Synthesis and evaluation of Na+/K+-ATP-ase inhibiting and cytotoxic in vitro activities of oleandrigenin and its selected 17ß-(butenolidyl)- and 17ß-(3-furyl)- analogues.

Natural cardiac-active principles built upon the 14,16ß-dihydroxy-5ß,14ß-androstane core and bearing a heterocyclic substituent at 17ß, in particular, a cardenolide - oleandrin and a bufadienolide - bufotalin, are receiving a great deal of attention as potential anticancer drugs. The densely substituted and sterically shielded ring D is the particular structural feature of these compounds. The first synthesis of oleandrigenin from easily available steroid starting material is reported here. Furthermore, selected 17ß-(4-butenolidyl)- and 17ß-(3-furyl)-14,16ß-dihydroxy-androstane derivatives were en route synthesized and examined for their Na+/K+-ATP-ase inhibitory properties as well as cytotoxic activities in normal and cancer cell lines. It was found that the furyl-analogue of oleandrigenin/bufatalin (7) and some related 17-(3-furyl)- derivatives (19, 21) show remarkably high Na+/K+-ATP-ase inhibitory activity as well as significant cytotoxicity in vitro. In addition, oleandrigenin 2 compared to derivatives 21 and 25 induced strong apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells after 24 h of treatment.

Synthesis and evaluation of cytotoxic and Na+/K+-ATP-ase inhibitory activity of selected 5α-oleandrigenin derivatives.

Oleandrin, the major biologically active constituent of shrub Nerium oleander preparations of which have been used in traditional Mediterranean and Asian medicine, attracts a great deal of attention due to its pronounced anticancer activity. The synthesis of oleandrigenin model, 16ß-hydroxy-3ß-methoxy-5α-card-20(22)-enolide 16-acetate, from androstenolone acetate through 17ß-(3-furyl)-intermediates has been developed. Several related 17ß-(butenolidyl)- and 17ß-(furyl)-androstane derivatives were synthesized and tested for in vitro cytotoxic and Na+/K+-ATP-ase inhibitory activities. Comparison of Na+/K+-ATP-ase inhibitory and cytotoxic activity underlines complex nature of the relationship.

Structural analysis of 25-hydroxycholesterol stereoisomers differing in configuration in position 17 and 20, by three-dimensional NMR spectra.

The application of 3D NMR experiments and DFT calculations enabled the structure investigation of C-17 epimer of 3-(25-hydroxycholest-5-enyl) acetate is presented. The H-17 and H-20 protons features the same values of 1H chemical shift, what causes that the structure elucidation require additional resolution enabled by 3D NMR experiments. The NMR experiments and theoretical calculations allowed for: the resonance assignment (3D COSY-HMBC and 3D TOCSY-HSQC techniques), the prediction of spatial structure (3D NOESY-HSQC and 3D ROESY-HSQC experiments), and the precise measurement of heteronuclear coupling constants (3D HSQC-TOCSY spectra with E.COSY-type multiplets).

The synthesis of cardenolide and bufadienolide aglycones, and related steroids bearing a heterocyclic subunit.

Covering: early studies through to March 2016Cardenolides and bufadienolides constitute an attractive class of biologically active steroid derivatives which have been used for the treatment of heart disease in traditional remedies as well as in modern medicinal therapy. Due to their application as therapeutic agents and their unique molecular structures, bearing unsaturated 5- or 6-membered lactones (or other heterocycles) attached to the steroid core, cardio-active steroids have received great attention, which has intensified during the last decade, in the synthetic organic community. Advances in the field of cross-coupling reactions have provided a powerful tool for the attachment of lactone subunits to the steroid core. This current review covers a methodological analysis of synthetic efforts to cardenolide and bufadienolide aglycones. Special emphasis is given to cross-coupling reactions applied for the attachment of lactone subunits at sterically very hindered positions of the steroid core. The carefully selected partial and total syntheses of representative cardio-active steroids will also be presented to exemplify recent achievements (improvements) in the field.

Synthetic Approach to the Core Structure of Oleandrin and Related Cardiac Glycosides with Highly Functionalized Ring D.

The first synthetic approach to the core structure of cardiac glycoside oleandrin exhibiting a potent cytotoxic activity, starting from a common androstane derivative, has been accomplished. The synthesis is focused on stereoselective transformations in the densely substituted and sterically shielded five-membered ring (steroid ring D). The developed synthesis paves a route to the synthesis of related bufadienolides, i.e., constituents of traditional drug Ch'an Su, bufotalin, and cinobufagin.

Chemoenzymatic approach to optically active 4-hydroxy-5-alkylcyclopent-2-en-1-one derivatives: an application of a combined circular dichroism spectroscopy and DFT calculations to assignment of absolute configuration.

A series of representative optically active derivatives of 4-hydroxy-5-alkylcyclopent-2-en-1-one were prepared from the respective 2-furyl methyl carbinols via the Piancatelli rearrangement followed by the enzymatic kinetic resolution of racemates. Applicability of chiroptical methods (experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism [ECD] and vibrational circular dichroism [VCD] spectra) to determine the absolute configuration of both stereogenic centers in 4-hydroxy-5-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one was demonstrated. It was also demonstrated that the concurrent application of ECD and VCD spectroscopy can be used for the determination of the configuration of two stereogenic centers.

Synthetic studies on dicyclopenta[a,d]cyclooctane terpenoids: construction of the core structure of fusicoccins and ophiobolins on the route involving a Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement.

The total diastereoselective synthesis of dicyclopenta[a,d]cyclooctane core skeleton of tricyclic terpenoids, fusicoccins, and ophiobolins is reported. The synthesis commences from 2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one and leads first to the easily accessible intermediary cyclopenta[8]annulene 18. The subsequent steps include two key transformations: shifting the angular methyl group from the angular to the neighboring position employing a carbocationic rearrangement (26 → 28) and construction of a quaternary stereogenic center via alkylation of α-methylcyclooctanone intermediate (38 → 48). In the context of the latter transformation, a series of model experiments on alkylation of 2-methylcyclooctan-1-one were conducted. The stereochemical assignments were verified by X-ray analyses of the key structures 39 and 50.

Total synthesis of a CD-ring: side-chain building block for preparing 17-epi-calcitriol derivatives from the Hajos-Parrish dione.

An efficient synthesis of the key building block for 17-epi-calctriol from the Hajos-Parrish dione involving a sequence of diastereoselective transformation of the azulene core and the side-chain construction is presented.

Application of a metathesis reaction in the synthesis of sterically congested medium-sized rings. A direct ring closing versus a double bond migration-ring closing process.

An efficient double bond migration-ring closing metathesis reaction leading to cycloheptene derivatives is observed when specific sterically congested 1,9-dienes are treated with the Grubbs' imidazolidene ruthenium catalyst. The simultaneous use of the Grubbs' catalyst and RuClH(CO)(PPh(3))(3) facilitates the tandem bond migration-metathesis process. RuClH(CO)(PPh(3))(3) alone is capable of triggering an unactivated double bond migration that may have preparative applications.

Construction of the tricyclic 5-7-6 scaffold of fungi-derived diterpenoids. Total synthesis of (±)-heptemerone G and an approach to Danishefsky's intermediate for guanacastepene A synthesis.

An efficient and operationally simple synthesis of the neodolestane diterpenoids (±)-heptemerone G and (±)-guanacastepene A is reported. The common tricyclic scaffold (±)-4 was prepared from 2-methylcyclopent-2-en-1-one via 23 isolated intermediates in 5.1% yield. The key features include a novel annulation sequence combining tandem conjugate addition, methylenation, and metathesis reaction and completely diastereoselective transformation of the azulene derivative 23 into rings AB building block 32. Stereochemistry of alkylation of both saturated trans-azulene enolate 38 and its α,ß-unsaturated counterpart 48 was examined. Rather surprisingly, a different facial selectivity was recorded. Several synthetic methods were modified or developed, including an alternative methodology for the Wharton-type rearrangement, ketalization of epimerizable ketone under mild conditions, and efficient alkylation of a ketone via its kinetic enolate.

Rearrangement of 2,3-epoxy alcohol dimethylthiocarbamate derivatives. Synthesis of 2,3-epithio alcohol derivatives under mild conditions.

Transformation of representative 2,3-epoxy alcohols, including 3-trimethylsilyl- and 3-triphenylsilylglycidols, into the corresponding 2,3-epithio alcohol dimethylthiocarbamate derivatives under mild alkaline conditions is reported.

New insight into chiroptical properties of 1,2-diols cyclic sulfites.

The present work examines the relationship between the structure and chiroptical properties of cyclic sulfites utilizing the electronic circular dichroism (CD) and time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). For some of the model compounds the study was additionally supported by the X-ray diffraction analysis. A comparison of the experimental and simulated CD spectra gave a reasonable interpretation of the Cotton effects observed in the 200-220 nm spectral range. The study revealed a high sensitivity of the CD spectra with regard to the configuration at the sulfur atom as well as the conformation of the ring bearing the sulfite chromophore. The results demonstrated that such a combined treatment enabled the determination of absolute configuration with a high degree of confidence.

Expedited approach to the vitamin D trans-hydrindane building block from the Hajos dione. Comparative study on various methods for the selective deoxygenation of one of the hydroxy groups in a diol.

1 alpha,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol, 1) is a bioregulator important for the treatment of various human metabolic diseases and biomedical research. Herein, we report an efficient diastereoselective approach to the key trans-hydrindane building block for calcitriol synthesis (2a) starting from the readily accessible optically active tetrahydroindenedione derivative (Hajos dione, 3). It was found that epoxide ring opening in a related hydroxy epoxide (7) with sodium cyanoborohydride-BF3 x Et2O occurs by hydride anion addition at the ring juncture position to produce a vicinal diol with the trans-hydrindane ring system (6a). Four methods for selective deoxygenation of the sterically less shielded hydroxy group in diol 6a were examined with an approach based on a cyclic sulfate of the diol as the most efficient and operationally convenient method.

The smiles rearrangement and the julia-kocienski olefination reaction.

Molecular rearrangements consisting of base- or acid-induced dislocation of aromatic or heteroaromaticrings are reviewed. The emphasis is given to recent developments and, in particular, to synthetic applicationof the rearrangement. A novel classification has been applied in order to discuss systematically ratherdiverse published data. The rearrangements are reviewed according to atoms entering and leaving the ipso-position of the migrating ring. The Julia-Kocienski olefination reactionis presented in other parts of this volume.

An expedited approach to the vitamin D trans-hydrindane building block from the Hajos dione.

Efficient and operationally simple synthesis of the key trans-hydrindane alcohol building block for the synthesis of calicitriol (1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3)) has been developed. Epoxy alcohol prepared almost quantitatively from the Hajos dione was reduced at the quaternary carbon by the Hutchins procedure (NaBH(3)CN-BF(3).Et(2)O). The diol was selectively deoxygenized either using the Barton-McCombie reaction (with Bu(3)SnH-AIBN) or via the respective iodohydrine (with LiAlH(4)). [reaction: see text]

Synthesis of 17-epi-calcitriol from a common androstane derivative, involving the ring B photochemical opening and the intermediate triene ozonolysis.

An efficient synthesis of 17-epi-calcitriol 2, an epimer of natural hormone, via 17-epi-cholesterol 5a is described. Synthesis of 5a includes palladium-catalyzed cyclopropanation of the common androstane derivative 7 with an alkyl diazoacetate, reductive fission of the less shielded side of cyclopropane carboxylic acid esters 6, oxidation of the products into acid 11a, and alkylation of ester 11b. Photolysis of 7,8-dedydro-17-epi-25-hydroxycholesterol 19b and consecutive thermal rearrangement gave a mixture of several products that was subjected to ozonolysis to provide, after chromatography, hydroxy ketone 3a. The silyl derivative 3b was coupled with the respective ring A building block.

Studies towards the total synthesis of di- and sesterterpenes with dicyclopenta[a,d]cyclooctane skeletons. Three-component approach to the A/B rings building block.

Sesqui- and sesterterpenes of ophiobolin and fusicoccin families are important synthetic targets because of complexity of structure and potentially useful physiological activities, including anti-tumor activity. A synthesis of versatile building blocks for these terpenoids is described. Cyclopenta[8]annulene rings system with properly dislocated substituents was constructed using as key steps ring closing metathesis reaction and Wagner - Meerwein rearrangement. Ring closing metathesis reaction leading to cyclopenta[8]annulene was studied in detail.

Olefination of alpha-hydroxy or alpha-aminoaldehyde derivatives via reaction of their arylsulfonylhydrazones with sulfonyl anions.

Reaction of tosylhydrazones of O-substituted alpha-hydroxy or N-substituted alpha-amino aldehydes (2, 7, 11, 15, 17, and 20) with selected alpha-magnesio alkyl phenyl sulfones afforded the respective derivatives of allylic alcohols or allylic amines. 2,3-O-Isopropylidene-D-glyceraldehyde (1) was transformed into its tosylhydrazone (2) and then olefins 4a with retention of optical purity.