Studies on the Biosynthesis of the Stephacidin and Notoamide Natural Products: A Stereochemical and Genetic Conundrum

The stephacidin and notoamide natural products belong to a group of prenylated indole alkaloids containing a bicyclo[2.2.2]diazaoctane core. Biosynthetically, this bicyclic core is believed to be the product of an intermolecular Diels- Alder (IMDA) cycloaddition of an achiral azadiene. Since all of the natural products in this family have been isolated in enantiomerically pure form to date, it is believed that an elusive Diels-Alderase enzyme mediates the IMDA reaction. Adding further intrigue to this biosynthetic puzzle is the fact that several related Aspergillus fungi produce a number of metabolites with the opposite absolute configuration, implying that these fungi have evolved enantiomerically distinct Diels-Alderases. We have undertaken a program to identify every step in the biogenesis of the stephacidins and notoamides, and by combining the techniques of chemical synthesis and biochemical analysis we have been able to identify the two prenyltransferases involved in the early stages of the stephacidin and notoamide biosyntheses. This has allowed us to propose a modified biosynthesis for stephacidin A, and has brought us closer to our goal of finding evidence for, or against, the presence of a Diels-Alderase in this biosynthetic pathway.     

Synthetic Studies of Biomimetic Diels–Alder Processes toward the Helicterin Family of Natural Products

Although the [2.2.2]-bicyclooctene core of the helicterin, helisorin, and helisterculin class of neolignan natural products could conceivably arise in Nature via Diels–Alder reactions, synthetic explorations have revealed that only under very non-biomimetic conditions can such cycloadditions be performed. In this article, we provide a personal account of explorations towards this natural product family, sharing some additional unpublished synthetic work to test the viability of an alternate, Diels–Alder-based, biogenetic hypothesis for the generation of this unique collection of secondary metabolites.     

Mechanism Controlling High-Temperature Degradation of Sunflower Oil Triacylglycerols in the Absence of Oxygen

The aim of the present study is to describe the mechanism controlling heat-induced formation of sunflower oil triacylglycerol and fatty acid methyl ester oligomers. The unique combination of high-performance size-exclusion chromatography with hyphenated electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (MS), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-MS, and high-temperature gas chromatography-MS techniques allows differentiating between radical coupling species and Diels–Alder cycloadducts. Targeted analysis of thermally degraded sunflower oils confirms the exact structures of various acyclic oligomers accompanied by less-abundant products of pericyclic transformations. A series of model experiments simulate the impact of dienophile nature on the course of Diels–Alder reactions. Thus, α-tocopherylquinone, δ-tocopherylquinone, and methyl-(E)-11-oxoundec-9-enoate are synthesized as naturally occurring dienophiles bearing electron-withdrawing groups. The geometry of poor dienophiles does not affect concerted cyclization, while the structure of electron deficient dienophiles can overcome low reactivity. Practical Application: In the absence of oxygen, heat-induced degradation of polyunsaturated triacylglycerols proceed predominantly via a radical pathway, whereas concerted reactions represent minor mechanisms. Sunflower oil triacylglycerol molecules in the system without propagation stage can be effectively protected by natural and/or synthetic antioxidants. Application of chelates is also recommended. However, antioxidant-derived quinones, such as α-tocopherylquinone, can enter the Diels–Alder reaction even more easily than dienophiles without electron-withdrawing groups. Unsaturated core aldehydes possess the same reactivity. Examination of the mechanism controlling high-temperature degradation of triacylglycerols is especially important for processing engineers in edible oil refineries and food technologists. New perspective may help them to minimize undesirable changes in polyunsaturated species.     

Synthetic Studies toward Communesins

Communesins A–H are a growing family of natural products isolated from a marine fungal strain of Penicillium species. Preliminary biological evaluation has revealed that these compounds possess insecticidal activity and cytotoxicity against several tumor cell lines. Their interesting biological activities and unique structures have attracted considerable attention of synthetic chemists worldwide. To date, several elegant protocols for assembling the core structure of these indole alkaloids have been described, including intermolecular Diels–Alder reaction of methylated aurantioclavine with quinine methide imine and intramolecular hetero Diels–Alder reaction of the azaortho-xylylene intermediates. Recently, three completed total syntheses for communesin F have been disclosed, in which the crucial vicinal quaternary stereogenic centers were constructed by employing an intramolecular cyclopropanation; an intramolecular Heck reaction of a tetrasubstituted alkene, or an oxidative coupling of a 3-substituted indole, as the key step. Accompanying the total synthesis, the absolute configuration of natural communesin F was established as 6R,7R,8R,9S,11R. However, total syntheses of other members of communesin family that contain an epoxide moiety have not been achieved, which will stimulate more synthetic studies.     

Sultones in Organic Synthesis

Sultones are readily prepared by intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction of vinylsulfonates in an often highly stereoselective fashion. Various methods for the synthetic elaboration of these heterocycles have been developed and applied to the total synthesis of biologically active natural products.     

Involvement of Lipocalin‐like CghA in Decalin‐Forming Stereoselective Intramolecular [4+2] Cycloaddition

Understanding enzymatic Diels–Alder (DA) reactions that can form complex natural product scaffolds is of considerable interest. Sch 210972 1 , a potential anti‐HIV fungal natural product, contains a decalin core that is proposed to form through a DA reaction. We identified the gene cluster responsible for the biosynthesis of 1 and heterologously reconstituted the biosynthetic pathway in Aspergillus nidulans to characterize the enzymes involved. Most notably, deletion of cghA resulted in a loss of stereoselective decalin core formation, yielding both an endo ( 1 ) and a diastereomeric exo adduct of the proposed DA reaction. Complementation with cghA restored the sole formation of 1 . Density functional theory computation of the proposed DA reaction provided a plausible explanation of the observed pattern of product formation. Based on our study, we propose that lipocalin‐like CghA is responsible for the stereoselective intramolecular [4+2] cycloaddition that forms the decalin core of 1 .     

1,2,3,4‐Tetrachloro‐5,5‐dimethoxy‐cyclopenta‐1,3‐diene: Diels Alder Reactions and Applications of the Products Formed

Readily available 1,2,3,4‐tetrachloro‐5,5‐dimethoxy‐ cyclopenta‐1,3‐diene ( 2 ) is an excellent cyclic diene for Diels—Alder reaction with a vast variety of dienophiles. The products so formed (norbornene derivatives) constitute important building blocks for the synthesis of diverse complex natural as well as non‐natural products. Apart from very high endo selectivity associated with Diels—Alder reactions, there are several other fascinating features associated with these bicyclic products which make them convenient entities in the synthesis of complex molecules. The most important is the rigid framework that act as a powerful template to provide high degree of selectivity and directional nature to various substituents. The proposed article is intended to focus on Diels‐Alder reactions of 2 and the applications of norbornene derivatives in organic synthesis.     

Asymmetric Synthesis of Polyfunctionalized Mono‐, Bi‐, and Tricyclic Carbon Frameworks via Organocatalytic Domino Reactions

An asymmetric organocatalytic multi‐component domino reaction is used as a key process for the stereoselective synthesis of polysubstituted mono‐ and bicyclic cyclohexene‐carbaldehydes. Furthermore, the extension of the domino reaction and further synthetic transformations of the cascade products were investigated. The combination of the three‐step cascade with an intramolecular Diels–Alder reaction opens up an entry to tricyclic decahydroacenaphthylene and decahydrophenalene skeletons, which are valuable characteristic carbon cores of natural products.     

Synthesis of polycyclic polyfunctionalized carbocycles by a cobalt(I)-initiated tandem diels–alder reaction sequence

The cobalt(I)-catalyzed neutral Diels–Alder reaction of acyclic 1,3-dienes with conjugated enynes can be used to generate secondary dihydroaromatic 1,4,8-trienes containing a 1,3-diene substructure, in good yields under mild reaction conditions. These 1,3-dienes can be converted, with reactive dienophiles in a tandem normal Diels–Alder reaction, into polycyclic compounds. In a similar tandem Diels–Alder sequence, the cobalt-catalyzed neutral homo Diels–Alder reaction of 2,5-norbornadiene can be used to generate polycyclic cycloaddition adducts. A sequential triple Diels–Alder reaction sequence can be realized when norbornadiene is reacted with the excess of the conjugated enynes under cobalt(I) catalysis. In a homo Diels–Alder, neutral Diels–Alder, normal Diels–Alder reaction sequence, the intermediately formed adducts are reacted with activated dienophiles to yield polycyclic compounds in a short sequence. The structures of several products were established by X-ray analysis. This showed that predominantly endo-products are formed in the tandem reaction sequences, while the exo-product becomes predominant in the triple Diels–Alder reaction sequence.     

New Bismaleimide-Silica Hybrid Materials: A Critical Assessment of Properties in Correlation with the Method of Synthesis

New hybrid materials have been prepared by sol–gel technique. They have been obtained from bismaleimide monomers either in reaction with N-(3-triethoxysilylpropyl)furan-2-carboxamide monomer, by a Diels–Alder reaction, or in reaction with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane following a Michael addition reaction. The sol–gel process was conducted with or without adding different amounts of tetraethyl orthosilicate. The structures of the obtained compounds have been confirmed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. A comparative study between Diels–Alder- and Michael addition-type products regarding their thermal and mechanical properties was also conducted for samples as obtained from synthesis. The thermoreversible character of the Diels–Alder hybrid materials has been demonstrated with the aids of differential scanning calorimetry and attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the results from both methods being in good agreement with each other, and with literature data. The morphology of hybrid materials was studied by the atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy for three different stages: initial (24°C), at heating (150°C), and after cooling at 24°C, and scanning electron microscopy. All data confirmed the driving force for the dispersion of the Si-containing aggregates in the Michael addition series is the dynamic evolution of the sol–gel process, whereas the Diels–Alder series behavior is ruled by the thermoreversible character of the Diels–Alder cycloaddition.     

No Evidence Found for Diels–Alder Reaction Products in Soybean Oil Oxidized at the Frying Temperature by NMR Study

It has been generally accepted that the Diels–Alder reaction mechanism is one of the major reaction mechanisms to produce dimers and polymers during heating process of vegetable oil. Soybean oil oxidized at 180 °C for 24 h with 1.45 surface area-to-volume ratio showed 36 % polymer peak area in gel permeation chromatogram. However, the NMR DEPT (Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer) 135 spectrum did not show any signals of possible Diels–Alder products. A fraction separated from the oxidized soybean oil by column chromatography contained 98 % polymers, but again, showed no signals of proposed Diels–Alder products in the DEPT 135 spectrum. Methyl oleate and triolein without a diene required for the Diels–Alder reaction produced 27 and 63 % of total polymers, respectively, under the same condition. This indicates that the polymers must be produced by reactions other than the Diels–Alder reaction for these oils. This study shows that the Diels–Alder reaction is not the major reaction to produce polymers during oxidation of soybean oil, within the DEPT 135 spectroscopy sensitivity level, about 5 mol %.     

Recent Advances in Asymmetric C?C and C‐Heteroatom Bond Forming Reactions using Polymer‐Bound Catalysts

The synthesis of enantiomerically pure compounds is one of the major challenges in organic synthesis. In this review, we present the state of the art in asymmetric catalysis using immobilized chiral ligands and complexes for asymmetric C C and C‐heteroatom bond forming reactions. Chiral catalysts based on dendrimers and soluble polymeric supports are considered. In particular, addition reactions to carbon‐carbon double bonds, asymmetric 1,2‐addition reactions using, e.g., dialkylzinc reagents, metal‐catalyzed substitution reactions and cycloaddition reactions are covered. Specific emphasis is placed on enantioselective epoxidation and aldol reactions. A further aspect is the (hetero) Diels–Alder reaction catalyzed by immobilized ligands.     

Cationic Gold(I)‐Catalyzed Intermolecular [4+2] Cycloaddition between Dienes and Allenyl Ethers

Simple allenyl ethers have been shown to be efficiently activated by cationic gold(I) catalysts to form reactive dienophiles in intermolecular Diels–Alder reactions. A range of different dienes give the cycloaddition products in moderate to excellent yields and good selectivity.     

Two‐Step Labeling of Endogenous Enzymatic Activities by Diels–Alder Ligation

A ligation strategy based on the Diels–Alder [4+2] cycloaddition for the two‐step activity‐based labeling of endogenously expressed enzymes in complex biological samples has been developed. A panel of four diene‐derivatized proteasome probes was synthesized, along with a dienophile‐functionalized BODIPY(TMR) tag. These probes were applied in a Diels–Alder labeling procedure that enabled us to label active proteasome β‐subunits selectively in cellular extracts and in living cells. We were also able to label the activity of cysteine proteases in cell extracts by utilizing a diene‐derivatized cathepsin probe. Importantly, the Diels–Alder strategy described here is fully orthogonal with respect to the Staudinger–Bertozzi ligation, as demonstrated by the independent labeling of different proteolytic activities by the two methods in a single experiment.     

Palladium‐Catalyzed Dienylation of Haloalkynes using 2,3‐Butadienyl Acetates: A Facile Access to (1Z)‐1,2‐Dihalo‐ 3‐vinyl‐1,3‐dienes

A highly efficient and stereoselective method for the synthesis of (1Z)‐1,2‐dihalo‐3‐vinyl‐1,3‐dienes featuring palladium‐catalyzed coupling of haloalkynes and 2,3‐butadienyl acetates was developed. The resulting products were smoothly converted into cis‐1,2‐dihalostyrene derivatives using the Diels–Alder/aromatization sequence.     

Recovery of carbonyl compounds from N,N-dialkylhydrazones

Deprotonation of enantiomerically pure hydrazones and subsequent trapping with suitable electrophiles generates new stereogenic centers with excellent stereoselectivity. To liberate the original carbonyl functionality in the final products, it is necessary to cleave the hydrazone moiety. In recent years, many reagents have been developed to regenerate carbonyl compounds from the corresponding dialkylhydrazones which are compatible with a wide range of functionalities. This has allowed the use of hydrazones in the total synthesis of complex natural products. This Account is meant to be an overview of methods which are classified as oxidative, hydrolytic, and reductive cleavage procedures.     

Stand reaction of linseed oil

Several theories have been proposed concerning the stand oil reaction but no precise reaction scheme has been described. In this work, the stand reaction of linseed oil was characterized in order to determine the nature of the products formed during this reaction. Using complementary analytical techniques (more especially NMR and mass spectrometry), the existence of two different reactions was demonstrated: the Diels–Alder addition between fatty acid chains and the addition of a methylene radical on double bonds, followed by combination or elimination reactions.     

New organic chemistry of sulfur dioxide

Simple 1,3-dienes undergo highly stereoselective hetero-Diels-Alder additions with SO2 at low temperature giving sultines. These reactions that are faster than the more exothermic cheletropic additions of SO2-producing sulfolenes. This has led to the invention of a new C-C bond-forming reaction combining electron-rich dienes and alkenes with SO2. The reaction cascade has been exploited to develop combinatorial, one-pot, four-component syntheses of polyfunctional sulfones, sulfonamides, and sulfonic esters. It also allows us to generate, in one-pot operations, enantiomerically enriched polypropionate fragments containing up to three contiguous stereogenic centers and a (E)-alkene unit. These fragments can be used directly in further C-C bond-forming reactions, such as cross-aldol condensations, thus permitting the expeditious construction of complicated natural products of biological interest (e.g., Baconipyrones, Rifamycin S, Apoptolidinone) and analogues. New ene reactions of SO2 have also been discovered; they open new avenues to organic synthesis.     

Stereoselective Diels?Alder Reactions Promoted under Continuous-Flow Conditions by Silica-Supported Chiral Organocatalysts

Silica nanoparticles of different morphological properties were functionalized with enantiomerically pure imidazolidinones, through different immobilization techniques; stainless-steel columns were then loaded with silica bearing chiral organocatalysts to realize chiral “homemade” reactors. The influence of the material properties and immobilization procedures on the chemical and stereochemical activities of the chiral HPLC columns was studied by performing organocatalyzed Diels Alder reactions between cyclopentadiene and α,β-unsaturated aldehydes under continuous-flow conditions. In some cases, excellent enantioselectivities were obtained, thus showing that a catalytic reactor may work efficiently to continuously produce enantiomerically enriched cycloadducts for more than 200 h. Regeneration of the organocatalytic column was also partially accomplished, although associated with a slightly lower enantioselectivity, thus prolonging the “life” of the reactor to more than 300 h.     

Elucidating Pharmacological Mechanisms of Natural Medicines by Biclustering Analysis of the Gene Expression Profile: A Case Study on Curcumin and Si-Wu-Tang

Natural medicines have attracted wide attention in recent years. It is of great significance to clarify the pharmacological mechanisms of natural medicines. In prior studies, we established a method for elucidating pharmacological mechanisms of natural products contained in connectivity map (cMap), in terms of module profiles of gene expression in chemical treatments. In this study, we explore whether this methodology is applicable to dissecting the pharmacological mechanisms of natural medicines beyond the agents contained in cMap. First, the gene expression profiles of curcumin (a typical isolated natural medicine) and Si-Wu-Tang (a classic traditional Chinese medicine formula) treatments were merged with those of cMap-derived 1309 agents, respectively. Then, a biclustering analysis was performed using FABIA method to identify gene modules. The biological functions of gene modules provide preliminary insights into pharmacological mechanisms of both natural medicines. The module profile can be characterized by a binary vector, which allowed us to compare the expression profiles of natural medicines with those of cMap-derived agents. Accordingly, we predicted a series of pharmacological effects for curcumin and Si-Wu-Tang by the indications of cMap-covered drugs. Most predictions were supported by experimental observations, suggesting the potential use of this method in natural medicine dissection.