xiv, 326 p. : ill. (some col.) / Tetra-ortho -substituted aryl naphthalenes (TOANs) are a motif of great importance, being present in biologically active natural products, chiral ligands, and building blocks relevant to materials science. The synthesis of sterically demanding and enantioenriched TOANs continues to be a challenge for current synthetic methods. Herein, we describe the highly effective synthesis of a variety of sterically demanding and enantioenriched TOANs through a rearrangement-based method. Our method utilizes a cyclopropyl carbinol moiety as the key rearrangement precursor. We have demonstrated that carbon-carbon coupling through a simple nucleophilic attack on a cyclopropyl indanone allows for very large aryl substrates to be added and rearranged. We discuss in detail the following: 1) the initial substrate-scope and proof-of-concept studies, 2) our progress in building the most sterically demanding TOANs to date, and 3) the asymmetric synthesis of TOANs through chiral transfer. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished co-authored material. / Committee in charge: Michael M. Haley, Chairperson; Shih-Yuan Liu, Advisor; Darren W. Johnson, Member; Victoria J. DeRose, Member; Paul J. Wallace, Outside Member

The present study aims at the isolation and identification of diverse phenolic polyketides from Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. and Aloe plicatilis (L.) Miller and includes their 5-LOX/COX-1 inhibiting potency. After initial Sephadex-LH20 gel filtration and combined silica gel 60- and RP18-CC, three dihydroisocoumarins (nonaketides), four 5-methyl-8-C-glucosylchromones (heptaketides) from A. vera, and two hexaketide-naphthalenes from A. plicatilis have been isolated by means of HSCCC. The structures of all polyketides were elucidated by ESI-MS and 2D 1H/13C-NMR (HMQC, HMBC) techniques. The analytical/preparative separation of 3R-feralolide, 3′-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl- and the new 6-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-3R-feralolide into their respective positional isomers are described here for the first time, including the assignment of the 3R-configuration in all feralolides by comparative CD spectroscopy. The chromones 7-O-methyl-aloesin and 7-O-methyl-aloeresin A were isolated for the first time from A. vera, together with the previously described aloesin (syn. aloeresin B) and aloeresin D. Furthermore, the new 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl- 3,6R-dihydroxy-8R-methylnaphtalene was isolated from A. plicatilis, together with the known plicataloside. Subsequently, biological-pharmacological screening was performed to identify Aloe polyketides with anti-inflammatory potential in vitro. In addition to the above constituents, the anthranoids (octaketides) aloe emodin, aloin, 6′-(E)-p-coumaroyl-aloin A and B, and 6′-(E)-p-coumaroyl-7-hydroxy-8-O-methyl-aloin A and B were tested. In the COX-1 examination, only feralolide (10 µM) inhibited the formation of MDA by 24%, whereas the other polyketides did not display any inhibition at all. In the 5-LOX-test, all aloin-type anthranoids (10 µM) inhibited the formation of LTB4 by about 25–41%. Aloesin also displayed 10% inhibition at 10 µM in this in vitro setup, while the other chromones and naphthalenes did not display any activity. The present study, therefore, demonstrates the importance of low molecular phenolic polyketides for the known overall anti-inflammatory activity of Aloe vera preparations.

The ¹HNMR spectra of all possible structural isomers of mono and dihydroxy substituted naphthalenes are measured in trifluoracetic acid and trifluormethanesulfonic acid as well as in their deuterated derivatives. These spectra indicate different protonation/deuteration positions in the compounds studied. Whereas with the relative weak TFA the OH group as most basic group of the substrates is protonated, with the more acidic TFS also aromatic positions with lower basicity are protonated. However, some of these position were indicated only by using deutertated acids. To quantify the degree of proton/deuterium exchange at the aromatic rings, dioxane as proton standard was used. For the OH-protonation a complex between the appropriate naphthol and the acid used, in which a quick proton exchange can be occur, is assumed. Furthermore, the formation of corresponding trifluoroacetates or triflates by reaction of the naphthols with the corresponding acids has been indicated. In some cases, in which the ring positions of protonation are not definitely clear, 2D NOESYNMR experiments have been performed.