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Herein I present a review on the synthesis of ipsenol and ipsdienol, two aggregation pheromones of bark beetles, isolated from different species of genus Ips, and serious pests of conifer forests. I have covered the literature for around fifty years, since 1968 to 2020. This account has been divided in different sections and sub-sections, including a general and brief outlook on their isolation, structure and biological activity, to continue with the reported synthesis of racemic ipsenol and ipsdienol, including my own contribution to topic, and the presentation of reports describing the synthesis of enantiomerically pure ipsenol and ipsdienol. Particular attention has been devoted to identify and highlight racemic or enantiomerically pure "isoprene synthons", and isoprenylation methods employed in the synthesis of ipsenol and ipsdienol, of general interest for related terpene derivatives synthesis., (© 2021 The Chemical Society of Japan & Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

New thienopyrimidine hydroxamic acid derivatives as HDACs inhibitors were designed, synthesized and evaluated. All compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit recombinant human HDAC1, HDAC3, and HDAC6 isoforms and in vitro anti-proliferative activity on tumor cell lines RMPI 8226 and HCT 116. Most of these compounds displayed good to excellent inhibitory activities against HDACs. The IC 50 values of compound 9m against HDAC1, HDAC3, and HDAC6 was 29.81 ± 0.52 nM, 24.71 ± 1.16 nM, and 21.29 ± 0.32 nM. Most of these compounds showed strong anti-proliferative activity against human cancer cell lines including RMPI 8226 and HCT 116. The IC 50 values of compound 9m against RPMI 8226 and HCT 116 proliferation were 0.97 ± 0.072 μM and 1.01 ± 0.033 μM, respectively. In addition, compound 9m noticeably up-regulated the level of histone H3 acetylation at the low concentration of 0.3 μM., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

We report the identification of a novel pheromone structure from males of the cerambycid beetle Tylonotus bimaculatus Haldeman (Cerambycinae: Hesperophanini), a species native to eastern North America. Volatiles collected from adult males contained (2S,4E)-2-hydroxyoct-4-en-3-one (71%), (3R,4E)-3-hydroxyoct-4-en-2-one (15%), (E)-4-octen-2,3-dione (13%), and 2,3-octanedione (1.5%). Four independent field bioassays with synthetic compounds confirmed that adults of both sexes were attracted by the racemate of the major component, (E)-2-hydroxyoct-4-en-3-one. No other cerambycid species were attracted in significant numbers. Attraction of both sexes is consistent with the male-produced pheromones of many other species in the subfamily Cerambycinae, but T. bimaculatus is unusual in having a pheromone chemistry that is so far unique among species in that subfamily.

When alkenynedioic acid derivatives were treated with a Grignard reagent, tandem cyclization and the incorporation of two molecules of the Grignard reagent occurred to give stereodefined bicyclo[4.2.0]octenols via four nucleophilic additions.

This study was aimed to evaluate detailed mechanisms on the apoptotic induction of benzyldihydroxyoctenone, a novel compound isolated from Streptomyces sp. KACC91015, in androgen-sensitive LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Benzyldihydroxyoctenone, designated as F3-2-5 in the current study, caused accumulation of apoptotic sub-G(1) phase in the flow cytometric analysis using propidium iodide staining. Moreover, the typical apoptotic DNA fragmentation of the LNCaP cells treated with 30 microM of F3-2-5 was confirmed using the TUNEL assay. This apoptotic induction of F3-2-5 in the LNCaP cells was associated with the cytochrome c release from mitochondria to cytosol, and the activation of procaspase-8, -9, and -3, as well as the specific proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). In addition, F3-2-5 treatment caused the down-regulation of the antiapoptotic protein, such as Bcl-2 and Bcl-X(L), but the proapoptotic protein, such as Bax, was not influenced. To investigate whether apoptotic induction by F3-2-5 is also due to the down-regulation of androgen receptor (AR), Western blot analysis and quantitative RT-PCR were conducted in F3-2-5-treated LNCaP prostate cancer cells. We found that F3-2-5 significantly inhibited the expression levels of AR and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) proteins in a time-dependent manner, as well as F3-2-5 abrogated the up-regulation of AR and PSA genes with and without DHT. Therefore, F3-2-5 has been shown to be an androgen antagonist, suggesting that F3-2-5 could be a potent agent for the treatment of both androgen-dependent and hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

1,4-Disubstituted 2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-5-enes were dihydroxylated with osmium tetroxide to yield diols anti to the peroxide linkage in a highly selective manner. Reduction of the peroxide bond furnished cyclohexane-1,2,3,4-tetraols with toxocarol relative stereochemistry in excellent yield. This new methodology was employed to synthesize the natural product (1S,2R,3S,4R,5R)-2-methyl-5-(propan-2-yl)cyclohexane-1,2,3,4-tetrol (1) in a short sequence from (R)-alpha-phellandrene. Moreover, during the study of the chemistry of 2,3-dioxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane-5,6-diols a hitherto unknown rearrangement was discovered which has wide applicability for the synthesis of 1,4-dicarbonyls, including optically enriched synthons. A broad range of mechanistic investigations applicable to this rearrangement are also reported.

Purpose: New 2-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonanes were prepared from antiprotozoal bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ones to investigate the influence of the replacement of the rigid bicyclo-octane structure by the more flexible bicyclo-nonane system on the antiplasmodial and antitrypanosomal activity., Methods: The 2-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonanes were synthesized via a one-step procedure from bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ones and tested for their activities against Trypanosoma b. rhodesiense and Plasmodium falciparum K1 (resistant to chloroquine and pyrimethamine) using in vitro microplate assays., Results: 2-azabicyclo[3.2.2]non-5-ylamines exhibit higher antiprotozoal activities than 4-aminobicyclo[2.2.2]octanes, 4-aminobicycl [2.2.2]octan-2-ones and 4-amino-2-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonan-3-ones. (7, 8-Diphenyl-2-azabicyclo[3.2.2]non-5-yl)-dimethylamine shows enhanced anti-trypanosomal (IC50 = 0.60 microM) and remarkable antiplasmodial (IC50 = 0.28 microM) activity. However, the in vivo activity of this compound against Plasmodium berghei in mice is moderate., Conclusions: Due to their promising in vitro antiprotozoal activity and their low cytotoxicity, 2-azabicyclo[3.2.2]nonanes should serve as lead compounds for further modifications.

Several bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-imines and esters of bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-ols were prepared. Their antitrypanosomal and antiplasmodial activities against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense (STIB 900) and the K1 strain of Plasmodium falciparum (resistant to chloroquine and pyrimethamine) were determined using microplate assays. Two of the synthesized bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-one 4'-phenylthiosemicarbazones showed the highest antitrypanosomal activity (IC(50)<0.3 microM) of the so far prepared 4-amino-6,7-diarylbicyclo[2.2.2]octane derivatives, but they are distinctly less active than suramine (IC(50)=0.0075 microM). Most of the 4'-phenylthiosemicarbazones and a single bicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-yl benzoate exhibit attractive antimalarial activity (IC(50)=0.23-0.72 microM). Two bicyclooctanone oximes are even as active as chloroquine (IC(50)=0.08-0.15 microM, chloroquine: IC(50)=0.12 microM against sensitive strains).

[reaction: see text] A highly efficient chemical kinetic resolution of bishomoallylic alcohols was developed when the alcohols underwent In(OTf)(3)-catalyzed 3,5-oxonium-ene-type cyclization with steroidal aldehyde 2. Consistently high enantiomeric excess (up to >99%) was obtained.

The title compounds, C22H20N2O3S, (I), and C22H22N2O3S, (II), crystallize in space groups P-1 and P2(1)2(1)2(1), respectively. The indole rings are planar and the benzene ring of the phenylsulfonyl group makes a dihedral angle with the mean plane of the indole ring of 90.2 (2) degrees in (I) and 94.0 (2) degrees in (II). In both molecules, the double bond connecting the aza-bicyclic and indole moieties has a Z geometry. Compound (II) was obtained as an enantiomerically pure crystal and has the 3S configuration.

To overcome the difficulties of locating the molecular sites of general anesthetic action, we synthesized a novel photoactivable general anesthetic, 3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-3-n-pentyldiazirine (3-diazirinyloctanol), which anesthetized tadpoles with an ED(50) of 160 microM. Subanesthetic concentrations of 3-diazirinyloctanol enhanced GABA-induced currents in GABA(A) receptors, an effect that has been implicated in general anesthetic action. It also enhanced [(3)H]muscimol binding to this receptor. In muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAcChoR), it inhibited the response to acetylcholine with an IC(50) of 33 microM. 3-Diazirinyloctanol's pharmacological actions were comparable to those of octanol. 3-(2-Hydroxyethyl)-3-[4,5-(3)H(2)]-n-pentyldiazirine photoincorporated into Torpedo nAcChoR-rich membranes mainly in the alpha subunit with 70% being in a proteolytic fragment containing the M4 transmembrane segment. Agonist enhanced the photolabeling 10-fold in a fragment containing the M1, M2, and M3 transmembrane segments. Thus, 3-diazirinyloctanol is a novel general anesthetic that acts on, and can be photoincorporated into, postsynaptic receptors.

The most abundant volatile occurring in mushrooms and responsible for the mushroom odour is 1-octen-3-ol. To meet the demand for a flavour compound yielding a mushroom odour a study was carried out on the possibility of obtaining 1-octen-3-ol synthetically. On the basis of literature data and experiments performed, the synthesis of this compound was carried out by two methods, i.e. by Grignard reaction between acrolein and amyl iodide and by selective reduction of 1-octen-3-on. The purity of the 1-octen-3-ol obtained was determined by GLC chromatography and by spectroscopic methods. The compound obtained by Grignard reaction had its IR, 13C NMR spectra and GLC chromatogram identical with those of the standard. The yield of 1-octen-3-ol by Grignard reaction was 65%, while the reduction of the ketone to the alcohol gave a yield of 90%.

The synthesis of 6-cis-dimethylamino-1,3,3-trimethyl-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-5-trans-ol (III) starting from 1,3,3-trimethyl-6-nitrimino-2-oxabicyclo[2.2.2]octane is described. Starting from aminoalcohol (III), a series of N-substituted urethanes (IV) and esters (V), as well as the rigid analogue of acetylcholine (VII), were prepared. A number of compounds (V) and particularly (IV) showed remarkable hypotensive and bradycardic activities in rats, whereas the p-aminobenzoate (V h) showed infiltration anesthesia in mice comparable to that of lidocaine. Antiarrhythmic activity in mice and antiacetylcholine activity in vitro are also reported.