Thomas Lindel

Indole Prenylation in Alkaloid Synthesis

Important biologically active indole alkaloids are decorated with prenyl (3,3-dimethylallyl) and tert-prenyl (1,1-dimethylallyl) groups. Covering the literature until the end of 2010, this review article comprehensively summarises and discusses the currently available technologies of prenylation and tert-prenylation of indoles, which have been applied in natural products total syntheses or could be applied there in the near future. We focus on those procedures which introduce the C(5) units in one step, organised according to the indole position to be functionalised. Key strategies include electrophilic and nucleophilic prenylation and tert-prenylation, prenyl and tert-prenyl rearrangements, transition metal-mediated reactions and enzymatic methods.

Microwave-assisted fluorination of 2-acylpyrroles: synthesis of fluorohymenidin.

Treatment of mono- and nonbrominated 2-acylpyrroles with Selectfluor under microwave conditions leads to fluorination of the pyrrole ring in the 5-position. In particular, 2-trichloroacetylated pyrrole can be fluorinated. As an example, dihydrofluorohymenidin was synthesized and dehydrogenated to fluorohymenidin as the first fluorinated pyrrole-imidazole alkaloid. Introduction of the vinyl double bond was achieved by chlorination of the 2-aminoimidazole moiety, followed by dehydrochlorination at 100 °C in DMF.

Photoactivation of (p‐Methoxyphenyl)(trifluoromethyl)diazirine in the Presence of Phenolic Reaction Partners

Shine light on your chemistry! Irradiating 3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-3H-diazirine in the presence of equimolar solutions of phenol and tyrosine derivatives leads to Friedel-Crafts alkylations (see scheme), which suggests a strategy for the development of cleaner diazirines for chemical biology.

Identification of superoxide production by Arabidopsis thaliana aldehyde oxidases AAO1 and AAO3

Plant aldehyde oxidases (AOs) have gained great attention during the last years as they catalyze the last step in the biosynthesis of the phytohormone abscisic acid by oxidation of abscisic aldehyde. Furthermore, oxidation of indole-3-acetaldehyde by AOs is likely to represent one route to produce another phytohormone, indole-3-acetic acid, and thus, AOs play important roles in many aspects of plant growth and development. In the present work we demonstrate that heterologously expressed AAO1 and AAO3, two prominent members of the AO family from Arabidopsis thaliana, do not only generate hydrogen peroxide but also superoxide anions by transferring aldehyde-derived electrons to molecular oxygen. In support of this, superoxide production has also been found for native AO proteins in Arabidopsis leaf extracts. In addition to their aldehyde oxidation activity, AAO1 and AAO3 were found to exhibit NADH oxidase activity, which likewise is associated with the production of superoxide anions. According to these results and due to the fact that molecular oxygen is the only known physiological electron acceptor of AOs, the production of hydrogen peroxide and/or superoxide has to be considered in any physiological condition in which aldehydes or NADH serve as substrate for AOs. In this respect, conditions such as natural senescence and stress-induced stomatal movement, which both require simultaneously elevated levels of abscisic acid and hydrogen peroxide/superoxide, are likely to benefit from AOs in two ways, namely by formation of abscisic acid and by concomitant formation of reactive oxygen species.

Synthesis of Hydroxypyrrolone Carboxamides Employing Selectfluor

Reaction of pyrrole-2-carboxamides with Selectfluor in MeCN/water (4:1) affords 2-hydroxy-5-oxopyrrole-2-carboxamides in yields of up to 80u2009%. A variety of sensitive functional groups is tolerated, among them aldehydes and alkynes. The new method also works in the presence of allyl groups and appears to be superior to the use of singlet oxygen. Reaction of the monobrominated dihydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrazinone mukanadinu2005C and its nonbrominated analogue afforded bicyclic hydroxypyrrolones. These compounds are interesting as they constitute a partial structure of the marine natural product oxocyclostylidol.

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of Terreumols A and C from the Mushroom Tricholoma terreum.

The cytotoxic meroterpenoids terreumolu2005A and C from the grey knight mushroom Tricholoma terreum were synthesized for the first time. The key step of the enantioselective total synthesis of terreumolu2005C is a ring-closing metathesis to form a trisubstituted Z double bond embedded in the 10-membered ring of the [8.4.0] bicycle. Interestingly, the presence of a free hydroxy group in the metathesis precursor prevents cyclization and favors cross metathesis. (-)-Terreumolu2005C was converted into (-)-terreumolu2005A by diastereoselective epoxidation. Starting from 2-bromo-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde, 14u2005steps with an overall yield of 23u2009% are needed for the synthesis of (-)-terreumolu2005A. X-ray analysis of the benzoquinone analogue of terreumolu2005A provides independent proof of the absolute configuration.

Cubitane: a rare diterpenoid skeleton

There are only 15 diterpenoids known sharing the rare cubitane skeleton (1,3-diisopropyl-6,10-dimethylcyclododecane, Fig.xa01) named after the natural product (+)-cubitene ((+)-1) from the termite Cubitermes umbratus. Cubitane-type diterpenoids (“cubitanoids”) have since then been isolated from gorgonian corals and there are reports that cubitene also occurs in plants. The twelve-membered ring of the cubitanoids is an interesting feature for which we have developed a novel synthesis involving bicyclic precursors. In this review, we discuss the state-of-research regarding isolation, structure elucidation, biological activity, biosynthesis, and total synthesis of cubitane-type diterpenoids.Fig.xa01Cubitane skeleton and cubitanoids from termites

Study on the synthesis of the cyclopenta[f]indole core of raputindole A

Summary The raputindoles from the rutaceous tree Raputia simulans share a cyclopenta[f]indole partial structure the synthesis of which is subject of this investigation. An efficient route to a series of 1,5-di(indol-6-yl)pentenones was developed via Mo/Au-catalyzed Meyer–Schuster rearrangement of tertiary propargylic alcohol precursors. However, none of the enones underwent the desired Nazarov cyclization to a cyclopenta[f]indole. More suitable were 6-hydroxyallylated indolines which gave good yields of cyclopenta[f]indolines after treatment with SnCl4, as soon as sterically demanding β-cyclocitral adducts were reacted. Most successful were Pt(II) and Au(I)-catalyzed cyclizations of N-TIPS-protected indolin-6-yl-substituted propargylacetates which provided the hydrogenated tricyclic cyclopenta[f]indole core system in high yield.

Aminopyrazine Pathway to the Moco Metabolite Dephospho Form A

An efficient synthesis of the molybdopterin/molybdenum cofactor (Moco) oxidation product dephospho Formu2005A is described that assembles the pteridinone system starting from an iodinated aminopyrazine. The sodium salt of dephospho Formu2005A could be purified by precipitation from methanol, which paved the way to the title compound in the 100u2005mg range. By HPLC, the synthetic material was compared with a sample isolated from a recombinant Moco containing protein. Analysis of dephospho Formu2005A is the only method that allows the quantification of the Moco content of crude cell extracts and recombinant protein preparations.

Water Compatible Photoarylation of Amino Acids and Peptides

A novel photoarylation of amino acids and peptides is described, which tolerates the presence of water. Irradiation of Boc-protected amino acids in the presence of N-protected 2-azidobenzimidazoles leads to selective arylation of carboxy termini or side chains. The new reaction also works for peptides. Irradiation of the nonapeptide H-SPSYVYHQF-OH also resulted in selective arylation of the tyrosine side chains, as indicated by ESI-MS/MS fragmentation. Chemo- and regioselectivity could add the title reaction to the repertoire of photoaffinity labeling methods.