Synthesis and Antioxidant Activity of Rosmariquinone and Several Analogues

Abstract

Rosmariquinone (1) and six analogues were chemically synthesized using an ultrasound-promoted Diels−Alder cycloaddition in yields of 35−90%. The analogues included substitution of the isopropyl at carbon 13 (C-13) with a hydrogen (5), methyl (6), or tert-butyl (4) substituent. The hydrogen-substituted analogue had the lowest yield at 35%, due in part to the instability of the compound to air, while the highest yields were achieved for the methyl (85%) and tert-butyl (90%) analogues. The 60% yield obtained for the C-14 methyl analogue (7; no C-13 isopropyl) may have been caused by the meta-substituted catechol inhibiting the cycloaddition. The final two analogues were ring A modifications and included the removal of one C-4 methyl (3; 80% yield) or both C-4 methyl (2; 85% yield) groups. The analogues were tested against rosmariquinone in light-sensitized oxidation of stripped soybean oil. Analogues 5 and 6 were significantly (P < 0.05) better antioxidants than rosmariquinone and all other analogues. The an...