Mono- and bis-aspidosperma indole alkaloid natural products have been shown to be cytotoxic against various cancer cell lines and are potential leads in therapeutics against diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases. Tabersonine, a monoterpene indole alkaloid isolated from the family Apocynaceae, was known to be the bio-synthetic precursor of its mono and dimeric analogs, including vindoline, conophylline, and vinblastine. The first synthesis of bis-aspidosperma indole alkaloid (–)-melodinine K was achieved in a chemoenzymatic fashion, featuring the T16H hydroxylation and the biomimetic dimerization via the Polonovski-Potier reaction. Moreover, eight tabersonine derivatives bearing one or two hydroxy or methoxy groups at C15-C17 were synthesized up to grams scale via a halogenation/borylation/oxidation sequence. These analogs exhibited potent inhibitory activities against cancer cells with GI50 values in the single digit micromolar level. This research on aspidosperma indole alkaloids could help guide the development of future cancer therapeutics as well as elucidate their biosynthetic pathways.Histone deacetylases (HDACs), regulating gene expression and multiple cellular activities, are important biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets. In this project, a group of fluorescent S-acetamidomethyl homocysteine-containing molecules were designed and synthesized to monitor HDAC’s activity and elucidate the temporal and spatial dynamics of HDACs in live cells. The free thiol warhead, released from the probe upon deacetylation by HDACs, would trigger an intramolecular Michael Addition to the coumarin-derived fluorophore and induce a blue shift for the fluorescence, which could be applied to the quantitative ratiometric study of HDACs. It provides a modular platform for discovering and developing class-/isoform-specific HDAC probes and future therapeutic lead compounds through modifications of fluorophores, C-terminal amino acids, and the capping acyl groups. / Chemistry

No / Chemical investigation of nonindigenous Tubastraea coccinea and T. tagusensis by Raman spectroscopy resulted in the identification of carotenoids and indolic alkaloids. Comparison of Raman data obtained for the in situ and crude extracts has shown the potential of the technique for characterizing samples which are metabolic fingerprints, by means of band analysis. Raman bands at ca. 1520, 1160, and 1005 cm–1 assigned to ν1(C═C), ν2(C—C), and ρ3(C—CH3) modes were attributed to astaxanthin, and the band at 1665 cm–1 could be assigned to the ν(C—N), ν(C—O), and ν(C—C) coupled mode of the iminoimidazolinone from aplysinopsin. The antioxidant activity of the crude extracts has also been demonstrated, suggesting a possible role of these classes of compounds in the studied corals.

Yes / Ynamide, is an understudied but attractive class of alkynes, activated by the donating ability of the nitrogen adjacent to alkynes. With the nucleophilicity on β-carbon and the electrophilicity on α-carbon of ynamides, this review summarizes the syntheses of ynamides and miscellaneous reactions - oxidation, rearrangement, cyclization, and cycloaddition to construct complicated heterocyclic rings. The synthetic methodologies were further applied into natural products synthesis, e.g. marinoquinolines A and C, aplidiopsamine A, rigidin A, and 7-azaserotonin derivative. / We thank National Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (21462004), State Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources (CMEMR2014-A04), 2015 GXNSFBA (139032), GXNU, and Newton International Fellowship granted by Royal Society.

Please note that the structures do not display correctly in the pdf document. Therefore the original manuscript in MSWord has also been uploaded. Please contact us email if you cannot view these files. / Sonogashira cross-coupling of 2-aryl-4-chloro-3-iodoquinoline derivatives with stoichiometric amount of terminal alkynes in the presence of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II)chloride and copper iodide in triethylamine afforded the 3-(alkynyl)-2-aryl-4-chloroquinoline, exclusively. On the other hand, the 2-aryl-4-chloro-3-iodoquinolines with excess (2.5 equiv.) of terminal alkynes in the presence of PdCl2(PPh3)2-CuI catalyst mixture and NEt3 in dioxane-water (3:1 v/v) afforded the 2-aryl-3,4-bis(alkynyl)quinoline derivatives in a one-step operation. Further transformation of the 2-aryl-3-(alkynyl)-4-chloroquinoline via Suzuki cross-coupling reaction with boronic acid derivatives in the presence of tetrakis(triphenylphosphine)palladium and tricyclohexylphosphine as a ligand in dioxane-water (3:1 v/v) afforded the 2,4-diaryl-3-(alkynyl)quinolines in moderate to high yields. The 2-aryl-3-(alkynyl)-4-chloroquinolines were also transformed to the corresponding 2-aryl-4-(methylamino)-3-(alkynyl)quinoline derivatives using methylamine in ethanol under reflux. / Chemistry / M.Sc.

Alkaloids are important natural substances, which are not directly mentioned within the Chemistry Curriculum in the Framework Education Programme for Secondary General Education (Grammar Schools). However, they are a topic which unites more disciplines and allows educating in wider context and across different subjects (Chemistry, Biology and Health Education). They are certainly important topic in terms of drug abuse prevention and Health Education. The objective of this diploma thesis is creation of new educational materials for this topic for grammar school teachers and students. The theoretical part contains a literary research consisting of an analysis of curricular documents, a selection of secondary school chemistry textbooks, a selection of electronic teaching materials, and a proposal for including the topic in grammar school education. Furthermore, it contains a chapter dealing with the issues of drug abuse and its prevention. Research has been conducted by a questionnaire survey on the teaching practice of the topic at grammar schools in the Czech Republic in the practical part. The main output of this diploma thesis is a collection of educational materials on the given topic (PowerPoint presentations, textbook, projects, worksheet, instruction for laboratory exercise, didactic test).

The aim of the thesis titled "Substances contained in Plants of the Nightshade Family (Solanaceae) and their Usage in Biology Teaching" is to familiarize the reader with basic toxicological and pharmacological terms contained in the information on Nightshade plants (Solanaceae). Further it introduces Nightshade plants (Solanaceae) and their substances in more detail. It describes the use and abuse of these plants in poisoning, usage in traditional medicine, homeopathy and modern medicine. It outlines the history of the use and especially abuse of plants containing alkaloids. It also describes options for didactic use through laboratory work and assesses and compares the quality of information available in the literature for high school students. Information contained in this work can be practically used in teaching subjects such as toxicology, pharmacology and pharmacognosy at secondary schools with focus on the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. Key terms: Content Substances, Plant Alkaloids, Poisonous Plants, The Use and Abuse of Solanaceous Plants.

O uso de substâncias alucinógenas há muito tempo é alvo de discussões, em virtude do grande número de adeptos que possui e das conseqüências que pode acarretar ao indivíduo e ao complexo contexto social no qual ele se enquadra na sociedade. Dentro desse panorama vem se destacando à utilização de uma bebida denominada ayahuasca, preparada pela infusão de plantas nativas da região da Bacia Amazônia, originariamente utilizada por indígenas em rituais xamânicos. A ayahuasca combina a ação alucinogênica da dimetiltriptamina (DMT), um agonista serotoninérgico de receptores 5-HT2A/2C com β-carbolinas, que são inibidoras da monoaminoxidase-A (MAO-A). Com o aumento do consumo dessa bebida em cerimônias de alguns movimentos sincréticos religiosos do Brasil como o Santo Daime e a União do Vegetal (UDV), recentemente teve seu uso para esse fim regulamentado e aprovado pela legislação brasileira. Nos últimos anos, esses grupos religiosos têm se espalhado na Europa e Estados Unidos, chamando a atenção de pesquisadores internacionais quanto aos efeitos da ayahuasca. Entretanto, relativamente poucas investigações tem sido realizadas, inclusive dos aspectos básicos como os estudos farmacocinéticos de seus princípios ativos em humanos. Da mesma forma, métodos analíticos para determinação dos principais alcalóides na bebida e em amostras biológicas também são escassos na literatura científica. No presente trabalho, será realizado um estudo farmacocinético dos alcalóides da ayahuasca. Para tanto, um método utilizando cromatografia em fase gasosa com detector de nitrogênio-fósforo (GC-NPD) para determinação simultânea de DMT e β-carbolinas em ayahuasca foi desenvolvido e validado. O método para quantificação em plasma é de fundamental importância para determinação das concentrações dos alcalóides nessa matriz e comparação dos níveis no plasma e os efeitos observados nos voluntários que ingeriram a bebida. / The use of hallucinogenic substances has long been a matter of debate, due to the large number of supporters and has consequences that can result in the individual and the complex social context in which it fits into society. In this view has been increasing the use of a drink called ayahuasca, prepared by the infusion of plants native to the Amazon Basin region, originally used by indigenous people in shamanic rituals. Ayahuasca combines the action of hallucinogenic dimethyltryptamine (DMT), a serotonin receptor agonist 5-HT2A/2C with β-carbolines, which are inhibitors of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A). With the increased consumption of this drink in ceremonies of some syncretic religious movements in Brazil and the Santo Daime and Uniao do Vegetal (UDV), recently had its use for that purpose is regulated and approved by the Brazilian legislation. In recent years, these religious groups have spread in Europe and the United States, calling the attention of international researchers on the effects of ayahuasca. However, relatively little research has been carried out, including the basics such as pharmacokinetic studies of its active compounds in humans. Similarly, analytical methods for determination of major alkaloids in drink and in biological samples are also rare in the literature. In this work, a detailed pharmacokinetic study of ayahuasca alkaloids. Therefore, a method using gas chromatography with nitrogen detector-phosphorus (GC-NPD) for the simultaneous determination of DMT and β-carbolines in ayahuasca was developed and validated. The method for quantification in plasma is of fundamental importance for determining the concentrations of alkaloids in the array and comparing the levels in plasma and the effects observed in volunteers who ingested the drink.

Estudos anteriores dos alcalóides totais (AT) de Annona coriacea Mart. (Annonaceae) revelaram atividade antiprotozoária promissora. No presente trabalho, realizou-se o fracionamento biomonitorado dos AT de folha e selecionaram-se duas frações ativas (100% morte), frente às formas promastigotas de Leishmania (L.) chagasi in vitro, para a caracterização dos alcalóides, por CG-EM. Os AT bioativos de caule (100% morte) foram analisados sem fracionamento prévio. Em paralelo, efetuou-se amostragem de três exemplares de A. coriacea, analisados em conjunto, para o acompanhamento da variação do rendimento em AT e da atividade leishmanicida, por 12 meses. Nas frações bioativas de folha, foram caracterizados: estefarina (proaporfínico) e nornuciferina (noraporfínico) e nos AT de caule: pronuciferina (proaporfínico), asimilobina (noraporfínico) e boldina (aporfínico). A presença de boldina foi confirmada pela análise CG-EM do padrão, nas mesmas condições dos AT. Os resultados mostraram-se inéditos para a espécie e a ocorrência de pronuciferina e boldina constituiu o primeiro relato, no gênero Annona. Os dados referentes ao rendimento em AT (folha e caule) e à atividade antipromastigota in vitro indicaram comportamento, praticamente, constante dos parâmetros ao longo do ano. O óleo volátil de folha foi analisado, por CG-EM, tendo-se identificado 60 compostos, em mistura complexa de sesquiterpenos (76,7%) e monoterpenos (23,3%). O constituinte majoritário foi o sesquiterpeno biciclogermacreno (39,8%). O óleo volátil foi avaliado in vitro e apresentou atividade frente às formas promastigotas de quatro espécies de Leishmania e nas formas tripomastigotas de T. cruzi. A determinação e obtenção dos compostos bioativos motiva a continuidade da pesquisa. / Previous studies of total alkaloids (TA) from Annona coriacea Mart. (Annonaceae) have revealed potential antiprotozoal activity. In this study a bioguided fractionation of leaves TA was conducted and two fractions were active in vitro against Leishmania (L.) chagasi promastigotes (100% death) and selected in order to identify the alkaloid constituents, by GC-MS analysis. Stem bioactive TA (100% death) were also analyzed, without previous fractionation. Parallel to that, a sample of three combined specimens of A. coriacea (leaves and stem) was evaluated for the annual variation of TA production and the leishmanicide activity. Stefarine (proaporphine) and nornuciferine (noraporphine) were identified in the bioactive fractions of leaves while pronuciferine (proaporphine), asimilobine (noraporphine) and boldine (aporphine) were identified in stem TA. Boldine was confirmed by the GC-MS evaluation of the standard, under the same conditions of the TA. It was the first report of those alkaloids in this species and for pronuciferine and boldine occurrence in Annona genus. The TA yields (leaves and stem) and the in vitro antipromastigote activity remained almost unaltered throughout the year. The volatile oil of leaves was also analyzed by GC-MS. Sixty compounds were indentified in a complex mixture of sesquiterpenes (76.7%) and monoterpenes (23.3%). Byciclogermacrene was its major component (39.8%). The volatile oil was evaluated in vitro and was active against four species of Leishmania promastigotes and also against T. cruzi tripomastigotes. The identification of the bioactive constituents and their isolation are promising for further studies.

O presente estudo visou avaliar os possiveis efeitos imunotóxicos e imunoteratogênicos da integerrimina N-óxido presente no resíduo butanólico (RB) do ,Senecio brasiliensis, uma planta hepatotóxica que contém alcalóides pirrolizidínicos (APs). Tem sido relatado o uso de APs como fitoterápicos em todo o mundo e também como contaminantes de pastagens e alimentos, sendo assim responsáveis por intoxicações em animais de produção e humanos; porém, até o momento, não há relatos de sua ação sobre o sistema imune. Assim, após a extração da planta, quantificou-se no RB de Senecio brasiliensis, por meio de análise elementar e de espectro (1H e 13C), cerca de 70% de integerrimina N-óxido. O RB foi administrado a ratos Wistar machos adultos, nas doses de 3, 6 e 9 mg/kg, por gavagem, durante 28 dias. Foram avaliados o ganho de peso, o consumo de alimento, os órgãos linfóides e a fenotipagem de sua células, a atividade de fagócitos, as respostas imunes humoral e celular e atividade proliferativa de linfócitos. Já ratas gestantes, receberam as mesmas doses do RB do 6º ao 20º dia de gestação. No final da gestação, parte das fêmeas foi destinada à cesariana e as restantes prosseguiram à termo até o nascimento, para a análise das proles aos 60 dias de idade. Os fetos provenientes da cesariana foram avaliados quanto ao tamanho, peso, viabilidade e malformações externas e também submetidos à análise óssea. As mães tiveram seu desempenho reprodutivo avaliado. Naquelas proles avaliadas até 60 dias de idade, procedeu-se a avaliação dos órgãos linfóides e dos parâmetros hematológicos. O presente estudo revelou que integerrimina N-óxido promoveu diminuição no ganho de peso corporal de ratos machos adultos, redução na atividade proliferativa das células T e interfência na contagem de células sanguíneas destes animais. Por outro lado, esses mesmos animais não apresentaram diferenças na atividade de fagócitos, na fenotipagem de linfócitos e nas respostas imunes estudadas. Em ratas gestantes, o RB causou hepatotoxidade, diminuição do ganho de peso materno, diminuição no tamanho das placentas. A análise fetal revelou menor ossificação. Quando da avaliação da prole aos 60 dias de idade, não foram observados efeitos no ganho de peso atribuídos ao RB, nos órgãos linfóides, e também parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos. Concluindo, os estudos aqui realizados permitem sugerir que as doses baixas de integerrimina N-óxido ora empregadas, não promovem efeitos imunotóxicos significantes, bem como não apresentaram potencial teratogênico, seja por meio das avaliações clássicas de teratologia quanto naqueles protocolos de imunoteratogenicidade. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible immunotoxic and immunoteratogenic effects of integerrimine N-oxide content in the butanolic residue (BR) of Senecio brasiliensis, a hepatotoxic plant that contained pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). PAs have been reported as a pasture and food contaminant and as herbal medicine used worldwide and are related to promote poisoning events in livestock and human beings. After the plant extraction, BR residue from Senecio brasiliensis was submitted to elemental and spectral analyses (1H and 13C ) and was found to contain approximately 70% of integerrimine N-oxide by, which was administered to adult male Wistar rats at doses of 3, 6 and 9 mg/kg for 28 days, by gavage. Body weight gain, food consumption, lymphoid organs and their cell phenotype, phagocyte analysis, humoural and cellular immune responses, and lymphocyte proliferation were evaluated. In addition, pregnant rats received the same doses of BR from the 6th to the 20th gestational day. In late pregnancy, some of the dams were destined for cesarean section and the other females followed the pregnancy until the birth for offspring analysis at 60 days old. Fetuses from cesarean section were evaluated for size, weight, viability and external malformations and also subjected to bone analysis. The reproductive performance of females were performed. The present study showed that integerrimine N-oxide could promote in adult male Wistar rats, body weight gain impairment, interference with blood cell counts and a reducing T cell proliferative; however, no differences in phagocyte activities, lymphocytes phenotyping and immune responses here evaluated were observed. In pregnant rats, BR caused hepatotoxicity, decreased body weight gain and reduced placental size. Fetus analysis showed lower ossification. When 60-days old offspring were it was not observed any toxic effects resulted from BR exposition in body weight gain, lymphoid organs, haematological and biochemical parameters of these rats. It is concluded that low doses of integerrimine N-oxide here employed did not produce marked immunotoxic effects and seems to be a teratogenic signs by both methods, the classical evaluations or by immunoteratological protocols.

Esta dissertação de mestrado descreve os resultados obtidos acerca da aplicação de reações de acoplamento entre aldeídos, aminas e alquinos (A3) visando a síntese de alcalóides indolizidínicos de ocorrência natural, como a desoxicastanospermina e a swainsonina. A reação de acoplamento-A3 é uma poderosa ferramenta de construção de ligação carbono-carbono e carbono-heteroátomo, permitindo a preparação de propargilaminas que podem ser exploradas como intermediários de grande potencial sintético. A proposta está baseada na reação de acoplamento de um reagente organometálico, gerado in situ a partir de um alquino e um sal ou complexo metálico, e um eletrófilo nitrogenado, que consiste em uma imina ou sal de imínio também gerado in situ a partir de uma amina e um aldeído. Hidroxialdeídos apropriados foram preparados e empregados no acoplamento-A3 juntamente com alquinóis não-protegidos, de modo que a propargilamina resultante contivesse funcionalizações estrategicamente posicionadas visando permitir duas ciclizações via nitrogênio e a conseqüente formação de esqueletos indolizidínicos. Para este mesmo fim, diversas aminas foram testadas no acoplamento, de forma que fosse possível uma N-desproteção compatível com os demais grupos funcionais necessários à síntese dos alcalóides. Dentre estas, dibenzilamina e dialilamina levaram a bons resultados no acoplamento, utilizando um α-hidroxialdeído O-protegido ou um δ-hidroxialdeído livre. Tal metodologia possibilitou a síntese de três propargilaminas a serem utilizadas como intermediários sintéticos na síntese de alcalóides indolizidínicos hidroxilados: 5-(dibenzilamino)-6-((2-metoxietoxi)metoxi)-8- ((tetrahidro-2H-piran-2-il)oxi)oct-3-in-1-ol, 4-(dibenzilamino)oct-2-ino-1,8-diol e 4- (dialilamino)oct-2-ino-1,8-diol; em rendimentos globais de 39% (6 etapas reacionais), 68% (2 etapas) e 57% (2 etapas), respectivamente. Entretanto, no caso específico da propargilamina derivada da dibenzilamina, não obteve-se sucesso nas tentativas de desproteção do nitrogênio e concomitante redução seletiva da ligação tripla à dupla por hidrogenação. / This Masters thesis concerns the results obtained toward the application of amine-aldehyde- akyne coupling reactions (A3) aiming at the synthesis of naturally occurring indolizidine alkaloids, such as deoxycastanospermine and swainsonine. The A3- coupling reaction is a powerful tool for the construction of carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bonds, allowing the preparation of functionalized propargylamines that may be explored as synthetically useful intermediates. The proposal is centered on the coupling reaction between an organometallic reagent, generated in situ from an alkyne and a metallic salt or complex, and a nitrogenated electrofile, consisting of an imine or imminium salt that is also generated in situ from an amine and an aldehyde. Appropriate hydroxyaldehydes were prepared and used in the A3-coupling along with unprotected alkynols, so that the resulting propargylamine contained strategically placed functionalizations aiming to allow two annulations to occur via the nitrogen atom and the consequent formation of indolizidine skeletons. For the same end, several amines were tested in the coupling reaction, so that a N-deprotection compatible with the other funcional groups necessary to the synthesis of the alkaloids would be possible. Among these, dibenzylamine and diallylamine led to satisfactory results in the coupling reaction, using either a O-protected α-hydroxyaldehyde or an unprotected δ-hydroxyaldehyde. This methodology led to the preparation of three propargylamines to be used as synthetic intermediates in the synthesis of hydroxylated indolizidine alkaloids: 5-(dibenzylamine)-6-((2- methoxyethoxy)methoxy)-8-((tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)oxy)oct-3-yn-1-ol, 4- (dibenzylamine)oct-2-yne-1,8-diol and 4-(diallylamine)oct-2-yne-1,8-diol; in overall yields of 39% (6 synthetic steps), 68% (2 steps) and 57% (2 steps), respectively. However, in the particular case of the dibenzylamine-derived propargylamine, no success was achieved in the attempts of nitrogen deprotection and concomitant selective reduction of the triple to double bond via hydrogenation.