Effects of ajugarins and related neoclerodane diterpenoids on feeding behaviour of Leptinotarsa decemlineata and Spodoptera exigua larvae

Three naturally occurring ajugarins and seven semisynthetic derivatives of them, possessing different functionalities in the decalin part, together with two natural furoneoclerodane diterpenes, have been assessed as feeding behavior modifying agents of larvae of the generalist Spodoptera exigua and a specialist like Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Ajugarin I and some of its derivatives exhibited a significant antifeedant activity against larvae of S. exigua in both choice and no-choice assays. Conversely, the furoneoclerodane diterpenes only presented antifeedant activity against larvae of L. decemlineata. These results indicate that the biological action of the tested substances is strongly mod…

Neoclerodane Diterpenoids from Teucrium massiliense

A reinvestigation of the diterpene metabolites of Teucrium massiliense L. allowed the isolation of four new neoclerodane derivatives, teumassilenins A-D, together with all the diterpenoids previously reported as constituents of this plant. The structures of the new compounds (1-4) were established by chemical and spectroscopic means. A plausible biogenetic relationship between several of these substances is briefly discussed, and some unpublished physical and spectroscopic data of the previously known diterpenoid teumassin (5) are now reported.

Benzyl ions from 1,1-(2,2′-dimethoxyphenyl)-substituted 2-methylpropanes under electron ionization

The electron ionization (EI)-induced fragmentations of a series of 1,1-(2,2'-dimethoxyphenyl)-substituted 2-methylpropanes (1-20) in both 70 eV and mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectra have been investigated. The EI-MS spectra of these compounds are characterized by the presence of abundant benzyl ions. These ions result from competitive hydrogen migration from the 2- and 2'-methoxy groups on the carbenium center of the diphenylmethyl cations formed by benzylic cleavage of the molecular ions. The relative abundances of the benzyl ions arising from such competitive processes are discussed and rationalized. The steric effect of the 3- or 3'-substituents is the main discriminating f…

ChemInform Abstract: Photochemical Transformations of Some Neoclerodane and Labdane Diterpene Ketones.

Some neoclerodane (2–4) and labdane (5 and 6) diterpene ketones having a β- or γ-hydroxy function, an α-epoxy group, or an α-olefinic double bond have been irradiated at λ = 313 nm in dry solvents (benzene or methanol). Fruticolone (2) yielded the naturally occurring 5,6-seco-neoclerodan-6,1α-olide derivative fruticolide (1), while hispanolone (5) gave the δ-lactone 8, both transformations involving a Norrish type I photoreaction. The α,β-unsaturated ketone derivative 4 was transformed into 7 by a stereoselective intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition reaction involving its furanic 13(16)-double bond. Finally, the α-epoxy ketone 6 was rearranged to the 10(98)abeo-labda-7,9-dione derivative 10. …

Synthesis, chemical characterization and preliminary in vitro antitumor activity evaluation of new ruthenium(II) complexes with sugar derivatives

Abstract Three new complexes of Ru(II), namely [RuCl 2 (Glun-N,O) 2 ]Na 2 ( I ; Glun = glucosaminate), [RuCl 2 (1-Tglu)(EtOH) 2 ]Na ( II ; 1-Tglu = 1-thio-β- d -glucose) and [Ru 2 (EtOH) 6 (AL)Cl 4 ] ( III ; AL = 6′-aminolactose) were prepared from the same Ru(II) precursor, [RuCl 2 (DMSO) 4 ] (DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide). The characterization of the complexes was carried out by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ES-MS, NMR, EXAFS and DFT calculations. The effectiveness of the complexes on metastatic melanoma A 375 was investigated. The results show that complex II is the most active species.

A new palladium(II)-catalyzed [3,3] aza-Claisen rearrangement of 3-allyloxy-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles

Abstract A new efficient palladium(II)-catalyzed [3,3] aza-Claisen, formal sigmatropic rearrangement of 3-allyloxy-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles was developed. The mechanism was studied by analyzing the regiochemical and stereochemical course of the reaction. The results obtained indicated the intervention of a cationic pallada-cycle similar to the one postulated for the Cope rearrangement of 1,5-dienes.

Synthetic studies of neoclerodane diterpenoids from Salvia splendens and evaluation of opioid receptor affinity

Abstract Salvinorin A ( 1 ), a neoclerodane diterpene from the hallucinogenic mint Salvia divinorum , is the only known non-nitrogenous and specific κ-opioid agonist. Several structural congeners of 1 isolated from Salvia splendens ( 2 – 8 ) together with a series of semisynthetic derivatives ( 9 – 24 ), some of which possess a pyrazoline structural moiety ( 9 , 19 – 22 ), have been tested for affinity at human μ, δ, and κ opioid receptors. None of these compounds showed high affinity binding to these receptors. However, 10 showed modest affinity for κ receptors suggesting that other natural neoclerodanes from different Salvia species may possess opioid affinity.

Clerodane diterpenoids from Salvia splendens.

Four new clerodane diterpenoids, salvisplendins A-D (1-4), have been isolated from an acetone extract of the flowers of SalVia splendens, together with an artifact (5), arising from salvisplendin D (4) by addition of diazomethane, and the already known clerodane olearin (6). The structures of the new compounds (1-5) were established mainly by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies and, in the case of salvisplendin A (1), by chemical correlation with splenolide B (7). Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments for olearin (6), not published hitherto, are also reported.

Investigation of the aqueous transmetalation of π-allylpalladium with indium salt: the use of the Pd(OAc)2–TPPTS catalyst

pi-Allylpalladium complexes could be generated in water by the palladium(0) water soluble catalyst prepared in situ from palladium acetate and TPPTS. These complexes were transmetalated with indium to react with benzaldehyde. The aqueous solution of Pd(0)(TPPTS)(n) could be reused without deterioration of the catalyst in the first and second recycling. The system proved to be efficient with primary and secondary allylic substrates. The stereochemical outcome of the allylation through umpolung of allylpalladium, was also studied using models with a restraint conformation.

Radical Cyclization and 1,5-Hydrogen Transfer in Selected Aromatic Diazonium Salts

2-(Methyl(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamoyl)thiophene-3-diazonium hydrogen sulfate 20, 2-(methyl(3-methyl-isoxazol-5yl)carbamoyl)-benzenediazonium hydrogen sulfate 21 and 2-(methyl(phenyl)carbamoyl)-benzenediazonium hydrogen sulphate 22 were synthesized and reacted with a CuSO4/NaCl/ascorbic acid combination to give complex mixtures. The structures of the reaction products were elucidated, depending upon the pathways followed. Compound 20 almost exclusively afforded an Ar-5 cyclization product and trace amounts of the product derived from a competing Ar-6 Pschorr closure. In the case of compound 21, the Ar-6 cyclization was not observed, while the Ar-5 cyclization and 1,5-hydrogen…

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Mentha pulegium Growing Wild in Sicily and its Activity on Microorganisms Affecting Historical Art Crafts

The chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. (Linné) collected in Sicily was evaluated by GC and GC-MS. The main components were pulegone (50.6%), piperitenone (27.8%) and menthone (6.9%). Comparison of this oil with other studied oils of different populations is discussed. The oil showed good antibacterial and antifungal activities against some microorganisms that infest historical art works.

Studio dell'attività biocatalitica delle piante del genere Citrus: risultati preliminari

Conformational analysis of methyl-substituted 9,10-dihydroanthracenes

The amount of the ring puckering in methyl-substituted 9,10- dihydroanthracene was theoretically determined through DFT calculations. Theoretical calculations allowed to obtain the geometrical structures and energetic data on the different considered isomers.

Studio della reazione di Grignard su derivati dell'acido ursolico

Synthetic studies on neoclerodane diterpenes from Salvia splendens: oxidative modifications of ring A.

Salvinorin A (1), a neoclerodane diterpene from the hallucinogenic mint Salvia divinorum, is the only known naturally occurring non-nitrogenous and specific κ-opioid agonist. Some oxidative modifications of the A ring in the congeners of 1 isolated from Salvia splendens salviarin, splenolide B, splendidin and in the non-natural 8-epi-salviarin gave new derivatives, some of which were tested as agonists at opioid receptors. However, none of these compounds were active. The presence of the C-18, C-19 lactone could be at the origin of the observed lack of binding affinity.

Citrus peels as biocatalyst for deacetylation reactions

Chemical composition of the essential oil of Cyanus adscendens (Bartl.) Soják and C. orbelicus (Velen.) Soják growing wild in Bulgaria, and PCA analysis of genus Cyanus Mill

Cyanus Mill. genus, belonging to the Asteraceae family, includes more than 50 taxa, mainly growing in Central and Southern Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, and the Caucasus. Previous investigations on Cyanus taxa have shown that they are rich source of flavonoids and phenolic compounds but, differently from species of genus Centaurea, almost devoid of sesquiterpene lactones. In the present study, the chemical composition of the essential oils from aerial parts of Cyanus adscendens (CA) and C. orbelicus (CO), collected in Bulgaria, and not previously investigated, was evaluated by GC-MS. The main components of CA were α-bergamotene (31.3%), (Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-octadecatrien-1-ol (14.5%) and cal…

Sesquiterpene compounds from Inula Viscosa

Two new compounds, 2,5-dihydroxyisocostic acid and 2,3-dihydroxycostic acid together with three known sesquiterpene compounds, Isocostic acid, Carabrone and Tomentosin, have been isolated from the acetone extract of Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton. The structures of all new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods, in particular 1D and 2D (1)H- and (13)C-NMR. The (13)C-NMR spectra of Isocostic acid and of Tomentosin are reported here for the first time.

studio della reattività del bromuro di 2-piridilmagnesio

INVESTIGATION OF THE ACQUEOUS TRANSMETALATION OF pi-ALLYLPALLADIUM WITH INDIUM: SOME THEORETICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCES ABOUT THE NATURE OF ALLYLINDIUM INTERMEDIATES

A Review of the Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses, and Biological Activities of the Genus Ballota and Otostegia

AbstractThe 2 genera Ballota and Otostegia, belonging to the Lamiaceae family, are closely related taxonomically and found mainly in the Mediterranean area, Middle East, and North Africa. Since ancient times, they have been largely employed in traditional medicine for their biological properties such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, insecticidal, anti-malaria, etc. Phytochemical investigations of Ballota and Otostegia species have revealed that diterpenoids are the main constituents of the genera. A large number of flavonoids and other metabolites were also identified. This review, covering literature from 1911 up to 2018, includes traditional uses, chemical profiles (bot…

Volatile constituents of aerial parts of two Mediterranean species of Inula: Inula crithmoides L. and I. verbascifolia (Willd.) Hausskn. (Asteraceae)

Inula crithmoides L. grows along the Mediterranean coasts and is used as an edible vegetable as the young leaves or shoots are eaten raw, cooked or pickled. Inula verbascifolia (Willd.) Hausskn. is a quite localised species growing mainly along the Adriatic Sea coasts. In this study the volatile components of the aerial part of both species are described. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis showed the presence of 41 components in I. crithmoides and 75 compounds in I. verbascifolia, respectively, and a very different profile in the composition of the two species. The chemotaxonomy of I. crithmoides, by comparison with other data reported in the literature, is…

Synthesis of copper(II) complexes of new carbon-scorpionate ligands

A set of new “carbon-based” scorpionate ligands based on S- and N-containing heterocyclic moieties have been synthesized. They offer the advantage of a higher stability with respect to the “classical” boron-based scorpionate ligands and also a certain degree of hydrophilicity. The synthesis of these ligands was accomplished by the coupling reaction of the N-methylimidazolyllithium with a suitable electrophilic partner. The reaction yield ranges from 40% to 65%. Preliminary results on the synthesis and characterization of the related copper(II) complex are also presented.

Functional investigation and applications of the acetylesterase activity of the Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck peel

The hydrolysis of acetyl moieties on a set of commercially relevant substrates was performed by employing the whole tissue of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck peel as an efficient biocatalyst in mild reaction conditions with high degree of regioselectivity. The reaction is done in aqueous media and the product is easily recovered. Optimal reaction conditions were deduced and two practical applications were investigated: the elaboration of acetylglicerols and the preparation of vitamin K1 precursor. Peel waste (flavedo and albedo) from orange juice manufacturing was successfully employed as a biocatalyst.

Derivati neoclerodanici semisintetici come potenziali leganti dei recettori oppioidi

Sintesi e attività antitumorale di derivati dell'acido ursolico

Photochemical Transformations of Some Neoclerodane and Labdane Diterpene Ketones

Some neoclerodane (2–4) and labdane (5 and 6) diterpene ketones having a β- or γ-hydroxy function, an α-epoxy group, or an α-olefinic double bond have been irradiated at λ = 313 nm in dry solvents (benzene or methanol). Fruticolone (2) yielded the naturally occurring 5,6-seco-neoclerodan-6,1α-olide derivative fruticolide (1), while hispanolone (5) gave the δ-lactone 8, both transformations involving a Norrish type I photoreaction. The α,β-unsaturated ketone derivative 4 was transformed into 7 by a stereoselective intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition reaction involving its furanic 13(16)-double bond. Finally, the α-epoxy ketone 6 was rearranged to the 10(98)abeo-labda-7,9-dione derivative 10. …

Current Bioactive Azole-Containing Natural Products

Synthesis of Ru(III) complexes with several N and S donor ligands

Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments of clerodane diterpenoids of Salvia splendens.

Unambiguous and complete assignments of 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts for five clerodane diterpenes, four of them isolated from Salvia splendens (salviarin, splendidin and splenolides A and B) and one obtained by acetylation of splenolide A, are presented. The assignments are based on 2D shift-correlated [1H,1H–COSY, 1H,13C-gHSQC–1J(C,H) and 1H,13C-gHMBC-nJ(C,H) (n = 2 and 3)] and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) experiments. The conformation of the rings of these compounds is supported by the 3J(H,H) values and NOE results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Reattività degli alcoli omoallilici con aldeidi in presenza di In(OTf)3

A Review of the Phytochemistry, Traditional Uses and Biological Activities of the Essential Oils of Genus Teucrium

AbstractThe genus Teucrium is a large and polymorphic genus of the Lamiaceae family distributed in mild climate zones, particularly in the Mediterranean basin and Central Asia. Studies of nonvolatile constituents of Teucrium species showed that they are a rich source of neo-clerodane diterpenoids, considered as chemotaxonomic markers of the genus. In addition to the nonvolatile metabolites, there has been a large interest in the essential oils of this genus. In this review, a complete survey of the chemical composition and biological properties of the essential oils isolated from Teucrium taxa is provided. In traditional medicine, since ancient times, species of this genus have been widely …

A deep insight into the mechanism of the acid-catalyzed rearrangement of the Z-phenylhydrazone of 5-amino-3-benzoyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole in a non-polar solvent

The conversion of the Z-phenylhydrazone of 5-amino-3-benzoyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (1a) into the relevant 1,2,3-triazole (2a) has been quantitatively studied in toluene in the presence of several halogenoacetic acids (HAAs, 3a–h). Again, the occurrence of two reaction pathways has been pointed out: they require one or two moles of acid, respectively, thus repeating the situation previously observed in the presence of trichloroacetic acid. The observed rate constant ratios (kIII/kII) are only slightly affected by the nature of the acid used. To gain a deeper insight into the action of the acids used we have measured the association constants of the HAAs (3a–h) with 4-nitroaniline (4) in toluene. …

Chemical composition of salvia argentea L. (laminaceae)

Diterpeni neoclerodanici sa Salvia splendens

The Chemistry and the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Polymethoxyflavonoids from Citrus Genus

Polymethoxyflavonoids (PMFs) are a large group of compounds belonging to the more general class of flavonoids that possess a flavan carbon framework decorated with a variable number of methoxy groups. Hydroxylated polymethoxyflavonoids (HPMFs), instead, are characterized by the presence of both hydroxyl and methoxy groups in their structural unities. Some of these compounds are the aglycone part in a glycoside structure in which the glycosidic linkage can involve the −OH at various positions. These compounds are particular to Citrus genus plants, especially in fruits, and they are present mainly in the peel. A considerable number of PMFs and HPMFs have shown promising biological activities …

COMPLESSI POLINUCLEARI DI Pt(II)CON LEGANTI POLIPIRIDINICI. SINTESI, CARATTERIZZAZIONE STRUTTURALE E SPETTROSCOPICA, ATTIVITÀ CITOTOSSICA

Un nuovo riarrangiamento [3,3] sigmatropico di 3-allilossi-5-fenil-1,2,4-ossadiazoli catalizzato da Pd(II)

Mono- and polynuclear complexes of Pt(II) with polypyridyl ligands. Synthesis, spectroscopic and structural characterization and cytotoxic activity.

Abstract An array of poly- and mononuclear complexes of Pt(II) with polypyridyl ligands is reported. The framework complexes [(PtCl 2 ) 2 (bpp) 2 (μ-PtCl 2 )](H 2 O) 2 [bpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine], [PtCl 2 (μ-tptz)PtClNCPh]Cl [tptz = 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine], and mononuclear PtCl 2 (NH 2 dpt) [NH 2 dpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole] have been prepared and structurally characterized. Both neutral and ionic complexes are present, with bifunctional and monofunctional Pt(II) moieties, whose size and shape enable them to behave as novel scaffolds for DNA binding. Pt(II) complexes were tested for their biological activity. Cell viability assay and flow cytometric …

Synthesis, In Vitro and In Silico Analysis of New Oleanolic Acid and Lupeol Derivatives against Leukemia Cell Lines: Involvement of the NF-κB Pathway

Oleanolic acid (OA) and Lupeol (LU) belong to the class of natural triterpenes and are endowed with a wide range of biological activities, including cytotoxicity toward several cancer cell lines. In this context, we investigated a set of compounds obtained from the two natural precursors for the cytotoxicity against leukemia HL60 cells and the multidrug-resistant (MDR) variant HL60R. Six new semi-synthetic triterpenes have been synthetized, fully characterized, and were investigated together with other triterpenes compounds for their pharmacological mechanism of action. The interaction of the more cytotoxic compounds with the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway has been also evalua…

Investigation of the aqueous transmetalation of pi-allylpalladium with indium: some theoretical and experimental evidence about the nature of allylindium intermediates

In this paper we report some theoretical and experimental evidence concerning the nature of the allyl-In intermediate generated by umpolung of allyl-Pd complexes in the Pd(OAc)(2)/TPPTS catalysed allylation reaction of benzaldehyde. The allylic substrate reacts at the substituted terminus, because of the formation of an equilibrating mixture of eta(1)-allyl-In(I) specie with the gamma-substituted regioisomer being more reactive.

Kinetic study of methoxide-promoted elimination reactions of some 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(phenyl-substituted)ethanes

The methoxide-promoted elimination reaction of some 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(phenyl-substituted)ethanes (1) was investigated. The ortho-substituted derivatives were found to be less reactive than the corresponding ortho-unsubstituted derivatives, irrespective of the nature of their substituent. The reactivity data were correlated with the 13C NMR chemical shift values of C-β of either 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(phenyl-substituted)ethanes or 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(phenyl-substituted)ethenes and the better result was obtained for the former correlation. Activation parameters for the methoxide-promoted elimination of 1 show very similar values for ortho-substituted derivatives. The total data set se…

The Orange Peel: An Outstanding Source of Chemical Resources

Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck is a very common cultivar belonging to the Rutaceae family. It is largely diffused in several areas of the world characterized by mild to warm climate conditions. Its abundant worldwide production (up to 107 Tons. per year) and consumption both as the edible part of the fruit and as several types of derivative products imply the production of a huge amount of waste, such as the fruit pomace. Several ways of recycling this material have been developed in recent years: employment as fertilizer, fodder ingredient, and even cloth material. However, the chemical added value of Citrus sinensis peel has been underestimated despite the diversified and significant content…

Cytotoxicity of oleanolic and ursolic acid derivatives toward hepatocellular carcinoma and evaluation of NF-κB involvement.

Oleanolic and ursolic acids are two ubiquitous isomeric triterpene phytochemicals known for their anticancer activity. A set of derivatives of the two compounds with a modified oxidation state and lipophylicity at C-3 and C-28 positions, were prepared and tested as anticancer agents versus the lines HepG2, Hep3B and HA22T/VGH of hepatocarcinoma, a strongly aggressive tumor that is not responsive toward the standard therapies. New derivatives containing a three carbons side chain on the C-3 position were synthetized in both stereoisomeric forms by the Barbier-Grignard procedure and three of them were found to be active toward all of the three targets. The implication of the transcriptional n…

The Reactivity of 4’-Substituted Spiro[Isoindole-1,3’-pyrazoles] Derivatives: Substitution/Elimination Reactions and Access to Biaryl Derivatives

This paper describes aspects of the chemistry of 4’-substituted spiro [indole-1,3’-pyrazoles]. These compounds underwent substitution and/or elimination reactions to afford some new spiro- as well as biaryl derivatives of potential pharmaceutical relevance. Mechanistic considerations are discussed as well.

ChemInform Abstract: A New Palladium(II)-Catalyzed [3,3] Aza-Claisen Rearrangement of 3-Allyloxy-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles.

Substituted derivatives such as (Ib,c) react with very high degree of stereochemistry explained by a cationic palladacycle intermediate similar to the one postulated for the Cope-rearrangement of 1,5-dienes.