A new total synthesis of porritoxin

Pararorine A, isoindolinone alkaloid from the endophytic fungus Paramyrothecium roridum and its anti-tumor activity

Pararorine A, a new isoindolinone alkaloid was isolated from Paramyrothecium roridum, an endophytic fungus from the medicinal plant Gynochthodes officinalis (F.C. How) Razafim. & B. Bremer. The structure of this compound was elucidated by extensive spectroscopic (UV, IR, MS, and NMR) analyses. In addition, the antitumor activity of pararorine A was evaluated against SF-268, MCF-7, HepG2, and A549 tumor cell lines. The results revealed that pararorine A exhibited potent antitumor activities with the IC50 values ranging from 1.69 to 8.95 μM. Moreover, the tumor cell inhibitory activity of pararorine A was evidenced by promoting cytochrome C release and cell cycle arrest as well as the induction of apoptosis by the up-regulation of the protein expressions of JNK and Bax through PARP-cleavage and caspase 3-cleavage.

Formal Synthesis of ent-Cephalotaxine Using a One-Pot Parham-Aldol Sequence

A short formal synthesis of ent-Cephalotaxine is achieved. The approach features a new Lewis acid-mediated [2,3]-Stevens rearrangement of N-allylated prolineamide to generate a key quaternary stereogenic center. Additionally, a one-pot Parham-aldol sequence was developed to rapidly assemble two of the four rings in the cephalotaxine core.

Synthesis of a mitochondria-targeted spin trap using a novel Parham-type cyclization

A new cyclic nitrone spin trap, [4-(3′,3′-dibutyl-2′-oxy-3′H-isoindol-5′-yloxy)butyl]triphenylphosphonium bromide (MitoSpin), bearing a lipophilic cation has been prepared by a route that involves a novel Parham-type lithiation–cyclization of an isocyanate to give the isoindolinone core. MitoSpin accumulates in a membrane potential dependent way in energized mitochondria and its oxidation could potentially be used in the study of oxidative stress resulting from reactive oxygen species generated in mitochondria.

Dearomatizing Anionic Cyclization and Novel Skeletal Rearrangement: High Yield Formation of Multiply Substituted Bicyclic or Polycyclic Spirocyclopentadienes and Phenanthrene Derivatives from 4-Aryl 1-Lithio-1,3-butadienes

Both 4-phenyl 1-lithio-1,3-butadienes and 4-naphthyl 1-lithio-1,3-butadienes underwent highly efficient and selective intramolecular nucleophilic addition of the butadienyllithium to the aromatic rings, resulting in full dearomatization of the phenyl rings and partial dearomatization of the naphthyl rings. When the reactions were carried out at lower temperatures, ipso intramolecular nucleophilic attack took place exclusively to afford the spirocyclopentadiene derivatives upon hydrolysis or further treatment with a variety of electrophiles. 4-Naphthyl 1-lithio-1,3-butadienes and 4-phenyl 1-lithio-1,3-butadienes were found to proceed in this reaction under similar conditions, with the former being faster even at -78 degrees C. However, when the reaction of 4-naphthyl 1-lithio-1,3-butadienes was carried out at higher temperatures, such as 75 degrees C, an interesting skeletal rearrangement took place to afford the vicinal attack products, tetrasubstituted phenanthrenes, via a dearomatization/rearomatization process. Mechanistic investigation revealed that the kinetically favored ipso attack intermediates might undergo thermal skeletal rearrangement via 1,2-alkyl shift.

A concise first total synthesis of narceine imide

A concise and efficient total synthesis of alkaloid narceine imide is disclosed. The key steps are based upon the sequential construction of the isoindolinone template followed by metalation and coupling with an isoquinolinium salt. Subsequent E1cb elimination enables the creation of the arylmethylene unit with the concomitant formation of the dimethylaminoethyl chain and ultimate deprotection completes the synthesis of the natural product.

One-Pot Synthesis of 2,3-Dihydro-pyrrolopyridinones Using in Situ Generated Formimines

A novel one-pot methodology is described for the synthesis of functionalized pyrrolopyridinones using in situ generated formimines and an ortho-lithiated pyridinecarboxamide species. Depending on the reaction conditions, this procedure allows versatile access to aminomethylated pyridinecarboxamides, 2,3-dihydro-pyrrolopyridinones, or 1,1-dialkylated 2,3-dihydro-pyrrolopyridinone derivatives. [reaction: see text]