New Nostocyclophanes from Nostoc linckia.

Six new nostocyclophanes and four known compounds have been isolated from Nostoc linckia (Nostocaceae) cyanobacterial strain UTEX B1932. The new compounds, nostocyclophanes E-J (1-6), were characterized by NMR and MS techniques. The known compounds were nostocyclophanes B-D, previously isolated from this strain, and dedichloronostocyclophane D. Structural modifications on the new [7.7]paracyclophane analogs 1-5, isolated from the 80% methanol fraction, range from simple changes such as the lack of methylation or halogenation to more unusual modifications such as those seen in nostocyclophane H (4), in which the exocyclic alkyl chains are of different length; this is the first time this modification has been observed in this family of natural products. In addition, nostocyclophane J (6) is a linear analog in which C-20 is chlorinated in preparation for the presumed enzymatic Friedel-Craft cyclization needed to form the final ring structure, analogous to the biosynthesis of the related cylindrocyclophanes. Nostocyclophane D, dedichloronostocyclophane D, and nostocyclophanes E-J demonstrated moderate to weak growth inhibition against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Spirovetivane- and Eudesmane-Type Sesquiterpenoids Isolated from the Culture Media of Two Cyanobacterial Strains.

As part of a study examining polar metabolites produced by cyanobacterial strains, we examined media extracts of a Calothrix sp. (strain R-3-1) and a Scytonema sp. (strain U-3-3). The cell mass of each was separated from the media, and HP20 resin was added for adsorption of secreted metabolites, a relatively unexplored area of cyanobacterial chemistry. HPLC-UV-LCMS-guided isolation led to the discovery of seven sesquiterpenoid compounds with five new, one known, and one previously isolated as the methyl ester. Through a complement of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques, the planar structures and relative configurations of the seven compounds were elucidated. Spironostoic acid (1), 11,12-didehydrospironostoic acid (2), and 12-hydroxy-2-oxo-11-epi-hinesol (4) are spirovetivane-type compounds from R-3-1, while stigolone (5), 11R,12-dihydroxystigolone (6), and 11S,12-dihydroxystigolone (7) are three eudesmane-type compounds from U-3-3. Circular dichroism was utilized to decipher the absolute configurations of new compounds 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Due to the structural variety observed among the spirovetivane- and eudesmane-type compounds in the literature and often a lack of clarity in how determinations were made, computational spectra and model compounds were used to support the interpretation of ECD and NMR spectra. A straightforward process to determine the configuration of these systems is presented.

P-Alkynyl functionalized benzazaphospholes as transmetalating agents.

Exposure of 10π-electron benzazaphosphole 1 to HCl, followed by nucleophilic substitution with the Grignard reagent BrMgCCPh afforded alkynyl functionalized 3 featuring an exocyclic -C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-Ph group with an elongated P-C bond (1.7932(19) Å). Stoichiometric experiments revealed that treatment of trans-Pd(PEt3)2(Ar)(i) (Ar = p-Me (C) or p-F (D)) with 3 generated trans-Pd(PEt3)2(Ar)(CCPh) (Ar = p-Me (E) or p-F (F)), 5, which is the result of ligand exchange between P-I byproduct 4 and C/D, and the reductively eliminated product (Ar-C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-Ph). Cyclic voltammetry studies showed and independent investigations confirmed 4 is also susceptible to redox processes including bimetallic oxidative addition to Pd(0) to give Pd(i) dimer 6-Pd2-(P(t-Bu)3)2 and reduction to diphosphine 7. During catalysis, we hypothesized that this unwanted reactivity could be circumvented by employing a source of fluoride as an additive. This was demonstrated by conducting a Sonogashira-type reaction between 1-iodotoluene and 3 in the presence of 10 mol% Na2PdCl4, 20 mol% P(t-Bu)Cy2, and 5 equiv. of tetramethylammonium fluoride (TMAF), resulting in turnover and the isolation of Ph-C[triple bond, length as m-dash]C-(o-Tol) as the major product.

Trimerization and cyclization of reactive P-functionalities confined within OCO pincers.

In order to stabilize a 10-P-3 species with C 2v symmetry and two lone pairs on the central phosphorus atom, a specialized ligand is required. Using an NCN pincer, previous efforts to enforce this planarized geometry at P resulted in the formation of a C s-symmetric, 10π-electron benzazaphosphole that existed as a dynamic "bell-clapper" in solution. Here, OCO pincers 1 and 2 were synthesized, operating under the hypothesis that the more electron-withdrawing oxygen donors would better stabilize the 3-center, 4-electron O-P-O bond of the 10-P-3 target and the sp3-hybridized benzylic carbon atoms would prevent the formation of aromatic P-heterocycles. However, subjecting 1 to a metalation/phosphination/reduction sequence afforded cyclotriphosphane 3, resulting from trimerization of the P(i) center unbound by its oxygen donors. Pincer 2 featuring four benzylic CF3 groups was expected to strengthen the O-P-O bond of the target, but after metal-halogen exchange and quenching with PCl3, unexpected cyclization with loss of CH3Cl was observed to give monochlorinated 5. Treatment of 5 with (p-CH3)C6H4MgBr generated crystalline P-(p-Tol) derivative 6, which was characterized by NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. The complex 19F NMR spectra of 5 and 6 observed experimentally, were reproduced by simulations with MestreNova.

6-Deoxy- and 11-Hydroxytolypodiols: Meroterpenoids from the Cyanobacterium HT-58-2.

Chemical investigation of cyanobacterial strain HT-58-2, which most closely aligns with the genus Brasilomena, has led to the isolation of two compounds related to tolypodiol. The structures and absolute configuration of 6-deoxytolypodiol (1) and 11-hydroxytolypodiol (2) were elucidated by spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis. While tolypodiol previously showed anti-inflammatory activity in a mouse ear edema assay, only 2 reduced in vitro thromboxane B2 and superoxide anion (O2-) generation from Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide-activated rat neonatal microglia to any appreciable degree.

Tolyporphins L-R: Unusual Tetrapyrroles from a Brasilonema sp. of Cyanobacterium.

Tolyporphins L-R (2-8) have been isolated from a mixed cyanobacterium-microbial culture. The structures of tolyporphins L and M have been revised to four constitutional isomers, isolated as two mixtures of dioxobacteriochlorins (2/3 and 4/5). In contrast, tolyporphin P (6) is a fully oxidized tetrapyrrole, while tolyporphins Q and R (7 and 8) are oxochlorins. X-ray structures are reported for the first time for tolyporphins A (1), R (8), and E (9), revealing unexpected stereochemical variation within the series.

Characterization of Leptazolines A-D, Polar Oxazolines from the Cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp., Reveals a Glitch with the "Willoughby-Hoye" Scripts for Calculating NMR Chemical Shifts.

The bioactivity-guided examination of a Leptolyngbya sp. led to the isolation of leptazolines A-D (1-4), from the culture media, along with two degradation products (5 and 6). Density functional theory nuclear magnetic resonance calculations established the relative configurations of 1 and 2 and revealed that the calculated shifts depended on the operating system when using the "Willoughby-Hoye" Python scripts to streamline the processing of the output files, a previously unrecognized flaw that could lead to incorrect conclusions.

Cytotoxic Sesquiterpenoid Quinones and Quinols, and an 11-Membered Heterocycle, Kauamide, from the Hawaiian Marine Sponge Dactylospongia elegans.

Several known sesquiterpenoid quinones and quinols (1-9), and kauamide (10), a new polyketide-peptide containing an 11-membered heterocycle, were isolated from the extracts of the Hawaiian marine sponge Dactylospongia elegans. The planar structure of 10 was determined from spectroscopic analyses, and its relative and absolute configurations were established from density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the GIAO NMR shielding tensors, and advanced Marfey's analysis of the N-MeLeu residue, respectively. Compounds 1 and 3 showed moderate inhibition of ß-secretase 1 (BACE1), whereas 1-9 exhibited moderate to potent inhibition of growth of human glioma (U251) cells. Compounds 1-2 and 4-7 were also active against human pancreatic carcinoma (Panc-1) cells.

E-Selective Synthesis and Coordination Chemistry of Pyridine-Phosphaalkenes: Five Ligands Produce Four Distinct Types of Ru(II) Complexes.

Pyridine-phosphaalkene (PN) ligands 2a-e were prepared in an E-selective fashion using phospha-Wittig methodology. Treatment of these five ligands, varying only in their 6-substituent with RuCl2(PPh3)3, produced four distinct types of coordination complexes: pyridine-phosphaalkene-derived 3b,d, cyclized 4e, and six-coordinate 5a and 6c. Prolonged heating of 3b,d in THF resulted in C-H activation of the Mes* group and cyclization to give 4b,d featuring a bidentate pyridine-phospholane ligand bound to the metal center. Complex 5a, also possessing a newly formed phospholane ring, contained a different spatial arrangement of donors to Ru(II) with an agostic Ru-H-C interaction serving as the sixth donor to the transition metal center. Ligands 2b,d,e and Ru(II) complexes 3b, 4b,e and 5a were all characterized by X-ray crystallography. Six-coordinate 6c featured a structure similar to 4b,d,e, but with the CF3 substituent acting as a weakly bound sixth ligand to the Ru(II) center, as observed by 31P{1H} and19F NMR spectroscopy. The calculated structure of 6c established that the closest Ru- - -F contact was at 2.978 Å.

A Masked Phosphinidene Trapped in a Fluxional NCN Pincer.

The trapping of a phosphinidene (R-P) in an NCN pincer is presented. Stabilized phosphinidene 1 was characterized by 31 P{1 H}, 1 H, and 13 C{1 H} NMR spectroscopy, exhibiting an averaged C2v symmetry in solution between -60 and 60 °C. In the solid state, the phosphinidene is coordinated by one adjacent N atom featuring a formal P-N bond (1.757(2) Å) to give a five-membered ring with some aromatic character, confirmed by DFT calculations (B3LYP-D3/6-311G**++) to be the ground-state structure. Equilibration of the two N ligands occurs rapidly in solution via a "bell-clapper"-type process through an associative symmetric transition state calculated to lie 4.0 kcal mol-1 above the ground state.

Pregnane-10,2-carbolactones from a Hawaiian Marine Sponge in the Genus Myrmekioderma.

Four new pregnanes, 3ß,4ß-dihydroxy-17-methyl-17α-pregna-5,13-diene-10,2-carbolactone (1), 6ß-chloro-3ß-hydroxy-17-methyl-17α-pregna-4,13-diene-10,2-carbolactone (2), 3ß-hydroxy-6ß-methoxy-17-methyl-17α-pregna-4,13-diene-10,2-carbolactone (3), and 3ß,6ß-dihydroxy-17-methyl-17α-pregna-4,13-diene-10,2-carbolactone (4), were isolated from an undescribed species of Myrmekioderma Ehlers along with the known pregnane carbolactone (5). The structures of the new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods and comparison with previously described compounds. Compound 5 showed almost 4-fold activation of pregnane X receptor, while 2 inhibited BACE1 with an IC50 value of 82 µM.

Bromotyrosine-derived metabolites from an Indonesian marine sponge in the family Aplysinellidae (Order Verongiida).

Seven new bromotyrosine-derived metabolites, purpuramine M-N (1-2), araplysillin VII-XI (3-7) and six known compounds (8-13) were isolated from an Indonesian sponge belonging to the family Aplysinellidae (Order Verongiida). The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive NMR experiments and mass spectrometric measurements. These compounds were screened against BACE1 and five cancer cell lines.

Neopetrocyclamines A and B, polycyclic diamine alkaloids from the sponge Neopetrosia cf exigua.

Two new polycyclic alkaloids, neopetrocyclamines A and B (1 and 2), along with the known metabolites papuamine (3) and haliclonadiamine (4), were isolated from the Indonesian sponge Neopetrosia cf exigua. Neopetrocyclamine A contains a formamidinium moiety, a rare functional group. While these compounds share the same basic biosynthetic building blocks, the size of the ring system differs in 1 and 2 because of the formamidinium moiety. Biological evaluations of 1-4 revealed that papuamine is cytotoxic against glioblastoma SF-295 cells (GI50 = 0.8 µM).

Spongiapyridine and related spongians isolated from an Indonesian Spongia sp.

New compounds 18-nor-3,17-dihydroxyspongia-3,13(16),14-trien-2-one (1), 18-nor-3,5,17-trihydroxyspongia-3,13(16),14-trien-2-one (2), and spongiapyridine (3) and the known compound 17-hydroxy-4-epi-spongialactone A (4) were isolated from an Indonesian sponge of the genus Spongia. The structures of 1-3 were deduced by analyses of physical and spectroscopic data. Diterpene 3 is unusual, as the D-ring is a pyridyl ring system rather than the standard δ-lactone. The structure elucidation of this compound was complicated by facile exchange of the axial proton at the C-11 methylene with deuterium from methanol-d4. The isolated compounds were tested for biological activity in a battery of in vitro assays (TNF-α-induced NFκB, LPS-induced iNOS, RXR stimulation, quinone reductase 1 induction, aromatase inhibition, TRPM7 ion channels, and aspartic protease BACE1 inhibition). Norditerpene 2 modestly inhibited aromatase with an IC50 of 34 µM and induced quinone reductase 1 activity with a CD (the concentration needed to double the enzymatic response) of 11.2 µM. The remaining isolates were inactive.

Isoflavonoids from Ficus benjamina and their inhibitory activity on BACE1.

Examination of an active extract of the fruit of Ficus benjamina var. nuda (Miq.) Barrett has led to the isolation of six new isoflavones and two coumarano-chroman-4-ones, along with fifteen known compounds. The structures of the eight new compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR experiments and mass spectrometric measurements. The inhibitory activity of the compounds on the proteolytic cleavage of amyloid precursor protein by the aspartic protease BACE1 was evaluated. Both coumarano-chroma-4-ones and some isoflavones showed moderate activity in this assay.

Daedalols A-C, fungal-derived BACE1 inhibitors.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an extract prepared from the fruiting bodies of a Daedalea sp. has led to the isolation of daedalols A-C (1-3). The structures of these new triterpenes were elucidated based on extensive NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric measurements. Assignment of the relative configuration of 3 required the preparation of a suitable derivative via a Payne rearrangement. The aspartic protease BACE1, an Alzheimer's drug target, was inhibited by 3 with an IC(50) value of 14.2 µM.

Stictamides A-C, MMP12 inhibitors containing 4-amino-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic acid subunits.

An extensive study of the secondary metabolites produced by a new Sticta sp. of lichen has led to the isolation of three new compounds containing the 4-amino-3-hydroxy-5-phenylpentanoic acid residue (Ahppa). The structures of stictamides A-C (1-3) were assigned by 2D NMR spectroscopic and chemical methods. Due to extensive epimerization of the Ahppa residue observed after acid hydrolysis, the configuration of this unit was deduced through conversion of 1 to an appropriate derivative and application of our recently developed statine NMR database. Evaluation of stictamide A against a panel of disease-relevant proteases showed that it inhibited MMP12 at 2.3 µM and significantly reduced invasion in the human glioma cell line U87MG. Docking studies suggest that stictamide A inhibits MMP12 by a non-zinc-binding mechanism.

Sebestenoids A-D, BACE1 inhibitors from Cordia sebestena.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an extract prepared from the fruits of Cordia sebestena led to the isolation of sebestenoids A-D (1-4). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive NMR experiments and mass spectroscopic measurements. Compounds 1-4 exhibited moderate inhibition of the aspartic protease BACE1.

Topsentinols, 24-isopropyl steroids from the marine sponge Topsentia sp.

Three isopropyl steroids, topsentinols K, L, and K trisulfate (1-3), were isolated from an undescribed species of Topsentia. The structures of the new compounds were determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments and mass spectrometry measurements. Topsentinol K trisulfate (3) inhibited the aspartic protease BACE1, although in a detergent-dependent manner suggestive of nonspecific aggregation.

Potential anti-inflammatory phenolic glycosides from the medicinal plant Moringa oleifera fruits.

Bioassay-guided isolation and purification of the ethyl acetate extract of Moringa oleifera fruits yielded three new phenolic glycosides; 4-[(2'-O-acetyl-alpha-l-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl]isothiocyanate (1), 4-[(3'-O-acetyl-alpha-l-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl]isothiocyanate (2), and S-methyl-N-{4-[(alpha-l-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl]}thiocarbamate (3), together with five known phenolic glycosides (4-8). The structures of the new metabolites were determined on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including 1D- and 2D-NMR and mass spectrometry. The anti-inflammatory activity of isolated compounds was investigated with the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell line. It was found that 4-[(2'-O-acetyl-alpha-l-rhamnosyloxy)benzyl]isothiocyanate (1) possessed potent NO-inhibitory activity with an IC(50) value of 1.67 microM, followed by 2 (IC(50)=2.66 microM), 4 (IC(50)=2.71 microM), and 5 (IC(50)=14.4 microM), respectively. Western blots demonstrated these compounds reduced LPS-mediated iNOS expression. In the concentration range of the IC(50) values, no significant cytotoxicity was noted. Structure-activity relationships following NO-release indicated: (1) the isothiocyanate group was essential for activity, (2) acetylation of the isothiocyanate derivatives at C-2' or at C-3' of rhamnose led to higher activity, (3) un-acetylated isothiocyanate derivatives displayed eight times less activity than the acetylated derivatives, and (4) acetylation of the thiocarbamate derivatives enhanced activity. These data indicate compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 are responsible for the reported NO-inhibitory effect of Moringa oleifera fruits, and further studies are warranted.