Solenopsin

Direct addition of Grignard reagents to Zincke-derived chiral pyridinium salts such as 99, meanwhile, allowed subsequent reduction to 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridines (e.g., 100, Scheme 8.4.32). This strategy provided entry to asymmetric syntheses of (-)-lupetidin and (+)-solenopsin. Tetrahydropyridines prepared by reduction of chiral... 

Although many insect defensive compounds are endowed with diverse biological activities, few of them have been studied in depth to evaluate their potential pharmacological activities. Cantharidin (98) (Fig. 16),pederin (104) (Fig. 18), and some of the alkaloids isolated from ants (e.g., the solenopsins 109 and 110, Fig. 19) have been the subject of most of the investigations. These topics have been reviewed several times [111, 214,215], and we will only summarize here the most recent data. 

Improved synthesis by this method has been achieved in order to obtain solenopsin A (Id) more stereoselectively 388). A cis and trans mixture of pyridine derivative 158, obtained from 156 by the Wittig reaction, was reduced by Raney nickel catalyst in the presence of PtOj to yield the m-piperidine (Ic). The Af-nitroso derivative 159, obtained from Ic by treatment with isoamyl nitrite, was treated with potassium rert-butoxide and then subjected to hydrogenolysis over Raney nickel to give a mixture of ( )-solenopsin A (Id, 1 part) and its isomer (Ic, 1 part) (Scheme 3). 

Some intramolecular aminations of olefins have been reported for solenopsin A (Id) and its isomer (Ic) (389-392). The dimer (200) of methyl vinyl ketone was converted to the ketone (202) by a standard procedure. Borohydride reduction of 202, followed by acid-catalyzed cyclization, yielded an exo/endo (60/40)... 

In addition, stereoselective synthesis of solenopsin A has been reported by four research groups. An approach utilizing the stereoselective reductive de-cyanation (596) starts with aminonitrile 229, prepared from 2-picoline. It was selectively hydrogenated in the presence of Pd-C, followed by alkylation with undecyl bromide, affording 231. Reductive decyanation of 231 with NaBH4 in MeOH led to predominant (8 2) formation of the trans isomer (232) which was then debenzylated to ( )-solenopsin A (Id). The cis product (Ic) was in turn prepared by treatment of 231 with sodium in liquid ammonia followed by de-benzylation (Scheme 10). 

Cycloaddition reaction of the l-acyl-l,2-dihydropyridine derivative 240 with methyl cyanodithioformate afforded adduct 241, which was converted by three steps to solenopsin A (Id) (Scheme 13) (399). This route constitutes a completely stereoselective synthesis of this alkaloid however, details are not available. 

Auf ahnliche Weise laBt sich 6-Methyl-2-tridecyl-l,2,3,6-tetrahydro-pyridin (53%) herstel-len und daraus durch katalytische Hydrierung 6-Methyl-2-tridecyl-piperidin (Solenopsin B-, 96 %)1 ... 

As shown in Table I, this reaction sequence has wide generality and is readily applicable to the straightforward synthesis of various naturally occurring alkaloids such as coniine,9 pumiliotoxin C,11 1 and solenopsin A and B.11 Oxime sulfonates of either linear or cyclic structures may be used. Obviously, the regioselectivity of the reaction follows the general rule of... 

A synthesis of arecoline (17) from acetaldehyde has been described.17 Sederine (18) is a minor base occurring in Sedum acre-, its structure has been settled by spectral and chemical study, but its stereochemistry has yet to be established.18 A new total synthesis of racemic solenopsin A (19) (fire-ant venom) has been published the pathway is outlined in Scheme 2.19... 

A variety of alkaloids bind to or intercalate with DNA or DNA/RNA processing enzymes and affect either transcription or replication (quinine, harmane alkaloids, melinone, berberine), act at the level of DNA and RNA polymerases (vinblastine, coralyne, avicine), inhibit protein synthesis (sparteine, tubulosine, vincrastine, lupanine), attack electron chains (pseudane, capsaicin, solenopsine), disrupt biomembranes and transport processes (berbamine, ellipticine, tetrandrine), and inhibit ion channels and pumps (nitidine, caffeine, saxitoxin). In addition, these natural products attack a variety of other systems that can result in serious biochemical destabilization... 

Alkyl-6-methylpiperidines have only been detected in the venoms of Solenopsis workers and their queens (16, 17, 18). These compounds, which are sometimes referred to as solenopsins, are consistent poison gland products of Solenopsis species in the subgenus Solenopsis, the fire ants ( T7, 3J3J. In addition, some species in the subgenus Diplorhoptrum (thief... 

Electron chains. The respiratory chain and ATP synthesis in mitochondria demand the controlled flux of electrons. This target seems to be attacked by ellipticine, pseudane, pseudene, alpinigenine, sanguinarine, tetrahydropalmatine, CH3-(CH2)i4-2,6-methyl-piperidines, capsaicin, the hydroxamic acid DIMBOA, and solenopsine. As mentioned before, however, only a few alkaloids have been evaluated in this context (Table V). 

Treatment of a wide variety of oxime sulfonates with several equivalents of alkyl-aluminum reagents in CH2CI2 resulted in formation of the imines, which were directly reduced with excess DIBAH to give the corresponding amines, as shown in Sch. 19. This organoaluminum-promoted Beckmann Rearrangement of oxime sulfonates has been successfully applied to the stereoselective synthesis of naturally occurring alkaloids, pumiliotoxin C, and solenopsin A and B, as illustrated in Sch. 20 [43]. 

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