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Notes: The hitherto unknown diterpenoid 14-hydroxytaxodione (10a) has been prepared by oxidation of 6β-hydroxyroyleanone. Its solutions exhibit a dynamic structural behaviour (UV./VIS/. and NMR.) and lead to an equilibrium mixture of the 11, 14- and the 6, 12-dioxo forms. By methylation and acetylation the 6, 12-dioxo form can be isolated. Chloroform solutions of 14-hydroxytaxodione slowly set up a mixture of coleon V (2a), coleon U (3) and dimeric products (later established as grandidone C, grandidone D and 7-epigrandidone D). Therefore, coleon V (2a) owing to its strong intramolecular H-bond is more stable than 7, 14-dihydroxy-taxodione (2b).

Notes: Isolation of 14-Hydroxytaxodione from Plectranthus grandidentatus GÜRKE and of Seven New Dimeric Diterpenoids from P. grandidentatus, P. myrianthus and Coleus carnosus Structures of Grandidone A, 7-Epi-A, B, C, D and 7-Epi-DFrom the leaf-glands of the title plant the following abietane diterpenes have been isolated and their structures established by chemical, spectroscopical and X-ray methods: 14-hydroxytaxodione (5, 0,57%), new as a natural product, the already known coleons U (6, 0,17%) and V (7, 0,024%), and furthermore 7 novel dimeric compounds named grandidones (ca. 0,09%), Both grandidone A (1a) and 7-epigrandidone A (1b) as well as grandidone B (2a) and 7-epigrandidone B (2b) are C(7) acetals of 6, 7-Dioxoroyleanone with catecholes such as coleon U (→ 1a, 1b) or coleon V (→ 2a, 2b). Based on the relative configuration at C(7) of 1a which was established by X-ray analysis, the constitutions of 1b, 2a and 2b were assigned by HPLC. - controlled interconversions. The unstable grandidone C (3) is a C(7)-C(7′) linked bis-6-oxoroyleanone with C2-symmetry. Grandidone D (4a) and 7-epigrandidone D (4b) are spiro-dihydrofurans formed from 3 via a hypothetical bis (14-hydroxytaxodione) by intramolecular addition of HO-C(14) or HO-C(14′) to C(7′) to C(7′) or C(7). The relative configuration of 4a was established by X-ray analysis of its diacetate 4c. The absolute configuration of all dimers was established by the partial syntheses from 14-hydroxytaxodion (5) (entirely described in the following communication).

Notes: Partial Synthesis of Grandidones A, 7-Epi-A, B, 7-Epi-B, C, D and 7-Epi-D, from 14-HydroxytaxodioneOxydative addition of coleon U (6) to 14-hydroxytaxodione (5) in the presence of Fétizon's reagent mainly leads to grandidone A (1a) and 7-epigrandidone A (1b) (ca. 15:1), whereas coleon V (7) and 5 under the same conditions yield grandidone B (2a) and 7-epigrandidone B (2b) (ca. 3:1). Dimerization of 14-hydroxytaxodione (5) gives grandidone C (3; ca. 40%), grandidone D (4a; ca. 50%) and 7-epigrandidone D (4b; ca. 10%). All these compounds obtained by partial synthesis are in every respect identical with the natural products, thus establishing their absolute configurations. The thermal transformation of grandidone C (3) to grandidone D (4a)/7-epigrandidone D (4b) and interconversions of 4a and 4b were achieved.Oxydative addition of coleon U (6) to 14-hydroxytaxodione (5) in the presence of Fétizon's reagent mainly leads to grandidone A (1a) and 7-epigrandidone A (1b) (ca. 15:1), whereas coleon V (7) and 5 under the same conditions yield grandidone B (2a) and 7-epigrandidone B (2b) (ca. 3:1). Dimerization of 14-hydroxytaxodione (5) gives grandidone C (3; ca. 40%), grandidone D (4a; ca. 50%) and 7-epigrandidone D (4b; ca. 10%). All these compounds obtained by partial synthesis are in every respect identical with the natural products, thus establishing their absolute configurations. The thermal transformation of grandidone C (3) to grandidone D (4a)/7-epigrandidone D (4b) and interconversions of 4a and 4b were achieved.Oxydative addition of coleon U (6) to 14-hydroxytaxodione (5) in the presence of Fétizon's reagent mainly leads to grandidone A (1a) and 7-epigrandidone A (1b) (ca. 15:1), whereas coleon V (7) and 5 under the same conditions yield grandidone B (2a) and 7-epigrandidone B (2b) (ca. 3:1). Dimerization of 14-hydroxytaxodione (5) gives grandidone C (3; ca. 40%), grandidone D (4a; ca. 50%) and 7-epigrandidone D (4b; ca. 10%). All these compounds obtained by partial synthesis are in every respect identical with the natural products, thus establishing their absolute configurations. The thermal transformation of grandidone C (3) to grandidone D (4a)/7-epigrandidone D (4b) and interconversions of 4a and 4b were achieved.Oxydative addition of coleon U (6) to 14-hydroxytaxodione (5) in the presence of Fétizon's reagent mainly leads to grandidone A (1a) and 7-epigrandidone A (1b) (ca. 15:1), whereas coleon V (7) and 5 under the same conditions yield grandidone B (2a) and 7-epigrandidone B (2b) (ca. 3:1). Dimerization of 14-hydroxytaxodione (5) gives grandidone C (3; ca. 40%), grandidone D (4a; ca. 50%) and 7-epigrandidone D (4b; ca. 10%). All these compounds obtained by partial synthesis are in every respect identical with the natural products, thus establishing their absolute configurations. The thermal transformation of grandidone C (3) to grandidone D (4a)/7-epigrandidone D (4b) and interconversions of 4a and 4b were achieved.

Notes: Synthesis and Chirality of the Enantiomeric 6-Hydroxy-α-ionones and of cis- and trans-5,6-Dihydroxy-5,6-dihydro-β-iononesWe describe the synthesis of (-)-(5R,6S)-5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydro-β-ionone (10) and (+)-(5S,6S)-5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydro-β-ionone (12). The absolute configuration of these compounds has been established by correlation with (R)-4-hydroxy-β-ionone (1).Therefore, by comparison, the 5,6-dihydroxy-5,6-dihydro-β-ionone recently isolated from Rehmannia glutinosa var. purpurea by Endo et al.[4] has the (5R,6R)-configuration ((-)-12). The same holds for the 5-β-D-glucopyranoside (15) isolated from Aeginetia indica var. gracilis.

Notes: Synthesis of [16,16,16,16′,16′,16′ 2H6]LycopeneLycopene having at both ends the deuteriated methyl groups trans to the chain has been synthesized for further biochemical experiments aimed to elucidate the stereochemistry of the cyclization step.Incidentally a gas-chromatographic separation of the isotopisomers 1 and 2g has been observed.

Notes: Synthesis and Circular Dichroism of Optically Active Carotenoid ModelsThe synthesis of the following optically active carotenoidic model compounds are described: ( - )-(3,S,3′S)-3,3′-diisopropenyl-16,17,18,16′,17,18′-hexanor-β,β-carotene (1), (3R,3′R)-19,20,19′,20′-Metranor-zeaxanthin (2) and (6R,6′R)-19,20, 19′,20′-tetranor-ε,ε-carotene (3). These compounds were synthesized for the following reasons: (1) the presence of methyl groups at C(1), C(1′), C(5), C(5′) of cyclic carotenoids profoundly affects the torsional angle of the C(6), C(7)- and C(6′), C(7′)-bonds. Sign and magnitude of this angle are, according to recent theories [4] [5], responsible for a helical chromophore and for strong conservative [4] Cotton effects. CD. measurements of 1 give experimental support to these state- 1 exhibits weaker and less temperature dependent Cotton effects. Of more significance, the shape of the curve is no longer conservative, as expected. This constitutes experimental evidence for the contention that the β-endgroups and the polyene chain indeed form an inherently dissymmetric chromophore in optically active β, β-carotene derivatives; (2) the slightly S-shaped form of the polyene chain of carotenoids, shown by X-ray analyses [12] [13], is mainly ascribed to the presence of the methyl groups in the chain. Models 2 and 3 therefore are assumed to be linear. CD. studies of these compounds should consequently give information about the influence of deviation from Linearity and planarity of the polyene on the CD. spectra of carotenoids. CD measurements of 2 and 3 show that the lack of methyl groups does not alter the general type of the curve. Only the intensity and to some extent the position of the Cotton effects are influenced. Carotenoids with the ε-endgroup possess inherently symmetric but asymmetrically distorted chromophores.The assumption that non-conservative CD. spectra could become conservative upon cooling [4] is experimentally confirmed by model 3.The rule stating that pairs of all-(E) and mono-(Z) isomers of carotenoids with only one cyclic endgroup should have CD. spectra with the same sign [5] is disproved by the CD. spectra of four stereoisomeric rubixanthins (s. Fig. 5).The UV./VIS. spectrum of 3, λmax 447 (ε 216000), 418 (ε 189000) exhibits the highest molecular extinction ever reported for a carotenoid.

Notes: Plectranthons A, B, C, and D. Diterpenoid Phenanthrene-1,4-diones from Leaf-glands a Plectranthus sp. (Labiatae)The following structures of four new 1,4-phenanthraquionones, isolated in minute amounts from the coloured leaf-glands of a Plectranthus sp. obtained from the borders of Lake Kiwu2, Rwanda, are proposed: plectranthon A (1; 3-hydroxy-5, 7,8-trimethyl-2-(2-propenyl)phenanthrene-1, 4-dione), plectranthon B (2; 2-(2ξ-acetoxypropyl)-3-hydroxy-5,7,8-trimethylphenanthrene-1,4-dione), plextranthon C (3; 3-hydroxy- 7,8-diemethyl-2-(2-propenyl)phenanthrene-1,4-dione), and plectranthon D (4; 3-hydroxy-7,8,10-trimethyl-2-(2-propenyl)phenanthrene-1,4-dione). 2-(2ξ-Hydroxypropyl)-3,6-dihydroxy-5,7,8-trimethylphenanthrene-1,4-dione (11), a compound very similar to 1-4, was prepared by a Wagner-Meerwein, rearrangement of coleon E (5). Biogenetically, the plectranthons are derived from abietanoic precursors. The compounds 1, 2 and 4 are the first natural C20-phenanthrenes of diterpenoid origin.

Notes: Red-Coloured Abietanoids from Leaf-Glands of Plectranthus strigosus BENTH.Chromatographic examination of the red-coloured diterpenoids from the South-African title plant yielded the following compounds: parviflorone A(1), parviflorone B (2), parviflorone C(3), parviflorone E (4) parviflorone D (5), parviflorone F (6), parviflorone G (7), and parviflorone H (8). Compounds 7 and 8 represent new variants of these quinone methides.

Notes: Syntheses of Optically Active Carotenoids with 3,5,6-Trihydroxy-5,6-dihydro β-End GroupsFor the specification of the relative and absolute configuration in carotenoids with 3,5,6-trihydroxy-5-6-dihydro β-end groups, several ionone derivatives and carotenoids bearing this end group were synthesized. Acid-catalyzed hydrolysis of (3S,5S,6R)- acetoxy-5,6-epoxy-5,6-dihydro-β-ionone (7) and of its (3S,5R,6S)-isomer (13) gave the diols 8 and 15, respectively, with exclusive inversion at c(5) (Scheme 2). Compared to this, mild acid hydrolysis of caroten-5-6-expoxides in the presence of H2O resulted in the formation of 5,6-diols with either inversion or retention of the configuration at C(6) (Scheme 3). Spectroscopic data allowed us to distinguish the relative configurations (3R*,5S*,6S*) (see A), (3R*,5R*,6R*) (see B), (3R*,5S*,6R*) (see C), and (3R*,5R*,6S*) (see D), of the 3,5,6-trihydroxy-5-6-dihydro β-end groups. Syntheses of the optically active carotene-hexols 20 and 21 and comparison with published data led to a revision of the structure of mectrazanthin (now formulated as 20), heteroxanthin (now formulated as 28), and further carotenoids with 3,5,6-trihydroxy end groups.

Notes: Structures of Six Coleons (Diterpenoids) from Solenostemon monostachys (P. BEAUV.) BRIQ. (Labiatae)The above mentioned African labiate has been investigated for its leaf-gland pigments. Besides the already known coleons C (1) and H (2), 2a-formoxy-coleon C (3), 12β-O-acetyl-coleon Z (7), 12β-O-acetyl-7-O-formyl-7-O-desacetyl-coleon Z (8) and a not separated mixture of 17-acetoxy-12β-O-acetyl-coleon Z (9a) and 12β-O-acetyl-17-formoxy-coleon Z (9b) have been isolated.