Spectroscopic separation of (13) C NMR spectra of complex isomeric mixtures by the CSSF-TOCSY-INEPT experiment.

Isomeric mixtures from synthetic or natural origins can pose fundamental challenges for their chromatographic separation and spectroscopic identification. A novel 1D selective NMR experiment, chemical shift selective filter (CSSF)-TOCSY-INEPT, is presented that allows the extraction of (13) C NMR subspectra of discrete isomers in complex mixtures without physical separation. This is achieved via CSS excitation of proton signals in the (1) H NMR mixture spectrum, propagation of the selectivity by polarization transfer within coupled (1) H spins, and subsequent relaying of the magnetization from (1) H to (13) C by direct INEPT transfer to generate (13) C NMR subspectra. Simple consolidation of the subspectra yields (13) C NMR spectra for individual isomers. Alternatively, CSSF-INEPT with heteronuclear long-range transfer can correlate the isolated networks of coupled spins and therefore facilitate the reconstruction of the (13) C NMR spectra for isomers containing multiple spin systems. A proof-of-principle validation of the CSSF-TOCSY-INEPT experiment is demonstrated on three mixtures with different spectral and structural complexities. The results show that CSSF-TOCSY-INEPT is a versatile, powerful tool for deconvoluting isomeric mixtures within the NMR tube with unprecedented resolution and offers unique, unambiguous spectral information for structure elucidation.

endo/exo stereoselectivity in Diels-Alder reactions of α,ß-dialkylated conjugated enals to cyclic 1,3-dienes: intermediates in the synthesis of (-)-ß-santalol and its analogs.

Highly exo-selective [4+2] cycloadditions of cyclopenta-1,3-diene 2a to α,ß-dialkyl conjugated enals 5 are compared with the analogous endo-favored Diels-Alder reaction of cyclohexa-1,3-diene 7. The exo-stereoselectivity is lower in the homologous case of methylcyclopenta-1,3-diene 9. This diastereoselectivity is discussed either in terms of a retro-homo-Diels-Alder reaction, associated with thermodynamic control, or with respect to either a competing hetero-Diels-Alder/Claisen or Cope domino pathway, or retro-Claisen/retro-hetero-Diels-Alder of the endo-homo-cycloadducts. These hypothetical mechanisms have been examined by DFT calculations at the MPW1K(CH2 Cl2 )/6-31+G** level of theory for the AlCl3 -mediated cycloadditions of 5d to 2a and 7. Application of Corey's methodology to the γ-halogeno-α-methyl-substituted dienophiles 5a and 5b allowed an enantioselective preparation of known and useful intermediates for the synthesis of either the naturally occurring (-)-ß-santalol or its potentially olfactive structural analogs.

5α-Androst-16-en-3α-ol ß-D-glucuronide, precursor of 5α-androst-16-en-3α-ol in human sweat.

5α-Androst-16-en-3α-ol (α-androstenol) is an important contributor to human axilla sweat odor. It is assumed that α-andostenol is excreted from the apocrine glands via a H2 O-soluble conjugate, and this precursor was formally characterized in this study for the first time in human sweat. The possible H2 O-soluble precursors, sulfate and glucuronide derivatives, were synthesized as analytical standards, i.e., α-androstenol, ß-androstenol sulfates, 5α-androsta-5,16-dien-3ß-ol (ß-androstadienol) sulfate, α-androstenol ß-glucuronide, α-androstenol α-glucuronide, ß-androstadienol ß-glucuronide, and α-androstenol ß-glucuronide furanose. The occurrence of α-androstenol ß-glucuronide was established by ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC)/MS (heated electrospray ionization (HESI)) in negative-ion mode in pooled human sweat, containing eccrine and apocrine secretions and collected from 25 female and 24 male underarms. Its concentration was of 79 ng/ml in female secretions and 241 ng/ml in male secretions. The release of α-androstenol was observed after incubation of the sterile human sweat or α-androstenol ß-glucuronide with a commercial glucuronidase enzyme, the urine-isolated bacteria Streptococcus agalactiae, and the skin bacteria Staphylococcus warneri DSM 20316, Staphylococcus haemolyticus DSM 20263, and Propionibacterium acnes ATCC 6919, reported to have ß-glucuronidase activities. We demonstrated that if α- and ß-androstenols and androstadienol sulfates were present in human sweat, their concentrations would be too low to be considered as potential precursors of malodors; therefore, the H2 O-soluble precursor of α-androstenol in apocrine secretion should be a ß-glucuronide.

Hemisynthesis of dihydroumbellulols from umbellulone: new cooling compounds.

Although menthol is a common ingredient used in food products, other molecules also evoke coolness through stimulation of the somatosensory system. To discover new molecules having cooling properties, we virtually screened the chemical structures of terpenes and sesquiterpenes to find structures that are similar to (-)-menthol. We realized that dihydroumbellulols could be good candidates. Although their occurrence was reported in Hyptis pectinata Poit, we were unable to obtain these molecules from the plant or to prove their natural occurrence. Therefore, we extracted (-)-(R)-umbellulone from Umbellularia californica Nutt. The (-)-(R)-umbellulone was reduced to prepare (1R,2R/S)-1-isopropyl-4-methylbicyclo[3.1.0]hex-3-en-2-ol, (1R,4R/S)-1-isopropyl-4-methylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one, and (1R,2RS,4RS)-1-isopropyl-4-methylbicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-ols, named dihydroumbellulols. Sensory analysis suggested that (1R,2R,4S)-dihydroumbellulol has a pleasant, trigeminal cooling effect, about 2-3 times less cooling than (-)-menthol, with a weak odor slightly reminiscent of eucalyptol. In addition, a previously unreported compound was discovered, (-)-(1R)-1-isopropyl-4-methylenebicyclo[3.1.0]hexan-2-one.

Structure elucidation of a pungent compound in black cardamom: Amomum tsao-ko Crevost et Lemarié (Zingiberaceae).

Natural plant extracts containing taste modifier compounds will gain more commercial interest in the future. Black cardamom, Amomum tsao-ko Crevost et Lemarié, used as a spice in Asia, produces a nice refreshing effect in the mouth. Therefore, an ethyl acetate extract was prepared, and constituents were separated by liquid chromatography. Guided by the tasting of each fraction (LC tasting), a new pungent compound was discovered, (+/-)-trans-2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-indene-4-carbaldehyde. To confirm this new structure, a synthesis was performed starting from cyclopentene-1-carbaldehyde. The Wittig conditions were determined to control the stereochemistry of the ring fusion to prepare (+/-)-trans-(2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1 H-inden-4-yl) methanol and (+/-)-cis-(2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-inden-4-yl) methanol. After oxidation, (+/-)-trans-2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-indene-4-carbaldehyde and (+/-)-cis-2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-indene-4-carbaldehyde were tasted in water and only the trans-2,3,3a,7a-tetrahydro-1H-indene-4-carbaldehyde, present in black cardamom, produced a trigeminal effect in the mouth.

How cysteine reacts with citral: an unexpected reaction of beta,beta-disubstituted acroleins with cysteine leading to hexahydro-1,4-thiazepines.

The reaction of beta,beta-disubstituted acroleins [3-methyl-2-butenal (1), 3-methyl-2-hexenal (2), and citral (3)] with cysteine gave 1:2 adducts of a novel structural type, namely hexahydro-1,4-thiazepines. To the best of our knowledge, the spontaneous formation of a seven-membered heterocycle from the addition of cysteine to alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes is unprecedented. The adduct 6 obtained from citral, under acidic conditions, reacted further to give the new bicyclic compound 8.