Total Synthesis of Benzofuran-Based Aspergillusene B via Halogenative Aromatization of Enones

One new polyketide and four new sesquiterpenes derivatives from the fungicolous fungi aspergillus nidulans LZ8 of Ganoderma lingzhi

One new polyketide asperfuranone D (1), four new sesquiterpenes derivatives aspergillone C-F (2-5) and three known compounds (6-8) were successfully isolated from Aspergillus nidulans LZ8, a fungicolous fungi from the macrofungal Ganoderma lingzhi. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses including ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), mass spectrometry (MS), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. In addition, the anti-inflammatory activities of the new compounds were evaluated using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The results revealed that compound 5 showed moderate nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity with the IC50 value of 13.19 ± 1.05 μM, while the IC50 value of the positive control L-NMMA was 41.88 ± 0.91 μM.

Iron-Catalyzed Gamma-Gamma Dimerization of Siloxydienes

We report the oxidative dimerization reaction of siloxydienes derived from simple enones that creates a new gamma-gamma (γ-γ) C-C bond using catalytic iron and benzoyl peroxide as the terminal oxidant in acetonitrile solvent at ambient temperature. The reaction shows a broad substrate scope including cyclic and acyclic siloxydienes derived from ketones, aldehydes, and esters, which are converted to 1,8-dicarbonyl compounds under mild catalytic reaction conditions in 19-89 % yield across 30 examples. The method is suitable for the coupling of sterically demanding carbon centers, including the formation of vicinal quaternary centers. Conceptually, the dienol ether serves as a precursor to a conjugated radical cation, which undergoes highly site selective γ-dimerization reactions. The γ-γ dimerization strategy is applied to the synthesis of a bioactive analogue of honokiol.

Marine natural products

Covering: 2020This review covers the literature published in 2020 for marine natural products (MNPs), with 757 citations (747 for the period January to December 2020) referring to compounds isolated from marine microorganisms and phytoplankton, green, brown and red algae, sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans, molluscs, tunicates, echinoderms, mangroves and other intertidal plants and microorganisms. The emphasis is on new compounds (1407 in 420 papers for 2020), together with the relevant biological activities, source organisms and country of origin. Pertinent reviews, biosynthetic studies, first syntheses, and syntheses that led to the revision of structures or stereochemistries, have been included. A meta analysis of bioactivity data relating to new MNPs reported over the last five years is also presented.

Synthesis of functionalized diarylbenzofurans via Ru-catalyzed C–H activation and cyclization under air: rapid access to the polycyclic scaffold of diptoindonesin G

A method was developed for rapid assembly of 2,3-diarylbenzofuran-4-carboxylic acids from m-hydroxybenzoic acids and alkynes via Ru-catalyzed C–H alkenylation and cyclization, which was successfully applied for total synthesis of diptoindonesin G.

Application of cyclohexane-1,3-diones for six-membered oxygen-containing heterocycles synthesis

Cyclohexan-1,3-dione derivatives are versatile scaffolds for the synthesis of a variety of value-added organic molecules including heterocycles and natural products. Six-membered oxygen heterocycles prepared from cyclohexan-1,3-diones are of much importance as they are intermediate for the synthesis of a number of natural products and several other valuable bioactive molecules which shows anti-viral, anti-bacterial, analgesic, antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-tumor and anti-cancer activities. These advantages have inspired us to write a detailed survey on the newly developed methods which are very essential in the construction of six-membered oxygen heterocycles. Further, the versatility in the chemistry of cyclohexan-1,3-dione and its derivatives is due to the presence of highly active methylene moiety and its active di-carbonyl groups. Recently, reactions of cyclohexane-1,3-dione and its derivatives with other substrates for instance aldehydes, malononitriles, NMSM, chalcones, isatin etc. have been established for the construction of a variety of six-membered oxygen heterocycles. The studies reported in this review article involved the synthesis of six-membered oxygen-containing heterocycles which includes 4H-chromen-5(6H)-one, 2H-xanthen-1(9H)-one, 2H-xanthen-1,8(5H,9H)-dione, 6H-chromen-2,5-dione derivatives and natural products having six-membered oxygen heterocycles from cyclohexane-1,3-dione and its derivatives as one of the substrate.