Synthesis and anticancer activity of sclerophytin-inspired hydroisobenzofurans

Selected Monocyclic Monoterpenes and Their Derivatives as Effective Anticancer Therapeutic Agents

Terpenes-a diverse group of secondary metabolites-constitute the largest class of natural products abundant in almost every plant species. The properties of concrete terpenes and essential oils have been intensively studied due to their widespread use in the pharmaceutical, food and cosmetics industries. Despite the popularity of these aromatic compounds, their derivatives, terpenoids, are still not comprehensively characterized despite exhibiting potent bioactive properties. This review aims to assess the anticancer properties of selected monoterpenes including carvone, carvacrol, perillyl alcohol, perillaldehyde, limonene, menthol and their derivatives while also evaluating potential applications as novel anticancer treatments. Special attention is paid to functional groups that improve the bioactivity of monoterpene molecules. This review also covers the therapeutic potential of deep eutectic solvents that contain monoterpene substances. Taken together, the literature supports the use of monoterpene derivatives in the development of new alternatives for disease treatment and prevention.

Using (+)-Carvone to access novel derivatives of (+)-ent-Cannabidiol: the first asymmetric syntheses of (+)-ent-CBDP and (+)-ent-CBDV

(-)-Cannabidiol [(-)-CBD] has recently gained prominence as a treatment for neuro-inflammation and other neurodegenerative disorders; interest is also developing in its synthetic enantiomer, (+)-CBD, which has a higher affinity to CB1 / CB2 receptors than the natural stereoisomer. We have developed an inexpensive, stereoselective route to access ent-CBD derivatives using (+)-carvone as a starting material. In addition to (+)-CBD, we report the first syntheses of (+)-cannabidivarin, (+)-cannabidiphorol as well as C-6 / C-8 homologues.

The bio-based methyl coumalate involved Morita–Baylis–Hillman reaction

An efficient and sustainable method to prepare pharmaceutically important pyrone derivatives under very mild conditions, from bio-based methyl coumalate, is reported.

The 2,11-cyclized cembranoids: cladiellins, asbestinins, and briarellins (period 1998-2010)

The 2,11-cyclized cembranoids are isolated from marine invertebrates of Octocorallia species. They are a very interesting class of natural products sharing a common oxatricyclo[6.6.1.0(2,7)]pentadecane core and carrying a varied substituent pattern. This review presents their structural diversity along with the reported biological activities. The 2,11-cyclized cembranoids were comprehensively reviewed previously in 1998, and this contribution will serve as an update of that work. Since 1998 a number of structural assignments of the isolated products have been revised, some as a result of total synthesis efforts. The chemical reactivity of several of the natural compounds has been studied, and the relevance of these findings to the biosynthesis or the generation of isolation artifacts is discussed. The wide range of biological activities displayed by the 2,11-cyclized cembranoids justifies the interest shown within the synthetic chemistry community and suggests that this class of natural products remains a fruitful area for future synthetic and biological research.

Total syntheses of (+)-vigulariol and (-)-sclerophytin A

The total syntheses of (+)-vigulariol and (-)-sclerophytin A are reported in 15 steps and 16 steps, respectively, from a known compound. The flexible, readily scalable synthetic strategy allows for rapid construction of a critical tricyclic intermediate and is demonstrated via the synthesis of these two marine natural products. A key reaction in this synthetic protocol is a combination Wittig/intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition.

Enantioselective synthesis of (-)-sclerophytin A by a stereoconvergent epoxide hydrolysis

The cytotoxic natural product (-)-sclerophytin A was constructed in 13 steps from geranial. Highlights from the synthesis are a stereoselective Oshima-Utimoto reaction, a Shibata-Baba indium-promoted radical cyclization, and a novel stereoconvergent epoxide hydrolysis.