Asymmetric synthesis of the constitutive C22-carboxylic acid of macroviracin A

Synthesis of Bioactive Diarylheptanoids from Alpinia officinarum and Their Mechanism of Action for Anticancer Properties in Breast Cancer Cells

An efficient synthesis of the Alpinia officinarum-derived diarylheptanoids, viz., enantiomers of a β-hydroxyketone (1) and an α,β-unsaturated ketone (2) was developed starting from commercially available eugenol. Among these, compound 2 showed a superior antiproliferative effect against human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. Besides reducing clonogenic cell survival, compound 2 dose-dependently increased the sub G1 cell population and arrested the G2-phase of the cell cycle, as revealed by flow cytometry. Mechanistically, compound 2 acts as an intracellular pro-oxidant by generating copious amounts of reactive oxygen species. Compound 2 also induced both loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as well as lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) in the MCF-7 cells. The impaired mitochondrial and lysosomal functions due to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generation by compound 2 may contribute to its apoptotic property.

A chemoenzymatic synthesis of ceramide trafficking inhibitor HPA-12

A chemoenzymatic synthesis of the title compound has been developed using an efficient and highly enantioselective lipase-catalyzed acylation in a hydrophobic ionic liquid, [bmim][PF₆], followed by a diastereoselective asymmetric dihydroxylation as the key steps for incorporating the stereogenic centers. The further conversion to the appropriate intermediates and subsequent acylation with lauric acid furnished the target compound.

Regio- and Enantioselective Rhodium-Catalyzed Allylic Alkylation of Racemic Allylic Alcohols with 1,3-Diketones

Highly regio- and enantioselective rhodium-catalyzed allylic alkylation of 1,3-diketones with racemic secondary allylic alcohols is reported. In the presence of a Rh-catalyst derived from the Carreira (P, olefin)-ligand and TFA as an additive, chiral branched α-allylated 1,3-diketones could be obtained in good to excellent yields, with excellent regio- and enantioselectivity ( b/ l > 19/1, 86-98% ee). The direct utilization of allyl alcohols as electrophiles represents an improvement from the viewpoint of an atom economy. Both aryl- and aliphatic-substituted allyl alcohols are suitable substrates with excellent reaction outcomes. This reaction features mild conditions, broad substrate scope, and readily available substrates.