Synthesis, structure analysis and cytotoxicity studies of novel unsymmetrically n,n'-substituted ureas from dehydroabietic Acid

Synthesis and Antiproliferative Activity of Novel Dehydroabietic Acid-Chalcone Hybrids

Dehydroabietic Acid (DHA, 1) derivatives are known for their antiproliferative properties, among others. In the context of this work, DHA was initially modified to two key intermediates bearing a C18 methyl ester, a phenol moiety at C12, and an acetyl or formyl group at C13 position. These derivatives allowed us to synthesize a series of DHA-chalcone hybrids, suitable for structure–activity relationship studies (SARS), following their condensation with a variety of aryl-aldehydes and methyl ketones. The antiproliferative evaluation of the synthesized DHA-chalcone hybrids against three breast cancer cell lines (the estrogen-dependent MCF-7 and the estrogen-independent MDA-MB-231 and Hs578T) showed that eight derivatives (33, 35, 37, 38, 39, 41, 43, 44) exhibit low micromolar activity levels (IC₅₀ 2.21–11.5 μΜ/MCF-7). For instance, some of them showed better activity compared to the commercial anticancer drug 5-FU against MCF-7 cells (33, 41, 43, 44) and against MDA-MB231 (33 and 41). Hybrid 38 is a promising lead compound for the treatment of MCF-7 breast cancer, exhibiting comparable activity to 5-FU and being 12.9 times less toxic (SI = 22.7). Thus, our findings suggest that DHA-chalcone hybrids are drug candidates worth pursuing for further development in the search for novel breast cancer therapies.

Chiral Thioureas-Preparation and Significance in Asymmetric Synthesis and Medicinal Chemistry

For almost 20 years, thioureas have been experiencing a renaissance of interest with the emerged development of asymmetric organocatalysts. Due to their relatively high acidity and strong hydrogen bond donor capability, they differ significantly from ureas and offer, appropriately modified, great potential as organocatalysts, chelators, drug candidates, etc. The review focuses on the family of chiral thioureas, presenting an overview of the current state of knowledge on their synthesis and selected applications in stereoselective synthesis and drug development.

Synthesis, surface properties and temperature dependence of phase separation of DSPE chains in ethanol solutions

The surface properties, phase separation processes and kinetics of a DSPE/ethanol solution were investigated.

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Dehydroabietic Acid Derivatives Conjugated with Acyl-Thiourea Peptide Moiety as Antitumor Agents

A series of dehydroabietic acid (DHAA) acyl-thiourea derivatives were designed and synthesized as potent antitumor agents. The in vitro pharmacological screening results revealed that the target compounds exhibited potent cytotoxicity against HeLa, SK-OV-3 and MGC-803 tumor cell lines, while they showed lower cytotoxicity against HL-7702 normal human river cells. Compound 9n (IC₅₀ = 6.58 ± 1.11 μM) exhibited the best antitumor activity against the HeLa cell line and even displayed more potent inhibitory activity than commercial antitumor drug 5-FU (IC₅₀ = 36.58 ± 1.55 μM). The mechanism of representative compound 9n was then studied by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, Hoechst 33,258 staining, JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential staining, TUNEL assay and flow cytometry, which illustrated that this compound could induce apoptosis in HeLa cells. Cell cycle analysis indicated that compound 9n mainly arrested HeLa cells in the S phase stage. Further investigation demonstrated that compound 9n induced apoptosis of HeLa cells through a mitochondrial pathway.

Synthetic derivatives of aromatic abietane diterpenoids and their biological activities

Naturally occurring aromatic abietane diterpenoids (dehydroabietanes) exhibit a wide range of biological activities. A number of synthetic studies aimed at modifying the abietane skeleton in order to obtain new potential chemotherapeutic agents have been reported. In this study, the biological activities of synthetic derivatives of aromatic abietane diterpenoids are reviewed.

Crystal structure of (E)-1-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)ethanone O-de-hydro-abietyloxime

In the title compound, C29H37NO3 {systematic name: (E)-1-(4-meth-oxy-phen-yl)ethanone O-[(1R,4aS,10aR)-7-isopropyl-1,4a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octa-hydro-phenanthrene-1-carbon-yl]oxime}, a new derivative of de-hydro-abietic acid, the two cyclo-hexane rings exhibit a trans-ring junction and are in chair and half-chair conformations. The C=N double bond exhibits an E conformation.

Crystal structure of (E)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanoneO-dehydroabietyloxime

The title compound, C₂₈H₃₄ClNO₂ {systematic name: (E)-1-(4-chloro­phen­yl)ethanone O-[(1R,4aS,10aR)-7-isopropyl-1,4a-di­methyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octa­hydro­phenanthrene-1-carbonyl]oxime}, was synthesized from de­hydro­abietic acid. In the de­hydro­abietyl moiety, the central and terminal cyclo­hexane rings display chair and half-chair conformations, respectively, and a trans-ring junction. The C=N bond is in an E conformation and the C—O—N=C torsion angle is 148.1 (5)°. No directional inter­actions except van der Waals contacts occur in the crystal structure.

Biotransformation of diterpenes

Structural modification of the diterpenes to enhance their pharmaceutical relevance can be efficiently carried out by the application of biotransformational under mild reaction.

The atmospheric degradation reaction of dehydroabietic acid (DHAA) initiated by OH radicals and O3

Dehydroabietic acid (DHAA) is the major marker compound emitted from the burning of conifer. In this paper, the atmospheric mechanism of DHAA initiated by OH radicals and O3 was studied at the MPWB1K/6-31+G(d,p)//MPWB1K/6-311+G(3df,2p) level. For OH radicals, two types of reactions including OH addition and hydrogen abstraction were investigated. The cycloaddition reactions of O3 were considered. The rate constants over the temperature range of 200-400 K were calculated with the Rice-Ramsperger-Kassel-Marcus (RRKM) theory. At 298 K and under the pressure of 760 Torr, the whole rate constants are 0.89×10(-11) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) and 2.29×10(-20) cm(3) molecule(-1) s(-1) for DHAA+OH and DHAA+O3, respectively. This study can be regarded as an attempt to investigate the OH-initiated and O3-initiated photochemical reaction mechanisms of DHAA in the atmosphere.

(1R,4aS,10aR)-1,4a-Dimethyl-N-[(morpholin-4-yl)carbothioyl]-7-(propan-2-yl)-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octahydrophenanthrene-1-carboxamide

In the title compound, C₂₅H₃₆N₂O₂S, the cyclo­hexane and morpholine rings adopt chair conformations. The cyclo­hexene and cyclo­hexane rings form a trans ring junction with the two methyl groups in axial positions. The N—H and C=O bonds in the urea group are anti to each other. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter­molecular N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of dehydroabietic acid derivatives

A series of C18-oxygenated derivatives of dehydroabietic acid were synthesized from commercial abietic acid and evaluated for their cytotoxic, antimycotic, and antiviral activities.

Dehydro-abietic acid

The title compound [systematic name: (1R,4aS,10aR)-7-iso­prop­yl-1,4a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octa­hydro­phen­anthrene-1-carboxylic acid], C₂₀H₂₈O₂, has been isolated from disproportionated rosin which is obtained by isomerizing gum rosin with a Pd-C catalyst.. Two crystallographically independent mol­ecules exist in the asymmetric unit. In each mol­ecule, there are three six-membered rings, which adopt planar, half-chair and chair conformations. The two cyclo­hexane rings form a trans ring junction with the two methyl groups in axial positions. The crystal structure is stabilized by inter­molecular O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds.

N-Benzylidenenordehydroabietylamine

The title compound [systematic name: (1R,4aS,10aR,E)-N-benzyl­idene-7-isopropyl-1,4a-dimethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,9,10,10a-octa­hydro­phenanthren-1-amine], C₂₆H₃₃N, has been synthesized from nor-dehydro­abietylamine and benzaldehyde. The two cyclo­hexane rings form a trans ring junction with classic chair and half-chair conformations, respectively, the two methyl groups are on the same side of tricyclic hydro­phenanthrene structure. The dihedral angle between two benzene rings is 44.2 (4)°. The C=N bond is in an E configuration.