12-Benzoyl-2-methyl-naphtho-[2,3-b]indolizine-6,11-dione.

In the title compound, C(24)H(15)NO(3), the fused naphthaquin-one-pyrrole unit is approximately planar, the naphthaquinone ring system making a dihedral angle of 2.91 (10)° with the pyrrole ring. The plane of the pyrrole ring makes a dihedral angle 61.64 (14)° with that of the benzene ring of the benzoyl-methyl-ene group. The crystal structure is stablized by intra-molecular C-H⋯O inter-actions.

Chlorinated briarane diterpenoids from the sea whip gorgonian corals Junceella fragilis and Ellisella robusta (Ellisellidae).

A new chlorinated briarane, fragilide J (1), has been isolated from the sea whip gorgonian coral Junceella fragilis. In addition, the sea whip gorgonian coral Ellisella robusta yielded two chlorinated briaranes, including a new compound, robustolide L (2), and a known metabolite, robustolide H (3). The structures of these compounds were determined using spectroscopic methods. The structure, including the absolute configuration of 3, was further confirmed by X-ray data analysis for the first time.

Crotonkinins A and B and related diterpenoids from Croton tonkinensis as anti-inflammatory and antitumor agents.

Cytotoxicity-guided phytochemical investigation of a methanolic extract of Croton tonkinensis afforded two new kaurane diterpenoids (1, 2) and 10 known ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids (3- 12). The structures of 1 and 2 were based on analysis of spectroscopic and mass spectral data. Compounds 3- 12 were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic and physical data with those reported in the literature. Selected compounds from this plant were examined for cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities. Compounds 4 and 9 showed the highest cytotoxic activity against the tested tumor cell lines. Compounds 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, and 11 had IC 50 values less than 5 microM and were more potent than the nonspecific NOS inhibitor L-NAME in inhibiting LPS-induced NO production.