New Casbanes and the First trans -Cyclopropane seco -Casbane from the Australian Rainforest Plant Croton insularis

Penicitone: Structural Reassignment of a Proposed Natural Product Acid Chloride

The proposed structure for the natural product penicitone, which contained a chemically improbable acid chloride functional group, was reassigned to a more probable structure using a combination of chemical knowledge, computer-assisted structure elucidation, and DFT methods.

seco-Pregnane Glycosides from Australian Caustic Vine (Cynanchum viminale subsp. australe)

Cynanchum viminale subsp. australe, more commonly known as caustic vine, is a leafless succulent that grows in the northern arid zone of Australia. Toxicity toward livestock has been reported for this species, along with use in traditional medicine and its potential anticancer activity. Disclosed herein are novel seco-pregnane aglycones cynavimigenin A (5) and cynaviminoside A (6), together with new pregnane glycosides cynaviminoside B (7) and cynavimigenin B (8). Cynavimigenin B (8) contains an unprecedented 7-oxobicyclo[2.2.1]heptane moiety in the seco-pregnane series, likely arising from a pinacol-type rearrangement. Interestingly, these isolates displayed only limited cytotoxicity in cancer and normal human cell lines, in addition to low activity against acetylcholinesterase and Sarcoptes scabiei bioassays, suggesting that 5-8 are not associated with the reported toxicity of this plant species.

Crassifolins Q-W: Clerodane Diterpenoids From Croton crassifolius With Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Angiogenesis Activities

Seven new clerodane diterpenoids, crassifolins Q-W (1-7), along with five known analogues (8-12), were isolated from the roots of Croton crassifolius. Their structures were identified by comprehensive spectroscopic analysis (UV, IR, NMR, and HR-ESI-MS), and their absolute configurations were determined by ECD spectra and X-ray crystallography. The activities of compounds 1-5 against inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α levels on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages were assessed, and compound 5 showed the most significant activity with the secretion levels of IL-6 and TNF-α at 32.78 and 12.53%, respectively. Moreover, compounds 1-5 were screened for their anti-angiogenesis using a human umbilical vein endothelial cells in vitro mode; the results showed all of them exhibited obvious anti-angiogenesis activities, in particular, compound 5 showed the strongest anti-angiogenesis effect in the range of 6.25-50 μM.

Rhodaelectro-catalyzed chemo-divergent C-H activations with alkylidenecyclopropanes for selective cyclopropylations

Herein, we report on selectivity control in C-H activations with alkylidenecyclopropanes (ACPs) for the chemo-selective assembly of cyclopropanes or dienes. Thus, unprecedented rhodaelectro-catalyzed C-H activations were realized with diversely decorated ACPs with a wide substrate scope and electricity as the sole oxidant.

Granatripodins A-B, limonoids featuring a Tricyclo[3.3.1.02,8]nonane motif: Absolute configuration and agonistic effects on human pregnane-X-receptor

Two unprecedented limonoids incorporating a sterically encumbered cyclopropane ring, named granatripodins A (1) and B (2), featuring the presence of a tricyclo[3.3.1.0^2,8]nonane motif, were obtained from seeds of the Thai Xylocarpus granatum. The planar structures and absolute configurations of these limonoids were unambiguously established by NMR investigations, TDDFT-ECD and DFT-NMR calculations, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (Cu Kα). Most notably, granatripodin A (1) exhibited agonistic effects on human pregnane-X-receptor at the concentration of 100.0 nM. The biosynthetic origins of these limonoids via a radical cascade reaction are proposed. This study exemplifies a universal approach for the stereochemical assignment of polycyclic compounds with a cyclopropane-embedded cage scaffold.

A Water-Soluble 5/14-Carbobicyclic Steroid with a trans-9,11-Epoxy Ring from the Marine Dinoflagellate Amphidinium gibbosum: Insights into Late-Stage Diversification of Steroids

Gibbosterol A (1), a water-soluble 14-membered carbocyclic steroid with a twisted trans-9,11-epoxy ring, was discovered from the South China Sea dinoflagellate, Amphidinium gibbosum, together with its acid-induced cyclization product 2. It exhibits marked agonistic effects against human pregnane-X-receptor in a dose-dependent manner within the concentration range of 100 nM to 10 μM. Its 5/14-carbobicyclic nucleus is proposed to be originated from late-stage oxidative cleavage of the C5-C10 and C8-C9 bonds of β-sitosterol.

Collective Total Synthesis of Casbane Diterpenes: One Strategy, Multiple Targets

Of the more than 100 casbane diterpenes known to date, only the eponymous parent hydrocarbon casbene itself has ever been targeted by chemical synthesis. Outlined herein is a conceptually new approach that brings not a single but a variety of casbane derivatives into reach, especially the more highly oxygenated and arguably more relevant members of this family. The key design elements are a catalyst‐controlled intramolecular cyclopropanation with or without subsequent equilibration, chain extension of the resulting stereoisomeric cyclopropane building blocks by chemoselective hydroboration/cross‐coupling, and the efficient closure of the strained macrobicyclic framework by ring‐closing alkyne metathesis. A hydroxy‐directed catalytic trans‐hydrostannation allows for late‐stage diversity. These virtues are manifested in the concise total syntheses of depressin, yuexiandajisu A, and ent‐pekinenin C. The last compound turned out to be identical to euphorhylonal A, the structure of which had clearly been misassigned.

EBC-232 and 323: A Structural Conundrum Necessitating Unification of Five In Silico Prediction and Elucidation Methods

Structurally unique halimanes EBC-232 and EBC-323, isolated from the Australian rainforest plant Croton insularis, proved considerably difficult to elucidate. The two diastereomers, which consist an unusual oxo-6,7-spiro ring system fused to a dihydrofuran, were solved by unification and consultation of five in silico NMR elucidation and prediction methods [i.e., ACDLabs, olefin strain energy (OSE), DP4, DU8+ and TD DFT CD]. Structure elucidation challenges of this nature are prime test case examples for empowering future AI learning in structure elucidation.

Basimarols A, B, and C, Highly Oxygenated Pimarane Diterpenoids from Basilicum polystachyon

The highly oxygenated pimarane diterpenoids basimarols A, B, and C (3-5) were isolated from the plant species Basilicum polystachyon, which was collected within the Australian arid zone. Structure elucidation was performed using a suite of spectroscopic techniques, including X-ray crystallography. Anticancer and anti-DENV activity of 3-5 was explored, but only limited activity was observed. More extensive antiviral evaluation of stachyonic acid A (1), which was also isolated from B. polystachyon, revealed broad spectrum antiviral activity against West Nile virus (Kunjin strain, WNV_Kun) and human influenza viruses H1N1 and H3N2.