Through a continuing search for anticancer compounds as part of an International Cooperative Biodiversity Grant program, the extracts of two plants were selected for study on the basis of their cytotoxic activity. These extracts were further fractionated to yield four compounds. The structures of these compounds were elucidated with mass spectrometry and 1-D and 2-D NMR spectroscopy. The ethyl acetate extract of the twigs of Garcinia macrophylla from Suriname was weakly cytotoxic in the A2780 human ovarian cancer cell bioassay. The known benzophenone guttiferone A and a new guttiferone analog, named guttiferone G, were isolated from the extract and found to be responsible for the bioactivity. A known triterpene, friedelin, was also isolated from the extract and found to be inactive. The structure of guttiferone A was determined by comparison of its NMR data to those found in the literature. The structure of guttiferone G was determined by comparison to guttiferone A and through careful examination of both 1D and 2D NMR data. An extract of Bridelia tulasneana from Madagascar yielded one compound. It was identified as the known lignan deoxypodophyllotoxin and was responsible for the bioactivity. It was identified by a comparison of its spectral data to those found in the literature and those of an authentic sample. / Master of Science

As a part of a continuing search for bioactive compounds with the International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG), and in collaboration with the Natural Products Discovery Institute of the Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research (IHVR), twelve plant extracts were investigated for their antiproliferative activity against the A2780 cell line, three plant extracts were investigated for their antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum, and three plant extracts were investigated for their anti-inflammatory activity (PPAR-y inhibition). Bioassay-guided fractionation of extracts led to the identification of four new antiproliferative compounds (2.1-2.3, 3.1), five new anti-inflammatory compounds (6.4a, 6.5a-b, 6.6a, 6.6c), and twenty-eight known compounds from eight of the extracts. In addition, mallotojaponin C, an antimalarial natural product, and derivatives were synthesized and investigated for their antimalarial activity. / Ph. D.

As part of an International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) program and a continuing search for antiproliferative natural products from the Madagascar rainforest, and a collaborative research project established between Virginia Tech and the Institute for Hepatitis and Virus Research (IHVR) focusing on searching for bioactive natural products from tropical forests in South Africa, 20 extracts were selected for investigation based on their antiproliferative activities against A2780 human ovarian cancer cell line or antimalarial activities against the Dd2 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Bioassay-guided fractionation of seven of the extracts yielded twenty new compounds and twenty-four known compounds, and their structures were elucidated by using a combination of 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D NMR spectroscopy including COSY, HASQC, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY sequences, mass spectrometry, UV, IR, ECD, optical rotation, and chemical conversions. In addition, ten known compounds were isolated from another five of the extracts, while studies on the remaining extracts were suspended due to loss of activity, unworkable small amounts of material, or low structural interest. The plants and their metabolites are discussed in the following order: five new antimalarial 5,6-dihydro-𝛼-pyrones and six bicyclic tetrahydro-𝛼-pyrone derivatives from Cryptocarya rigidifolia (Lauraceae); two new and five known antiproliferative lignans from Cleistanthus boivinianus (Phyllanthaceae); two new and two known antiproliferative sesquiterpenes lactones from Piptocoma antillana (Asteraceae); one new antiproliferative 1,4-naphthoquinone, one known antiproliferative isoflovonoid, and five known antiproliferative stilbenoids from Stuhlmannia moavi (Leguminosae); four known antiproliferative bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Anisocycla grandidieri (Menispermaceae); one new and two known antiproliferative butanolides, and two new antiproliferative secobutanolides from Ocotea macrocarpa (Lauraceae); one new antiproliferative and five known antiproliferative diterpenoids from Malleastrum rakotozafyi (Meliceae); and 10 known compounds from Monoporus sp. (Myrsinaceae), Premna corymbosa (Verbenaceae), Premna perplexanes (Verbenaceae), Epallage longipes (Asteraceae), and Cinnamosma fragrans (Canellaceae). / Ph. D.

No / The tetracyclic nucleus of puupehenone, 15-oxopuupehenol and other sesquiterpene¿phenol natural products can be assembled stereoselectively in three steps, the last of these being the 6-endo-trig cyclisation of an alpha-keto radical generated from a substituted 2-(2-cyclohexenyl)ethyl 3-bromo-4-chromanone under metal-free conditions. / EPSRC

No / New antimalarial drugs are urgently needed to combat emerging multidrug resistant strains of malaria parasites. This Highlight focuses on plant-derived natural products that are of interest as potential leads towards new antimalarial drugs including synthetic analogues of natural compounds, with the exception of artemisinin derivatives, which are not included due to limited space. Since effective antimalarial treatment is often unavailable or unaffordable to many of those who need it, there is increasing interest in the development of locally produced herbal medicines; recent progress in this area will also be reviewed in this Highlight.

No

<p dir="ltr">Dihydro-β-agarofurans are a class of polyester sesquiterpene secondary metabolites isolated from the <i>Celastraceae</i> plant family. Many compounds in this class have demonstrated biological activity and have therefore generated much synthetic interest. However, their <i>trans</i>-decalin/tetrahydrofuranyl ring system and high levels of oxidation make them synthetically challenging. The first chapter presents a discussion on the biological activity and various historical methods used to construct this ring system. The second chapter describes the new dearomative oxidation/cyclization method developed by our group to rapidly synthesize the tricyclic ring system in only 9 steps from commercially available 6-methoxy-1-tetralone. Other key steps include a MHAT reduction of a b,b-disubstituted dienone, stereospecific reduction of an enone, and hydroxyl-directed Simmons-Smith cyclopropanation. The large-scale synthesis of these advanced synthetic intermediates and the attempted elaboration to the dihydro-β-agarofuran core is described in detail.</p>

Leiodolide A is a unique natural product isolated from Pacific marine sponges which has provided an interesting target for total synthesis due to its complex structure and undefined stereochemistry. Although synthetic work towards the synthesis of sister compound leiodolide B has been published, the total synthesis of leiodolide A is yet to be achieved but remains an important target due to high potency against leukaemia, non-small lung and ovarian cancers. The convergent strategy towards the synthesis of leiodolide A involved the synthesis of three subunits; a synthetic route to the C21-C25 vinyl stannane is described, and efforts towards the synthesis of the bidirectional C11-C20 subunit are detailed. Asymmetric vinylogous aldol methodology was developed for the installation of the 1,2-syn propionate motif found in the C1-C10 subunit and in other polypropionate natural products, and was shown to be applicable to a range of substrates in moderate diastereoselectivity and excellent enantioselectivity.

Section I of the thesis deals with the enantiospecific total synthesis of phomopsolide B. Phomopsolide B was isolated from a strain of Phomopsis Oblonga. Enantiospecific total synthesis of phomopsolide B was accomplished in 13 overall yield in 12 linear steps using (S)-lactic acid and L-tartaric acid as chiral pool precursors. Present approach involves the efficient use of -keto phosphonate derived from commercially available (S)-ethyl lactate. Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction and Still-Gennari olefination were employed as key reactions in the synthesis (scheme 1). Scheme 1: Total synthesis of phomopsolide B. [This work has been published: Prasad, K. R.; Gutala, P. Tetrahedron 2012, 68, 7489-7493.] Section II of the thesis describes the total synthesis of macrosphelides A and E which are isolated from a culture broth of Microsphaeropsis sp. FO-5050 and from the strain Periconia byssoides. Total synthesis of macrosphelides A and E was accomplished in 19 overall yield from commercially available (S)-ethyl lactate. Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons reaction and Yamaguchi lactonization were employed as key reactions for the total synthesis of macrosphelides A and E (scheme 2). Scheme 2: Total synthesis of macrosphelides A and E. [This work has been published: Prasad, K. R.; Gutala, P. Tetrahedron 2011, 67, 4514-4520.] Section III of the thesis deals with total synthesis and determination of absolute configuration of synargentolide B 1. Synargentolide B 1 is a 5,6-dihydro--pyrone containing natural product and was isolated from Syncolostemon Argenteus by Rivett et al. in 1998 (fig 1). The relative stereochemistry at C-6, C-6′ positions in synargentolide B 1 was assigned to be R, S respectively based on the positive cotton effect in the CD spectrum. Threo stereochemistry was proposed for the C1′-C2′ diol unit in synargentolide B 1 based on the NMR studies. The stereochemistry at C-5 could not be assigned, hence the structure of synargentolide B 1 was tentatively proposed as 6R-[5,6S-(diacetyloxy)-1,2-(dihydroxy)-3Eheptenyl]-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one (fig. 1). Figure 1: Putative structure of synargentolide B 1. Based on the tentative stereochemistry at the C-6, C-6′ positions proposed by Rivett et al. and taking into consideration the threo relationship for the C-1′-C-2′ diol unit, it is anticipated that the structure of synargentolide B 1 could be one of the four possible diastereomers 1a-1d (fig 2). Figure 2: Possible diastereomers of synargentolide B (1a-d). Incidentally, one of the diastereomers 6R-[5R,6S-(diacetyloxy)-1S,2R-(dihydroxy)- 3E-heptenyl]-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one 1d was a reported natural product isolated in 1990 from Hyptis oblangifolia by Pereda-Miranda, R. et al. along with its corresponding diacetylated product 2 (fig 3). Fig. 3: Natural products isolated from Hyptis oblangifolia by Pereda-Miranda, R. et al. Total synthesis and determination of absolute configuration of synargentolide B 1 were accomplished by synthesizing four possible diastereomers of the natural product (1a-1d) and by comparison of the spectral data of all synthesized diastereomers with that of reported for the natural product. Wittig-Horner reaction of -keto phosphonate derived from (S)-lactic acid and ring closing metathesis reaction were employed as key reactions in the total synthesis of synargentolide B 1 (scheme 3 and 4). Scheme 3: Total synthesis of possible diastereomers of synargentolide B (1a, 1b). Scheme 4: Total synthesis of possible diastereomers of synargentolide B (1c, 1d). [This work has been published: Prasad, K. R.; Gutala, P. J. Org. Chem. (in press)]. It was found that spectral data of 1a, 1b, 1c were not in agreement with that reported for synargentolide B 1. However spectral data of 1d was in complete agreement with the data reported for synargentolide B 1. Spectral data of 1d was also in complete agreement with the data reported for the natural product isolated by Pereda-Miranda, R. et al. Since the absolute stereochemistry of tetraacetate 2 is identical to the absolute stereochemistry of 1d, we wanted to confirm the integrity of the diol 1d by synthesizing the corresponding acetate 2 which was also a natural product isolated by Pereda-Miranda et al. 1H NMR data of the synthesized tetraacetate 2 was in agreement with that reported for the isolated tetraacetate, while discrepancies were observed in the 13C NMR spectral data. To clear the uncertainty, X-ray crystal structure analysis of the tetraacetate 2 was performed. It was comprehensively proved that the structure of synthesized tetraacetate 2 was indeed same as the putative structure proposed for the isolated tetraacetate by Pereda-Miranda et al. The crystal structure analysis also confirmed the absolute stereochemistry of the tetraacetate 2 and 1d (synargentolide B 1). (For structural formula pl refer the abstract pdf file)

This work shows chemical study monitored by antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and larvicidal activities of two Bignoniaceae species [Tabebuia elliptica (A. DC.) Sandwith and T. roseo-alba Ridl.]. After drying at room temperature and grinding, the material from stem barks, stems and leaves of both species were extracted by maceration with methanol and/or acetone. After removal of the solvents under vacuum, crude extracts were suspended in methanol and water solution and successively extracted with hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The fractions resulting from this procedure were evaluated in writhing model induced by acetic acid and exhibited a significant reduction of nociceptive response. Chemical studies of some fractions from these extracts of T. roseo-alba resulted in the isolation and identification by NMR technique of two neolignans [Icariside E4 and (7R, 8S) - dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol], a benzoic acid derivative (p-methoxibenzoic acid), a misture of two triterpenes (ursolic and oleanolic acids) and a phytosteroid (sitostenone); while from T. elliptica fractions resulted in the isolation of a chlorinated iridoid (rehmaglutin D), a phenylpropanoid (coumaric acid) and a phytosteroid (β-sitosterol). In pharmacological tests, Icariside E4 showed a peripheral antinociceptive effect, involving potassium channel ATP-K+ and coumaric acid significantly reduced levels of total leukocytes, neutrophils, as well as the percentage of ROS-producing cells in acute lung inflammation model induced by LPS showing an anti-inflammatory potential. Extracts from stems and leaves of both species showed antimicrobial activities against strains of S. aureus and E. faecalis and in the larvicidal assays, although the crude extracts of the barks, stems and leaves have exhibited low mortality at 250 ppm, hexane and chloroform fractions from barks and stems of T. roseo-alba and ethyl acetate from stems of T. elliptica, showed high mortality percentages. Substances, Icariside E4 and (7R, 8S) - dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol, are being described for the first time in the genus Tabebuia and the isolation of the chlorinated iridoid, Rehmaglutina D, in this work can aid in positioning the Tabebuia genus in the Bignoniaceae family. / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Este trabalho apresenta o estudo químico monitorado pelas atividades antinociceptiva, anti-inflamatória, antibacteriana e larvicida de duas espécies de Bignoniaceae [Tabebuia elliptica (A. DC.) Sandwith e T. roseo-alba Ridl.]. Após secagem a temperatura ambiente e trituração, materiais das cascas, caule e folhas de ambas as espécies foram extraídos através de maceração com metanol e/ou acetona. Após eliminação dos solventes a pressão reduzida, os extratos brutos foram suspensos em solução de metanol e água e extraídos sucessivamente com hexano, clorofórmio e acetato de etila. As frações resultantes deste procedimento foram avaliadas no modelo de contorção abdominal induzida pelo ácido acético e exibiram uma redução significativa da resposta nociceptiva. O estudo químico de algumas das frações de T. roseo-alba resultou no isolamento e identificação através da técnica de RMN de duas neolignanas [Icarisideo E4 e o (7R, 8S) - Álcool diidrodeidrodiconiferílico], um derivado do ácido benzoico (ácido p-metoxibenzoico), uma mistura de dois triterpenos (ácidos ursólico e oleanólico) e um fitoesteroide (sitostenona); enquanto que de frações de T. elliptica resultou no isolamento de um iridoide clorado (rehmaglutina D), um fenilpropanoide (ácido cumarico) e um fitoesteróide (β-sitosterol). Nos ensaios farmacológicos, Icarisideo E4 mostrou um efeito antinociceptivo periférico, com o envolvimento de canais de potássio ATP-K+ e o ácido cumárico reduziu significativamente os níveis de leucócitos totais, neutrófilos, bem como a porcentagem de células produtoras de ROS no modelo de inflamação pulmonar aguda induzida por LPS exibindo um potencial antiinflamatório. Extratos do caule e das folhas de ambas as espécies apresentaram potencial antibacteriano contra cepas de S. aureus e E. faecalis e nos ensaios larvicidas, embora os extratos brutos das cascas, caule e folhas tenham exibido baixos índices de mortalidade a 250 ppm, as frações em hexano e clorofórmio das cascas e do caule de T. roseo-alba e em acetato do caule de T. elliptica, apresentaram altos índices de mortalidade. As substâncias, Icarisideo E4 e (7R, 8S) - Álcool diidrodeidrodiconiferílico, estão sendo descritas pela primeira vez no gênero Tabebuia e o isolamento do iridoide clorado Rehmaglutina D neste trabalho poderá auxiliar no posicionamento do gênero Tabebuia dentro da família Bignoniaceae.