New Entries in Organocatalysts from an Alkaloid Library; Development of Aminal Catalysis for a Michael Reaction Based on Calycanthine.

Natural products have historically been actively evaluated for their biological activity in the development of pharmaceuticals, while their evaluation as asymmetric catalysts has rarely been explored. In this study, we evaluated the catalytic activity of the natural product library. Three naturally occurring alkaloids, gardnerine, spiradine A, and calycanthine, were found to catalyze an asymmetric Michael reaction using oxindole and nitrostyrene.

Indole C5-Selective Bromination of Indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidine Alkaloids via In Situ-Generated Indoline Intermediate.

There are many indole alkaloids that contain diverse functional groups attached to the benzene ring on the indole core. Promising biological activities of these alkaloids have been reported. Herein, we report the indole C5-selective bromination of indolo[2,3-a]quinolizidine alkaloids by adding nearly equimolar amounts of Br ⋅ PyH and HCl in MeOH.

Denosumab-induced hypocalcemia in patients with solid tumors and renal dysfunction: a multicenter, retrospective, observational study.

Background: Bone metastases are frequently observed in advanced cancer, and bone modifying agents are used to prevent or treat skeletal-related events. Zoledronic acid is contraindicated in patients with severe renal impairment (Ccr < 30 mL/min), but it is not completely known whether denosumab can be used in them. We aimed to determine the association between renal function and hypocalcemia development during denosumab treatment.

Bioinspired Total Synthesis of (+)-Kopsiyunnanine B.

The first enantioselective total synthesis of kopsiyunnanine B, which has a unique folded and complex pentacyclic structure containing six contiguous chiral centers, has been achieved along our originally proposed biosynthetic pathway. The key reaction of this synthesis includes a bioinspired cascade that builds three ring structures and three chiral centers in one step and features the stereoselective reduction of a β-acrylate and oxidation to an oxindole.

Enantioselective Total Syntheses of (-)-Silicine and (-)-20-Episilicine.

The enantioselective total syntheses of (-)-silicine and (-)-20-episilicine, which contain a chiral piperidine with three contiguous chiral centers (-ring) and a strained seven-membered ring (-ring) attached to an indole, were achieved. The key steps of these syntheses included a chiral secondary amine-catalyzed formal aza-[3 + 3] cycloaddition reaction and Lewis acid-mediated irreversible ring-closing reaction. In addition, the stereochemistry at C20 was controlled at a later stage in the syntheses.

Total Syntheses of (+)-Villocarine A, (-)-Apogeissoschizine, and (+)-Geissoschizine.

Total syntheses of geissoschizine-type monoterpenoid indole alkaloids (MTIAs) are reported. An intramolecular Pictet-Spengler cyclization was developed for the selective construction of the 3R stereocenter. The first total synthesis of (+)-villocarine A was then achieved.

Divergent Total Syntheses of Hetero-Oligomeric Iridoid Glycosides.

Divergent total syntheses of the hetero-oligomeric iridoid glycosides mainly found in were achieved. Thus, loganin (), which is important as a monomer unit, was efficiently synthesized by stereoselective reductive cyclization using secologanin () as a substrate. Sequential condensation reactions of derivatives of and as monomer units led to the first enantioselective total syntheses of the heterooligomers cantleyoside, ()-aldosecologanin, dipsaperine, (3, 5)-5-carboxyvincosidic acid 22-loganin ester, and dipsanoside A.

Identification of a regiospecific -oxygenase for the production of marasmin in traditional medicinal plant .

Marasmin [-(methylthiomethyl)-L-cysteine-4-oxide] is a pharmaceutically valuable sulfur-containing compound produced by the traditional medicinal plant, . Here, we report the identification of an -oxygenase, TvMAS1, that produces marasmin from its corresponding sulfide, -(methylthiomethyl)-L-cysteine. The amino acid sequence of TvMAS1 showed high sequence similarity to known flavin-containing -oxygenating monooxygenases in plants.

Asymmetric Total Syntheses of Mitragynine, Speciogynine, and 7-Hydroxymitragynine.

A number of alkaloids found in Mitragyna species belonging to the Rubiaceae family have been shown to have potent biological activity such as analgesic properties. Here, we report the asymmetric total syntheses of mitragynine, speciogynine, and 7-hydroxymitragynine, which are classified as corynantheine-type monoterpenoid indole alkaloids, isolated from Mitragyna speciosa. These syntheses were accomplished within 12 steps and in >11% total yield from commercial 3-(trimethylsilyl)propanal using an organocatalytic anti-selective Michael reaction and bioinspired transformations.

Recent studies on chemical constituents of Ophiorrhiza plants.

Ophiorrhiza plants (Family Rubiaceae) are known to produce diverse monoterpenoid indole alkaloids including camptothecin with potent antitumor activity. This review contains a summary of recent chemical studies reported over the past 10 years regarding alkaloids (monoterpenoid indole and tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids, and cyclopeptide) in Ophiorrhiza plants. In addition, the alkaloid biosynthetic pathways based on their reported structures were proposed.

Secorubenine, a Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloid Glycoside from Adina rubescens: Isolation, Structure Elucidation, and Enantioselective Total Synthesis.

A new pentacyclic monoterpenoid indole alkaloid glycoside named secorubenine (1) was isolated from the heartwood of Adina rubescens, collected in Indonesia. The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical modification of isolated secorubenine (1). The bioinspired enantioselective total synthesis of 1 was accomplished in 12 steps, whereafter its structure was determined and the absolute stereochemistry was confirmed.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis and Structure Elucidation of Huperzine H.

A first asymmetric total synthesis of huperzine H has been achieved in a 12% overall yield from commercially available (+)-pulegone. The key steps of this synthesis include a highly diastereoselective Mukaiyama-Michael addition reaction of a pyrrole bearing a silyl enol ether and an intramolecular S2 cyclization reaction with iodinated pyrrole acting as an effective nucleophile for the formation of the nine-membered ring. As a result, the relative and absolute stereochemistry of huperzine H is established.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Biphenylquinolizidine Alkaloids 4″--Demethyllythridine and 14--4″--Demethyllythridine.

The first asymmetric total synthesis of new biphenylquinolizidine alkaloids 4″--demethyllythridine and 14--4″--demethyllythridine isolated from was accomplished. The key steps in the synthesis were a copper(I)-catalyzed asymmetric intramolecular aza-Michael reaction to build a chiral 4-arylquinolizidine unit and an intramolecular Suzuki-Miyaura cross-coupling reaction to construct a macrolactone ring comprising a biphenyl moiety.

Total Synthesis of (-)-14-Hydroxygelsenicine and Six Biogenetically Related Alkaloids.

The first concise and collective asymmetric total synthesis of six 14-hydroxygelsenicine-related alkaloids, i.e., 14-hydroxygelsedilam, 14-acetoxygelsedilam, gelsefuranidine, gelsemolenine A, and gelselegandines B and C, was accomplished via the facile construction of a 7-azabicyclo[4.

Total Syntheses of Pleiocarpamine, Normavacurine, and C-Mavacurine.

The total syntheses of C-mavacurine-type indole alkaloids, (±)-pleiocarpamine, (±)-normavacurine, and (±)- C-mavacurine, were accomplished. The key step in the syntheses was the cyclization between the metal carbenoid at C and the N position in a Corynanthe-type compound that was equipped with a diazo function. For this cyclization, the N modification of the substrate using an amine-borane complex was indispensable to fix the molecular conformation.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Fawcettimine-Type Lycopodium Alkaloid, Lycopoclavamine-A.

An asymmetric total synthesis of lycopoclavamine-A (1), a structurally unique fawcettimine-type Lycopodium alkaloid, was achieved via a stereoselective Pauson-Khand reaction and a stereoselective conjugate addition to construct a quaternary carbon center at C-12.

New otonecine-type pyrrolizidine alkaloid from Petasites japonicus.

One new otonecine-type pyrrolizidine alkaloid secopetasitenine (1), along with petasitenine (fukinotoxine, 2), neopetasitenine (3), and senkirkine (4), was isolated from the whole plant of Petasites japonicus. The structure of 1 was determined by spectroscopic analyses and chemical conversion from the known alkaloid petasitenine (2).

Asymmetric Total Synthesis and Evaluation of Antitumor Activity of Ophiorrhisine A and Its Derivatives.

The first asymmetric total synthesis of ophiorrhisine A (1), a new cyclic tetrapeptide isolated from Ophiorrhiza nutans, was accomplished via an intramolecular aromatic nucleophilic substitution reaction (IMSAr) of a linear tripeptide to construct a 14-membered paracyclophane ring, resulting in confirmation of its structure and absolute configuration. The structure-activity relationship study of 1 and its derivatives demonstrated that some derivatives possessed cytotoxicity toward human cancer cell lines A549, HT29, and HCT116.

Protective Effects of Brain Infarction by -Acetylcysteine Derivatives.

Background And Purpose: We recently found that acrolein (CH=CH-CHO) is more strongly involved in brain infarction compared with reactive oxygen species. In this study, we looked for acrolein scavengers with less side effects.

Methods: Photochemically induced thrombosis model mice were prepared by injection of Rose Bengal.

A Cyclopeptide and a Tetrahydroisoquinoline Alkaloid from Ophiorrhiza nutans.

A new cyclopeptide, ophiorrhisine A (1), a new tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid, 7',10-dide-O-methylcephaeline (2), two known β-carboline alkaloids, and four known tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids were isolated from Ophiorrhiza nutans (Rubiaceae). Compound 1 is a tetrapeptide possessing a 14-membered paracyclophane ring and a novel N,N,N-trimethyltyrosine residue in the side chain. The stereochemistry at the aryl-alkyl ether bond was different from that of other known 14-membered paracyclophanes.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Kopsiyunnanine K, a Monoterpenoid Indole Alkaloid with a Rearranged Skeleton.

A new monoterpenoid indole alkaloid, kopsiyunnanine K, was isolated from Kopsia arborea. Its intriguing rearranged structure and absolute configuration, which were inferred from spectral data and a possible biosynthetic pathway, were determined on the basis of a 13-step asymmetric total synthesis.

Asymmetric Total Synthesis of Sarpagine-Related Indole Alkaloids Hydroxygardnerine, Hydroxygardnutine, Gardnerine, (E)-16-epi-Normacusine B, and Koumine.

Sarpagine-related indole alkaloids (-)-hydroxygardnerine, (+)-hydroxygardnutine, (-)-gardnerine, (+)-(E)-16-epi-normacusine B, and (-)-koumine were divergently synthesized via a common intermediate possessing a piperidine ring with an exocyclic (E)-ethylidene side chain, which was constructed by a gold(I)-catalyzed 6-exo-dig cyclization strategy.