Next Article in Journal
Supramolecular Crystal Networks Constructed from Cucurbit[8]uril with Two Naphthyl Groups
Previous Article in Journal
Powerful Potential of Polyfluoroalkyl-Containing 4-Arylhydrazinylidenepyrazol-3-ones for Pharmaceuticals
 
 
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Microwave-Assisted Cu-Catalyzed Diaryletherification for Facile Synthesis of Bioactive Prenylated Diresorcinols

1
College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
2
Vessel-Organ Interaction Research Center, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Republic of Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Molecules 2023, 28(1), 62; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010062
Submission received: 1 December 2022 / Revised: 16 December 2022 / Accepted: 17 December 2022 / Published: 21 December 2022
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Research on Cross-Coupling Reactions)

Abstract

:
Prenylated diresorcinols exhibit various bioactivities, including cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. Therefore, establishing facile and efficient synthetic routes for prenylated diresorcinols facilitates their development as chemical probes or drugs with a novel mode of action. In this study, microwave-assisted copper catalysis was explored as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for the cross-coupling of sterically hindered ortho-prenylated phenols and aryl halides to produce bioactive prenylated diresorcinols, diorcinol I and leotiomycene B. Notable advantages of microwave-assisted catalysis include not only operational simplicity and rapid heating but also shorter reaction times and higher chemical yields. In addition, highly regioselective prenylation of phenol was achieved for the preparation of ortho-prenyl phenol via directed lithiation and subsequent alkylation. This study provides valuable insights for the preparation of other bioactive prenylated diresorcinols. Furthermore, considering that prenylated benzenoids are biosynthetic precursors of various polycyclic natural products, this synthetic route could be expanded to more complex bioactive compounds possessing diaryl ethers.

1. Introduction

Prenylated phenols are ubiquitous in nature. Their framework comprises a single or multiple benzene scaffolds, and their unique structure and various biological activities have attracted considerable attention [1,2]. Among the bioactive prenylated phenols, our interests lie in prenylated diresorcinols. Figure 1 shows the chemical structures of selected prenylated diresorcinols that exhibit various bioactivities. Diorcinol I (1a) and leotiomycene B (1b) are structurally related natural products. Diorcinol I (1a) exhibits cytotoxic [3] and antibacterial effects [4], while leotiomycene B (1b) inhibits bacterial quorum sensing [5]. Diorcinol D and verticilatin are fungal metabolites that are structurally related to diorcinol I (1a), differing only in the position of the prenyl group. Diorcinol D displays cytotoxic [6,7,8], antibacterial [4,9], and antifungal activities [10,11]. Verticilatin also exhibits various bioactivities related to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer [12] and bacterial infection [4]. Secopenicillide C and 7-O-acetylsecopenicillide C are antibacterial metabolites isolated from fungi [13]. Paucinervin B is an apoptotic compound from plants [14,15]. Diorcinol G and K are bisprenylated diresorcinols isolated from fungi, which show cytotoxic [3] and antibacterial [16] activities, respectively. 4-Methylhydroatrovirinone [17] is a reduced form of atrovirinone that exhibits antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities [18,19].
The prenyl group plays an important role in the bioactivity of prenylated diresorcinols. For example, recent structural inspection and hierarchical clustering suggested that the prenyl group as a side chain substituent of diresorcinols is essential for the antibacterial activity [20].
Establishing facile and efficient synthetic routes to bioactive prenylated diresorcinols facilitates their development as chemical probes or drugs with a novel mode of action. For the construction of the diresorcinol framework, diaryl ether synthesis is a pivotal step. Diaryl ethers have been of long-standing interest to synthetic organic chemists. In recent decades, metal-catalyzed cross-coupling reactions have been extensively utilized for the synthesis of diaryl ethers in academic, as well as industrial, settings. Palladium catalysis is arguably the leading method employed for efficient and versatile cross-couplings, including diaryletherification [21]. Copper catalysis is another effective method for cross-coupling reactions with a long history [22,23]. Conventional copper-catalyzed cross-coupling, namely the Ullmann reaction, suffers several disadvantages including the stoichiometric use of copper catalysts, harsh conditions, and a limited reaction scope. A breakthrough in copper catalysis for cross-coupling reactions in recent decades entails the development of catalytic systems using bidentate ligands, which allows for the catalytic use of copper catalysts, mild conditions, and a broad reaction scope including sterically hindered substrates. Furthermore, green methodologies for copper catalysis, including appropriate metal/ligand systems, the use of water and ionic liquids, solvent-free conditions, and microwave/ultrasound-assisted protocols, have been developed [24].
Herein, we report a microwave-assisted copper-catalyzed cross-coupling of a sterically hindered ortho-prenylated phenol and aryl halides. This catalytic system was applied to the synthesis of two bioactive prenylated diresorcinols, diorcinol I (1a), and leotiomycene B (2a).

2. Results and Discussion

Our research focusing on bioactive prenylated diresorcinols necessitated the preparation of diresorcinols via diaryletherification. During screening for an appropriate catalytic system, we became interested in copper catalysis as it was a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for cross-coupling. As shown in Figure 2, the prenyl group of diorcinol I (1a) and leotiomycene B (1b) are located immediately next to the diaryl ether bond, and it was envisaged that both compounds could be synthesized in parallel via the cross-coupling of the corresponding aryl halides and prenylated diresorcinol. Using aryl halides as a coupling partner of the prenylated phenol is advantageous due to their commercial availability and cost-efficiency. Preparation of the requisite prenylated resorcinol was envisaged to occur via regioselective C-alkylation of resorcinol.
We initially attempted the direct prenylation of commercially available phenol 2 under various conventional conditions, including the use of K2CO3 and NaH in aprotic nonpolar solvents [25]. However, these reactions provided a mixture of regioisomers, and isolation of the desired ortho-prenylated phenol using conventional chromatography was challenging and inefficient. Thus, we explored an alternative synthetic route via ortho-metalation employing a directing group [26,27].
As shown in Scheme 1, the synthesis commenced with the preparation of prenylated phenol 5. Commercially available phenol 2 was protected with a methoxymethyl (MOM) ether group, and the resultant MOM ether served as a directing group. MOM-protected 3 was lithiated using n-BuLi in situ, and then prenylated with 1-bromo-3-methyl-2-butene to provide compound 4 in a highly regiospecific manner. Notably, deprotonation of the benzylic proton did not compete with directed lithiation. The MOM group was then cleaved under acidic conditions to afford the desired prenylated phenol 5.
Next, we optimized the cross-coupling reaction between prenylated phenol 5 and aryl halide 6a (Table 1). The initially attempted copper-catalyzed diaryletherification condition under microwave irradiation [28] did not provide the desired product 7a (Table 1, entry 1). Thus, we explored copper catalytic systems comprising various bidentate ligands [22]. As the cross-coupling reaction may be impeded by the steric hindrance imposed by the ortho-prenyl group, we attempted a catalytic system comprising CuI, picolinic acid, and K3PO4, previously applied for the synthesis of sterically hindered diaryl ethers [29]. Although this catalytic system has been successfully applied for the cross-coupling of various sterically hindered ortho-methyl or methoxy phenols, it failed to provide 7a under the reported thermal conditions (entry 2). Inspired by earlier studies on microwave-assisted copper catalysis for diaryletherification [28,30,31,32], we explored the application of microwaves in copper and bidentate ligand systems to promote the cross-coupling reaction. Gratifyingly, 7a was formed under microwave irradiation in a relatively shorter reaction time (entries 3–5) compared to the condition with thermal heating (0.5 h vs. 24 h). Notably, the amount of unidentified side products increased when a higher temperature (entry 4 vs. entry 5) or prolonged reaction time (data not shown) were employed. Pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid, an alternative ligand to the structurally similar picolinic acid [29], proved to be ineffective in this case (entry 6). Although 7a was obtained by the condition above, the low to moderate yields prompted us to explore other catalytic systems using second-generation bidentate ligands [22]. Several ligands were screened to arrive at following the optimized conditions: CuI, picolinamide ligand [33], and K3PO4 in acetonitrile at 120 °C under microwave irradiation for 0.5 h (entry 10). Notably, the optimized conditions using microwave irradiation were found to be more efficient than the reported conditions employing thermal heating [33] in terms of chemical yield and reaction rate (entry 7 vs. entries 8–10).
With the requisite diaryl ether 7a in hand, the O-demethylation reaction was conducted according to a reported procedure [34] with slight modification. As shown in Scheme 2, compound 7a was treated with an odorless long-chain thiol under microwave irradiation and basic conditions to cleave the two methyl groups in 7a, affording diorcinol I (1a) in high yield. Notably, microwave irradiation improved the chemical yield of the O-demethylation reaction. Similarly, leotiomycene B was synthesized using the same protocol, except that aryl bromide 6b was used instead of 6a (Scheme 2). Compound 6b was cross-coupled with prenylated phenol 5 under the optimized condition to afford diaryl ether 7b. Notably, the reactions under microwave irradiation during the synthesis were conducted with 10 mL vessels limiting the total volume of reaction mixtures up to 7 mL due to the instrumental setting. Finally, global O-demethylation of the three methyl groups in 7b provided leotiomycene B (1b). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first total synthesis of leotiomycene B. The NMR data of synthetic 1a and 1b are in good agreement with the reported data for diorcinol I [3] and leotiomycene B [5] (Tables S1 and S2, Supplementary Materials).

3. Materials and Methods

3.1. General Experimental Details

All reagents were purchased from commercial suppliers and used without further purification, unless stated otherwise. The solvents used for the chemical reactions were dried over appropriate drying agents or distilled prior to use. Air and moisture-sensitive experiments were conducted under an argon atmosphere in oven-dried glassware with magnetic stirring unless stated otherwise. Microwave irradiation reactions were performed using a CEM Discover SP instrument (Matthews, NC, USA). Analytical thin-layer chromatography was performed on Merck silica gel 60 F254 plates (Darmstadt, Germany), and flash column chromatography was performed using Biotage Isolera (Uppsala, Sweden). 1H and 13C NMR spectra were acquired on a Bruker Avance-500 spectrometer (Billerica, MA, USA) in deuterated solvent using Me4Si as the internal standard. Mass spectra were obtained using an Advion Expression CMS (Ithaca, NY, USA), and high-resolution mass spectra were recorded on a JEOL JMS-700 mass spectrometer (Tokyo, Japan) at the Daegu branch of the Korean Basic Science Institute.

3.2. Preparation of 5

3-Methoxy-5-methylphenol (2, 1.0 g, 7.24 mmol) was dissolved in DMF (7 mL), and NaH (60% in mineral oil, 868 mg, 21.7 mmol) was added to the solution at 0 °C. After stirring for 10 min, chloromethyl methyl ether (0.825 mL, 10.86 mmol) was added to the resulting mixture. The reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 h and then quenched with water. The mixture was extracted using ethyl acetate and the combined organic phase was dried over anhydrous MgSO4 and filtered. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by SiO2 chromatography to afford 3 (1.3 g, 98%) as a yellow oil; Rf 0.45 (n-hexane:ethyl acetate = 9:1); 1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ = 6.48 (s, 1H), 6.43 (s, 1H), 6.40 (s, 2H), 5.15 (s, 2H), 3.78 (s, 3H), 3.48 (s, 3H), 2.31 (s, 3H) ppm; 13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ = 160.71, 158.38, 140.39, 109.28, 108.52, 99.76, 94.51, 56.10, 55.34, 21.89 ppm; LR-ESI-MS m/z 183 [M + H]+.
To a stirred solution of 3 (300 mg, 1.65 mmol) in THF (6 mL), n-BuLi (2.5 M in hexane, 0.8 mL, 2.0 mmol) was added at 0 °C. After stirring for 1 h at 0 °C, 1-bromo-3-methyl-2-butene (0.192 mL, 1.65 mmol) was added to the mixture at 0 °C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 2 h at room temperature and then quenched with aqueous NH4Cl. The mixture was extracted using ethyl acetate and the combined organic phase was dried over anhydrous MgSO4 and filtered. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by SiO2 chromatography to afford 4 (368 mg, 89%) as a colorless oil; Rf 0.40 (n-hexane:ethyl acetate = 15:1); 1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ = 6.55 (s, 1H), 6.40 (s, 1H), 5.20 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 5.17 (s, 2H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 3.47 (s, 3H), 3.33 (d, J = 7.1 Hz, 2H), 2.31 (s, 3H), 1.77 (s, 3H), 1.65 (s, 3H) ppm; 13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ = 158.04, 155.51, 136.90, 130.92, 123.31, 116.40, 107.93, 105.81, 94.54, 56.09, 55.83, 25.96, 22.38, 22.04, 17.86 ppm; LR-ESI-MS m/z 249 [M − H].
To a stirred solution of 4 (368 mg, 1.47 mmol) in MeOH (10 mL), c-HCl (0.48 mL) was added at 0 °C for 1 h. After stirring for 2 h, the reaction was quenched with aqueous NaHCO3. The mixture was extracted using ethyl acetate and the combined organic phase was dried over anhydrous MgSO4 and filtered. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified with SiO2 chromatography to afford 5 (287 mg, 95%) as a colorless oil; Rf 0.26 (n-hexane:ethyl acetate = 15:1); 1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ = 6.31 (s, 2H), 5.22 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 1H), 5.17 (s, 1H), 3.80 (s, 3H), 3.37 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.28 (s, 3H), 1.80 (s, 3H), 1.73 (s, 3H) ppm; 13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ = 157.87, 155.25, 137.43, 134.17, 122.44, 112.24, 109.58, 104.38, 55.87, 25.94, 22.17, 21.69, 17.95 ppm; LR-APCI-MS m/z 207 [M + H]+.

3.3. Synthesis of 7a and 7b

Prenylated phenol 5 (190 mg, 0.92 mmol) and 1-bromo-3-methoxy-5-methylbenzene (6a, 0.134 mL, 0.92 mmol) were dissolved in acetonitrile (4 mL). CuI (18 mg, 0.092 mmol), N-(2-fluorophenyl)picolinamide (20 mg, 0.092 mmol), and K3PO4 (390 mg, 1.86 mmol) were added to the solution. The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 min at 120 °C under microwave irradiation and then quenched with water after cooling. The mixture was extracted using ethyl acetate and the combined organic phase was dried over MgSO4 and filtered. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by SiO2 chromatography to afford 7a (264 mg, 88%) as a yellow oil; Rf 0.45 (n-hexane:ethyl acetate = 15:1); 1H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl3) δ = 6.49 (s, 1H), 6.41 (s, 1H), 6.37 (s, 1H), 6.30 (s, 2H), 5.18 (m, 1H), 3.84 (s, 3H), 3.74 (s, 3H), 3.28 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.26 (s, 3H), 2.26 (s, 3H) 1.67–1.56 (m, 6H) ppm; 13C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl3) δ = 160.70, 159.37, 158.47, 154.60, 140.37, 137.13, 131.37, 122.73, 119.42, 113.33, 110.85, 108.87, 107.49, 101.03, 55.84, 55.43, 25.92, 22.74, 21.81, 21.72, 17.80 ppm; LR-APCI-MS m/z 327 [M + H]+.
Prenylated phenol 5 (311 mg, 1.51 mmol) and methyl 2-methoxy-4,6-dimethylbenzoate (6b, 391 mg, 1.51 mmol) were dissolved in acetonitrile (4 mL). CuI (29 mg, 0.151 mmol), N-(2-fluorophenyl)picolinamide (33 mg, 0.151 mmol), and K3PO4 (633 mg, 3.02 mmol) were added to the solution. The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 min at 120 °C under microwave irradiation and then quenched with water after cooling. The mixture was extracted using ethyl acetate and the combined organic phase was dried over MgSO4 and filtered. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by SiO2 chromatography to afford 7b (430 mg, 74%) as a yellow oil; Rf 0.17 (n-hexane:ethyl acetate = 15:1); 1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ = 6.52 (s, 1H), 6.37 (s, 1H), 6.35 (s, 1H), 6.25 (s, 2H), 5.15 (t, J = 7.3 Hz, 1H), 3.89 (s, 3H), 3.85 (s, 3H), 3.74 (s, 3H), 3.26 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.27 (s, 3H), 2.22 (s, 3H), 1.61 (s, 3H), 1.60 (s, 3H) ppm; 13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ 168.84, 160.16, 158.51, 158.19, 154.11, 138.27, 137.34, 131.57, 122.55, 119.54, 117.72, 113.40, 110.95, 107.85, 99.06, 56.12, 55.85, 52.28, 25.92, 22.73, 21.71, 19.80, 17.80 ppm; LR-ESI-MS m/z 385 [M + H]+.

3.4. Synthesis of Diorcinol I (1a) and Leotiomycene (1b)

To a stirred solution of 7a (182 mg, 0.55 mmol) in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) (3 mL), 1-dodecanethiol (0.39 mL, 1.65 mmol) and NaOH (132 mg, 3.3 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1.5 h at 100 °C under microwave irradiation and then quenched with 1 N HCl (aq.) after cooling. The mixture was extracted using ethyl acetate and the combined organic phase was dried over MgSO4 and filtered. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by SiO2 chromatography to afford diorcinol I (1a, 132 mg, 83%) as a yellow oil; Rf 0.35 (n-hexane:ethyl acetate = 3:1); 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ = 9.45 (s, 1H), 9.35 (s, 1H), 6.46 (s, 1H), 6.27 (s, 1H), 6.17 (s, 1H), 6.14 (s, 1H), 6.03 (s, 1H), 5.13 (t, J = 7.4 Hz, 1H), 3.11 (d, J = 7.3 Hz, 2H), 2.17 (s, 3H), 2.15 (s, 3H), 1.58 (s, 3H), 1.58 (s, 3H) ppm; 13C NMR (126 MHz, DMSO-d6) δ = 159.35, 158.76, 156.65, 154.62, 140.21, 136.77, 130.48, 123.24, 117.38, 112.13, 111.95, 110.56, 108.89, 101.71, 25.98, 22.72, 21.65, 21.32, 18.01 ppm; LR-ESI-MS m/z 299 [M + H]+; HR-EI-MS m/z 298.1569 [M]+ (calculated for C19H22O3 298.1570).
To a stirred solution of 7b (64 mg, 0.18 mmol) in NMP (2 mL), 1-dodecanethiol (0.13 mL, 0.54 mmol) and NaOH (43 mg, 1.08 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was stirred for 1 h at 120 °C under microwave irradiation, and then quenched with 1N HCl (aq.) after cooling. The mixture was extracted using ethyl acetate and the combined organic phase was dried over MgSO4 and filtered. Volatiles were removed under reduced pressure, and the residue was purified by SiO2 chromatography to afford leotiomycene B (1b, 47 mg, 76%) as a white solid; Rf 0.19 (dichloromethane:methanol = 10:1); 1H NMR (500 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ = 11.48 (s, 1H), 6.55 (s, 1H), 6.43 (s, 1H), 6.36 (s, 1H), 6.20 (s, 1H), 5.34 (br s, 1H), 5.16 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 1H), 3.24 (d, J = 7.2 Hz, 2H), 2.57 (s, 3H), 2.26 (s, 3H), 1.70 (s, 3H), 1.69 (s, 3H) ppm; 13C NMR (126 MHz, Chloroform-d) δ = 175.02, 166.29, 164.11, 155.99, 152.40, 145.21, 138.32, 135.14, 121.36, 117.07, 114.69, 114.05, 112.44, 105.14, 102.00, 25.89, 24.52, 23.09, 21.25, 17.95 ppm; LR-ESI-MS m/z 341 [M − H]; HR-EI-MS m/z 342.1467 [M]+ (calculated for C20H22O5 342.1468).

4. Conclusions

A microwave-assisted copper-catalyzed diaryletherification protocol was developed for the cross-coupling of aryl halides and sterically hindered ortho-prenylated phenols. The optimized method entailing microwave irradiation of a copper and bidentate ligand system (10 mol% each of CuI and N-(2-fluorophenyl)picolinamide with 2 equivalents of K3PO4 in CH3CN at 120 °C under microwave irradiation for 0.5 h) was successfully applied for the synthesis of bioactive prenylated diresorcinols, diorcinol I and leotiomycene B. Notable advantages of microwave-assisted catalysis include operational simplicity and rapid heating, as well as shorter reaction times and higher chemical yields. In addition, the highly regioselective prenylation of phenol was achieved for the preparation of ortho-prenyl phenol by directed lithiation and subsequent alkylation. This study provides importance for the development of various prenylated diresorcinols as chemical probes or drugs with novel modes of action. Furthermore, considering that prenylated benzenoids are biosynthetic precursors of various polycyclic natural products, this synthetic route can potentially be expanded to more complex bioactive compounds.

Supplementary Materials

The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/molecules28010062/s1, Copies of 1H and 13C NMR spectra for 3, 4, 5, 7a, 1a (Diorcinol I), 7b, and 1b (Leotiomycene B), Table S1: 1H and 13C NMR data of 1a in comparison with the reported data of Diorcinol I; Table S2: 1H and 13C NMR data of 1b in comparison with the reported data of Leotiomycene B.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, J.-W.J.; Data curation, S.J. and B.K.; Funding acquisition, J.-W.J.; Investigation, S.J. and B.K.; Project administration, J.-W.J.; Resources, S.J. and B.K.; Supervision, J.-W.J.; Validation, S.J. and B.K.; Visualization, B.K.; Writing—original draft, B.K. and J.-W.J.; Writing—review and editing, J.-W.J. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

Financial support from the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grants funded by the Korean government (MSIT) (NRF-2020R1C1C1013670, NRF-2020R1A5A2017323, NRF-2022M3E5E8081209) and the 4th BK21 project funded by the Korean Ministry of Education (5199990614732 to B.K.) is gratefully acknowledged.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not applicable.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Brezani, V.; Smejkal, K.; Hosek, J.; Tomasova, V. Anti-inflammatory natural prenylated phenolic compounds-potential lead substances. Curr. Med. Chem. 2018, 25, 1094–1159. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  2. Chang, S.K.; Jiang, Y.; Yang, B. An update of prenylated phenolics: Food sources, chemistry and health benefits. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 2021, 108, 197–213. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  3. Li, X.B.; Zhou, Y.H.; Zhu, R.X.; Chang, W.Q.; Yuan, H.Q.; Gao, W.; Zhang, L.L.; Zhao, Z.T.; Lou, H.X. Identification and biological evaluation of secondary metabolites from the endolichenic fungus Aspergillus versicolor. Chem. Biodivers. 2015, 12, 575–592. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  4. Boehlich, G.J.; de Vries, J.; Geismar, O.; Gudzuhn, M.; Streit, W.R.; Wicha, S.G.; Schützenmeister, N. Total Synthesis of Anti-MRSA Active Diorcinols and Analogues. Chem.–A Eur. J. 2020, 26, 9846–9850. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  5. Paguigan, N.D.; Rivera-Chávez, J.; Stempin, J.J.; Augustinović, M.; Noras, A.I.; Raja, H.A.; Todd, D.A.; Triplett, K.D.; Day, C.; Figueroa, M. Prenylated diresorcinols inhibit bacterial quorum sensing. J. Nat. Prod. 2019, 82, 550–558. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  6. Gao, H.; Zhou, L.; Cai, S.; Zhang, G.; Zhu, T.; Gu, Q.; Li, D. Diorcinols BE, new prenylated diphenyl ethers from the marine-derived fungus Aspergillus versicolor ZLN-60. J. Antibiot. 2013, 66, 539–542. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  7. Wang, X.; Mou, Y.; Hu, J.; Wang, N.; Zhao, L.; Liu, L.; Wang, S.; Meng, D. Cytotoxic Polyphenols from a Sponge-Associated Fungus Aspergillus versicolor Hmp-48. Chem. Biodivers. 2014, 11, 133–139. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  8. Liu, L.; Liu, R.; Basnet, B.B.; Bao, L.; Han, J.; Wang, L.; Liu, H. New phenolic bisabolane sesquiterpenoid derivatives with cytotoxicity from Aspergillus tennesseensis. J. Antibiot. 2018, 71, 538–542. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  9. Hu, S.-s.; Jiang, N.; Wang, X.-l.; Chen, C.-j.; Fan, J.-y.; Wurin, G.; Ge, H.-m.; Tan, R.-x.; Jiao, R.-H. Prenylated diphenyl ethers from the mantis-associated fungus Aspergillus versicolor GH-2. Tetrahedron Lett. 2015, 56, 3894–3897. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  10. Li, Y.; Chang, W.; Zhang, M.; Li, X.; Jiao, Y.; Lou, H. Diorcinol D exerts fungicidal action against Candida albicans through cytoplasm membrane destruction and ROS accumulation. PLoS ONE 2015, 10, e0128693. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  11. Li, Y.; Chang, W.; Zhang, M.; Li, X.; Jiao, Y.; Lou, H. Synergistic and drug-resistant reversing effects of diorcinol D combined with fluconazole against Candida albicans. FEMS Yeast Res. 2015, 15, fov001. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  12. Wei, P.-Y.; Li, L.; Yang, C.-G.; Luo, D.-Q.; Zheng, Z.-H.; Lu, X.-H.; Shi, B.-Z. A novel oxybis cresol verticilatin with highly varying degrees of biological activities from the insect pathogenic fungus Paecilomyces verticillatus. J. Asian Nat. Prod. Res. 2014, 16, 1153–1157. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  13. Zhang, Y.; Li, X.-M.; Shang, Z.; Li, C.-S.; Ji, N.-Y.; Wang, B.-G. Meroterpenoid and diphenyl ether derivatives from Penicillium sp. MA-37, a fungus isolated from marine mangrove rhizospheric soil. J. Nat. Prod. 2012, 75, 1888–1895. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  14. Gao, X.-M.; Yu, T.; Lai, F.S.F.; Zhou, Y.; Liu, X.; Qiao, C.-F.; Song, J.-Z.; Chen, S.-L.; Luo, K.Q.; Xu, H.-X. Identification and evaluation of apoptotic compounds from Garcinia paucinervis. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2010, 18, 4957–4964. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  15. Jia, C.; Xue, J.; Li, X.; Li, D.; Li, Z.; Hua, H. New depsidone and dichromone from the stems of Garcinia paucinervis with antiproliferative activity. J. Nat. Med. 2019, 73, 278–282. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  16. Xu, X.; Yang, H.; Xu, H.; Yin, L.; Chen, Z.; Shen, H. Diphenyl ethers from a marine-derived isolate of Aspergillus sp. CUGB-F046. Nat. Prod. Res. 2018, 32, 821–825. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  17. Permana, D.; Lajis, N.H.; Shaari, K.; Ali, A.M.; Mackeen, M.M.; Kitajima, M.; Takayama, H.; Aimi, N. A new prenylated hydroquinone from the roots of Garcinia atroviridis Griff ex T. Anders (Guttiferae). Z. Nat. B 2003, 58, 332–335. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  18. Permana, D.; Lajis, N.H.; Mackeen, M.M.; Ali, A.M.; Aimi, N.; Kitajima, M.; Takayama, H. Isolation and Bioactivities of Constitutents of the Roots of Garcinia a troviridis. J. Nat. Prod. 2001, 64, 976–979. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  19. Syahida, A.; Israf, D.A.; Permana, D.; Lajis, N.; Khozirah, S.; Afiza, A.; Khaizurin, T.; Somchit, M.; Sulaiman, M.; Nasaruddin, A. Atrovirinone inhibits pro-inflammatory mediator release from murine macrophages and human whole blood. Immunol. Cell Biol. 2006, 84, 250–258. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  20. Gudzuhn, M.; Alio, I.; Moll, R.; de Vries, J.; Boehlich, J.; Assmann, M.; Janneschütz, J.; Schützenmeister, N.; Himmelbach, A.; Poehlein, A. Molecular Insight into Gene Response of Diorcinol-and Rubrolide-Treated Biofilms of the Emerging Pathogen Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Microbiol. Spectr. 2022, e02582-21. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  21. Enthaler, S. Palladium-catalysed hydroxylation and alkoxylation. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2011, 40, 4912–4924. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Green Version]
  22. Bhunia, S.; Pawar, G.G.; Kumar, S.V.; Jiang, Y.; Ma, D. Selected Copper-Based Reactions for C−N, C−O, C−S, and C−C Bond Formation. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2017, 56, 16136–16179. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [PubMed]
  23. Fui, C.J.; Sarjadi, M.S.; Sarkar, S.M.; Rahman, M.L. Recent advancement of ullmann condensation coupling reaction in the formation of aryl-oxygen (CO) bonding by copper-mediated catalyst. Catalysts 2020, 10, 1103. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  24. Akhtar, R.; Zahoor, A.F.; Irfan, M.; Bokhari, T.H. Recent green synthetic approaches toward Ullmann reaction: A review. Chem. Pap. 2022, 1–19. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  25. Ryu, M.; Kim, M.; Jeong, M.; Jang, J.; Lee, M.; Jin, H.-E.; Jung, J.-W. Studies on the alkylation of phenolate in an organofluorine solvent and its application to the synthesis of myrsinoic acids A and E. Synth. Commun. 2017, 47, 818–824. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  26. Simas, A.B.; Coelho, A.L.; Costa, P.R. Regioselective lithiation of resorcinol derivatives: Synthesis of mono O-MOM-and O-benzylresorcinols prenylated at C-2 or C-4 positions. Synthesis 1999, 1999, 1017–1021. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  27. Hu, Y.-C.; Min, X.-T.; Ji, D.-W.; Chen, Q.-A. Catalytic prenylation and reverse prenylation of aromatics. Trends Chem. 2022, 4, 658–675. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  28. Shen, L.; Simmons, C.J.; Sun, D. Microwave-assisted synthesis of macrocycles via intramolecular and/or bimolecular Ullmann coupling. Tetrahedron Lett. 2012, 53, 4173–4178. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  29. Maiti, D.; Buchwald, S.L. Cu-catalyzed arylation of phenols: Synthesis of sterically hindered and heteroaryl diaryl ethers. J. Org. Chem. 2010, 75, 1791–1794. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef] [Green Version]
  30. He, H.; Wu, Y.-J. Synthesis of diaryl ethers through the copper-catalyzed arylation of phenols with aryl halides using microwave heating. Tetrahedron Lett. 2003, 44, 3445–3446. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  31. Lipshutz, B.H.; Unger, J.B.; Taft, B.R. Copper-in-charcoal (Cu/C) promoted diaryl ether formation. Org. Lett. 2007, 9, 1089–1092. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  32. Collins, J.C.; Farley, K.A.; Limberakis, C.; Liras, S.; Price, D.; James, K. Macrocyclizations for medicinal chemistry: Synthesis of druglike macrocycles by high-concentration Ullmann coupling. J. Org. Chem. 2012, 77, 11079–11090. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  33. Sambiagio, C.; Munday, R.H.; Marsden, S.P.; Blacker, A.J.; McGowan, P.C. Picolinamides as Effective Ligands for Copper-Catalysed Aryl Ether Formation: Structure–Activity Relationships, Substrate Scope and Mechanistic Investigations. Chem.–A Eur. J. 2014, 20, 17606–17615. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
  34. Chae, J. Practical demethylation of aryl methyl ethers using an odorless thiol reagent. Arch. Pharmacal Res. 2008, 31, 305–309. [Google Scholar] [CrossRef]
Figure 1. Bioactive prenylated diresorcinols.
Figure 1. Bioactive prenylated diresorcinols.
Molecules 28 00062 g001
Figure 2. Retrosynthetic analysis of diorcinol I and leotiomycin B.
Figure 2. Retrosynthetic analysis of diorcinol I and leotiomycin B.
Molecules 28 00062 g002
Scheme 1. Preparation of prenylated phenol 5.
Scheme 1. Preparation of prenylated phenol 5.
Molecules 28 00062 sch001
Scheme 2. Synthesis of diorcinol I and leotiomycene B.
Scheme 2. Synthesis of diorcinol I and leotiomycene B.
Molecules 28 00062 sch002
Table 1. Optimization of Cu-catalyzed diaryletherification.
Table 1. Optimization of Cu-catalyzed diaryletherification.
Molecules 28 00062 i001
EntryCatalyst
(mol%)
Ligand (mol%)Base (eq)SolventTemperature
(°C)
Time
(h)
Yield a
1 [28]CuO (250)-K2CO3 (1)Pyridine200 b1ND c
2 [29]CuI (10)Picolinic acid (20)K3PO4 (2)DMSO9030ND
3CuI (10)Picolinic acid (20)K3PO4 (2)DMSO120 b0.527%
4CuI (10)Picolinic acid (20)K3PO4 (2)DMSO150 b0.550%
5CuI (10)Picolinic acid (20)K3PO4 (2)DMSO200 b0.533%
6CuI (10)Pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid (20)K3PO4 (2)DMSO150 b0.5ND
7 [33]Cul (10)N-(2-fluorophenyl)
picolinamide (10)
Cs2CO3 (2)CH3CN902429%
8Cul (10)N-(2-fluorophenyl)
picolinamide (10)
Cs2CO3 (2)CH3CN90 b0.540%
9Cul (10)N-(2-fluorophenyl)
picolinamide (10)
Cs2CO3 (2)CH3CN120 b0.545%
10Cul (10)N-(2-fluorophenyl)
picolinamide (10)
K3PO4 (2)CH3CN120 b0.588%
11Cul (10)N-(2-fluorophenyl)
picolinamide (10)
K3PO4 (2)CH3CN150 b0.546%
a Isolated yields. b The reaction was conducted under microwave irradiation. c Not detected.
Disclaimer/Publisher’s Note: The statements, opinions and data contained in all publications are solely those of the individual author(s) and contributor(s) and not of MDPI and/or the editor(s). MDPI and/or the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to people or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content.

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Jo, S.; Kang, B.; Jung, J.-W. Microwave-Assisted Cu-Catalyzed Diaryletherification for Facile Synthesis of Bioactive Prenylated Diresorcinols. Molecules 2023, 28, 62. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010062

AMA Style

Jo S, Kang B, Jung J-W. Microwave-Assisted Cu-Catalyzed Diaryletherification for Facile Synthesis of Bioactive Prenylated Diresorcinols. Molecules. 2023; 28(1):62. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010062

Chicago/Turabian Style

Jo, Seoyoung, Bohun Kang, and Jong-Wha Jung. 2023. "Microwave-Assisted Cu-Catalyzed Diaryletherification for Facile Synthesis of Bioactive Prenylated Diresorcinols" Molecules 28, no. 1: 62. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010062

APA Style

Jo, S., Kang, B., & Jung, J. -W. (2023). Microwave-Assisted Cu-Catalyzed Diaryletherification for Facile Synthesis of Bioactive Prenylated Diresorcinols. Molecules, 28(1), 62. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010062

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop