Stereoisomer alkaloids

The dimeric stereoisomer alkaloids michellamines A, B and C (38) were obtained From the liane Ancistrocladus korupensis (Ancistrocladaceae). On the basis of their structural similarity to other PKC inhibitors, they have been studied for this activity. Michellamines inhibited rat brain PKC, with IC50 values in the 15-35 pM range. Michellamine B was a non-competitive PKC inhibitor with respect to ATP, whereas mixed-type inhibition was observed when the peptide concentration varied. The results indicate that the dimeric alkaloids bind to the PKC kinase domain and not to its regulatory domain. All three michellamines blocked both the ATP and the... 

Feeding experiments utilizing C-, N-, and H-labeled cadaverine (44) and lysine (24) in l upinus augustifolius a source of the lupine alkaloids (—)-sparteine (50, R = H,H) and (+)-lupanine (50, R = O), have been reported which lend dramatic credence to the entire biosynthetic sequence for these and the related compounds discussed above (41). That is, the derivation of these bases is in concert with the expected cyclization from the favored aH-trans stereoisomer of the trimer expected on self-condensation of the 1-dehydropiperidine (45). 

QuinidJne. Quinidine, an alkaloid obtained from cinchona bark (Sinchona sp.), is the dextrorotatory stereoisomer of quinine [130-95-0] (see Alkaloids). The first use of quinidine for the treatment of atrial fibrillation was reported in 1918 (12). The sulfate, gluconate, and polygalacturonate salts are used in clinical practice. The dmg is given mainly by the oral (po) route, rarely by the intravenous (iv) route of adniinistration. It is the most frequentiy prescribed po antiarrhythmic agent in the United States. The clinical uses of quinidine include suppression of atrial and ventricular extrasystoles and serious ventricular arrhythmias (1 3). 

Many classes of natural product possess heterocyclic components (e.g. alkaloids, carbohydrates). However, their structures are often complex, and although structure-based names derived by using the principles outlined in the foregoing sections can be devised, such names tend to be impossibly cumbersome. Furthermore, the properties of complex natural product structures are often closely bound up with their stereochemistry, and for a molecule containing a number of asymmetric elements the specification of a particular stereoisomer by using the fundamental descriptors (R/S, EjZ) is a job few chemists relish. 

Tetrahydropyridines 103 undergo a Michael reaction to afford [ran.s-(2,3)-cis-(2,6)-trisubstituted piperidines 104 (97T9553). The reaction is stereoselective (a single stereoisomer was obtained) and provides a convenient route to the 5,8-disubstituted indolizidine 105 and 1,4-disubstituted quinolizidine system 106 (found in Dendrobates alkaloids) by introduction of various alkyl, alkenyl, or... 

The product of the reaction in Entry 8 was used in the synthesis of the alkaloid pseudotropine. The proper stereochemical orientation of the hydroxy group is determined by the structure of the oxazoline ring formed in the cycloaddition. Entry 9 portrays the early stages of synthesis of the biologically important molecule biotin. The reaction in Entry 10 was used to establish the carbocyclic skeleton and stereochemistry of a group of toxic indolizidine alkaloids found in dart poisons from frogs. Entry 11 involves generation of a nitrile oxide. Three other stereoisomers are possible. The observed isomer corresponds to approach from the less hindered convex face of the molecule. 

One of these products (49) was used as a key intermediate for the synthesis of the Amaryllidaceae alkaloids a- and /-lycorane (Scheme 12)53. A copper-catalyzed Grignard reaction with 49 afforded 50 via a selective y-anti displacement of the chloride. Hydrogenation followed by Bischler-Napieralski cyclization gave 51. Interestingly, reversal of the latter two steps gave the isomer 52 where an epimerization at the benzylic carbon had occurred in the cyclization step (>99% selectivity). Subsequent reduction of the amide in each case afforded the target molecules a- and y-lycorane, respectively. The purity of the final product was very high with respect to the opposite stereoisomer. Thus <0.2% of /-lycorane was present in a-lycorane and vice versa. 

The utilization of the Robinson annellation method for the synthesis of cory-nanthe-type alkaloids has been thoroughly investigated by Kametani and coworkers (149-152). The tetracyclic ring system was efficiently formed via the Michael addition of dimethyl 3-methoxyallylidenemalonate (247) to the enamine derived from 3,4-dihydro-1 -methyl-(3-carboline (150). Alkylation of 248, followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation, resulted in a mixture of stereosiomeric enamides 250 and 251. Hydrogenation of 250 afforded two lactams in a ratio of 2 1 in favor of the pseudo stereoisomer 253 over the normal isomer 252. On the other hand, catalytic reduction of 251 gave 254 as the sole product in nearly quantitative yield. Deprotection of 254, followed by lithium aluminum hydride reduction, yielded ( )-corynantheidol (255) with alio relative configuration of stereo centers at C-3, C-15 and C-20. Similar transformations of 252 and 253 lead to ( )-dihydrocorynantheol and ( )-hirsutinol (238), respectively, from which the latter is identical with ( )-3-epidihydrocorynantheol (149-151.). 

The stereoselective total synthesis of both ( )-corynantheidine (61) (170,171) (alio stereoisomer) and ( )-dihydrocorynantheine (172) (normal stereoisomer) has been elaborated by Szdntay and co-workers. The key intermediate leading to both alkaloids was the alio cyanoacetic ester derivative 315, which was obtained from the previously prepared ketone 312 (173) by the Knoevenagel condensation accompanied by complete epimerization at C-20 and by subsequent stereoselective sodium borohydride reduction. ( )-Corynantheidine was prepared by modification of the cyanoacetate side chain esterification furnished diester 316, which underwent selective lithium aluminum hydride reduction. The resulting sodium enolate of the a-formyl ester was finally methylated to racemic corynantheidine (171). 

After an interval of more than 20 years, a second synthesis of ( )-deserpidine and the achievement of some stereoisomers of ( )-raunescine (114) have been reported by Szdntay and co-workers (250,255). The basic idea of this linear total synthesis was similar to that utilized by them for the synthesis of yohimbine alkaloids. First, tetracyclic key intermediate 467 was prepared (253), in which the methoxy substituent of the side chain, on the one hand, represents the future C-18—O bond of the end product and will, on the other hand, control the regioselectivity of the Dieckmann ring closure. 

Several semisynthetic derivatives of yohimbine alkaloids show interesting pharmacological activity. For example, 17-methylthiomethoxyyohimbane stereoisomers (612 and 613) are valuable central nervous system depressants (349) and several hydrazides of yohimbinecarboxylic acid (614 and 615-type compounds) are useful cardiac stimulants, respiratory analeptics, and antihypertensives (350-353). 

Microbial transformations of four heteroyohimbine stereoisomers [ajmalicine (81a) tetrahydroalstonine (81b), isoajmalicine (81c), and akumigine (81d)] yielded mixtures of 10- and 11-hydroxylation products (786) (Scheme 21). Microorganisms known for their abilities to metabolize indole alkaloids, steroids, and antibiotics were intitially screened, and seven cultures were further used for preparative-scale incubations with alkaloid substrate. The microorganisms used and yields (by HPLC) of metabolites obtained from 81a-81d are shown in Table HI. 

An intermediate 5-hydroxy-5,6-dihydro-2/7-pyrrolo[l,2- ][l,2]oxazin-7(4a//)-one 142 has been described in the total synthesis of (—)-loline, a pyrrolizidine alkaloid extracted from rye grass Lolium cuneatum. The key step of the synthesis was an intramolecular cycloaddition of acylnitrosodienes (obtained by in situ oxidation of the corresponding hydroxamic acids 143). This reaction generated predominantly the rro/o-stereoisomer that was further cleaved at the N-O bond with Na(Hg) and further elaborated in several steps to reach the target compound (Scheme 19) <2001J(P 1)1831 >. 

Adults of the Steninae possess paired eversible abdominal defensive gland reservoirs [119,128]. When the beetles walk on the water surface the spreading secretion propels the beetle forward which represents an unique escape mechanism. The secretion contains isopiperitenole 57,1,8-cineole 58,6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one and the unique spreading alkaloid stenusine, N-ethyl-3-(2-methylbutyl)piperidine 59. Natural stenusine was found to be a mixture of all four stereoisomers in a ratio of (S, S) (S, R) (R, R) (R, S)=43 40 13 4. An enantioselective synthesis of stenusine has been carried out via an Enders-approach [129]. 

An extensive use of (TMS)3SiH can be found in the key steps of alkaloid syntheses. The synthesis of derivative 55, as the key intermediate for the preparation of alkaloid (ih)-pancracine [67], has been obtained from the reaction of 54 under normal conditions, in an 84 % yield as a single stereoisomer (Reaction 7.56). 

Starting with two chiral centres, there should, therefore, be four stereoisomers, and this is nicely exemplified by the natural alkaloid (-)-ephedrine, which is employed as a bronchodilator drug and decongestant. Ephedrine is (li ,25)-2-methylamino-l-phenylpropan-l-ol, so has the structure and stereochemistry shown. 

Ephedrine is an alkaloid that is present in various forms of the ephedrine family, and which is still extracted from Ephedra sinica and Ephedra equisetina. Because of the presence of two asymmetric atoms, there are four isomeric forms. Pseudoepinephrine (d-isoephrine) is a stereoisomer with pharmacological action that differs slightly from ephedrine. The pharmacological action of ephedrine is typical of noncatecholamine sympathomimetics of mixed action. It stimulates both a- and 8-adrenoreceptors, and simultaneously causes a release of norepinephrine from synaptic neurons. Its vasoconstrictive ability is approximately 100 times weaker than that of epinephrine however, the duration of action is approximately 10 times longer. It is much less toxic than epinephrine, which allows it to be used widely in medicine. 

Among quinolizidine alkaloids, sparteine and its stereoisomers have been studied in detail by X-ray analysis (42-50). It was demonstrated that proper conformation was not reorganized in monohydrates (42), diperchlorates (43), or methyliodides of a-isosparteine (11) (53). Unlike in the case of a-isosparteine, in spareteine diperchlorate rings C/D appear to have a boat-chair conformation (44-46). On the basis of spectroscopy data a cis conformation for sparteine methyliodide (12) was proposed (57,52). However, radiographic examination (53) of this compound showed it to have the trans conformation (13). 

The total synthesis of litseaverticillols D, F and G (172 and 173), which are natural products with anti-HIV activity, was achieved recently via a singlet oxygen initiated cascade proposed to be biomimetic (Scheme 64). Finally, allylic alcohols 174a and 174b (Scheme 64) were isolated in a 4/1 ratio via a stereoselective singlet oxygen ene reaction. Stereoisomer 174a is an intermediate in the synthetic route of staurosporine, which is a bioactive alkaloid with hypotensive, antimicrobial and cell cytotoxic properties. 

Azomethine ylide generation from oxazolidines has also been achieved by flash vacuum thermolysis (20,21). During synthetic efforts toward alkaloid central skeletal cores, Joucla and co-workers (22) revealed that flash vacuum thermolysis of oxazolidine (84) led to an intramolecular [3 + 2] cycloaddition furnishing pyrrolidine 85 in 82% as a single regio- and stereoisomer. Subsequent Dieckmann... 

Atropine and its naturally occurring congeners are tertiary amine alkaloid esters of tropic acid (Figure 8-1). Atropine (hyoscyamine) is found in the plant Atropa belladonna, or deadly nightshade, and in Datura stramonium, also known as jimsonweed (Jamestown weed), sacred Datura, or thorn apple. Scopolamine (hyoscine) occurs in Hyoscyamus niger, or henbane, as the /(-) stereoisomer. Naturally occurring atropine is /(-)-hyoscyamine, but the compound readily racemizes, so the commercial material is racemic d,/-hyoscyamine. The /(-) isomers of both alkaloids are at least 100 times more potent than the d(+) isomers. 

Quinine is derived from the bark of the cinchona tree, a traditional remedy for intermittent fevers from South America. The alkaloid quinine was purified from the bark in 1820, and it has been used in the treatment and prevention of malaria since that time. Quinidine, the dextrorotatory stereoisomer of quinine, is at least as effective as parenteral quinine in the treatment of severe falciparum malaria. After oral administration, quinine is rapidly absorbed, reaches peak plasma levels in 1-3 hours, and is widely distributed in body tissues. The use of a loading dose in severe malaria allows the achievement of peak levels within a few hours. The pharmacokinetics of quinine varies among populations. Individuals with malaria develop higher plasma levels of the drug than healthy controls, but toxicity is not increased, apparently because of increased protein binding. The half-life of quinine also is longer in those with severe malaria (18 hours) than in healthy controls (11 hours). Quinidine has a shorter half-life than quinine, mostly as a result of decreased protein binding. Quinine is primarily metabolized in the liver and excreted in the urine. 

---