Enantioselective total synthesis of chiricanine B

Developments in the Catalytic Asymmetric Synthesis of Agrochemicals and Their Synthetic Importance

Catalytic asymmetric synthesis has become an essential tool for the enantioselective synthesis of pharmaceuticals, natural products, and agrochemicals (mainly fungicides, herbicides, insecticides, and pheromones). With continuous growing interest in both modern agricultural chemistry and catalytic asymmetric synthesis chemistry, this review provides a comprehensive overview of some earlier reports as well as the recent successful applications of various catalytic asymmetric syntheses methodologies, such as enantioselective hydroformylation, enantioselective hydrogenation, asymmetric Sharpless epoxidation and dihydroxylation, asymmetric cyclopropanation or isomerization, organocatalyzed asymmetric synthesis, and so forth, which have been used as key steps in the preparation of chiral agrochemicals (on R&D, piloting, and commercial scales). Chiral agrochemicals can also lead the new generation of such chemicals having specific and novel modes of action for achieving sustainable crop protection and production. Some perspectives and challenges for these catalytic asymmetric methodologies in the synthesis of chiral agrochemicals are also briefly discussed in the final section of the manuscript. This review will provide the insight regarding understanding, development, and evaluation of catalytic asymmetric systems for the synthesis of chiral agrochemicals among the agrochemists.

Total Synthesis of the Neuroprotective Agent Cudraisoflavone J

Cudraisoflavone J (1), isolated from Cudrania tricuspidata, is a potent neuroprotective compound with a chiral center. Herein, we report the first total synthesis of racemic cudraisoflavone J (1) using a Claisen rearrangement and a Suzuki coupling reaction as the key steps. Racemic secondary alcohol was kinetically resolved to give (+)- and (-)-cudraisoflavone J with up to 97 and 88% enantiomeric excess, respectively. The modified Mosher's method was used to elucidate the absolute configuration of naturally occurring cudraisoflavone J.

New Monomeric Stilbenoids from Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Seeds Challenged by an Aspergillus flavus Strain

Two new stilbene derivatives have been isolated from peanut seeds challenged by an Aspergillus flavus strain, along with chiricanine B, which has not been previously reported from peanuts, as well as a stilbenoid reported previously only as a synthetic product. The structures of these new putative phytoalexins were determined by analysis of (1)H and (13)C NMR, HRESIMS, MS(n), and UV data. The new stilbenoids were named arahypin-13 (21), arahypin-14 (22), and arahypin-15 (23). Together with other known bioactive peanut stilbenoids that were also produced in the challenged seeds, these new compounds may play a defensive role against invasive fungi.

2-Arylbenzofuran Derivatives from Morus cathayana

Four new 2-arylbenzofuran derivatives, cathafurans A (1), B (2), C (3), and D (4), were isolated from the stem bark of Morus cathayana. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. Compounds 2 and 3 exhibited moderate activities against five human cancer cell lines, with IC(50) values ranging from 6.17 to 9.60 microg/mL.