Manoalide-related Sesterterpene from the Marine Sponge Luffariella variabilis.

A new manoalide-related sesterterpene, (4E,6E)-dehydro-25-O-methylmanoalide (1), was isolated from the organic extracts of the Bornean marine sponge Luffariella variabilis, together with the known compound (4E,6E)-dehydromanoalide (2). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by interpretation of its spectroscopic data.

Asymmetric synthesis of Ampelomin A and ent-Epiampelomin A.

We synthesized the naturally occurring carbasugar ampelomin A and its epimer from a common starting material. The enantiomerically pure starting material was obtained by base-catalyzed asymmetric Diels-Alder reaction of 3-hydroxy-2-pyrone and chiral acrylate. The total yield of ampelomin A was 14% in seven synthetic steps. The key step of the synthesis of ampelomin A was inversion of the stereochemistry at the C-6 position, which was achieved by stereoselective catalytic hydrogenation of the corresponding methylidene group. Further synthesis of the epimer was straightforward, because all stereogenic centers had already been introduced on the starting material; the total yield was 44% in four synthetic steps. Both the final products were obtained in pure form without contamination with undesired isomers. The reported (1)H NMR chemical shift of the C-7 methyl protons and the H-5axial coupling pattern of natural ampelomin A were inconsistent with those of our synthetic product. After careful comparison of the spectra and examination of the stable conformation obtained through MM2 calculations, we present revised NMR data for ampelomin A.

The bioassay-guided isolation of growth inhibitors of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), from the Jamaican plant Hyptis verticillata, and NMR characterization of hyptoside.

Through bioassay-guided isolation, five compounds with growth inhibitory activity on S1T, an adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cell line, were isolated from the crude methanol extract of the aerial parts of Hyptis verticillata.

Rings D-seco and B,D-seco tetranortriterpenoids from root bark of Entandrophragma angolense.

Investigation of the root bark extract of Entandrophragma angolense led to identification of two gedunin-type limonoids 5-hydroxy-7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin and 5,6-dehydro-7-deacetoxy-7-oxogedunin, and three methyl angolensate derivatives, 6-deacetoxydomesticulide D, 6-deacetoxydomesticulide D 21-methylether, and entangosin, together with known compounds, methyl angolensate, 6-acetoxymethyl angolensate and secomahoganin. Their structures were established by extensive NMR experiments in conjunction with mass spectrometry. Entangosin is a rare example of a limonoid derivative having a fully O-substituted furan moiety.

Cytotoxic isomalabaricane derivatives and a monocyclic triterpene glycoside from the sponge Rhabdastrella globostellata.

Seven new isomalabaricane derivatives, rhabdastins A-G (1-7), and a new monocyclic triterpene glycoside, rhabdastoside A (8), have been isolated from the methanol extract of the sponge Rhabdastrella globostellata, collected at Amami-oshima, Japan. Three of them were isolated as their corresponding methyl esters, rhabdastins A-D (1-3). Their structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and X-ray diffraction analyses. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against the proliferation of promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Compounds 4, 5, 7, and 11, possessing a cyclopentane side chain, exhibited weak activity, with IC(50) values of 21, 29, 44, and 11 µM, respectively, while compounds 1, 2, and 3, with a 2-substituted-propanoate side chain, were inactive at 100 µM. In addition, the mechanism of cytotoxicity of compounds 4 and 5 was investigated.

Cytotoxic biscembranes from the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum.

Seven new tetracyclic biscembranes (1-7) have been isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum. Four (1-4) may be formed biogenetically by a Diels-Alder reaction of Delta(4(5)) and Delta(8(9)) geometrical isomers of methyl sarcoate and Delta(21(34), 35(36)) dienes, including two with a tetrahydrofuran ring between C-27 and C-30 (3, 4), and three biscembranes (5-7) are probably derived from methyl sarcoate isomers with Delta(1(14), 4(5), 8(9)) and a cembrane diene. Their structures were established on the basis of spectroscopic methods. Six of them (1-5, 7) exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against proliferation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60).

Limonoids from the stem bark of Cedrela odorata.

Four nomilin/obacunol derivatives and a swietenolide derivative, together with seven known limonoids, were isolated from stem bark of Cedrela odorata and their structures established by spectroscopic methods. Antifeedant activity of the isolated compounds was also tested.

Efficient short step synthesis of Corey's tamiflu intermediate.

Corey's tamiflu intermediate was synthesized from a bicyclolactam adduct obtained by base-catalyzed Diels-Alder reaction of N-nosyl-3-hydroxy-2-pyridone with ethyl acrylate. A compound that has the same array of functional groups with the Corey's intermediate was obtained in four steps from the DA adduct in 47% overall yield. The intermediate itself was also prepared efficiently by simply changing the protective group.

Biscembranes from the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum.

Four novel biscembranes have been isolated from the soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum, collected at Amami Oshima, two of which showed weak activity against proliferation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60). Their absolute structures were determined on the basis of the CD spectra.

Briarlides I-R, briarane diterpenes from a gorgonian Briareum sp.

Further investigations of the secondary metabolites of a gorgonian Briareum sp., collected at Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture, have yielded 10 new briarane diterpenes, briarlides I-R (1-10). The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis.

Phragmalin limonoids from Chukrasia tabularis.

Six phragmalin limonoids, named tabulalin and tabulalides A-E, were isolated from the root bark of Chukrasia tabularis (Meliaceae). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods, and their antifeedant properties evaluated.

Antifungal limonoids from the fruits of Khaya senegalensis.

Investigation of the fruits of Khaya senegalensis resulted in the isolation of three new mexicanolide limonoids containing a rare conjugated diene lactone system named seneganolide A (1), 2-hydroxyseneganolide A (2) and 2-acetoxyseneganolide A (3). Two known limonoids, 3-deacetyl-7-deacetoxy-7-oxokhivorin (4) and methyl 6-hydroxyangolensate (5), were also found. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectral methods. The antifungal activity of compounds 1, 3 and 5 was tested against the fungus Botrytis cinerea.

Briarlides, briarane diterpenes from a gorgonian Briareum sp.

New briarane diterpenes, briarlides A-H (1-8), have been isolated from a gorgonian Briareum sp., collected at Amami Oshima, Kagoshima Prefecture. Their structures and cytotoxity toward Vero and MDCK cells are described.

Three new modified limonoids from Khaya senegalensis.

Three new rings B/D opened limonoids, two rearranged phragmalin limonoids named khayanolides D and E (1 and 2), and one limonoid glucoside named khayanoside (3) were isolated as insect antifeedants from the stem bark of Egyptian Khaya senegalensis. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR and CD.

Degraded limonoids from Melia azedarach.

Two new degraded limonoids, azedararide and 12alpha-acetoxy fraxinellone, were isolated together with two known degraded limonoids, fraxinellone and fraxinellonone, as ichthyotoxic substances from the root bark of Melia azedarach. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic and chemical means.