Evidence for an enantioselective pumiliotoxin 7-hydroxylase in dendrobatid poison frogs of the genus Dendrobates.

Dendrobatid poison frogs readily accumulate alkaloids from diet into skin, where such compounds serve as a chemical defense against predators. Arthropods seem to be the source of decahydroquinolines (DHQs), several izidines, coccinellines, spiropyrrolizidines, pumiliotoxins (PTXs), and allopumiliotoxins (aPTXs). A DHQ iso-223F, and PTX (+)-251D were fed to poison frogs of the dendrobatid genera Dendrobates, Epipedobates, and Phyllobates.

Syntheses and antimalarial activities of 10-substituted deoxoartemisinins.

Two series of 10-substituted deoxoartemisinin derivatives have been synthesized. The first employed the reaction of dihydroartemisinin acetate with several silyl enol ethers in the presence of titanium tetrachloride. The second utilized the reaction of 10-(2-oxoethyl)deoxoartemisinin with several Grignard reagents.

Acid catalyzed Michael additions to artemisitene.

A series of 14-substituted-artemisinin and 9-epiartemisinin derivatives was prepared by a titanium-tetrachloride catalyzed addition of trimethylsilyl enol ethers to artemisitene. Several compounds were four to seven times more active than artemisinin against Plasmodium falciparum.

Synthesis and antimalarial activities of base-catalyzed adducts of 11-azaartemisinin.

A series of N-substituted 11-azaartemisinins were prepared in high yield employing base-catalyzed additions to an amide nitrogen of olefins and terminal acetylenes conjugated with electron withdrawing groups (EWGs). When the terminal acetylene was conjugated with carbomethoxy, N,N-dimethyl amide or carbonyl groups, the E-adducts resulted. A mixture of E- and Z-adducts were obtained when the EWG was a nitrile.

Structure and antimalarial activity of adducts of 11-azaartemisinin with conjugated terminal acetylenes.

Several N-substituted 11-azaartemisinins were prepared from 11-azaartemisinin in high yield by the DMAP catalyzed addition of terminal acetylenes conjugated with electron-withdrawing groups. Their antimalarial activities against two drug-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum were determined.