New Cytotoxic γ-Lactam Alkaloids from the Mangrove-Derived Fungus Talaromyces hainanensis sp. nov. Guided by Molecular Networking Strategy.

The fungus Talaromyces hainanensis, isolated from the mangrove soil, was characterized as a novel species by morphology observation and phylogenetic analyses. Four new γ-lactam alkaloids talaroilactams A-D (1-4) and two reported compounds harzianic acid (5) and isoharzianic acid (6) were identified from the fungus T. hainanensis WHUF0341, assisted by OSMAC along with molecular networking approaches. Their structures were determined through ECD calculations and spectroscopic analyses. Moreover, the biosynthetic route of 1-4 was also proposed. Compound 1 displayed potent cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell lines, with an IC50 value of 10.75 ± 1.11 µM. In addition, network pharmacology was employed to dissect the probable mechanisms contributing to the antihepatocellular carcinoma effects of compound 1, revealing that cytotoxicity was mainly associated with proteolysis, negative regulation of autophagy, inflammatory response, and the renin-angiotensin system. These results not only expanded the chemical space of natural products from the mangrove associated fungi but also afforded promising lead compounds for developing the antihepatocellular carcinoma agents.

Air-stable (phenylbuta-1,3-diynyl)palladium(II) complexes: highly active initiators for living polymerization of isocyanides.

A family of air-stable (phenylbuta-1,3-diynyl)palladium(II) complexes were designed and prepared in a facile synthetic procedure. Their structures were characterized by (1)H and (13)C NMR, MS, and X-ray analysis. These Pd complexes were revealed to efficiently initiate the polymerization of phenyl isocyanides in a living/controlled chain growth manner, which led to the formation of poly(phenyl isocyanide)s with controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions. (13)C NMR analysis indicated the isolated poly(phenyl isocyanide) was of high stereoregularity. The Pd unit at the end of the polymer chain could undergo further copolymerization with phenyl isocyanide monomers to give block copolymers. It was also found that incorporation of an electron-donating group on the phenyl group of the Pd complex could improve the catalytic activities. Furthermore, these Pd complexes were tolerant to most organic solvents and applicable to a wide range of isocyanide monomers including alkyl and phenyl isocyanides and even phenyl isocyanide with bulky substituents at the ortho position and diisocyanide monomers. Therefore, this polymerization system is versatile in the preparation of well-defined polyisocyanides with controlled sequence. Bi- and trifunctional Pd complexes with two and three Pd units incorporated onto the same phenyl ring were designed and synthesized. They were also able to initiate the living polymerization of phenyl isocyanide to afford telechelic linear and star-shaped polyisocyanides with controlled molecular weights and narrow molecular weight distributions.