Polyene Cyclization Promoted by the Cross-Conjugated α-Carbalkoxy Enone System. Observation on a Putative 1,5-Hydride/1,3-Alkyl Shift under Lewis Acid Catalysis

Deoxybuzonamine Isomers from the Millipede Brachycybe lecontii (Platydesmida: Andrognathidae)

Millipedes (Diplopoda) are well known for their toxic or repellent defensive secretions. Here, we describe (6aR,10aS,10bR)-8,8-dimethyldodecahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline [trans-anti-trans-deoxybuzonamine (1a)] and (rel-6aR,10aR,10bR)-8,8-dimethyldodecahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline [trans-syn-cis-deoxybuzonamine (1b)], two isomers of deoxybuzonamine found in the chemical defense secretions of the millipede Brachycybe lecontii Wood (Colobognatha, Platydesmida, Andrognathidae). The carbon-nitrogen skeleton of these compounds was determined from their MS and GC-FTIR spectra obtained from the MeOH extract of whole millipedes, along with a subsequent selective synthesis. Their structures were established from their 1D (¹H, ¹³C) and 2D NMR (COSY, NOESY, multiplicity-edited HSQC, HSQC-TOCSY, HMBC) spectra. Additionally, computational chemistry (DFT and DP4) was used to identify the relative configurations of 1a and 1b by comparing predicted ¹³C data to their experimental values, and the absolute configuration of 1a was determined by comparing its experimental specific rotation with that of the computationally calculated value. This is the first report of dodecahydropyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinoline alkaloids from a platydesmidan millipede.

Noncanonical Cation-π Cyclizations of Alkylidene β-Ketoesters: Synthesis of Spiro-fused and Bridged Bicyclic Ring Systems

Three cation-π cyclization cascades initiated at alkylidene β-ketoesters bearing pendent alkenes are described. Depending upon the alkene substitution pattern and the reaction conditions employed, it is possible to achieve selective synthesis of the three different types of products, including 1-halo-3-carbomethoxycyclohexanes, spiro-fused tricyclic systems, and [4.3.1] bridged bicyclic ring systems. All three reactions begin with 6- endo addition of an olefin to the alkylidene β-ketoester electrophile, followed by one of three different cation capture events.

Bis-Michael Acceptors as Novel Probes to Study the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE Pathway

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a master regulator that promotes the transcription of cytoprotective genes in response to oxidative/electrophilic stress. Various Michael-type compounds were designed and synthesized, and their potency to activate the Keap1/Nrf2/ARE pathway was evaluated. Compounds bearing two Michael-type acceptors proved to be the most active. Tether length and rigidity between the acceptors was crucial. This study will help to understand how this feature disrupts the interaction between Keap1 and Nrf2.

The energetic viability of an unexpected skeletal rearrangement in cyclooctatin biosynthesis

Results of density functional theory calculations on possible mechanisms for formation of the diterpenoid cyclooctatin are described.

Tandem cyclization of α-cyano α-alkynyl aryl ketones induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide and tetrabutylammonium iodide

The radical cascade protocol of the α-cyano α-TMS/aryl-capped alkynyl aryl ketones promoted by tert-butyl hydroperoxide under catalysis with tetrabutylammonium iodide in refluxing benzene has been developed, leading to the construction of a variety of highly functionalized [6,6,5] tricyclic frameworks in an efficient manner.