Relative Configuration Research Articles

Diterpenoids with Potent Anti-Psoriasis Activity from Euphorbia helioscopia L.

Psoriasis, an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disorder, seriously affects the quality of life of nearly four percent of the world population. Euphorbia helioscopia L. is the monarch constituent of Chinese ZeQi powder preparation for psoriasis, so it is necessary to illustrate its active ingredients. Thus, twenty-three diterpenoids, including seven new ones, were isolated from the whole herb of E. helioscopia L. Compounds 1 and 2, each featuring a 2,3-dicarboxylic functionality, are the first examples in the ent-2,3-sceo-atisane or the ent-2,3-sceo-abietane family. Extensive spectroscopic analysis (1D, 2D NMR, and HRMS data) and computational methods were used to confirm their structures and absolute configurations. According to the previous study and NMR data from the jatropha diterpenes obtained in this study, some efficient 1H NMR spectroscopic rules for assigning the relative configurations of 3α-benzyloxy-jatroph-11E-ene and 7,8-seco-3α-benzyloxy-jatropha-11E-ene were summarized. Moreover, the hyperproliferation of T cells and keratinocytes is considered a key pathophysiology of psoriasis. Anti-proliferative activities against induced T/B lymphocytes and HaCaT cells were tested, and IC50 values of some compounds ranged from 6.7 to 31.5 μM. Compounds 7 and 11 reduced the secretions of IFN-γ and IL-2 significantly. Further immunofluorescence experiments and a docking study with NF-κB P65 showed that compound 13 interfered with the proliferation of HaCaT cells by inhibiting the NF-κB P65 phosphorylation at the protein level.

Oppositions, joints, and targets: the attractors that are the glue of social interactions.

Social interactions are often analyzed by scoring segments of predefined behavior and then statistically assessing numerical and sequential patterns to identify the structure of the encounters. However, this approach can miss the dynamics of the animals' relationship over the course of the encounter, one that often involves invariant bonds, say a nose-to-nose orientation, with many different movements performed by both partners acting to counteract each other's attempts to break or maintain the relationship. Moreover, these invariant bonds can switch from one configuration to another during an interaction, leading from one stable configuration to another. It is this stepwise sequence of configurational stabilities that lead to functional outcomes, such as mating, aggression, or predation. By focusing on the sequence of invariant relational configurations, the deep structure of interactions can be discerned. This deep structure can then be used to differentiate between compensatory movements, no matter how seemingly stereotyped they may appear, from movement patterns which are restricted to a particular form when more than one option is available. A dynamic perspective requires suitable tools for analysis, and such tools are highlighted as needed in describing particular interactions.

Linderangolides A−D, four new butanolides from the roots of Lindera angustifolia and their cytotoxic activity

Four undescribed butanolides, linderangolides A–D (1–4), along with four known congeners, lincomolide A (5), (−)-epilitsenolide C2 (6), (−)-epilitsenolide C1 (7) and litseakolide H (8), were isolated from the roots of Lindera angustifolia. The planar structures of 1–4 were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analyses, the relative and absolute configurations of 1–4 were determined by the NOESY spectra and the comparison of calculated and experimental ECD. The cytotoxic activities of all isolated compounds were tested, 4 showed inhibitory activity against SGC-7 cells with IC50 value of 6.62 μM.

Tunable magnetic switching behavior in La0.7Sr0.3MnO3/PbTiO3 multilayers

Tuning magnetic switching behavior and related magnetic configuration of transition metal oxides (TMOs) is critical for realizing multifunctional materials and devices. In this study, we manipulated the magnetic switching behavior through interface engineering by introducing ferroelectric PbTiO3 (PTO) to form La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO)/PTO multilayers. Both the normal hysteresis loop (NHL) and the inverted hysteresis loop (IHL) could be tuned by changing the PTO thickness. All multilayers displayed a transition from NHL to IHL with increasing temperature, and the transition temperature increased with the insertion of the PTO layer or increasing thickness of the PTO. In addition, it was found that the increase in the Curie temperature (Tc) and saturation magnetization (Ms), as well as the decrease in the coercive field (Hc) and exchange bias field (Heb) with a reduction in the thickness of the PTO, is possibly related to the interface phase. This study illustrates the influence of the ferroelectric PTO thickness on the magnetic switching behavior and related magnetic configuration in LSMO, which is possibly driven by the unscreened depolarization charge and oxygen octahedral tilting. This finding may benefit the application of TMOs in multifunctional memory devices.

Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Ketones by Simple Alkane-Diyl-Based Ir(P,N,O) Catalysts: A Comparative Study.

The development of new chiral ligands with simple and modular structure represents a challenging direction in the design of efficient homogeneous transition metal catalysts. Herein, we report on the asymmetric hydrogenation of prochiral ketones catalyzed by the iridium complexes of simple alkane-diyl-based P,N,O-type chiral ligands with a highly modular structure. The role of (i) the P-N and N-O backbone in the potentially tridentate ligands, (ii) the number, position and relative configuration of their stereogenic elements and (iii) the effect of their NH and OH subunits on the activity and enantioselectivity of the catalytic reactions are studied. The systematic variation in the ligand structure and the comparative catalytic experiments shed light on different mechanistic aspects of the iridium-catalyzed reaction. The catalysts containing the simple alkane-diyl-based ligands with central chirality provided high enantioselectivities (up to 98% ee) under optimized reaction conditions and proved to be active and selective even at very high substrate concentrations (100 mmol substrate/mL solvent).

Three new diterpenoids, plectalibertellenones A–C, isolated from endolichenic fungi Pseudoplectania sp. EL000327

Three new pimarane diterpenoids, plectalibertellenones A−C (1–3), along with six known compounds, 9α-hydroxy-1,8(14),15-isopimaratrien-3,7,11-trione (4), 9α-hydroxy-1,8(14),15-isopimaratrien-3,11-dione (5), phomenone B (6), (−)-pestalotin (7), (+)-pestalotin (8), and 6-pentyl-4-methoxy-pyran-2-one (9) were isolated from the crude extract of an endolichenic fungus, Pseudoplectania sp. EL000327. The planar structures of metabolites 1–3 were elucidated using UV, mass spectrometry (MS), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data. The relative and absolute configurations of 1–3 were deduced from an interpretation of circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic data, application of an advanced Mosher’s method, DP4+ calculations, and combination of NMR spectroscopic methods. Compounds 1–9 did not display any significant anti-bacterial activity; however, compounds 1–4 were cytotoxic to Caco2 cells, with IC50 values 54.8, 80.7, 76.4, and 19.6 µM, respectively.

From Acyclic Intramolecular-[4 + 2]- to Transannular Bis-[4 + 2]-Cycloaddition of the Macrodiolide for the Stereoselective Synthesis of the Octahydronaphthalene Core of Polyenic Macrolactam Sagamilactam.

The strategy for the synthesis of the octahydronaphthalene core of natural macrolide sagamilactam has unintentionally evolved from the acyclic intramolecular (IMDA) to the transannular (TADA) Diels-Alder reaction. Lewis acid-promoted IMDA of a protected 2Z,8E,10E-4,6,12-trihydroxy-2,8,10-decatrienal model with a diol of 4,6-anti relative configuration, as proposed by DP4+-based computational studies, afforded the cis-octahydronaphthalene diastereomer through the Re-endo approach. The 26-membered macrodiolide generated, under thermal reaction conditions, the trans-octahydronaphthalene by a double TADA reaction along the desired Si-exo orientation.

Triplinones A-H: Anti-Inflammatory Arylalkenyl α,β-Unsaturated-δ-Lactones Isolated from the Leaves of Australian Rainforest Plant Cryptocarya triplinervis (Lauraceae).

Our ongoing exploration of Australian rainforest plants for the biodiscovery of anti-inflammatory agents led to the isolation and structural elucidation of eight new arylalkenyl α,β-unsaturated-δ-lactones, triplinones A-H (1-8), from the leaves of the Australian rainforest plant Cryptocarya triplinervis B. Hyland (Lauraceae). The chemical structures of these compounds were established by NMR spectroscopic data analysis, while their relative and absolute configurations were established using a combination of Mosher ester analysis utilizing both Riguera's and Kishi's methods, ECD experiments, and X-ray crystallography analysis. Compounds 1-8 exhibited good inhibitory activities toward nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon (IFN)-γ induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, in particular compounds 1-3 and 5, with IC50 values of 7.3 ± 0.5, 6.0 ± 0.3, 5.6 ± 0.3, and 5.4 ± 2.5 μM, respectively.

Chemoreactive 2,5-Diketopiperazines from a Penicillium sp., Structure Revision of Reported Analogues and Proposed Facile Transformation Pathways.

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive cutaneous cancer. Two new prenylated indole 2,5-diketopiperazine alkaloids, brevianamides E1 (1) and E2 (2), were isolated from a Penicillium fungus. Both compounds showed moderate cytotoxic activity against select MCC cell lines (i.e., MCC13, MKL-1, UISO, and WaGa) in the low micromolar range. The relative and absolute configurations of 1 and 2 were determined by combined approaches, including NOESY spectroscopy, DFT ECD and DP4 plus calculations, and Marfey's reaction. Literature research and the comparison of NMR and ECD data led to the structure revision of three previously reported natural analogues, notoamides K and P and asperversiamide L. The structurally unstable 1 and 2 underwent steady interconversion under neutral aqueous conditions. Investigation of the degradation of 2 in acidic methanol solutions led to the identification of a new methoxylated derivative (6) and two new ring-opened products (7 and 8) with the rearranged, elongated, 4-methylpent-3-ene side chain. The facile transformation of 2 to 7 and 8 was promoted by the intrinsic impurity (i.e., formaldehyde) of HPLC-grade methanol through the aza-Cope rearrangement.

D-Hexopyranosides with Vicinal Nitrogen-Containing Functionalities.

Various substituted D-hexopypyranosides units with nitrogen-containing functionalities are present in many important natural compounds and pharmaceutical substances. Since their complex structural diversity contributes to a broad spectrum of biological functions and activities, these derivatives are frequently studied. This review covers syntheses of D-hexopyranosides with vicinal nitrogen-containing functionalities since the 1960s, when the first articles emerged. The syntheses are arranged according to the positions of substitutions, to form a relative configuration of vicinal functionalities, and synthetic methodologies.

Adpressins A-G: Oligophenalenone Dimers from Talaromyces adpressus.

Nine new oligophenalenone dimers, adpressins A-G (1-9), together with nine known compounds (10-18), were isolated from the fungus Talaromyces adpressus. Their chemical structures were determined on the basis of spectroscopic and mass spectral analyses. Their relative and absolute configurations were identified by 1H and 13C NMR calculations followed by DP4+ analyses, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and ECD spectra comparison with related compounds. Compound 1 is the first example of a duclauxin derivative featuring an unusual 6/6/6/5/6/6/6 ring system, while compounds 6 and 7 contained a novel pyrrolidine ring. Compounds 5, 9, and 18 exhibited moderate inhibition against LPS-induced B lymphocyte proliferation with IC50 values ranging from 1.6 to 8.6 μM. Additionally, compounds 9 and 18 exhibited moderate inhibition against Con A-induced T lymphocyte proliferation with IC50 values of 9.3 and 2.6 μM, respectively.

Empirical Chiroptical Analyses of Vicinal Bromochloro Natural Products by van't Hoff's Principle of Optical Superposition: Assignment of the C-16 Configurations of Callophycols A and B.

A simple empirical method is described that allows the assignment of absolute configurations of natural products containing chiral vicinal bromochloro (VBC) units, including the bromochloro substituted isoprenyl units present in the structures of antiproliferative halomon (1a) and its halogen-swapped isomer iso-halomon (1b) from the red alga, Portieria hornemannii, and callophycols A (3) and B (4) from Callophycus serratus. The relative configurations of 3 and 4, published in 2007, were incomplete: C-16 was left unassigned. It is now shown that the additivity of molar rotations, [M]D (herein, abbreviated [M])─a consequence of van't Hoff's principle of optical superposition─could be used to deconvolute rotatory contributions, designated as [MX] and [MY] of the two remotely spaced chiral substructures within 3 and 4 using simple arithmetic. Input of proxy values, [M Y1] and [MY2], for the two different VBC units in two equations for [MX] and application of a "conditional test" returns the same value for [MX] only when a proxy with the correct configuration is included. It is revealed that 3 and 4 have opposite configurations at the C-16 stereocenter: 16S and 16R, respectively. Two important implications lie in these findings: 3 and 4 appear to qualify as paired-regioisomers, coupled through a putative dyotropic rearrangement (DR), and the biosyntheses of other Callophycus secondary metabolites, now numbering over 50, are tightly controlled by stereoelectronic considerations including neighboring group interactions of the DR. It now appears, counter to earlier suggestions, that the chirality of Callophycus secondary metabolites, despite their high chemodiversity, are surprisingly highly conserved. Enantiofacial halogenation additions to the C═C double bonds of precursor alkenes appear to direct the formation of the remaining stereocenters at both the halogenated benzoate-decalin core and the distal VBC of 3 and 4. A consistent hypothesis is proposed to account for macrolactonizations in other Callophycus natural products including bromophycolides A and B. The conditional test of molar rotations was applied in a different context to understand the chiroptical properties and trends observed in the highly iodinated meroditerpenes, iodocallophycols A-E, also from Callophycus sp., resulting in the revision of the configuration of callophycol E from (10R,14R) to (10S,14S).

Dactylfungins and Tetralones: Bioactive Metabolites from a Nematode-Associated Laburnicola nematophila.

A chemical investigation of Laburnicola nematophila, isolated from cysts of the plant parasitic nematode Heterodera filipjevi, affored three dactylfungin derivatives (1-3) and three tetralone congeners (4-6). Dactylfungin C (1), laburnicolin (4), and laburnicolenone (5) are previously undescribed natural products. Chemical structures of the isolated compounds were determined based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses together with HR-ESI-MS spectrometry and comparison with data reported in the literature. The relative configurations of compounds 1, 2, and 4-6 were determined based on their ROESY data and analysis of their coupling constants (J values). The absolute configurations of 4-6 were determined through the comparison of their measured and calculated TDDFT-ECD spectra. Compounds 1-3 were active against azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus.

Haperforatones A-M, thirteen undescribed limonoids from Harrisonia perforata with anti-inflammatory activity

UPLC-Q-TOF-MS combined with mass defect filtering strategies were applied for the phytochemical investigation of Harrisonia perforata, leading to the isolation of thirteen undescribed limonoids named haperforatones A-M (1–13) and seventeen known compounds (14–30). Particularly, haperforatones D-E (4–5) have an unprecedented A, B, C, D-seco-6, 7-nor-C-24-limonoid skeleton, structurally stripped of the five-membered lactone ring B and formed a double bond at the C-5 and C-10 positions. Their 2D structures and relative configurations were identified using spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of 1, 4, and 6 were established via X-ray diffraction crystallography. All 30 compounds were evaluated for anti-inflammatory potential in LPS-induced Raw 264.7 cell lines. Among those tested compounds, the most potent activity against LPS-induced NO generation was demonstrated by haperforatone F (6), with the IC50 value of inhibition NO production of 7.2 µM. Additionally, 6 could significantly inhibit IL-1β and IL-6 release and markedly downregulate the protein expression level of iNOS in the LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells at 10 µM. The possible mechanism of NO inhibition of 6 was also investigated using molecular docking, which revealed the interaction of compound 6 with the iNOS protein.

Relativistic calculations for total energies, ionization energies, and one-electron binding energies for Neodymium ions Nd I to Nd[formula omitted]

We present the results of calculations for the total energies, ionization energies, and one-electron binding energies for ground-state configurations of neodymium ions Nd I to Nd59+. These calculations are based on the Dirac–Fock approximation taking the Breit and quantum electrodynamics corrections into account. The configuration interaction method, taking into account all relativistic configurations corresponding to the non-relativistic one, is used to obtain total energies and wave functions in the intermediate coupling scheme. Comparison is given with other available data.

Structural diversity in nudibranch chemistry: elucidation of norditerpenes with a dendrillane scaffold from the Australian nudibranch Goniobranchus coi

In addition to three known compounds (1–3), two new rearranged spongian diterpenes (4 and 5) with perhydroazulene and dioxabicyclooctane ring systems were isolated from the mantle and viscera of the Australian nudibranch Goniobranchus coi. The relative configuration of the major spiroepoxide 4 was explored by comparison with those of m-chloroperbenzoic acid oxidation products derived from dendrillolide A (1). Aldehydes 6 and 7 were identified as the ring-opened artefacts of the spiroepoxides 5 and 4 respectively, and yielded ketone 3 on storage. The relative configurations of lactols 8 and 9, isolated as an inseparable mixture of diastereomers, were deduced by molecular modelling and computational studies. Acetylation of the lactol mixture provided dendrillolide A (1), further confirming the structural assignments of 8 and 9. Dissection of animal tissue established that the norditerpenoid metabolites were present in both mantle and viscera tissues.

Penicianstinoids F-K, six undescribed meroterpenoids from the marine algicolous fungus Penicillium sp. RR-DL-1-7

Six previously undescribed meroterpenoids, penicianstinoids F-K (1–6), together with four known analogues, dehydroaustinol (7), dehydroaustin (8), penicianstinoid A (9), and furanoaustinol (10), were isolated from the cultures of the algicolous fungus Penicillium sp. RR-DL-1-7, derived from the red alga Rhodomela confervoides. Their structures and relative configuration were established by detailed spectroscopic analysis of NMR and HR-MS experiments, and the absolute configurations were assigned by X-ray diffraction and ECD spectral analysis. None of the isolates showed obvious growth inhibitory effects against five plankton and four bacteria species tested.

Exploring Exporting Firms’ Adaptability and Competitiveness Configurations in Relation to Export Customer Satisfaction in COVID-19 Times

Exploring Exporting Firms’ Adaptability and Competitiveness Configurations in Relation to Export Customer Satisfaction in COVID-19 Times

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN MANAGERIAL CONCEPTS IN INLAND TRANSPORT COMPANIES: A FUZZY-DEMATEL APPROACH

The axiom that the efficacy of supply chain entities is inextricably tied to the adoption of an appropriate management system is widely acknowledged. At the heart of such a system are managerial concepts. There is abundant literature with a variety of theories, concepts, methods, and tools aimed at managerial enhancement. However, there is a dearth of specific recommendations for their application, an understanding of their interdependencies, or discerning which concepts are causative and which are resultant in nature. The heterogeneous functions of supply chain participants preclude a universal best-practice array of these managerial concepts. By focusing on the pivotal role of inland transport firms within the supply chain, this study delineates an array of managerial concepts apt for such enterprises, employing the fuzzy-DEMATEL method. This study’s contribution is encapsulated in the identification of the structural, relational, and hierarchical configuration of managerial concepts that bolster the decision-making framework of inland transport management.

Synthesis and Conformational Analysis of α,β‐Dichlorocarbonyl Compounds

α,β‐Dichlorocarbonyl compounds were synthesized by facile dichlorination of α,β‐unsaturated amides with TCIA‐PPh3 and the resultant amides were converted to ketones. Conformational analyses of the products were performed to confirm our previous hypothesis regarding vicinal dichlorinated carbonyl compounds. The compounds exhibited 1H NMR signals with large coupling constants (7‐11 Hz) for the 1,2‐anti‐configuration and small coupling constants (3‐4 Hz) for the 1,2‐syn‐configuration. The syn‐pentane interaction enabled rational conformational analysis of the α,β‐dichlorinated carbonyl compounds, although some interesting exceptions were observed. Consideration of these conformations is helpful in assigning relative configurations of α,β‐dihalogenated carbonyl compounds in general.