The Assignment of Absolute Stereostructures through Quantum Chemical Circular Dichroism Calculations

Azonazine, a novel dipeptide from a Hawaiian marine sediment-derived fungus, Aspergillus insulicola

Azonazine, a unique hexacyclic dipeptide, was isolated from a Hawaiian marine sediment-derived fungus eventually identified as Aspergillus insulicola. Its absolute configuration, 2R,10R,11S,19R, was established using NMR, HRESIMS, and CD data plus insights derived from molecular models. A possible route for its biogenesis is proposed, and biological properties were explored against cancer cell lines and in an NFκB inhibition assay.

Absolute structural elucidation of natural products--a focus on quantum-mechanical calculations of solid-state CD spectra

In this review article we examine state-of-the-art techniques for the structural elucidation of organic compounds isolated from natural sources. In particular, we focus on the determination of absolute configuration (AC), perhaps the most challenging but inevitable step in the whole process, especially when newly isolated compounds are screened for biological activity. Among the many methods employed for AC assignment that we review, special attention is paid to electronic circular dichroism (CD) and to the modern tools available for quantum-mechanics CD predictions, including TDDFT. In this context, we stress that conformational flexibility often poses a limit to practical CD calculations of solution CD spectra. Many crystalline natural products suitable for X-ray analysis do not contain heavy atoms for a confidential AC assignment by resonant scattering. However, their CD spectra can be recorded in the solid state, for example with the KCl pellet technique, and analyzed possibly by nonempirical means to provide stereochemical information. In particular, solid-state CD spectra can be compared with those calculated with TDDFT or other high-level methods, using the X-ray geometry as input. The solid-state CD/TDDFT approach, described in detail, represents a quick and reliable tool for AC assignment of natural products.

Synthesis and stereochemistry of highly unsymmetric beta,meso-linked porphyrin arrays

Porphyrin arrays with tailor-made photophysical properties and well-defined three-dimensional geometries constitute attractive synthetic targets in porphyrin chemistry. The paper describes a variable, straightforward synthetic procedure for the construction of beta,meso-linked porphyrin multichromophores in good to excellent yields. In a Suzuki-type coupling reaction beta-borylated 5,10,15,20-tetraarylporphyrins (TAPs) served as versatile building blocks for the preparation of a plethora of directly linked, unsymmetrically substituted di- and triporphyrins. Besides their interesting photophysical properties, especially the trimeric porphyrin arrays show exciting stereochemical features. The established protocols thus open a convenient entry into the synthesis of achiral and chiral, unsymmetrically substituted beta,meso-linked oligoporphyrins, e.g., for applications in biomedicine or nonlinear optics.

Time-dependent density functional response theory for electronic chiroptical properties of chiral molecules

Methodology to calculate electronic chiroptical properties from time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) is outlined. Applications of TDDFT to computations of electronic circular dichroism, optical rotation, and optical rotatory dispersion are reviewed. Emphasis is put on publications from 2005 to 2010, but much of the older literature is also cited and discussed. The determination of the absolute configuration of chiral molecules by combined measurements and computations is an important application of TDDFT chiroptical methods and discussed in some detail. Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra are obtained from normal-mode derivatives of the optical rotation tensor and other linear response tensors. A few selected (ROA) benchmarks are reviewed.

Mimics of the self-assembling chlorosomal bacteriochlorophylls: regio- and stereoselective synthesis and stereoanalysis of acyl(1-hydroxyalkyl)porphyrins

Diacylation of copper 10,20-bis(3,5-di-tert-butylphenylporphyrin) using Friedel-Crafts conditions at short reaction times, high concentrations of catalyst, and 0-4 degrees C affords only the 3,17-diacyl-substituted porphyrins, out of the 12 possible regioisomers. At longer reaction times and higher temperatures, the 3,13-diacyl compounds are also formed, and the two isomers can be conveniently separated by normal chromatographic techniques. Monoreduction of these diketones affords in good yields the corresponding acyl(1-hydroxyalkyl)porphyrins, which after zinc metalation are mimics of the natural chlorosomal bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) d. Racemate resolution by HPLC on a variety of chiral columns was achieved and further optimized, thus permitting easy access to enantiopure porphyrins. Enantioselective reductions proved to be less effective in this respect, giving moderate yields and only 79% ee in the best case. The absolute configuration of the 3(1)-stereocenter was assigned by independent chemical and spectroscopic methods. Self-assembly of a variety of these zinc BChl d mimics proves that a collinear arrangement of the hydroxyalkyl substituent with the zinc atom and the carbonyl substituent is not a stringent requirement, since both the 3,13 and the 3,17 regioisomers self-assemble readily as the racemates. Interestingly, the separated enantiomers self-assemble less readily, as judged by absorption, fluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy studies. Circular dichroism spectra of the self-assemblies show intense Cotton effects, which are mirror-images for the two 3(1)-enantiomers, proving that the supramolecular chirality is dependent on the configuration at the 3(1)-stereocenter. Upon disruption of these self-assemblies with methanol, which competes with zinc ligation, only very weak monomeric Cotton effects are present. The favored heterochiral self-assembly process may also be encountered for the natural BChls. This touches upon the long-standing problem of why both 3(1)-epimers are encountered in BChls in ratios that vary with the illumination and culturing conditions.

Parazoanthines A-E, hydantoin alkaloids from the Mediterranean sea anemone Parazoanthus axinellae

Five new hydantoin alkaloids, named parazoanthines A-E (1-5), were isolated as the major constituents of the Mediterranean sea anemone Parazoanthus axinellae. Their structural elucidation was achieved through NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric analyses. The absolute configuration of the chiral compounds 1 and 4 was determined by comparison between experimental and TDDFT-calculated CD spectra. The configuration of the trisubstituted double bond of 2, 3, and 5 was deduced from the (3)J(H6-C4) coupling constant value. This family of alkaloids represents the first example of natural 3,5-disubstituted hydantoins that do not exhibit a methyl at N-3. All compounds were tested for their natural toxicity (Microtox assay), and parazoanthine C (3) exhibited the highest natural toxicity.