Analysis of cycloheptanone conformation from temperature dependent circular dichroism measurements of (+)-(3R)-methylcycloheptanone and (−)-(4R)-methylcycloheptanone

Beshanzoides A-D, unprecedented cycloheptanone-containing polyketides from Penicillium commune P-4-1, an endophytic fungus of the endangered conifer Abies beshanzuensis

A number of previously undescribed (1–7) and structurally related known (8–17) isobenzofuran-type polyketides were obtained from the fermentation of Penicillium commune P-4-1, an endophytic fungus isolated from the fresh trunk bark of the critically endangered conifer Abies beshanzuensis. Beshanzoides A–D (1–4, resp.) feature a cycloheptanone-containing isobenzofuran ring system hitherto unknown, which might be biosynthesized via two steps of aldol reactions starting from a common co-occurring isobenzofuran-type polyketide as the precursor. The new structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, electronic circular dichroism data, and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Beshanzoide E (5) showed antimicrobial activity (MIC: 16 μg mL⁻¹) against Staphylococcus aureus, whereas (±)-strobide A (10) inhibited (MIC: 16 μg mL⁻¹) Candida albicans. Cyclopaldic acid (12) and 3-O-methyl-cyclopaldic acid (13) exhibited inhibitory effects against acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) with IC₅₀ values of 0.96 and 11.77 μM, respectively. Compound 12 also inhibited (IC₅₀: 7.56 μM) ATP-citrate lyase (ACL).

Four unprecedented cycloheptanone-containing and some related known bioactive polyketides were isolated from an endophytic fungus associated with the critically endangered conifer Abies beshanzuensis.

Conformational energies for 2-substituted butanes

The conformational free energies for some 2-substituted butanes where X = F, Cl, CN, and CCH were calculated using G3-B3, CBS-QB3, and CCSD(T)/6-311++G(2d,p) as well as other theoretical levels. The above methods gave consistent results with free energies relative to the trans conformers as follows: X = CCH, g+ = 0.77 +/- 0.05 kcal/mol. g- = 0.88 +/- 0.05 kcal/mol; X = CN, g+ = 0.85 +/- 0.05 kcal/mol, g- = 0.75 +/- 0.05 kcal/mol; X = Cl, g+ = 0.70 +/- 0.05 kcal/ml, g- = 0.80 +/- 0.05 kcal/mol; and X = F, g+ = 0.53 +/- 0.05 kcal/mol, g- = 0.83 +/- 0.05 kcal/mol. The conformational free energies also were estimated using the observed liquid phase IR spectra and intensities calculated using B3LYP/6-311++G** and MP2/6-311++G**. The rotational free energy profiles for all of the compounds were estimated at the G3-B3 level.

Chiral bicyclic phosphoramidites--a new class of ligands for asymmetric catalysis

The development of new ligands for catalytic asymmetric C-C bond formation is of great interest to organic synthesis. We describe here a new class of chiral phosphoramidites that embody one or two binaphthol units attached to an achiral azabicyclic [3.3.1] or [3.3.0] framework. These ligands were easily accessible from (R)1,1'-binaphthyl-2,2'-dioxaphosphorchloridite (4) and the corresponding heterobicyclic core 1, 2, or 3. They were employed in enantioselective Cu-catalyzed additions of different dialkylzinc reagents to cyclic and acyclic enones. The chiral ketones were obtained with an enantiomeric ratio up to 91:9. The choice of the best ligand proved to be strongly dependent on each substrate. In addition, ligand 6 was found to be the most suitable for Rh-catalyzed hydrogenations of a,beta-unsaturated esters, giving rise to dimethyl 2-methylsuccinate and methyl N-acetylalaninate with enantiomer ratios up to 95:5.

Folding of aminosuccinyl peptides: thermodynamic data from temperature dependent circular dichroism measurements

The conformational equilibrium of aminosuccinyl peptides between extended conformations and an intramolecularly hydrogen bonded type II' beta-turn conformation has been studied on the peptide Boc-L-Asu-Gly-L-Ala-OMe (Asu = aminosuccinyl residue) by means of temperature dependence of circular dichroism spectra. Owing to the peculiar chiroptical and conformational properties of the Asu residue, this technique proved to be very useful for deriving thermodynamic data for the above folding process. The value of delta H0 (-6.6 kJ mol-1), obtained for the peptide studied in a chloroformacetonitrile mixture, shows that the lower energy of the folded conformer is primarily due to the characteristic intramolecular hydrogen bond of the beta turns.