Metal complexes of sporidesmin D and dimethylgliotoxin, investigated by electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry

Electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (ES-MS) has been used to probe the coordination chemistry of metabolites such as sporidesmin D (spdD), found in the saprophytic fungus Pithomyces chartarum, and the related bisdethiobis(methylthio)gliotoxin (dimethylgliotoxin, Megtx). SpdD forms complexes of the type [spdD+M(MeCN)] and [2spdD+M]+ (M=Cu, Ag) and, at higher cone voltages, [spdD+M]+. The bis(ligand) ion [2spdD+M]+ was observed at very high cone voltages, indicating it has appreciable stability; the proposed structure of this species has a four-coordinate metal ion with two bidentate spdD ligands, coordinated through their SMe groups. 1H NMR titrations of spdD with K+, Ag+ and Cu+ provided additional evidence for complex formation with the soft metals. SpdD forms only relatively weak complexes with Zn2+, Cd2+, Co2+ and Mn2+, in keeping with the known reduced tendency of these metals to form stable thioether complexes. ES-MS studies of Megtx showed similar results to spdD, with stable adducts formed with Cu+ and Ag+ ions. The X-ray crystal structure of spdD is also reported.

Synthesis of 2', 6'-Dihydroxychalcones by Using Tetrahydropyran-2-yl and Trialkylsilyl Protective Groups; the Crystal Structure Determination of 2',6'-Dihydroxy-2,4,6-trimethoxychalcone

Two improved general routes to 2′,6′-dihydroxychalcones are described in which the final step is protective-group removal from O 2′ under mild acid conditions. The first involves base-catalysed condensation of benzaldehydes with 2′-hydroxy-6′-tetrahydropyran-2-yloxyacetophenone, the second ring-opening of 5-hydroxyflavanones with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene in the presence of a trialkylchlorosilane to trap out the chalcone as a bis silyl ether. Chalcones prepared by the first route are 2',6'-dihydroxychalcone (1), and its 4-methoxy (2), 3,4-dimethoxy (3), 3,4,5-trimethoxy (4), and 2,4,6-trimethoxy (5) derivatives. The 4-chloro derivative (6) and the chalcone from hesperetin are prepared by the second method. .The X-ray crystal structure of 2',6'-dihydroxy-2,4,6-trimethoxychalcone (5), the first for a 2',6′-dihydroxychalcone, is reported, the hydrogen involved in intramolecular hydrogen-bonding between the carbonyl and phenolic oxygens being located for the first time for any 2'-hydroxychalcone derivative. The O 6' involved in the intramolecular hydrogen-bonding is also hydrogen-bonded intermolecularly to the hydrogen of the other (2'-)hydroxy group of a neighbouring molecule in the lattice. 13C n.m.r. data are the first reported for a series of 2',6'-dihydroxychalcones.