Chemical resolution of +/- -calanolide A, +/- -cordatolide A and their 11-demethyl analogues

Direct Michael addition/decarboxylation reaction catalyzed by a composite of copper ferrite nanoparticles immobilized on microcrystalline cellulose: an eco-friendly approach for constructing 3,4-dihydrocoumarin frameworks

A composite of copper ferrite oxide nanoparticles immobilized on microcrystalline cellulose (CuFe₂O₄@MCC) was synthesized. The synthesized composite was characterized by FESEM with EDS-Mapping, TEM, P-XRD, TEM, and BET analysis and investigated for its catalytic activity toward Tandem Michael addition and decarboxylation of coumarin-3-carboxylic acid with cyclic 1,3-diketones to obtain novel 3,4-dihydrocoumarin derivatives. This protocol was established with wide substrate scope and significant yield. The significant characteristics of this methodology are mild reaction conditions, easy setup procedure, non-toxic, and cost-effectiveness. A gram-scale synthesis with low catalyst loading was also demonstrated.

Composites of copper ferrite oxide nanoparticles immobilized on microcrystalline cellulose were synthesized and studied for their catalytic activity toward the preparation of novel 3,4-dihydrocoumarin derivatives.

Improving the Antioxidant Properties of Calophyllum inophyllum Seed Oil from French Polynesia: Development and Biological Applications of Resinous Ethanol-Soluble Extracts

Tamanu oil from Calophyllum inophyllum L. has long been used in traditional medicine. Ethanol extraction was found the best strategy for recovering bioactive compounds from the resin part of Tamanu oil, yielding two neutral and acidic resins fractions with high phenolics, flavonoids and pyranocoumarins concentrations. A further cascade of LPLC/HPLC separations of neutral and acidic resin fractions allowed identifying fifteen metabolites, and among them, calanolide D and 12-oxocalanolide A (both in neutral fraction) were first identified from a natural source. All these extracts, subfractions and isolated metabolites demonstrated increased free radical scavenging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and antimycobacterial activity compared to Tamanu oil and its de-resinated lipid phase. Overall, these results could promote resinous ethanol-soluble Tamanu oil extracts as a useful multifaceted and renewable medicinal resource.

Determination of 10-chloromethyl-11-demethyl-12-oxo-calanolide A in rat plasma using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and its application to pharmacokinetics

A rapid and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for the quantitation of 10-chloromethyl-11-demethyl-12-oxo-calanolide A (F18), a small-molecule nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, was developed and validated in rat plasma. F18 was monitored by positive electrospray ionization in the selected reaction monitoring mode. The standard curve was linear over the range of 2-1000 ng/mL. The method was used to determine the plasma concentration of F18 after a single oral dose of 50 mg/kg in rats.

3-Phenylcoumarins as inhibitors of HIV-1 replication

We have synthesized fourteen 3-phenylcoumarin derivatives and evaluated their anti-HIV activity. Antiviral activity was assessed on MT-2 cells infected with viral clones carrying the luciferase gene as reporter. Inhibition of HIV transcription and Tat function were tested on cells stably transfected with the HIV-LTR and Tat protein. Six compounds displayed NF-κB inhibition, four resulted Tat antagonists and three of them showed both activities. Three compounds inhibited HIV replication with IC₅₀ values < 25 µM. The antiviral effect of the 4-hydroxycoumarin derivative 19 correlates with its specific inhibition of Tat functions, while compound 8, 3-(2-chlorophenyl)coumarin, seems to act through a mechanism unrelated to the molecular targets considered in this research.

F18, a novel small-molecule nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, inhibits HIV-1 replication using distinct binding motifs as demonstrated by resistance selection and docking analysis

Nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) are one of the key components of antiretroviral therapy drug regimen against human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) replication. We previously described a newly synthesized small molecule, 10-chloromethyl-11-demethyl-12-oxo-calanolide A (F18), a (+)-calanolide A analog, as a novel anti-HIV-1 NNRTI (H. Xue et al., J. Med. Chem. 53:1397-1401, 2010). Here, we further investigated its antiviral range, drug resistance profile, and underlying mechanism of action. F18 consistently displayed potent activity against primary HIV-1 isolates, including various subtypes of group M, circulating recombinant form (CRF) 01_AE, and laboratory-adapted drug-resistant viruses. Moreover, F18 displayed distinct profiles against 17 NNRTI-resistant pseudoviruses, with an excellent potency especially against one of the most prevalent strains with the Y181C mutation (50% effective concentration, 1.0 nM), which was in stark contrast to the extensively used NNRTIs nevirapine and efavirenz. Moreover, we induced F18-resistant viruses by in vitro serial passages and found that the mutation L100I appeared to be the dominant contributor to F18 resistance, further suggesting a binding motif different from that of nevirapine and efavirenz. F18 was nonantagonistic when used in combination with other antiretrovirals against both wild-type and drug-resistant viruses in infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Interestingly, F18 displayed a highly synergistic antiviral effect with nevirapine against nevirapine-resistant virus (Y181C). Furthermore, in silico docking analysis suggested that F18 may bind to the HIV-1 reverse transcriptase differently from other NNRTIs. This study presents F18 as a new potential drug for clinical use and also presents a new mechanism-based design for future NNRTI.

An unexpected C-C cleavage reaction: new and mild access to o-OH and o-NH-Tos benzoic acids or benzoamides

Catalyzed by DBU or DBN, 2-acetoxy benzofuranones and 2-acetoxy-N-Tos indolin-3-ones, were readily prepared from o-acyl phenols and o-acyl anilines, respectively, reacted with H(2)O or a range of amines to afford o-OH and o-NH-Tos benzoic acids or benzoamides in moderate to excellent yields.