induces cortico-hippocampal neuronal reshaping and memory improvements in aged mice.

Aging induces cognitive decline, reduces of synaptic plasticity and increases oxidative reactive species (ROS) in the central nervous system. Traditional medicine has long benefitted from naturally occurring molecules such as curcumin (diferuloymethane). Curcumin is extracted from the plant Curcuma longa and is known for its synaptic and antioxidant-related benefits. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that chronic curcumin treatment reduces cognitive and cellular effects of aging. Curcumin-treated mice showed improved learning and memory using the Morris Water Maze and novel object recognition task. In addition, using the Golgi-Cox stain, curcumin treatment increased spine density in all evaluated regions and increased dendritic arborization in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) layer 3 and CA3 subregion of the hippocampus. Moreover, chronic curcumin exposure increased synaptophysin and actin expression and reduced glial fibrillary acidic protein expression, a marker of astrocytes, in the hippocampus (CA1 and CA3 subregions), while simultaneously reducing the ROS-related molecule, metallothionein 3 expression in the PFC and hippocampus. Collectively, these novel findings suggest that curcumin reduces cognitive, neuronal and astrocytic signs of aging in mice.

Curcuma treatment prevents cognitive deficit and alteration of neuronal morphology in the limbic system of aging rats.

Curcuma is a natural compound that has shown neuroprotective properties, and has been reported to prevent aging and improve memory. While the mechanism(s) underlying these effects are unclear, they may be related to increases in neural plasticity. Morphological changes have been reported in neuronal dendrites in the limbic system in animals and elderly humans with cognitive impairment. In this regard, there is a need to use alternative therapies that delay the onset of morphologies and behavioral characteristics of aging. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of curcuma on cognitive processes and dendritic morphology of neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the CA1 and CA3 regions of the dorsal hippocampus, the dentate gyrus, and the basolateral amygdala (BLA) of aged rats. 18-month-old rats were administered curcuma (100 mg/kg) daily for 60 days. After treatment, recognition memory was assessed using the novel object recognition test. Curcuma-treated rats showed a significant increase in the exploration quotient. Dendritic morphology was assessed by Golgi-Cox staining and followed by Sholl analysis. Curcuma-treated rats showed a significant increase in dendritic spine density and dendritic length in pyramidal neurons of the PFC, the CA1 and CA3, and the BLA. The preservation of dendritic morphology was positively correlated with cognitive improvements. Our results suggest that curcuma induces modification of dendritic morphology in the aforementioned regions. These changes may explain how curcuma slows the aging process that has already begun in these animals, preventing deterioration in neuronal morphology of the limbic system and recognition memory.

The influence of sulfur configuration in 1 H NMR chemical shifts of diasteromeric five-membered cyclic sulfites.

The effect of the stereochemistry of the sulfur atom on 1 H chemical shifts of the diasteromeric pair of cyclic sulfites of 4-[methoxy(4-nitrophenyl)methyl]-5-phenyl-1,3,2-dioxathiolan-2-oxide was investigated. The complete 1 H and 13 C NMR spectral assignment was achieved by the use of one-dimensional and two-dimensional NMR techniques in combination with X-ray data. A correlation of experimental data with theoretical calculations of chemical shift tensors using density functional theory and topological theory of atoms in molecules was made. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Retro-Curcuminoids as Mimics of Dehydrozingerone and Curcumin: Synthesis, NMR, X-ray, and Cytotoxic Activity.

Curcumin and its derivatives have been extensively studied for their remarkable medicinal properties, and their chemical synthesis has been an important step in the optimization of well-controlled laboratory production. A family of new compounds that mimic the structure of curcumin and curcuminoids, here named retro-curcuminoids (7-14), was synthesized and characterized using 1D ¹H- and 13C-NMR, IR, and mass spectrometry; the X-ray structure of 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14 are reported here for the first time. The main structural feature of these compounds is the reverse linkage of the two aromatic moieties, where the acid chloride moiety is linked to the phenolic group while preserving α, ß-unsaturated ketone functionality. The cytotoxic screening of 7, 8, 9, and 10 at 50 and 10 µg/mL was carried out with human cancer cell lines K562, MCF-7, and SKLU-1. Lipid peroxidation on rat brain was also tested for compounds 7 and 10. Compounds 7, 8, and 10 showed relevant cytotoxic activity against these cancer cell lines, and 10 showed a protective effect against lipid peroxidation. The molecular resemblance to curcuminoids and analogs with ortho substituents suggests a potential source of useful bioactive compounds.

Crystal structures of two chiral piperidine derivatives: 1-[(1R)-2-hy-droxy-1-phenyl-eth-yl]piperidin-4-one and 8-[(1S)-1-phenyl-eth-yl]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro-[4.5]decane-7-thione.

The crystal structures of the two title piperidine derivatives show different conformations for the six-membered heterocycle. The N-substituted 4-piperidinone 1-[(1R)-2-hy-droxy-1-phenyl-eth-yl]piperidin-4-one, C13H17NO2, (I), has a chair conformation, while the piperidine substituted in position 2 with a thio-carbonyl group, 8-[(1S)-1-phenyl-eth-yl]-1,4-dioxa-8-aza-spiro-[4.5]decane-7-thione, C15H19NO2S, (II), features a half-chair conformation. Comparison of the two structures, and data retrieved from the literature, suggests that the conformational flexibility is mainly related to the hybridization state of the C atom α to the piperidinic N atom: a Csp (3) atom favours the chair conformer, while a Csp (2) atom distorts the ring towards a half-chair conformer. In the crystal structure of (I), weak C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds link the mol-ecules into supra-molecular chains propagating along the b-axis direction. In the crystal of (II), the mol-ecules are linked by weak C-H⋯S contacts into supra-molecular chains propagating along the b-axis direction.

4-Hy-droxy-1,1'-bis-[(S)-1-phenyl-eth-yl]-5,5',6,6'-tetra-hydro-3,4'-bipyridine-2,2'(1H,1'H)-dione.

The title bis-piperidine, C26H28N2O3, was unexpectedly obtained via a dimerization mechanism promoted by acetic acid when performing the Dieckmann cyclization of a chiral amido ester. The S,S configuration was assigned by reference to the enanti-omerically pure starting material. In the mol-ecule, two core heterocycles are linked by a σ bond. One ring includes a keto-enol group, while the other presents an enone functionality. Both rings present a conformation inter-mediate between envelope and screw-boat, and the dihedral angle between the mean planes passing through the rings [48.9 (1)°] is large enough to avoid hindrance between ring substituents. The enol tautomeric form in one ring favors the formation of strong inter-molecular O-H⋯O=C hydrogen bonds. The resulting one-dimensional supra-molecular structure features single-stranded helices running along the 21 screw axis parallel to [100].

(1) H and (13) C NMR characterization of new cycloartane triterpenes from Mangifera indica.

From the stem bark of Mangifera indica, seven cycloartane-type secondary metabolites were isolated. Compound 1 has been isolated for the first time from M. indica, whereas compounds 2 (2a and 2b, as an epimeric mixture), 3, and 4 are new triterpenoid-type cycloartanes. Unambiguous (13) C and (1) H NMR assignments for these compounds and the known compounds mangiferonic acid (compound 5), isomangiferolic acid (compound 6), ambolic acid (compound 7), and friedelin (compound 8) are reported; the latter because full NMR data for these compounds are not available in the literature.

(1'S,2R,3R)-(-)-2-Hydr-oxy-3-morpholino-3-phenyl-N-(1'-phenyl-ethyl)propion-amide.

In the title compound, C(21)H(26)N(2)O(3), the morpholine ring has a chair conformation and the dihedral angle between the two phenyl rings is 59.0 (3)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by inter-molecular O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, generating a ribbon structure along the a axis. An intra-molecular N-H⋯O contact is also present.

Isolation and characterization of five new tetrasaccharide glycosides from the roots of Ipomoea stans and their cytotoxic activity.

Five new tetrasaccharide glycosides, stansins 1-5, were isolated from the roots of Ipomoea stans, and their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic and chemical methods. Preliminary testing showed the cytotoxicity of 5 toward the OVCAR and UISO-SQC-1 cancer cell lines.

An enantioselective access to 1-alkyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines. Application to a new synthesis of (-)-argemonine.

Potassium ferricyanide oxidation of salt 1 gave isoquinolinone 7 whose treatment with Grignard reagents resulted in a high-yield formation of substituted isoquinolinium salts 5. The selectivity of the reduction of these salts to give derivatives 6 has been studied. Particularly good selectivities (82-84%) were observed when R is a benzylic group. On the basis of these results, a practical and enantioselective synthesis of the natural alkaloid (-)-argemonine is presented.

Crystal structure of trans(3R,2aS)-(-)-3-phenyl-hexahydro-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-5-one.

Chiral, non-racemic hexahydro-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-5-ones are strategic starting materials for the asymmetric synthesis of alkaloids, via the stereoselective C-C bond formation at the position a to the nitrogen atom. The stereoselectivity of this key step is mainly driven by the geometry of the fused rings of the oxazolopyridine moiety. In this work, the synthesis and X-ray structure of trans(3R,2aS)-(-)-3-phenyl-hexahydro-oxazolo[3,2-a]pyridin-5-one is reported.

(-)-(1'S,4aS,7R,8aR)-4a-ethyl-7-hydroxy-1-(1'-phenylethyl)perhydroquinolinium bromide.

In the structure of the title compound, C(19)H(30)NO(+).Br(-), the rings of the perhydroquinolinium moiety are cis fused. The successful reduction of the ketone functionality of the quinolinone used as starting material is confirmed by the hydroxy C-O bond length of 1.428 (3) A.