Ting-Ting Feng

Molecular Hybridization-Guided One-Pot Multicomponent Synthesis of Turmerone Motif-Fused 3,3'-Pyrrolidinyl-dispirooxindoles via a 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reaction

Described herein is the development of a facile and efficient methodology for the synthesis of novel turmerone motif-fused 3,3′-pyrrolidinyl-dispirooxindoles 3–5 via a multicomponent 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of dienones 2 with azomethine ylides (thermally generated in situfrom isatins and proline or thioproline or sarcosine). Products bearing four or three consecutive stereocenters consist of two oxindole moieties and a pyrrolidinyl core, including vicinal spiroquaternary stereocenters fused in one ring structure were smoothly obtained in high yields (up to 93% yield) with good diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1). Another valuable application of this method was for the design of new hybrid architectures for biological screening through the adequate fusion of these sub-units of turmerone and 3,3′-pyrrolidinyl-dispirooxindole, generating drug-like molecules.

Alcohols as Substrates and Solvents for the Construction of 3-Alkoxylated-2-Oxindoles by Direct Alkoxylation of 3-Halooxindoles

Described herein is an environmentally benign method for the synthesis of multisubstituted 3-alkoxylated-2-oxindoles 3 via direct alkoxylation of 3-halooxindoles 1. A wide variety of such multisubstituted 3-alkoxylated-2-oxindole scaffolds were smoothly obtained in good yields (up to 94%) by heating in an oil bath at 35 °C for 24 h. A particularly valuable feature of this method was the development of environment-friendly chemistry using alcohols 2 as both the substrates and solvents in the presence of a catalytic amount of base.

Molecular hybridization-guided one-pot multicomponent synthesis of chromanone-fused 3,3′-pyrrolidinyl-dispirooxindoles through a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction

ABSTRACT A new methodology was developed for the synthesis of 3,3′-pyrrolidinyl-dispirooxindoles 3 through a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition event of isatylidenyl-chromanones 2 with azomethine ylides (thermally generated in situ from isatins and sarcosine). The method gives an easy access to a series of highly functionalized products containing three consecutive stereocenters and vicinal spiroquaternary stereocenters fused in one ring structure with 15 examples in high yields (up to 82% yield) and good diastereoselectivity (up to >20:1), which makes possible the synthesis of libraries under similar circumstances. Moreover, the current method provides a convenient approach for the efficient incorporation of two biologically important scaffolds (chromanone and 3,3′-pyrrolidinyl-dispirooxindoles). X-ray diffraction studies of one of the cycloadducts proved the structure and regiochemistry of the cycloaddition. In particular, their biological activity against human leukemia cells K562 and normal L929 cells has been evaluated. These results suggested that 3,3′-pyrrolidinyl-dispirooxindoles 3 may be potential leads for further biological screenings. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Sanggenon C Stimulates Osteoblastic Proliferation and Differentiation, Inhibits Osteoclastic Resorption, and Ameliorates Prednisone-Induced Osteoporosis in Zebrafish Model

Sanggenon C (SC), which is a natural flavonoid found in the stem bark of Cortex Mori, has been discovered to have the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. However, its effect in osteoporosis has not yet been reported. In this research, the effect of SC on the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells was evaluated by using the MTT assay. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the mRNA expression of Runx2, Collagen I, OPG, and RANKL were examined. TRAP-positive cell counting and bone resorption pits were adopted to observe the effect of SC on the formation and function of osteoclasts. Next, the mRNA level of TRAP, CTSK, NFATc1, and TRAF6 of osteoclasts were measured by real-time qPCR. In addition, the anti-osteoporosis activity of SC in vivo was evaluated in the zebrafish model. Our study indicated that SC exhibited a significant stimulatory effect on MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation at 1 to 10 μM and caused an increase in ALP activity at 0.3 to 10 μM. It could upregulate the expression of Runx2, Collagen I, and increases the OPG/RANKL ratio. Furthermore, SC was found to inhibit the formation and function of osteoclasts, which is demonstrated by a lower number of TRAP-positive multinuclear cells and a fewer area of bone resorption pits compared to the control group. TRAP, CTSK, and NFATc1 were downregulated in 0.3 to 10 μM SC treated groups. In addition, 3 to 10 μM SC also inhibited the expression of TRAF6 mRNA. When prednisone-induced zebrafish was treated with 0.3, 1, 3, and 10 μM SC, higher mineralization of vertebrate column was discovered in a dose-dependent pattern, which suggests that SC could reverse the bone loss of zebrafish caused by prednisone. In summary, these findings indicated that SC has the potential to prevent or treat osteoporosis.

Diversity-oriented TsOH catalysis-enabled construction of tanshinone-substituted bis(indolyl/pyrrolyl)methanes and their biological evaluation for anticancer activities

ABSTRACT We have developed an efficient and straightforward methodology for the synthesis of novel tanshinone-substituted bis(indolyl/pyrrolyl)methane scaffolds 3 through TsOH catalysis-enabled addition of indoles or pyrroles 1 with tanshinones 2 based on molecular hybridization strategy. Products were smoothly obtained in good yields (up to 81% yield). This protocol also represents the first construction of tanshinone skeleton-fused bis(indolyl/pyrrolyl)methane scaffolds, thus leading to new knowledge in the fields of both molecular complexity and diversity-oriented synthesis and the lead compound discovery. Furthermore, their biological activities against human leukemia cells K562, human prostate cancer cells PC-3, and human lung cancer cells A549 have been preliminarily demonstrated by in vitro assays. The results demonstrated that most of these compounds 3 obtained by this protocol showed comparable activity to the positive control of cisplatin. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Rapid, microwave-accelerated synthesis and anti-osteoporosis activities evaluation of Morusin scaffolds and Morusignin L scaffolds

Described herein is a facile and efficient methodology toward the synthesis of Morusin scaffolds and Morusignin L scaffolds 4-9 and 12via a novel three-step approach (Michael addition or prenylation, cyclization and cyclization) and use a rapid, microwave-accelerated cyclization as the key step. Furthermore, their biological activities have been preliminarily demonstrated by in vitro evaluation for anti-osteoporosis activity. These Morusin, Morusignin L and newly synthesized compounds 5b, 6a, 8e, 8f greatly exhibited the highest potency, especially at the 10-5mol/L (P<0.01), and had good in vitro anti-osteoporosis activities using the commercially available standard drug Ipriflavone as a positive control. The mechanisms associated with anti-osteoporosis effects of these compounds may be through the inhibition of TRAP enzyme activity and bone resorption in osteoclasts, and promotion effect of osteoblast proliferation in vitro. The results indicated that Morusin scaffolds and Morusignin L scaffolds may be useful leads for further anti-osteoporosis activity screenings.

Cinnamomum cassia Presl. 肉桂 (Rougui, Cassia Bark Tree)

Rougui is the dried bark of Presl. belonging to the Laurel family, Lauraceae (Lee et al. in Journal of Food and Drug Analysis 18:225–231, 128–135, 2010a, b). According to the Pharmacopeia of People’s Republic of China (Pharmacopoeia Committee of P. R. China. in China Medical Science Press, Beijing (in China), 2010), Rougui is harvested usually in autumn and then dried in the shade. one of the most important trees in the subtropical evergreen broadleaf forest, is widely distributed in the south of China along the Yangtze River valley, and is also found in Korea, Japan and Vietnam (Zheng. in Chinese Forestry Press, Beijing, 1983). It has been widely planted in cities throughout southern China because of its high landscaping value and resistance to disease and pollution (Tian et al. in Scientia Silvae Sinicae 43:29–35, 2007). Guangxi and Guangdong provinces are the main producers and account for more than 95 % of Chinese production of Rougui.