SMQ-V047 N-002_ligas_size.pdf - Journal of the Mexican Chemical ...

REVISTA de la SOCIEDAD
QUÍMICA
d e
M É X I C O
(Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx.)
Páginas 101-210
Vol. 47, Núm. 2, abril-junio del 2003

Fecha de publicación: Julio 2003
REVISTA de la SOCIEDAD QUÍMICA de MÉXICO
(Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx.) ISSN 0583-7693
Publicación trimestral editada y distribuida por la Sociedad Química
de México, A.C., Barranca del Muerto 26 (esq. Hércules). Col. Crédito
Constructor, Delegación Benito Juárez, C.P. 03940, México, D.F.
Tels.: 5662-6823 y 5662-6837. Fax: 5662-6823.
Editor: Guillermo Delgado Lamas (E-mail: delgado@servidor.unam.mx)
Editor Técnico: Arturo Sánchez y Gándara (E-mail: sygeditores@att.net.mx)
D.R. © Sociedad Química de México, A.C.
Se prohíbe la reproducción o impresión parcial o total
sin la autorización por escrito del titular de los derechos.
Reserva del título número 158-67 (mayo de 1967)
otorgado por la Dirección General de Derechos de Autor, SEP.
Certificado de licitud número 3565 y de contenido número 3867
otorgados por la Comisión Calificadora de Publicaciones
y Revistas Ilustradas de la Secretaría de Gobernación.
Publicación periódica. Registro número 0790 790.
Características 2294 5112, autorizado por SEPOMEX,
23 de julio de 1990. Oficio número 317 Exp. 091.70/2485.
Autorizada como correspondencia de segunda clase por la Dirección
General de Correos con fecha 25 de agosto de 1967.
Edición e impresión: S y G Editores S.A. de C.V., Calle Cuapinol 52,
Col. Santo Domingo, Delegación Coyoacán, 04369 México, D.F.
Tels.: 5619-5293, 5617-5610, E-mail: sygeditores@att.net.mx.

Editorial
La investigación científica es una actividad de gran importancia,
particularmente en los países en vías de desarrollo,
debido, entre muchos otros aspectos, a su incidencia en la
implementación de tecnologías propias que permiten la conservación
y aprovechamiento racional de los recursos naturales
en beneficio de la sociedad. La vegetación constituye un
importante recurso natural en nuestro país, y existe una
amplia tradición en el manejo y utilización de las especies
vegetales que, en algunos casos, puede remontarse prácticamente
a los inicios de nuestra era [1]. Así, desde el inicio de la
institucionalización de la investigación química en México
[2], se abordaron temas referentes a la química de productos
naturales. Es, por lo tanto, oportuno reconocer la trayectoria
de investigación del doctor Alfonso Romo de Vivar, quien
constituye una figura señera en la investigación de la composición
química de la vegetación de nuestro país. Este
fascículo de la Revista de la Sociedad Química de México está
integrado por trabajos de investigación dedicados al distinguido
académico, en reconocimiento a su labor científica desarrollada
durante cinco décadas.
La biografía del doctor Romo de Vivar permite atestiguar
numerosos cambios y vicisitudes [3]. Nació en San Francisco
de los Romo, Aguascalientes, una región donde la familia
Romo de Vivar tiene antecedentes centenarios. La familia
emigró a Aguascalientes, donde concluyó los estudios primarios
e inició la secundaria en el Instituto de Ciencias Autónomo
de Aguascalientes. En 1945, parte de la familia se trasladó
a la Ciudad de México, y en esta ciudad el futuro químico
concluyó su educación media, en la Secundaria 15, ubicada en
Tacuba, donde el doctor Humberto Estrada, de grata memoria
para los profesionales de la química, impartía clases. Después
de cursar la Preparatoria en el Colegio de San Ildefonso,
Alfonso Romo de Vivar ingresó a la entonces Escuela
Nacional de Ciencias Químicas, y concluyó los estudios de
químico en 1952. En 1953 ingresó al Instituto de Química,
donde desarrolló sus tesis de licenciatura y doctorado bajo la
dirección del doctor Jesús Romo Armería (1922-1977), distinguido
pionero de la investigación química en México, y también
originario de Aguascalientes. Así, Alfonso Romo de
Vivar ingresó al grupo de investigación del Instituto de
Química, formado entonces por Alberto Sandoval, José
Francisco Herrán, Octavio Mancera, José Luis Mateos, Javier
Padilla, Fernando Walls, Jesús Romo, José Iriarte, entre otros
distinguidos académicos (Foto p. 104).
Sus primeros trabajos fueron sobre la química de
esteroides, entre otros temas [4], dada la estrecha relación que
sostenían, durante la década de 1950, el Instituto de Química
y la empresa farmacéutica Syntex, que comercializaba por
aquellos años, la progesterona, sintetizada a partir de la diosgenina,
un producto natural obtenido a partir de la raíz del
barbasco. La tesis doctoral de Alfonso Romo de Vivar versó
sobre el análisis químico de la especie vegetal Helenium mexicanum,
una planta que había llamado su atención desde su
niñez, ya que había observado que las vacas que consumían
este vegetal producían leche amarga. Efectivamente, los principios
amargos aislados de este vegetal, conocido como rosilla
o chapuz, fueron un grupo de substancias conocidas como lactonas
sesquiterpénicas, y denominadas trivialmente como
mexicaninas A, B, C..., entre otras [5]. De 1962 a 1963, el Dr.
Romo de Vivar realizó una estancia con el Dr. Werner Herz,
en Tallahassee, en la Universidad de Florida. Desde los sesentas,
y a lo largo de tres décadas, el grupo del doctor Alfonso
Romo de Vivar llevó a cabo importantes contribuciones al
conocimiento de los constituyentes químicos de varios grupos
de plantas, entre los cuales destacan los géneros Iva, Ambrosia,
Chrysanthemum, Zaluzania, Artemisia, Zinnia, Parthenium,
Yucca, Pluchea, Viguiera, Tithonia, entre otros. Así, se
configuraron y consolidaron las actividades de una importante
línea de investigación, iniciada por los doctores Herrán [6],
Sandoval [7], Romo [8], Iriarte [9], entre otros, la cual consiste,
en términos generales, en la generación de conocimiento
científico mediante el estudio químico sistemático de la flora
nacional.
Es pertinente mencionar que actualmente, en una
sociedad de economía de mercado, donde se requiere asignar
precio para que algo sea valorado, la biodiversidad de nuestro
país, que es considerada una de las mayores a nivel mundial,
es un patrimonio que no puede ponderarse mediante criterios
utilitarios, ya que aún no está completamente descrita y apenas
se conocen, de manera muy fragmentaria, las estructuras
moleculares de los metabolitos secundarios presentes en las
diversas fuentes naturales. Sin embargo, sí conocemos los

102 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Guillermo D. L.
efectos devastadores de la erosión y la degradación de la biodiversidad.
Hace casi dos décadas Alfonso Romo de Vivar
publicó el libro “Productos Naturales de la Flora Mexicana”
[10], el cual compila parte de las investigaciones realizadas en
el Instituto de Química de la UNAM, y que actualmente constituye
una referencia clásica sobre el tema. Más recientemente,
durante la última década, el grupo del doctor Romo de Vivar
ha incidido en el estudio químico del género Senecio [11] y
taxa afines [12], los cuales constituyen un grupo importante
de especies vegetales de notable complejidad taxonómica.
A lo largo de su carrera científica el doctor Alfonso Romo
de Vivar ha recibido numerosas distinciones, tales como el
Premio de la Academia de la Investigación Científica (1968),
el Premio Banamex de Ciencia y Tecnología (1975); el Premio
Nacional de Química Andrés Manuel del Río de la Sociedad
Química de México, y el Premio Nacional de Ciencias
Farmacéuticas (ambos en 1977). Es Investigador Nacional
desde 1984; fue acreedor del Premio Universidad Nacional
(1987); en 1990 se le otorgó el Premio Syntex-IOCD, por la
Sociedad Química Americana; en 1991 recibió la distinción
de Investigador Emérito de la Universidad Nacional, y el
Premio Aguascalientes de Ciencia y Tecnología, y es Investigador
Emérito del Sistema Nacional de Investigadores.
Los profesionales de la química, los miembros de la
Sociedad Química de México, colegas, amigos y alumnos nos
enorgullecemos de la figura señera que representa Alfonso
Romo de Vivar, y le agradecemos su papel como forjador de
la joven tradición científica de nuestro país.
Referencias
1. Rius, M.; Galdeano, C. La Química Prehispánica. En: Química en
México. Ayer, Hoy y Mañana. Garritz, A., Comp., Edición de la
Facultad de Química. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de
México. 1991. pp. 23-52.
2. Walls, F. El Instituto de Química. Inicio de la Investigación. En:
Química en México. Ayer, Hoy y Mañana. Garritz, A., Comp.,
Edición de la Facultad de Química. Universidad Nacional
Autónoma de México. 1991. pp. 109-121.
3. (a) Romo de Vivar, A. Familia Romo de Vivar: 345 años en
Aguascalientes, 50 años en el Instituto de Química. Serie: Forjadores
de la Ciencia en la UNAM. Coordinación de la Investigación
Científica de la UNAM. 2003. pp. 7-39. (b) Delgado, G.
Alfonso Romo de Vivar. Reseña Biográfica. En: Nuestros
Maestros. Edición de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de
México. Tomo III. 1996. pp 17-26.
4. (a) Romo, J.; Romo de Vivar, A. J. Org. Chem. 1956, 79, 902-
909. (b) Romo, J.; Romo de Vivar, A. Bol. Inst. Quím. Univ. Nac.
Autón. Méx. 1956, 8, 10-16.
5. (a) Romo, J.; Romo de Vivar, A. Chem. and Ind. 1959, 882. (b)
Romo de Vivar, A.; Romo, J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1961, 83, 2326 -
2328. (c) Romo de Vivar, A.; Romo, J. Ciencia (Méx.) 1961, 21,
33-35.
6. Herrán, J. Anuario de la Comisión Impulsora y Coordinadora de
la Investigación Científica 1943, 217-221.
7. (a) Zechmeister, L.; Sandoval, A. Science 1945, 101, 585. (b)
Zechmeister, L.; Sandoval, A. Arch. Biochem. 1945, 8, 425.
8. Romo, J. Bol. Inst. Quím. Univ. Nac. Autón. Méx. 1945, 1, 67-74
9. Iriarte, J. Bol. Inst. Quím. Univ. Nac. Autón. Méx. 1945, 1, 80-87.
10. Romo de Vivar, A. Productos Naturales de la Flora Mexicana.
Ed. Limusa, México. 1985. 220 pp.
11. Romo de Vivar, A.; Pérez-Castorena, A. L.; Arciniegas, A.;
Villaseñor, J. L. Rec. Res. Devel. Phytochem. 2000, 4, 61-74.
12. Arciniegas, A.; Pérez-Castorena, A. L.; Reyes, S.; Contreras, J.
L.; Romo de Vivar, A. J. Nat. Prod. 2003, 66, 225-229.
Guillermo Delgado Lamas

Editorial 103
Jacobo Gómez Lara (1935-1999), Derek H.R. Barton (1918-1998) y Alfonso Romo de Vivar (1928).
Vestíbulo del Instituto de Química, UNAM, julio de 1997.

104 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Guillermo D. L.
Personal del Instituto de Química en 1953. Abajo: Maya, Isaac Lerner, Jesús Reynoso,
José Luis Mateos, Jesús Romo Armería, Fernando Walls, José Iriarte y Alfonso Romo de Vivar.
En medio: Nemorio Reynoso, Cristina Pérez-Amador, Pascual Aguinaco y José F. Herrán (agachado).
Atrás: Visitante, Armando Manjarréz, Javier Padilla, Catalina Vélez, Ana Villanueva,
Harry Miller (Fundación Rockefeller) y Octavio Mancera.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 105-106
Scientific Contributions of Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Nikolaus H. Fischer
Department of Pharmacognosy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy,
University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677, USA
I consider it a great honor to be asked to present the “Scientific
Laudatio” of Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar and it is a
pleasant duty to write a summary of Dr. Romo de Vivar’s
accomplishments in natural products chemistry. It speaks for
itself, that his scientific contributions span over a time period
of nearly one half century. Alfonso can with pride look back
on a highly productive scientific career with impressive
accomplishments and significant contributions to organic
chemistry, in general, and natural products chemistry, in particular.
Alfonso was born in Mexico on April 30, 1928 in San
Francisco de los Romo, Aguascalientes. He received the B.Sc.
degree in Chemistry at the School of Chemistry, Universidad
Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City. He
subsequently entered the Postgraduate Program in Organic
Chemistry and completed his Ph.D. in 1959. His dissertation
research was directed toward the isolation and chemistry of
sesquiterpene lactones from Helenium mexicanum.
Alfonso spent his whole research career at the Institute of
Chemistry at UNAM, which began in 1958, and in 1992 he
received the status of Professor Emeritus at the Institute of
Chemistry at UNAM. Since 1994 he is also a National Emeritus
Research Scientist of the National System of Scientific
Research. His early research interests were shared with his
mentor, the late Professor Jesús Romo Armería, the “father”
of the Institute of Chemistry. Their main focus was on the
chemistry of plant steroids as well as sesquiterpene lactones
from Helenium mexicanum.
It is most impressive that between 1956 and 1961 eight
publications appeared with these two individuals as sole
authors. The papers were published in highly prestigious international
journals including three publications in the Journal of
the American Chemical Society and two in the Journal of
Organic Chemistry [1-6].
His increasing interest in sesquiterpene lactones led to a
one-year sabbatical leave (1962-1963) in the laboratory of
Professor Werner Herz at Florida State University in Tallahassee,
Florida, USA. This highly productive collaboration
led to a series of pioneering studies on the structure and chemistry
of pseudoguaianolides from the genera Helenium and
related taxa. Six papers [7-12] resulted from this collaboration
and appeared in the Journal of the American Chemical Society
[7], the Journal of Organic Chemistry [10, 11] and Tetrahedron
[8, 9, 12], which again speaks for the high productivity
and caliber of these publications.
Dr. Romo de Vivar’s teaching career in the School of
Chemistry at UNAM began in 1957. He was the mentor of
about 40 undergraduate students and eleven students received
the Ph.D. degree under his direction. Many of his publications
on multiple structural types of natural products, ranging from
sesquiterpene lactones to diterpenes, to triterpenes, were coauthored
with his dedicated students. Many of them have subsequently
developed their own highly successful, internationally
recognized research programs at UNAM and other prestigious
academic institutions. Other collaborators include his
colleagues at the Institute of Chemistry and natural product
chemists from academic institutions in Mexico and other
countries.
His high productivity in research publications continued
for over three decades [13-16], with a total of about150 peerreviewed
papers and reviews being published. He continues to
do research and publish in top international journals on various
aspects of natural products chemistry. Since the beginning
of the year 2000 alone, nearly ten papers have appeared
or are in press. This seems to be a good example of a chemist,
who “never stops to react”.
Alfonso was the recipient of a number of significant academic
awards for his scientific work. In 1968, he received the
Science Award of the Mexican Academy of Sciences and in
1977 was awarded the National Chemistry Award “Andres
Manuel del Rio” by the Mexican Chemical Society. In 1987
he was the recipient of the National University Science
Award, and in 1990, the IOCD-Syntex Award by the American
Chemical Society.
I wish to conclude with a personal note. My first correspondence
with Dr. Romo de Vivar goes back to October 1976.
At that time Alfonso informed me in a short letter, that Dr.
Ronald Hartman had visited and stored our plant collection at
a safe place in the Institute. In a handwritten footnote, he
pointed out that a young scientist in the Institute, Dr. Leovigildo
Quijano, would send his application for an advertised postdoctoral
position. Leo joined my research group shortly thereafter.
This was the beginning of a life-long scientific collaboration
and close friendship with Leo, that my wife Helga and I
cherish very much. My association and interaction with many
members of the faculty in the Institute of Chemistry and the
School of Chemistry continues to this date.
Thank you, Alfonso. You started it all!

106 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Nikolaus H. Fischer
References
1. Some experiments with 16β-bromo-17α-acetoxy-20-keto
steroids. Synthesis of 16α-17α-dihydroxysteroids and related
compounds. Romo, J.; Romo de Vivar, A. J. Org. Chem., 1956,
21, 902-909.
2. The Favorskii rearrangement in the pregnane series. cis-trans
Isomerism in some 17,20-dehydro derivatives. Romo, J.; Romo
de Vivar, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1957, 79, 1118-1123.
3. Constituents of Helenium mexicanum H.B.K. Romo de Vivar, A.;
Romo, J. Chem. and Ind. 1959, 882.
4. The Beckmann rearrangements of the acetoxime of 5,16-pregnadien-3β-ol-20-one
acetate with boron trifluoride. Romo, J.;
Romo de Vivar, A. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1959, 81, 3446-3452.
5. Mexicanin E, a norsesquiterpenoid lactone. Romo de Vivar, A.;
Romo, J. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1961, 83, 2326-2328.
6. Las lactonas de Helenium mexicanum H.B.K. Romo de Vivar, A.;
Romo, J. Ciencia (Méx.), 1961, 21, 33-35.
7. Constituents of Helenium species, XIII. The structure of helenalin
and mexicanin A. Herz, W.; Romo de Vivar, A.; Romo, J.;
Viswanathan, N. J. Am. Chem. Soc., 1963, 85, 19-26.
8. Constituents of Helenium species, XV. The structure of mexicanin
C. Relative stereochemistry of its congeners. Herz, W.;
Romo de Vivar, A.; Romo, J.; Viswanathan, N. Tetrahedron,
1963, 19, 1359-1369.
9. Constituents of Helenium species, XIV. The structure of mexicanin
E. Romo, J.; Romo de Vivar, A.; Herz, W. Tetrahedron,
1963, 19, 2717-2322.
10. Constituents of Iva species, III. Structure of microcephalin, a new
sesquiterpenic lactone. Herz, W.; Hogenauer, G.; Romo de Vivar,
A. J. Org. Chem., 1964, 29, 1700-1703.
11. Constituents of Iva species, IV. Structure of pseudoivalin, a new
guaianolide. Herz, W.; Romo de Vivar, A.; Lakshmikantham, M.
V. J. Org. Chem., 1965, 30, 118.
12. Further transformations of Helenalin and its congeners: the 1-epihelenalin
and 1-epiambrosin series. Romo de Vivar, A.; Rodriguez-Hahn,
L.; Lakshmikantham, M.V.; Mirrington, R.N.; Kagan,
J.; Herz, W. Tetrahedron, 1966, 22, 3279.
13. The constituents of Zalazania augusta. The structure of zaluzanin
A and B. Romo, J.; Romo de Vivar, A.; Joseph-Nathan, P.
Tetrahedron 1967, 23, 29.
14. The constituents of Zalazania H. Structure of zaluzanins C and D.
Romo de Vivar, A.; Cabrera, A.; Ortega A.; Romo, J. Tetrahedron
1967, 23, 3903.
15. Stevin, a new pseudoguaianolide isolated from Stevia rhombifolia
H.B.K. Rios, T.; Romo de Vivar, A.; Romo, J. Tetrahedron,
1967, 23, 4265.
16. The Pseudoguaianolides. Romo, J.; Romo de Vivar, A. Fortschritte
der Chemie Org. Naturstoffe 1967, 25, 90-130.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 107
El aporte a la Química Iberoamericana del doctor Alfonso Romo de Vivar.
Asegurar la inmortalidad de la ciencia para así perpetuar la humanidad
Mario Silva, Ph.D. (London)
Laboratorio de Química de Productos Naturales, Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Ciencias,
Universidad de Concepción, Chile. Concepción, Chile. E-mail: mjsilva@udec.cl
El doctor Alfonso Romo de Vivar, hombre de ciencia e investigador
emérito, pero también formador de hombres de ciencia
e investigadores, ha sido un auténtico líder en el ideal del siglo
XX: un científico que labora para encaminar al mundo y a los
hombres hacia la verdad, que no es otra cosa que aquello que
el hombre siempre ha anhelado y buscado con denuedo, por
medios disímiles como lo son el arte, la reflexión, o la ciencia.
Si se puede afirmar que la época renacentista busca a través
del arte y que los siglos XVIII y XIX lo hacen a través de la
reflexión, se puede postular, también, que el siglo XX ha acudido
a la técnica y a la ciencia para encontrar las respuestas a
la gran pregunta: ¿qué somos?
La segunda mitad del siglo XX ha sido obviamente el inicio
de la era de la ciencia, en la que estamos profundamente
sumergidos y en la que vemos aparecer sus frutos, a veces
espectaculares, pero, las más de las veces, como cuestiones más
bien banales, sin tener conciencia plena del esfuerzo y la
inteligencia invertida por las personas en su realización. En este
sentido, la labor del doctor Romo de Vivar es inconmensurable,
al igual que la tarea de quizás cuántos científicos que, en el aislamiento
del laboratorio, buscan y encuentran respuestas a las
inquietudes que les despiertan las incógnitas del mundo.
La ciencia y su apoyo técnico han sido los motores del
proceso de globalización que se vive en nuestros tiempos,
donde lo que les sucede a nuestros congéneres lejanos nos
afecta sobre manera y donde lo que hagamos o dejemos de
hacer compromete no sólo a nuestros contemporáneos sino,
más aún, a los descendientes nuestros y ajenos.
La globalización obedece a criterios de crecimiento económico
originados en intereses que tienen como objetivo el
éxito de la empresa sin que la felicidad o bienestar humano
sea considerado y que requiere anular o por lo menos mitigar
todas aquellas circunstancias que pudiesen alterar ese buen
éxito. Frente a este proceso de globalización, que ha sido disparado
por la ciencia, pero llevado a cabo por organismos
extra científicos, se alzan visiones, propuestas y actos que
desean preservar algunos tipos de identidad, creencias, prácticas
y destinos: sin negarse a la inserción en el mundo: “quiero
ser yo en mi grupo, con mis divinidades, mis ritos y mi vida
después de mi vida”.
Nota: Agradezco al Dr. Guillermo Delgado y por su intermedio a la Sociedad
Química de México la oportunidad que me brindaron para escribir esta nota
sobre el Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar.
El doctor Romo de Vivar ha realizado una labor extensa,
densa y magnífica en pro de la ciencia y de la humanidad. Ha
formado discípulos y con ello ha cumplido con la exigencia
que se le hace al hombre de ciencia: asegurar la inmortalidad
de la ciencia para así perpetuar la humanidad. Aunque, para
bien o para mal, el hombre sea diferente en diferentes latitudes,
y pese a las diversidades que se ofrecen en cuanto a culturas,
idiomas y religiones, así como también en cuanto a tipos
humanos, conductas sociales y cosmovisiones, la ciencia trata
de suputar la esencia del hombre y la del mundo, pero, más
allá, la esencia del hombre en el mundo y la del mundo en el
hombre. En esta perspectiva, no es muy atrevido afirmar que
el doctor Romo de Vivar ha indagado en estas dos últimas
áreas, buscando y encontrando elementos, procedimientos y
modos de acción de aquello que ofrece el mundo y que puede
ponerse al servicio del hombre para su bienestar y su felicidad.
Como breve resumen de la labor del doctor Romo de Vivar
podemos decir que ha dictado conferencias en diversos centros
de alto nivel mundial, ha entregado sus conocimientos a nivel
de difusión de la Química a estudiantes de pregrado y para el
público en general; ha publicado brillantes trabajos en revistas
científicas del más alto impacto y participado con sus alumnos
en un número muy importante de Congresos Mexicanos e
Internacionales. Además, el Dr. Romo de Vivar ha dirigido numerosas
tesis de licenciatura, de maestría y de doctorado.
Cabe destacar que este hombre de ciencia ha recibido innumerables
distinciones en México, tanto en su país, como a
nivel internacional, entre las cuales destacan: Premio Universidad
Nacional, Premio IOCD-Syntex para la Excelencia de la
Química, Investigador Emérito Universitario, Investigador
Nacional Emérito, entre otras distinciones.
Finalmente es importante señalar que el doctor Romo de
Vivar está inscrito en el Cuadro de Honor de la Química, de
México y Latinoamérica, junto a los Químicos que han sido
destacados por la relevancia de su labor científica.
El doctor Alfonso Romo de Vivar, ¿un hombre de dos
vidas paralelas, dos hombres en uno, un hombre en el mundo
y otro o el mismo en la ciencia? Lo más cierto es que no hay
respuesta, pero sólo él mismo puede percibir un bosquejo de
sentimiento frente al tema, no como una reflexión acerca de su
ego, sino como apreciación de la proyección de su yo y como
complacencia desde donde puede mirar hacia atrás.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 108-116
Investigación
Synthesis, Structural, and Theoretical Study of New β-Heterosubstituted
Captodative Olefins 1-Acetylvinyl Arenecarboxylates
Jorge A. Mendoza, 1 Hugo A. Jiménez-Vázquez, 1 Rafael Herrera, 2 Jide Liu, 1 and Joaquín Tamariz 1*
1 Departamento de Química Orgánica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional,
Prol. de Carpio y Plan de Ayala, 11340 México, D.F. México. Tel: (+5255) 5729-6300 / 62411; Fax: (+5255) 5396-3503;
E-mail: jtamariz@woodward.encb.ipn.mx
2 Instituto de Investigaciones Quimicobiológicas, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Edif. B-1,
Ciudad Universitaria, Francisco J. Mujica S/N, 58066 Morelia, Mich., México.
Dedicated to Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar on the occasion of his 50th anniversary of relevant contributions in natural
products chemistry at the Instituto de Química,UNAM
Recibido el 10 de diciembre del 2002; aceptado el 6 de febrero del 2003
Abstract. A new series of β-heterosubstituted captodative olefins 1-
acetylvinyl arenecarboxylates (7a and 10a-10h) has been prepared,
by introducing nitrogen or sulphur as heteroatoms substituted by
alkyl and aryl groups. Three preparation methods were evaluated by
modifying the leaving group of the starting material, as well as the
nucleophilic character of the adding thiols. All of them were efficient
and stereoselective, providing the desired alkenes in good yields and
with the Z configuration of the double bond. Ab initio calculations
(HF/6-31G*) of the FMOs, of some of the beta amino and bromo
olefins, explained their experimental reactivity in Diels-Alder additions
with respect to the unsubstituted olefin 1a. It also appears that
the HOMO and LUMO energies of the beta sulphur analogues are
governed by the particular electronic features of the sulphur atom,
and that their very low reactivity before a diene is due to steric hindrance.
A comparison between bond distances obtained by X-ray
crystallography of different β-substituted and unsubstituted olefins
seems to correlate with the delocalization effect of the heteroatom
lone electron pair for the bromo and amino β-substituted olefins.
Keywords: Captodative olefin, structure, reactivity.
Resumen. Se describe la preparación de una nueva serie de olefinas
captodativas β-heterosustituidas 1-acetilvinil arencarboxilatos (7a
and 10a-10h), donde el heteroátomo es nitrógeno o azufre, sustituido
por grupos alquilo y arilo. Se evaluaron tres métodos para su preparación,
modificando el grupo saliente en el sustrato, y el carácter nucleofílico
de los tioles que se adicionaron. Los tres métodos fueron
eficientes y estereoselectivos, proporcionando los alquenos deseados
en buenos rendimientos y con la configuración Z del doble enlace. El
cálculo de orbitales moleculares frontera (ab initio, HF / 6-31G*) de
algunas de las olefinas preparadas permitió explicar sus diferencias
en reactividad experimental con respecto a la olefina no sustituida 1a.
Así, se sugiere que las energías de los orbitales HOMO y LUMO de
los análogos azufrados están gobernadas por las propiedades electrónicas
particulares del átomo de azufre, y que su baja reactividad
ante un dieno depende también del efecto estérico. Una comparación
de los datos de cristalografía de rayos X entre distancias de enlace de
diferentes olefinas β-sustituidas y la no sustituida parece correlacionarse
con el efecto de deslocalización del par de electrones no
compartidos del heteroátomo para las olefinas β-bromo y β-amino
sustituidas.
Palabras clave: Olefina captodativa, estructura, reactividad.
Introduction
Captodative olefins have attracted particular attention in
recent years, due to the opposite electronic demand and to the
synthetic potential displayed by their geminally substituted
functional groups [1]. We have shown that 1-acetylvinyl p-
arenecarboxylates 1a-1c were highly reactive and selective in
Diels-Alder [2] and 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions [3], and they
also proved to be very useful synthons in natural product synthesis
[4]. More recently, the alkyl 2-aroyloxy acrylates 2a-2b
were prepared, showing also high reactivity and selectivity in
Diels-Alder reactions [5]. With the aim of evaluating the
effect of a third substituent in the double bond on the reactivity
in [4+2] additions, compound 3a was prepared through a
stereoselective synthetic route starting from 1a [6]. A series of
amines 3b and thiols 3c and 3d were synthesized by treatment
of 3a with the corresponding amines and thiols. In particular,
enaminones are important organic intermediates [7], and have
potential biological activity [8]. Moreover, other β-substituted
captodative olefins have been prepared, showing interesting
pericyclic behavior and synthetic usefulness [9].
Attempts to carry out the Diels-Alder cycloaddition of
alkenes 3a-3d with dienes such as cyclopentadiene (4) and isoprene
(5) were, however, unsuccessful, except for derivative 3a.
The latter yielded adducts with diene 4 in an unexpectedly high

Synthesis, Structural, and Theoretical Study of New β-Heterosubstituted Captodative Olefins 1-Acetylvinyl Arenecarboxylates 109
Table 1. Preparation of the β-sulfanyl substituted captodative olefins 10a-10h from olefin 3a.
Entry a RSX Base b T (°C) t (h) 10 (%) c
1 9a (R = Me, X = Na) ___ 25 0.5 10a (85)
2 9b (R = Et, X = Na) ___ 25 0.5 10b (90)
3 9c (R = i-Pr, X = Na) ___ 25 0.5 10c (90)
4 9d (R = Et, X = H) Et 3 N 0-120 d 3.0 10b (78)
5 9e (R = i-Pr, X = H) Et 3 N 0-120 d 3.0 10c (81)
6 9f (R = t-Bu, X = H) Et 3 N 0-120 d 3.0 10d (82)
7 9g (R = Bn, X = H) Et 3 N 0-120 d 3.0 10e (90)
8 9h (R = C 6 H 4 p-Br, X = H) Et 3 N 0-120 d 3.0 10f (96)
9 9i (R = C 6 H 4 p-OMe, X = H) Et 3 N 0-120 d 3.0 10g (80)
10 9j (R = C 6 H 4 p-Me, X = H) Et 3 N 0-120 d 3.0 10h (81)
a All under N 2 atmosphere, with 1.3 mol equiv. of RSX, in DMF as solvent.
b With 1.3 mol equiv. of Et 3 N.
c After column and radial chromatography.
d The reaction was succesively maintained at 0 °C for 1 h, 20 °C for 1 h, and at 120 °C for 1 h.
Fig. 1. Fig. 2.
exo stereoselectivity, and in comparable para/meta regioselectivity
to that observed for olefin 1a with diene 5 [6].
The high reactivity and selectivity of captodative olefins
in cycloaddition reactions is rather unexpected, since the electron-releasing
effect of the aroyloxy group should decrease
their reactivity in comparison with a dienophile or dipolarophile
bearing only an electron-withdrawing group, such as
methyl vinyl ketone (6) [10]. Structural and theoretical studies
of olefin 1a revealed that the delocalization of the oxygen
lone pair of the electron-donor group toward the π-sytem was
inhibited by conformational restrictions [11]. In addition,
FMO calculations suggested a dominant effect of the acetyl
electron-withdrawing group on the polarization of the olefin
[11]. However, the high regioselectivity shown by olefins 1 in
1,3-dipolar additions toward nitrones and nitrile oxides was
better rationalized by DFT/HSAB theory [3c], showing the
relevance of the electron-donor group in controlling the interaction
of the cycloaddends. Therefore, electronic and structural
factors should be taken into account to explain the reactivity
and regiochemistry observed in both Diels-Alder and 1,3-
dipolar reactions.
It is then relevant to evaluate the perturbation of the beta
substituent in olefins 3 on the electronic and structural properties
of these molecules and, in particular, on the double bond.
Accordingly, we hereby report the preparation of a large
series of new captodative olefins β-substituted with a new
amine, and alkyl and aryl thiols. MO calculations were also
carried out to assess the effect of the third substituent on the
FMO energies and coefficients.
Results and discussion
Synthesis of β-heterosubstituted captodative olefins
The β-amino substituted olefin 7a was prepared by treating α-
bromoalkene 3a with amine 8a, as an extension of the method
used for the preparation of amino derivatives 3b [6] (Fig. 1).
Thus, addition of N,N-methylphenyl amine (8a), in methylene
chloride at 10 °C for 30 min, satisfactorily led to the desired -
substituted olefin 7a in 62 % yield. The Z configuration of the
double bond was established through NOE experiments.
Irradiation of proton H-4 resulted in enhancement of the signal
for the acetyl group.
In the previous report, the synthesis of β-thio (β-sulfanyl)
olefins was limited to 3c and 3d by treatment of 3a with the
corresponding thiol in the presence of triethylamine in DMF
at room temperature [6]. The use of some other alkyl mercaptanes
and aryl thiophenols under these conditions was not as
efficient. Therefore, three additional methodologies were
investigated to improve the yields. The first method involved
the addition of the sodium salt of the thiol (9a-9c) to 3a (Fig.
2), leading to products 10a-10c in high yields and under mild
conditions (Table 1, entries 1-3). When thiols 9d-9g were
used, more severe conditions were applied in order to improve
the preparation of olefins 10b-10e (entries 4-7). The yields
were high even for the bulky thiol 9f. Under the same reaction
conditions, substituted thiophenols 9h-9j reacted with 3a to
give alkenes 10f-10h also in good yields (entries 8-10).
The leaving group Y at the starting alkenes was also evaluated.
Instead of the bromine atom of olefin 3a, the dimeth-

110 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Jorge A. Mendoza et al.
Table 2. Preparation of the β-sulfanyl substituted captodative olefins
10b-10h from olefin 7b.
Entry a RSH 10 (%)b
1 9d (R = Et) 10b (74)
2 9e (R = i-Pr) 10c (77)
3 9f (R = t-Bu) 10d (70)
4 9g (R = Bn) 10e (87)
5 9h (R = C 6 H 4 p-Br) 10f (91)
6 9i (R = C 6 H 4 p-OMe) 10g (93)
7 9j (R = C 6 H 4 p-Me) 10h (90)
a All under N 2 atmosphere, with 1.3 mol equiv. of RSH and with 1.3 mol
equiv. of Et 3 N, in DMF as solvent. The reaction was succesively maintained
at 0 °C for 1 h, 120 °C for 1 h, and at 20 °C for 1 h.
b After column and radial chromatography.
ylamino group was used, due to its known aptitude as a leaving
group [12]. In these cases the optimum reaction conditions
were found to be similar to those employed for olefin 3a, that
is, reacting olefin 7b in the presence of thiols 9d-9j and triethylamine
as base, and heating from 0 °C up to 120 °C for 3
h (Table 2). The aliphatic thiols 9d-9g provided compounds
10b-10e in quite lower yields than those obtained when olefin
3a was used (Table 2, entries 1-4 vs. Table 1, entries 4-7);
however, the yields increased for the preparation of 10g-10h
when 7b was treated with thiophenols 9i-9j (Table 2, entries
6-7 vs. Table 1, entries 9-10).
For both olefins, 3a and 7b, there were no significant differences
in reactivity or yields to furnish the β-substituted
alkenes 10 with the para substituted thiophenols 9h-9j (Table
1, entries 8-10 and Table 2, entries 5-7), considering that the
temperature and the reaction time were comparable, regardless
of the substituent.
It is interesting that sodium thiolates 9a-9c reacted with
olefin 3a to give the 1,4-addition products 10a-10c in good
yields, instead of providing the hydrolisis products by addition
to the p-nitrobenzoyloxy group, as observed when the corresponding
alcohols were used. As expected, this behavior illustrates
again the known greater softness of the sulphur atom
with respect to the oxygen atom.
The Z configuration of the double bond is maintained in
all of the new olefins 10a-10h, as observed for the β-amino
alkene 7a, indicating that it is largely more stable than the E
Fig. 3. X-ray structure of captodative olefin 10f (ellipsoids with 30 %
probability).
configuration [6]. It is likely that the higher stability of the Z
configuration is associated to destabilizing steric interactions
found between the acetyl group and the beta substituent in the
opposite E configuration. Such interactions may inhibit the
effective conjugation of the enone moiety, and the delocalization
of the heteroatom lone electron pair through the π system
[6, 13].
The configuration of the double bond and the planar conformation
of the enone moiety was confirmed by single crystal
X-ray crystallography of olefin 10f (Fig. 3). It shows that
both conjugated moieties, the enone and p-nitrobenzoyl
groups, are in a quasi-orthogonal conformation. This agrees
with those structures obtained for other analogues [5, 6, 11],
as well as in the s-trans conformation of the enone. Interestingly,
the p-bromophenyl ring lies out of the plane formed by
the enone π-system.
FMO calculations of β-heterosubstituted
captodative olefins
Frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory has proven to be a
reliable model to predict reactivity and regioselectivity in
Diels-Alder [14] and 1,3-dipolar cycloadditions [15]. It has
been able to explain the behavior of substituted olefins as
dienophiles in Diels-Alder additions. For instance, the rate
increases when the dienophile bears electron-withdrawing
groups, whereas it decreases with dienophiles bearing electron-donating
groups [16].
FMO theory has also been useful in explaining the reactivity
and regioselectivity of captodative olefins with dienes
such as isoprene (5) [2a, 11], showing that the interaction was
controlled by normal electron demand (NED), i.e. the HOMOdiene/LUMO-dienophile
interaction was the energetically
most favorable. Furthermore, these results were supported by
experimental measurement of ionization energies (IEs) and
vertical attachment energies (VAEs) of 1a, whose relative values
fit well with the calculated HOMO and LUMO energies,
respectively [11].
Table 3. Ab initio HF/6-31G* Frontier Molecular Orbitals energies,
and energy gaps (eV) of olefins 3a, 7a, 7b, 10a, 10f, and 10g, and
isoprene (5).
Entry Compound a HOMO LUMO HOMO-LUMO b
1 1ac –11.0460 2.4588 11.0781
2 3a –10.4288 2.1015 10.7208
3 7a –8.4516 2.9375 11.5568
4 7b –8.8119 3.1767 11.7960
5 10a –9.1412 2.4681 11.0874
6 10f –9.2764 2.3162 10.9355
7 10g –10.2014 2.1900 10.8093
8 5c –8.6193 3.5337
a Of the non-planar s-trans conformation for olefins 1a, 3a, 7a, 7b, 10f, and
10g, and of the s-cis conformation for olefin 10a and for the diene. b Energy
gaps for the energetically more favorable HOMO-diene/LUMO-dienophile
interaction. c Ref. [11].

Synthesis, Structural, and Theoretical Study of New β-Heterosubstituted Captodative Olefins 1-Acetylvinyl Arenecarboxylates 111
Table 4. Comparison of X-ray selected bond distances (Å) (estimated standard deviations) of the crystal structure of 10f with those of olefins
1a, 3a, and 7b, and with the average lenghts of bonds of the enone, enamine, vinyl ester and bromo vinyl systems.
Bond 10f 1a a 3a b 7b b Average Length c
O(4)-C(3) 1.208 (4) 1.215 (5) 1.20 (3) 1.231 (7) 1.222
C(2)-C(3) 1.470 (5) 1.490 (5) 1.40 (3) 1.41 (1) 1.462
C(1)-C(2) 1.320 (4) 1.306 (6) 1.42 (3) 1.366 (9) 1.340
C(1)-Y(5) 1.725 (4) 1.79 (3) 1.32 (1) 1.712 (S); 1.881 (Br);
1.358 (Nsp 2 ); 1.418 (Nsp 3 )
C(2)-O(6) 1.412 (3) 1.398 (4) 1.41 (3) 1.423 (7) 1.353
O(6)-C(7) 1.355 (4) 1.353 (4) 1.38 (2) 1.354 (6) 1.359
C(7)-O(8) 1.195 (4) 1.200 (4) 1.21 (3) 1.188 (6) 1.201
C(7)-C(9) 1.486 (4) 1.488 (5) 1.50 (3) 1.481 (7) 1.481
a Ref. [11]. b Ref. [6]. c Ref. [19]
Table 5. Ab initio HF/6-31G* calculations of coefficientes (C i ) of the frontier molecular orbitals for olefins 1a, 3a, 7a, 7b, 10a, 10f, and 10g,
and diene 5. a HOMO LUMO
Compd b C 1 C 2 C 3 C 4 ∆C i
c C 1 C 2 C 3 C 4 ∆C ι
c
3a –0.2456 –0.2839 0.0095 0.1277 –0.0383 0.3188 –0.2499 –0.2783 0.2759 0.0689
7a –0.1192 –0.3110 –0.0215 0.1414 –0.1918 0.2701 –0.1547 –0.2314 0.2143 0.1154
7b –0.1711 –0.3702 –0.0190 0.1718 –0.1991 0.2799 –0.1433 –0.2564 0.2316 0.1366
10a –0.1848 –0.3135 –0.0038 0.1475 –0.1287 0.3189 –0.2200 –0.2807 0.2501 0.0989
10f –0.1625 –0.2694 –0.0019 0.1277 –0.1069 0.2872 –0.2073 –0.2506 0.2263 0.0799
10g –0.2082 –0.2400 0.0042 0.1174 –0.0318 0.2843 –0.2404 –0.2579 0.2574 0.0439
1a d –0.3593 –0.3565 0.0236 0.1676 0.0028 0.2940 –0.2386 –0.2889 0.2800 0.0554
5 d 0.3247 0.2523 –0.2180 –0.2857 0.0390 0.2591 –0.2236 –0.2306 0.2793 –0.0202
a These are the values of the 2p z coefficients, the relative 2p z ’ contributions and their ∆C i are analogous.
b The FMOs of the non-planar s-trans conformation for olefins 1a 3a, 7a, 7b, and 10g, and s-cis for 5, 10a, and 10f.
c Carbon 1 - carbon 2 for the olefins; carbon 1 - carbon 4 for the diene.
d Ref. [11]
Therefore, the electronic effect produced by the substituent
in the beta position of the captodative olefins 3, 7, and
10 on their behavior in Diels-Alder reactions could be evaluated
by calculating the FMO energies of these molecules, and
correlating them with those of the corresponding FMOs of a
diene such as 5.
Table 3 summarizes the calculated (HF/6-31G*) FMO
energies of bromo and amino alkenes 3a, 7a, and 7b, as well
as the thio alkenes 10a, 10f, and 10g. The geometries were
optimized with the same basis set, showing that the most stable
geometry for 3a, 7a, and 7b, corresponded to the s-trans
conformation of the enone moiety, and the non-planar conformation
of the p-nitrobenzoyloxy group. However, only for
thioether 10g, the enone s-trans conformation was more stable,
while olefins 10a and 10f were the exception, since the s-
cis conformer for the enone conjugate system was slightly
more stable (0.72 kcal/mol for 10a, and 0.24 kcal/mol for
10f), which is not in agreement with the X-ray structure of
10f. Even though these energy differences are negligible, and,
practically, both conformations are isoenergetic, the FMO
energy values listed in Table 3 corresponded to those obtained
for the most stable confomation in every molecule. The co-

112 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Jorge A. Mendoza et al.
efficient differences follow a similar trend in the other conformers.
As expected for the amino substituted olefins 7a and 7b,
when an electron-releasing group is introduced into the double
bond of the captodative olefin, both HOMO and LUMO
should increase in energy (Table 3, entry 1 vs. entries 3 and
4). However, for the rest of the olefins, only the HOMO was
energetically destabilized, since the LUMO energy of olefins
3a, 10f, and 10g was lower than that of the unsubstituted
olefin 1a. It is likely that the effect of the heteroatom on the
energy of the FMOs be the result of an interplay of different
factors. The delocalization of the lone electron pair of
bromine and sulphur toward the π-conjugated enone system
will be less efficient than that of the nitrogen atom, due to the
differences in electronic configuration. The inductive effect of
these electronegative heteroatoms may increase the electronwithdrawing
effect of the beta substituent on the electron density
of the double bond [17].
The delocalization of the lone electron pair in enaminone
7b was reflected in a shortening of the C(1)-N and C(2)-C(3)
bonds, and by an increase of the C(3)=O(4) and C(1)=C(2)
bond lengths [6], as observed for other analogues by X-ray diffraction
[18]. Similarly, significant delocalization appears in the
bromo olefin 3a, since the C(2)-C(3) bond length is shorter and
the C(1)=C(2) bond is longer than the corresponding bond
lengths of 1a and of the average values taken from X-ray data
of similar functional groups [19] (Table 4). In contrast, the X-
ray structure of 10f (Fig. 2) provides bond distances similar to
those for the β-unsubstituted olefin and for the non-delocalized
enone [19] (Table 4). It is noteworthy that the bond distances
between the atoms of the aroyloxy group are not really perturbed
by changes in the heteroatom at the beta position. This
supports the idea of a non significant interaction between the
lone pair of the oxygen atom of the electron donor group and
the double bond, at least, in the crystalline state.
According to data in Table 3, one could anticipate a higher
reactivity of olefins 3a, 10f, and 10g with respect to 1a in
Diels-Alder cycloadditions with diene 5, since the HOMOdiene
/ LUMO-dienophile energy gaps for the former dienophiles
are smaller than that found for the latter. This expectation
is only partially in agreement with the observed reactivity,
since olefin 3a added to 5 under thermal and Lewis acid
catalytic conditions similar to those used for 1a in shorter
reaction times [6]. However, thioalkene 3d, which is analogous
to olefins 10, failed to react even under catalysis. As predicted,
the beta amino substituted alkene 7b was less reactive
than 1a, being unable to react with cyclopentadiene (12) [6],
which is considered a very reactive diene.
The unreliable prediction of the reactivity of olefins 10 by
FMO theory may be attributed to steric hindrance [20], which
would counterbalance the electronic effect, as suggested previously
by establishing a correlation between the reaction rate
and LUMO energies of olefins 1a and 6 [11]. In addition, it
has been found that the FMO model fails to account for the
regioselectivity in Diels-Alder reactions with trisusbtituted
dienophiles or with phenylthiosubstituted dienes [21], or in
1,3-dipolar cycloadditions of nitrile oxides and nitrones with
olefins such as 1a [3c].
It is noteworthy that, under thermal and catalyzed conditions,
the regioselectivity found in the Diels-Alder addition of
dienophile 3a with isoprene (5) was similar to that observed
with the β-unsubstituted olefin 1a [2a, 6]. From the FMO
viewpoint, regioselectivity can be predicted on the basis of the
atomic coefficient differences for the appropriate frontier
orbital interaction: HOMO-diene/LUMO-dienophile, under
NED control [14a, 14b]. It can be observed from Table 5 that,
for olefin 3a, the relative magnitude of the LUMO coefficient
in the monosubstituted terminus of the double bond is larger
than that of the geminally disubstituted carbon. In comparison
with the LUMO of olefin 1a, the difference in coefficients C 1
and C 2 for this olefin and bromo olefin 3a are analogous,
hence a comparable regioselectivity should be observed,
which is, indeed, experimentally found. Thus, for diene 5,
which has the HOMO largest coefficient in carbon C-1, a preferred
interaction with the largest coefficient on the double
bond of the dienophile agrees with the para orientation as the
major regioisomer.
Polarization of the π-system in the HOMO for the amino
olefins 7a and 7b, and for the thio olefins 10 is towards the
substituted captodative carbon of the double bond (Table 5).
The larger difference in coefficients (∆C i ) of these alkenes
with respect to olefin 1a reflects the electron-donor effect of
the heteroatom in beta position. In contrast, the opposite
polarization is found for the LUMO, where the larger coefficient
is located in the monosubstituted carbon atom (C 1 ) of the
double bond.
Conclusions
The stereoselective synthesis of new β-heteroatom substituted
captodative olefins, including amino compound 7a, and sulphur
derivatives 10a-10h, was feasible through three analogous
routes. The common feature among them involved the
replacement of a leaving group at the beta position of the
olefin by the corresponding amino or thio compound. Both
bromo and dimethylamino were efficient as the leaving
groups in the starting activated substrates 3a and 7b, respectively.
The former underwent nucleophilic attack of alkyl and
aryl thiols or the sodium salt of some of them in good yields.
The Z configuration of the double bond was established by
NMR and X-ray crystallography. A comparison between bond
distances by X-ray crystallography of different β-substituted
and unsubstituted olefins seems to correlate with the delocalization
effect of the heteroatom lone electron pair for the
bromo and amino β-substituted olefins.
Ab initio calculations of FMOs of trisubstituted amino
olefins 7a and 7b showed an increase of HOMO and LUMO
energies with respect to the unsubstituted 1a, as expected for
the perturbation of the π-orbital by an electron-donating
group. The presence of a bromine atom and alkyl and aryl thio
groups in olefins 3a, and 10a, 10f, and 10g, however, pro-

Synthesis, Structural, and Theoretical Study of New β-Heterosubstituted Captodative Olefins 1-Acetylvinyl Arenecarboxylates 113
duced an increase of the HOMO energy and a stabilization of
the LUMO. Based on these results, the predicted reactivity of
the Diels-Alder additions with diene 5 agrees with experiment
only for alkenes 3a, 7a and 7b. The regioselectivity observed
for the cycloaddition of olefin 3a is also explained by FMO
theory. Therefore, these calculations clearly indicate a significant
perturbation of the double bond of the captodative olefin
by the third substituent in the beta position.
Experimental section
General. Melting points (uncorrected) were determined with
an Electrothermal capillary melting point apparatus. IR spectra
were recorded on a Perkin-Elmer 1600 spectrophotometer.
1H and 13 C NMR spectra were obtained on a Varian Gemini-
300 (300 MHz and 75.4 MHz), and Brucker DMX-500 (500
MHz and 125 MHz) instruments, with CDCl 3 as solvent and
TMS as internal standard. The mass spectra (MS) were taken
on a Hewlett-Packard 5971A spectrometer. X-Ray analyses
were collected using Mo Kα radiation (graphite crystal
monochromator, λ = 0.71073 Å). Microanalyses were performed
by M-H-W Laboratories (Phoenix, AZ). Analytical
thin-layer chromatography was carried out using E. Merck
silica gel 60 F 254 coated 0.25 plates, visualizing by long- and
short-wavelength UV lamp. All air moisture sensitive reactions
were carried out under nitrogen using oven-dried glassware.
DMF was freshly distilled and received on molecular
sieves (4 Å), and methylene chloride from calcium hydride,
prior to use. Triethylamine was freshly distilled from NaOH.
All other reagents were used without further purification.
Compounds 3a and 7b were prepared as described previously
[6].
(Z)-4-(N,N-Methylphenylamino)-3-(4-nitrobenzoyloxy)-3-
buten-2-one (7a). To a solution of 1.0 g (3.18 mmol) of 3a in
CH 2 Cl 2 (25 mL), at 10 °C, 0.443 g (4.14 mmol) of 8a were
added, and the mixture was stirred for 30 min. The reaction
mixture was diluted with CH 2 Cl 2 (50 mL), and was washed
with a cold 5 % aqueous solution of HCl (2 × 25 mL), and a
cold saturated solution of NaCl (2 × 30 mL). The organic
layer was dried (MgSO 4 ), and the solvent was evaporated
under vacuum. The residue was successively purified by flash
column chromatography on silica gel treated with 10 % of triethylamine
(20 g, hexane/EtOAc, 90:10), and by radial chromatography
(hexane/CH 2 Cl 2 , 90:10). The solid was recrystallized
(hexane/CH 2 Cl 2 , 20:80) to give 0.67 g (62 %) of 7a as
pale brown crystals: R f 0.14 (hexane/EtOAc, 8:2); mp 141-143
°C; IR (CH 2 Cl 2 ) 1741, 1621, 1591, 1529, 1495, 1350, 1316,
1244, 1096, 896 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 2.24 (br
s, 3H, CH 3 CO), 3.45 (s, 3H, CH 3 N), 6.99-7.04 (m, 1H, Ph-H),
7.13-7.16 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 7.22-7.27 (m, 2H, Ph-H), 7.48 (br s,
1H, HC=), 8.03-8.06 (m, 2H, Ar-H), 8.21-8.24 (m, 2H, Ar-H);
13C NMR (75.4 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 24.3 (CH 3 CO), 42.1 (CH 3 N),
122.7, 123.2, 125.8, 126.8 (C-3), 129.2, 130.9 (C-4), 131.1,
134.3, 145.7, 150.6, 162.7 (ArCO 2 ), 187.0 (CH 3 CO). Anal.
Calcd for C 18 H 16 N 2 O 5 : C, 63.52; H, 4.74; N, 8.23. Found: C,
62.75; H, 4.58; N, 7.71.
General Procedures for the Preparation of Olefins 10a-
10h. Method A. To a mixture of 1.0 g (3.18 mmol) of 3a and
1.31 mol equiv. of the sodium salt of the corresponding thiol
9a-9c, at 0 °C, anhydrous DMF (10 mL) was added, and the
mixture was stirred for 30 min. The solution was concentrated
under vacuum, the reaction crude was diluted with CH 2 Cl 2 (50
mL), and was washed with a cold 5 % aqueous solution of
HCl (2 × 25 mL), and a cold saturated solution of NaCl (2 ×
30 mL). The organic layer was dried (MgSO 4 ), and the solvent
was evaporated under vacuum. The residue was successively
purified by column chromatography on silica gel treated
with 10 % of triethylamine (30 g/1 g of crude, hexane/
EtOAc, 90:10), and by radial chromatography (hexane/CH
2 Cl 2 , 80:20).
Method B. To a solution of 1.0 g (3.18 mmol) of 3a in anhydrous
DMF (20 mL) 1.31 mol equiv. of the corresponding
thiol 9d-9j were added at 20 °C. The mixture was stirred and
cooled down to 0 °C, and a solution of 0.42 g (4.16 mmol) of
triethylamine in anhydrous DMF (3 mL) was added dropwise.
The mixture was maintained at the same temperature for 1 h,
then warmed up to 120 °C for 1 h, and cooled down to 20 °C
for 1 h. The solution was concentrated under vacuum, the
reaction crude was diluted with CH 2 Cl 2 (50 mL), and washed
with a cold 5 % aqueous solution of HCl (2 × 25 mL), and a
cold saturated solution of NaCl (2 × 30 mL). The organic
layer was dried (MgSO 4 ), and the solvent was evaporated
under vacuum. The residue was successively purified by column
chromatography on silica gel treated with 10 % of triethylamine
(30 g/1 g of crude, hexane/EtOAc, 90:10), and by
radial chromatography (hexane/CH 2 Cl 2 , 90:10). For the solid
products, the recrystallization was carried out from hexane/CH
2 Cl 2 , 10:90.
Method C. To a solution of 1.0 g (3.59 mmol) of 7b in anhydrous
DMF (25 mL) 1.3 mol equiv. of the corresponding thiol
9d-9j were added at 20 °C. The mixture was stirred and
cooled down to 0 °C, and a solution of 0.472 g (4.67 mmol) of
triethylamine in anhydrous DMF (3 mL) was added dropwise.
The mixture was maintained at the same temperature for 1 h,
then warmed up to 120 °C for 1 h, and cooled down to 20 °C
for 1 h. The solution was concentrated under vacuum, the
reaction crude was diluted with CH 2 Cl 2 (50 mL), and was
washed with a cold 5 % aqueous solution of HCl (2 × 25 mL),
and a cold saturated solution of NaCl (2 × 30 mL). The organic
layer was dried (MgSO 4 ), and the solvent was evaporated
under vacuum. The residue was successively purified by column
chromatography on silica gel treated with 10 % of triethylamine
(30 g/1 g of crude, hexane/EtOAc, 80:20), and by
radial chromatography (hexane/CH 2 Cl 2 , 80:20). For the solid
products, the recrystallization was carried out from hexane/CH
2 Cl 2 , 10:90.

114 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Jorge A. Mendoza et al.
(Z)-4-Methylsulfanyl-3-(p-nitrobenzoyloxy)-3-buten-2-one
(10a). According to method A with 0.291 g (4.16 mmol) of
9a, afforded 0.76 g (85 %) of 10a as a pale yellow oil: R f 0.21
(hexane/EtOAc, 8:2); IR (CH 2 Cl 2 ) 1746, 1675, 1589, 1530,
1347, 1248, 1093, 895 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ
2.34 (s, 3H, CH 3 CO), 2.50 (s, 3H, CH 3 S), 7.39 (s, 1H, HC=),
8.32-8.34 (m, 4H, Ar-H); 13 C NMR (75.4 MHz, CDC l3 ) δ 17.3
(CH 3 S), 24.7 (CH 3 CO), 123.7, 131.4, 134.1, 136.9 (C-4),
142.3 (C-3), 151.1, 161.7 (ArCO 2 ), 187.1 (CH 3 CO); MS (70
eV) 281 (M + , 4), 150 (100), 134 (22), 120 (15), 104 (22), 92
(11), 76 (14).
(Z)-4-Ethylsulfanyl-3-(p-nitrobenzoyloxy)-3-buten-2-one
(10b). According to method A with 0.349 g (4.16 mmol) of
9b, afforded 0.84 g (90 %) of 10b as a pale yellow oil.
According to method B with 0.258 g (4.16 mmol) of 9d, gave
0.73 g (78 %) of 10b. According to method C with 0.289 g
(4.67 mmol) of 9d, furnished 0.83 g (74%) of 10b: R f 0.22
(hexane/EtOAc, 8:2); IR (CH 2 Cl 2 ) 1746, 1675, 1588, 1529,
1423, 1348, 1275, 1246, 1217, 1049, 1013 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR
(300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 1.43 (t, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H, CH 3 CH 2 S), 2.35
(s, 3H, CH 3 CO), 2.92 (q, J = 7.1 Hz, 3H, CH 3 CH 2 S), 7.49 (s,
1H, HC=), 8.45-8.47 (m, 4H, Ar-H); 13 C NMR (75.4 MHz,
CDCl 3 ) δ 15.4 (CH 3 CH 2 S), 24.7 (CH 3 CO), 28.4 (CH 3 CH 2 S),
123.6, 131.4, 134.1, 135.1 (C-4), 142.5 (C-3), 151.0, 161.7
(ArCO 2 ), 187.1 (CH 3 CO). Anal. Calcd for C 13 H 13 NO 5 S: C,
52.87; H, 4.44. Found: C, 52.80; H, 4.68.
(Z)-4-Isopropylsulfanyl-3-(p-nitrobenzoyloxy)-3-buten-2-
one (10c). According to method A with 0.408 g (4.16 mmol)
of 9c, afforded 0.88 g (90 %) of 10c as a pale yellow oil.
According to method B with 0.358 g (4.16 mmol) of 9e, gave
0.80 g (81 %) of 10c. According to method C with 0.402 g
(4.67 mmol) of 9e, furnished 0.90 g (77 %) of 10c: R f 0.30
(hexane/EtOAc, 8:2); IR (CH 2 Cl 2 ) 1746, 1674, 1587, 1530,
1453, 1427, 1348, 1314, 1218, 1157, 1092, 1015, 958, 898,
870, 847 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 1.38 (d, J = 7.3
Hz, 6H, (CH 3 ) 2 CHS), 2.35 (s, 3H, CH 3 CO), 3.33 (sept, J = 7.3
Hz, 3H, (CH 3 ) 2 CHS), 7.50 (s, 1H, HC=), 8.38-8.36 (m, 4H,
Ar-H); 13 C NMR (75.4 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 23.4 ((CH 3 ) 2 CHS),
24.5 (CH 3 CO), 38.4 ((CH 3 ) 2 CHS), 123.4, 131.1, 133.9, 134.1
(C-4), 141.9 (C-3), 150.7, 161.5 (ArCO 2 ), 187.0 (CH 3 CO).
Anal. Calcd for C 14 H 15 NO 5 S: C, 54.36; H, 4.89. Found: C,
54.30; H, 5.00.
(Z)-4-tert-Butylsulfanyl-3-(p-nitrobenzoyloxy)-3-buten-2-
one (10d). According to method B with 0.375 g (4.13 mmol)
of 9f, afforded 0.84 g (82 %) of 10d as a pale yellow oil.
According to method C with 0.514 g (4.67 mmol) of 9f, furnished
0.86 g (70%) of 10d: R f 0.26 (hexane/EtOAc, 8:2); IR
(CH 2 Cl 2 ) 1744, 1673, 1584, 1529, 1349, 1248, 1093, 769, 751
cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 1.48 (s, 9H, (CH 3 ) 3 CS),
2.35 (s, 3H, CH 3 CO), 7.60 (s, 1H, HC=), 8.33 (br s, 4H, Ar-
H); 13 C NMR (75.4 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 24.8 (CH 3 CO), 31.1
((CH 3 ) 3 CS), 45.7 ((CH 3 ) 3 CS), 123.7, 131.4, 131.6 (C-4),
134.2, 142.3 (C-3), 151.0, 162.4 (ArCO 2 ), 198.8 (CH 3 CO).
Anal. Calcd for C 15 H 17 NO 5 S: C, 55.71; H, 5.30. Found: C,
55.50; H, 5.30.
(Z)-4-Benzylsulfanyl-3-(p-nitrobenzoyloxy)-3-buten-2-one
(10e). According to method B with 0.516 g (4.13 mmol) of
9g, afforded 1.02 g (90 %) of 10e as a pale yellow oil.
According to method C with 0.579 g (4.67 mmol) of 9g, furnished
1.18 g (87 %) of 10e: R f 0.28 (hexane / EtOAc, 8:2); IR
(CH 2 Cl 2 ) 1740, 1677, 1606, 1530, 1348, 1248, 1093 cm –1 ; 1 H
NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 2.25 (s, 3H, CH 3 CO), 4.08 (s, 2H,
CH 2 Ph), 7.27-7.46 (m, 6H, HC=, Ph-H), 8.28-8.39 (m, 4H,
Ar-H); 13 C NMR (75.4 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 24.7 (CH 3 CO), 38.0
(CH 2 Ph), 123.7, 128.2, 129.0, 129.1, 131.4, 134.0, 134.2 (C-
4), 136.7, 142.4 (C-3), 150.9, 161.7 (ArCO 2 ), 187.1 (CH 3 CO).
(Z)-4-(4-Bromophenylsulfanyl)-3-(4-nitrobenzoyloxy)-3-
buten-2-one (10f). According to method B with 0.786 g (4.16
mmol) of 9h, afforded 1.29 g (96 %) of 10f as pale yellow
crystals. According to method C with 0.883 g (4.67 mmol) of
9h, furnished 1.45 g (91 %) of 10f: mp 174-175 °C; R f 0.16
(hexane/EtOAc, 8:2); IR (CH 2 Cl 2 ) 1747, 1679, 1531, 1419,
1348, 1243, 1090, 1008 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ
2.35 (s, 3H, CH 3 CO), 7.36-7.40 (m, 2H, Ar-H), 7.46 (s, 1H,
HC=), 7.51-7.55 (m, 2H, Ar-H), 8.30-8.38 (m, 4H, Ar-H); 13 C
NMR (75.4 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 24.9 (CH 3 CO), 123.6, 123.7,
130.8, 131.5, 132.9, 133.1, 133.7, 134.1 (C-4), 142.6 (C-3),
151.2, 161.7 (ArCO 2 ), 187.3 (CH 3 CO). Anal. Calcd for
C 17 H 12 BrNO 5 S: C, 48.36; H, 2.86; N 3.32; S, 7.58. Found: C,
48.04; H, 2.80; N, 3.29; S, 7.41.
(Z)-4-(4-Methoxyphenylsulfanyl)-3-(4-nitrobenzoyloxy)-3-
buten-2-one (10g). According to method B with 0.582 g (4.16
mmol) of 9i, afforded 0.95 g (80 %) of 10g as pale yellow crystals.
According to method C with 0.654 g (4.67 mmol) of 9i, furnished
1.25 g (93 %) of 10g: mp 122-123 °C; R f 0.20
(hexane/EtOAc, 8:2); IR (CH 2 Cl 2 ) 1743, 1674, 1592, 1546,
1531, 1492, 1421, 1346, 1264, 1093 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (300 MHz,
CDCl 3 ) δ 2.33 (s, 3H, CH 3 CO), 3.82 (s, 3H, MeO), 6.88-6.94
(m, 2H, Ar-H), 7.44-7.49 (m, 2H, Ar-H), 7.45 (s, 1H, HC=),
8.34 (s, 4H, Ar-H); 13 C NMR (75.4 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 24.8
(CH 3 CO), 55.4 (CH 3 O), 115.3, 122.0, 123.6, 131.5, 134.0,
134.2, 137.2 (C-4), 141.5 (C-3), 150.9, 160.7, 161.7 (ArCO 2 ),
187.2 (CH 3 CO). Anal. Calcd for C 18 H 15 NO 6 S: C, 57.90; H,
4.05; N, 3.75; S, 8.59. Found: C, 58.08; H, 4.12; N 3.74; S, 8.70.
(Z)-4-(4-Methylphenylsulfanyl)-3-(4-nitrobenzoyloxy)-3-
buten-2-one (10h). According to method B with 0.516 g
(4.16 mmol) of 9j, afforded 0.92 g (81 %) of 10h as pale yellow
crystals. According to method C with 0.58 g (4.67 mmol)
of 9j, furnished 1.15 g (90 %) of 10h: mp 113-115 °C; R f 0.22
(hexane/EtOAc, 8:2); IR (CH 2 Cl 2 ) 1747, 1677, 1589, 1531,
1348, 1091, 897, 847, 807 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (500 MHz, CDCl 3 )
δ 2.33 (s, 3H, CH 3 CO), 2.37 (s, 3H, MeAr), 7.20-7.22 (m, 2H,
Ar-H), 7.39-7.41 (m, 2H, Ar-H), 7.50 (s, 1H, HC=), 8.34 (s,
4H, Ar-H); 13 C NMR (125 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 21.1 (CH 3 Ar),
24.8 (CH 3 CO), 123.7, 128.2, 130.5, 131.5, 131.9, 134.0, 136.3

Synthesis, Structural, and Theoretical Study of New β-Heterosubstituted Captodative Olefins 1-Acetylvinyl Arenecarboxylates 115
(C-4), 138.5, 141.9 (C-3), 151.0, 161.7 (ArCO 2 ), 187.3
(CH 3 CO). Anal. Calcd for C 18 H 15 NO 5 S: C, 60.49; H, 4.23.
Found: C, 60.27; H, 4.50.
Single-Crystal X-Ray Crystallography [22]. Olefin 10f was
obtained as pale yellow crystals. These were mounted in glass
fibers. Crystallographic measurements were performed on a
Siemens P4 diffractometer with Mo Kα radiation (λ = 0.7107
Å; graphite monochromator) at room temperature. Two standard
reflections were monitored periodically; they showed no
change during data collection. Unit cell parameters were
obtained from least-squares refinement of 26 reflections in the
range 2 < 2Θ < 20°. Intensities were corrected for Lorentz and
polarization effects. No absorption correction was applied.
Anisotropic temperature factors were introduced for all nonhydrogen
atoms. Hydrogen atoms were placed in idealized
positions and their atomic coordinates refined. Unit weights
were used in the refinement. The structure was solved using
SHELXTL on a personal computer [23]. Data of 10f:
Formula: C 17 H 12 BrNO 5 S; molecular weight: 422.25; cryst.
syst.: monoclinic; space group: P2 1 /c; unit cell parameters: a,
6.4121 (9), b, 12.8041 (11), c, 20.998 (2) (Å); α, 90, β, 94.884
(9), γ, 90 (deg); temp. (°K): 293 (2); Z: 4; No. of reflections
collected: 4641; no. of independent reflections: 3335; no. of
observed reflections: 3290; R: 0.0429; GOF: 1.012.
Calculations. The ab initio SCF/HF calculations were carried
out with the 6-31G* basis sets using Gaussian 94 [24] and
MacSpartan [24]. Geometries were fully optimized by the
AM1 semiempirical method [25] and these were employed as
starting point for optimization, at the 6-31G* level.
Acknowledgments
We thank Fernando Labarrios for his help in spectrometric
measurements. J.T. would like to acknowledge DEPI/IPN
(Grants 921769 and 200410) and CONACyT (Grants 1570P
and 32273-E) for financial support. H.A.J.-V. thanks
CONACyT (Grant 3251P) for financial support. J.M. and
R.H. are grateful to CONACyT (Grants 86038 and 91187) for
graduate fellowships, to PIFI-IPN program for a scholarship,
and to the Ludwig K. Hellweg Foundation for a partial scholarship.
J.L. is grateful to Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores,
México (Grant DAC-III 811.5/(510)/137) for a research fellowship.
J.T. and H.A.J.-V. are fellows of the EDD/IPN and
COFAA/IPN programs.
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Duke, Jr., R. E.; Strozier, R. W.; George, J. K. J. Am. Chem. Soc.
1973, 95, 7287-7301.
16. (a) Sauer, J.; Sustmann, R. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1980,
19, 779-807. (b) Anh, N. T.; Canadell, E.; Eisenstein, O.
Tetrahedron 1978, 34, 2283-2288.
17. (a) Exner, O. J. Phys. Org. Chem. 1999, 12, 265-274. (b)
Charton, M. J. Phys. Org. Chem. 1999, 12, 275-282. (c) Galkin,
V. I. J. Phys. Org. Chem. 1999, 12, 283-288.
18. Zhuo, J.-C.; Schenk, K. Helv. Chim. Acta 1997, 80, 2137-2147.
19. Allen, F. H.; Kennard, E.; Watson, D. G.; Brammer, L.; Orpen,
A. G.; Taylor, R. J. Chem. Soc., Perkin Trans. 2 1987, S1-S19.
20. (a) Fox, M. A.; Cardona, R.; Kiwiet, N. J. J. Org. Chem. 1987,
52, 1469-1474. (b) Bachler, V.; Mark, F. Theoret. Chim. Acta
1976, 43, 121-135. (c) Tripathy, R.; Franck, R. W.; Onan, K. D.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1988, 110, 3257-3262. (d) Padwa, A.; Kline,
D. N.; Koehler, K. F.; Matzinger, M.; Venkatramanan, M. K. J.
Org. Chem. 1987, 52, 3909-3917.
21. Kahn, S. D.; Pau, C. F.; Overman, L. E.; Hehre, W. J. J. Am.
Chem. Soc. 1986, 108, 7381-7396.
22. The authors have deposited the atomic coordinates for this structure
with the Cambridge Crystallographic Data Centre. The coordinates
can be obtained, on request, from the Director Cambridge
Crystallographic Data Centre, 12 Union Road, Cambridge, CB2
1EZ, UK.
23. SHELXTL, v. 5.03, Siemens Energy & Automation, Germany,
1995.
24. Calculated with Gaussian 94, Revision E.2: Frisch, M. J.; Trucks,
G. W.; Schlegel, H. B.; Gill, P. M. W.; Johnson, B. G.; Robb, M.
A.; Cheeseman, J. R.; Keith, T.; Petersson, G. A.; Montgomery,
J. A.; Raghavachari, K.; Al-Laham, M. A.; Zakrzewski, V. G.;
Ortiz, J. V.; Foresman, J. B.; Cioslowski, J.; Stefanov, B. B.;
Nanayakkara, A.; Challacombe, M.; Peng, C. Y.; Ayala, P. Y.;
Chen, W.; Wong, M. W.; Andres, J. L.; Replogle, E. S.;
Gomperts, R.; Martin, R. L.; Fox, D. J.; Binkley, J. S.; Defrees,
D. J.; Baker, J.; Stewart, J. P.; Head-Gordon, M.; Gonzalez, C.;
Pople, J. A. Gaussian, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, 1995; and Mac-
Spartan, v. 1.0, WaveFunction Inc., 18401 VonKarman, Suite
370, Irvine, CA 92715.
25. Dewar, M. J. S.; Zoebisch, E. G.; Healy, E. F.; Stewart, J. J. P. J.
Am. Chem. Soc. 1985, 107, 3902-3909.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 117-123
Investigación
2D 1 H and 13 C NMR from the adducts of the dichloro carbene addition
to β-ionone. The role of the catalyst on the phase transfer reaction
Eduardo Díaz, *a José Luis Nava, a Héctor Barrios, a David Corona, a Ángel Guzmán, a
Ma. de Lourdes Muciño, b and Aydeé Fuentes b
a Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria,
Coyoacán 04510 México D.F.
b Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, Estado de México.
Recibido el 9 de diciembre del 2002; aceptado el 26 de febrero del 2003
En homenaje al Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Abstract. Several haloderivatives were synthesized from β-ionone
using CHCl 3 , NaOH and selected tetralkyl ammonium halide. 2D
NMR and X-ray single crystal analysis of the products are reported.
Keywords: Addition of dichlorocarbenes to β-Ionone, phase transfer
addition, formation of 1,1 dichlorocyclopropanes. 1 H and 13 C NMR.
Resumen. Algunos haloderivados fueron sintetizados a partir de β-
ionona usando cloroformo, hidróxido de sodio y halogenuros de
tetralquilamonio selectos. Se informan los análisis por 2D RMN y
rayos X de los productos.
Palabras clave: Adición de diclorocarbenos a β-ionona, adición de
transferencia de fase, formación de 1,1 diclorociclopropanos. RMN
de 1 H y 13 C.
Introduction
A large number of C13-compounds formed by oxidative
cleavage of carotenoids have been isolated from tobacco [1]
and marine sponges [2] or their derivatives, originated from α
and β ionones (1' and 1). In the same way, some other secondary
metabolites as 4-oxomegastigmenos, important compounds
for their excellent flavor characteristics are also formed
in the tobacco plant from α and β ionones. Other derivatives
from ionones, isolated from rabbit urine and from the
secretion of the anal gland of the red fox have been obtained
when α-ionone was photo-oxygenated [3, 4].
The synthesis of several damascones [5] and abscisic
acids [6, 7] using readily available and inexpensive ionones as
raw material encourages us to perform a reaction leading to
some new functionalized and useful unsaturated compounds.
Results and discussion
The present paper deals with the synthesis and structure elucidation
of new representatives of this group of compounds. We
describe here the products obtained when β-ionone was treated
with CHCl 3 , NaOH, using as catalyst different tetralkyl
quaternary ammonium salts looking to improve yields and
versatility of the reaction under phase transfer conditions.
Likewise, the reaction of carbenes with terpenes provides
a simple means of examining the stereochemistry and regioselectivity
of addition of such species to a variety of double
bonds.
It has been reported that in phase transfer dihalocarbene
addition, stereochemistry and regioselectivity can be controlled
by varying the catalyst [8-11]. Phase transfer reactions
are known to be somewhat dependent on the exact reaction
conditions and the formation of products apparently derived
from trihalogenomethyl anion or dihalogen carbene can be
controlled by varying the catalyst [9].
Some years ago [12], our group reported β-Ionone when
treated under CHCl 3 , NaOH and triethylbenzyl ammonium
chloride (TEBAC) yield two furenones 2 and 3 which were
isolated in low yield. Their structures were well supported by
2D NMR as well as x-ray crystallographic analysis [13].
On the mechanism of formation of these compounds it
was assumed an initial chemoselective adduct formation on
the β-ionone to generate the epoxide, which is rapidly transformed
to an intermediate dichloro ether which is hydrolized
to a γ-lactone where the presence of atmospheric oxygen during
the reaction induced free radical dimerization [12].
The low yield observed in this reaction as well as the new
findings about the phase transfer reactions encourage us to
undertake the study of the dichlorocarbene addition to β-
ionone using different quaternary ammonium catalyst.
Under the new catalyst selection, the usual γ-lactone
derivatives (2 and 3) were isolated together with several new
compounds which display structure versatility and in addition
allowed us to improve yields, as well as products ratio of the
obtained adducts.
Structures of compounds 2 and 3 were well discussed in
our previous report and they will not be focused here.

118 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Eduardo Díaz et al.
Scheme 1
O
1 1' 2
Cl
O
O
O
O
O
O
Cl
H
3 4 5
6 6a 7
OH
OCH 3
**
8 9 * O
9a
O
O
O
10 11
Cl
Cl
O
Scheme 1 shows the structures of the new isolated derivatives.
The IR spectrum of 4 showed an absorption at 1717 cm –1
which clearly indicates an unsaturated ketone group. The proton
NMR spectrum showed a one proton doublet and one proton
multiplet at δ = 3.04 and 2.83 respectively. The latter was
converted to a doublet of triplet when the methyl protons (C7)
were decoupled. A methyl ketone group appeared at δ = 2.45
as a singlet. These findings suggest that in the structure of
compound 4 was lost the α,β-unsaturated double bond observed
in the starting material 1. The mass spectrum of compound
4 shows the molecular ions at m/z 274 (M + ), m/z 276
(M + + 2) and m/z 278 (M + + 4) corresponding to the molecular
formula of C 14 H 20 OCl 2 . It suggests an increase in molecular
weight of the starting ionone 1 by 82 atomic mass units
(CCl 2 ).
The NOESY experiment enabled us to establish the key
proton vicinities. There exist a strong correlations between
methine doublet at δ = 3.04 and methyl signals δ = 2.45 (C-
13), 1.00 (C-9) and a weaker one between methyne multiplet
at =2.83 and the methyl singlet at δ = 1.75.
The 13 C 1D NMR and DEPT edited spectra [14] allowed
the assignment of the carbon atoms (protonated carbons), and
the long range heterocorrelated spectra [15] enabled us to
establish connectivities between protons and carbons (see
experimental).
Because the unusual trans cyclopropane vicinal coupling
between HC 10 -HC 11 (J = 9.0 Hz) and in order to confirm this
adduct structure we carried out an x-ray crystallographic study
of compound 4. Fig. 1 display the Ortep plot of compound 4.
O
O
O
Cl
H
Cl
Cl
O
Cl
O
* *
*
O
O
O
O
O
Cl
Cl
Cl
O
O
O
O
On the other hand, compound 5 shows a molecular
weight as was identified from MS as 274, 276, 278 (C 14 H 20 O
Cl 2 ). The proton NMR presents an AX pattern (δ A = 6.63 (H-
10) and δ X = 6.17 (H-11, J=16.0 Hz), four singlets at δ = 2.30,
1.25, 1.20 and 1.00 for the methyls at C-13, C-7, C-8 and C-9
and the signals for six protons on C-4, C-5 and C-6 methylenes.
The structure of compound 5 supported by the assignments
of 1 H and 13 C (CDCl 3 , 500 MHz , 125 MHz) spectra
and confirmed by HMQC, HMBC along with HOMOCOSY
and the mass spectrum fragmentation pattern matching the
expected molecular weight for such a structure.
The structure of the monochlorine furane derivative 6 was
supported by its spectroscopic features. The molecular ion M +
was observed in mass spectrometry (EI) at m/z 238 (M + ), m/z
240 (M + + 2) in agreement with the molecular weight for a
furane derivative. Tentatively, two isomeric structures (6 and
6a) emerge to be considered under mechanistic approach
(Scheme 2).
The 1 H and 13 C NMR (CDCl 3 , 300 MHz, 75.0 MHz),
together with HETCOR [16, 17] and COLOC [18] spectra
were recorded in order to probe the structure 6. At first, since
13CNMR chemical shifts observed (and calculated) [19] for 6
(or 6a) did not enable unambiguously to differentiate between
6 or 6a, we performed a COLOC experiment in order to overcome
such drawback. In this experiment we were able to
observe the long range proton-carbon correlation between the
furane methyl protons (δ = 2.20, C-13) with the methine C-11
(δ = 111.0) and with the nonprotonated carbon at δ = 149.9
(C-12). It suggests unambiguously structure 6 for this furane
derivative. In the structure 6a the 3σ bond correlation between
the methyl group with the carbon at δ = 149.9 is not permissible
(Fig. 2).
The remaining signals that enabled us the elucidation of
structure 6 are described in experimental.
On the other hand, the formation of the dimeric compound
9 (or 9a, 9a' or 9') can be explained by two different
mechanism approach. At first, if we assume that compound 9a
(or 9a') could be formed by a concerted opening and dimerization
of the epoxide 7 (Scheme 3) obtained in a small
amount under phase transfer conditions. This assumption was
considered because the previously mentioned opening was for
C 6
C 7
C 1
C 5
C 4
C 3
C 8
C 9
C 1 4
Cl 1
C 2
C 1 0
C 1 1
Fig. 1. X-ray ortep plot of compound 4.
O 1
C 1 3
Cl 2
C 1 2
6
5
1
7
4
3
2
8
11
10
9
O
12
14
Cl
Cl
13

2D 1 H and 13 C NMR from the adducts of the dichloro carbene addition to β-ionone 119
Scheme 2
1
Cl
CCl 2
Cl
H
Cl
O
O
CCl 2
Cl
O
6
Cl
O
O
us described and probed, since we were able to isolate the
alcohol-methoxyether derivative 8, whose structure and stereochemistry
were confirmed by an x-ray crystallographic
study [12].
The 13 C NMR chemical shifts were a key element in order
to rule out the structures of the dioxine derivatives 9a, 9a' or the
oxide 9'. The calculated chemical shifts [19] for the non protonated
carbons attached to both oxygen atoms (** and * in
schemes 1 and 3) should to display chemical shifts at δ = 90.0
and 71.0, respectively. However, compound 9 showed in its 13 C
NMR chemical shifts at δ =71.0 and 65.8 ppm respectively,
which definitely support the structure 9 (instead 9a, 9a' or 9')
for this compound. About the configuration of the stereogenic
centers, they were established by the energetic calculation [20]
of the isomeric structures shown in scheme 4 (9, 9' and 9")
being 9 those having the lesser energy (Scheme 4).
O
Cl
Cl
OH
Cl
-
OH
2
O
O
Cl
O
H
Cl
6a
O
Cl
Additional spectroscopic features of compound 9 also
support such structure. For example the MS of the oxidized
derivative 9 shows a molecular ion at m/z 416 (FAB). The 1 H
NMR shown the usual doublets for the vinylic protons at δ =
6.97 and 6.22 (J = 16.0 Hz) and the corresponding methyl singlets
at δ = 2.22 (3H), 1.08 (6H) and 0.86 (3H). The 13 C 1D
and DEPT edited spectra allowed the partial assignment of the
chemical shift of the remaining carbon atoms (protonated carbons)
at δ = 35.4, 33.5, 29.7, 28.1, 25.8 (2C), 20.8 and 16.8.
The singlets at δ = 197.5 (C-12), 70.5 (C-2), 65.8 (C-1) and
33.5 (C-3) matching the spectrum for such a structure. The
tentative approach of the mechanism involved in the above
mentioned dimerization is displayed in scheme 3.
On the other hand, the new furenone 10 displayed at IR
spectrum an absorption at 1762 cm –1 , which clearly indicates
an α, β unsaturated γ-lactone moiety. The absorbance at UV
spectrum λ max = 295 nm, reflects an α, β, γ cromophore [21].
The proton spectrum showed a one proton quartet at δ = 7.13
4J = 1.2 Hz and a doublet methyl group at δ = 2.05. The former
was converted to a singlet when the methyl protons at δ =
2.05 was decoupled. The 300 MHz 1 H NMR showed in addition
methyl singlets at δ = 1.58 (C-7), 1.30 (C-8) and 1.29 (C-
9). Both, the strong IR band at 1762 cm –1 and the 13 CNMR
singlet at δ = 170.4 indicate the presence of an enol lactone
carbonyl. The DEPT edited spectrum allowed the observation
of two methines at δ = 137.8 (C-11) and 36.2 (C-6). Also, two
methylene carbons at δ = 37.7 and 17.3 assigned for C-4 and
C-5 respectively. Finally, four methyl signals at δ = 10.7,
29.2, 28.1 and 29.6 for C-13, C-7, C-9 and C-8 respectively.
The 1D NMR enabled us the assignment of the nonprotonated
carbons as δ = 149.1 (C-10), 128.3 (C-12), 106.1 (C-2), 71.2
(C-14), 35.0 (C-3), and 29.6 (C-1).
A new unexpected trichloro derivative 11 whose structure
emerge from its observed MS molecular ions [m/z (M + )
Fig. 2.

120 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Eduardo Díaz et al.
Fig. 3.
O
O
O
O
O
O
7 9a
O
O
O
O
O
7
9a'
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
1 9
O O
O
O
O
O
1
Scheme 3
O O
O
O
O
** *
O
** *
**
*
**
*
O
O
O
O
9'
309, (M + 2) m/z 311, (M + 4) m/z 313, and (M + 6) m/z
316]. The proton NMR spectrum showed a one proton doublet
of doublet δ = 7.12 (J = 15.5, 10.5 Hz) and an one proton
doublet of doublet at δ = 6.41 (J = 0.5, 15.5) for CH-10 and
CH-11 respectively. A new methylene signal appeared at δ =
4.22 instead of the usual methyl ketone singlet (δ = 2.31)
observed in the 1 HNMR spectrum of starting β-ionone 1 (Fig.
3).
Additionally, we were able to observe a doublet of doublet
at δ = 2.40 (J = 10.5, 0.5, CH-2) and three methyl singlets
at δ = 1.30, 0.95 and 0.78 for C-7, C-8, and C-9 respectively.
The 1D 13 C NMR and DEPT edited spectra allowed the
assignment of protonated carbons as four methines at δ =
148.0 (C-10), 129.1 (C-11), 48.1 (C-2) and 32.8 (C-6) respectively.
Three methylenes at δ = 47.2, (C-13), 35.1 (C-4) and
15.9 (C-5). Three methyl signals were also observed at δ =
29.4, 22.5, 19.7 for C-8, C-7 and C-9 respectively. The assignment
of the non protonated carbons at δ = 190.5 (C-12), 72.8
(C-14), 32.0 (C-3) and 29.8 (C-1) was performed using the
COLOC [18] spectrum.
The formation of compounds 10 and 11 may be inferred
through isomerization [22-26] of the bond C6-C1 from compound
1' to 1 respectively and then the dichlorocarbene addition
to the new formed double bond.
On the other hand, the role of the catalyst used in this
work, play an important role in the ratio of the products
obtained as well as the versatility of the structures and yield.
Graphics 1 and 2 are self explained and show the behaviour of
the different catalyst and ratio of products.
O
O
O
O
O
O
Conclusions
Scheme 4
-1
11 6.0 Kcal mol
O
O
135.0 Kcal mol -1
O
-1
135.5 Kcal mol
The successful use of several ammonium quaternary catalyst
in the phase transfer reactions enabled us to obtain some interesting
derivatives from the starting material (β-Ionone). The
structures of the formed compounds where fully elucidated

2D 1 H and 13 C NMR from the adducts of the dichloro carbene addition to β-ionone 121
Product2 Product3 Product4 Product5 Product6 Product9
80
70
60
Y
i
e
l
d
50
40
%
30
20
10
Graphic 1
0
None I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI
CatalystType
100
90
80
70
60
%
50
40
30
20
10
0
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII XIX XX XXI XXII
Catalyst type
Graphic 2. Reaction and Breakdown-recovered substrate.
R eaction Breakdow n R ecovered
using 2DNMR, X-ray crystallography, chemical shifts and
molecular modeling calculations.
Experimental
Melting points were determined with a Kofler Hot Stage apparatus
and were not corrected. The NMR 1 H and 13 C spectra
were recorded using Varian Unity 300 spectrometer operating
at observation frequency of 300.0 MHz for 1 H and 75.0 MHz
for 13 C. The 1 H and 13 C chemical shifts (δ) are given in ppm
relative to tetramethyl silane (TMS). The COSY, NOESY,
HETCOR, DEPT and COLOC spectra were recorded using
the usual Varian Unity software.
High resolution spectra were recorded on a Varian Unity
500 operating at 500.3 MHz for 1 H and 125.0 MHz for 13 C.
The experiments were performed using an inverse detection
5 mm probe. The COSY, NOESY, HMQC and HMBC
experiments were performed using the usual Varian Unity
software.
Mass spectra were recorded on instruments using CI/EI
sources on a JEOL-JMS-AX505 HA and JEOL-JMS-10217.
The IR spectra were performed on Nicolet FX-sx and Nicolet
55-X in film mode.
The β-ionona was purchased from Aldrich Chemical and
used as received. The ammonium quaternary catalyst were
kindly provided by Akzo Chemical Chicago Ill. and they
received the trade name usually used. Benzalconium Chloride

122 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Eduardo Díaz et al.
(1); Arquad HT-50 (II); Arquad 2C-75 (III); Arquad S-50
(IV); Arquad 316 (V); Ethoquad C-12 CB75 (VI); Propoquad
C-12 O2A (VII); Arquad M2H TB80 (VIII); Arquad 16-25W
(IX); Propoquad T-12 O2A (X); Tetramethyl ammonium
acetate (XI); Arquad 2HT-75 (XII); Ethoquad O-12 (XIII);
Arquad 12/50 (XIV); Arquad 16/29 (XV); Arquad T-50
(XVI); Arquad 2HT50 (XVII); Arquad 16/50 (XVIII);
TEBAC (XIX); Dimethyldidecyl ammonium chloride (XX);
Tetrabutyl ammonium chloride (XXI).
2,6,6-trimethyl-1-(2-acetyl-3,3-dichlorocyclopropyl) cyclohexene
4. Colorless crystals, mp 54-56 °C. C 14 H 20 OCl 2 . M.W.
274. 1 HNMR. δ 0.96 2 (CH 3 -8); 1.01 s (CH 3 -9; 1.37 m (CH 2 -
4); 1.60 m (CH 2 -5); 1.75 s (CH 3 -7); 2.05 m (CH 2 -6); 2.44 s
(CH 3 -13); 2.86 (CH-10), 3 J = 9.0, 5 J = 1.3; 3.10 d J = 9 (CH-
11). 13 C NMR. δ 196.3 O=C-12; 136.1, C-2; 128.6, C-1; 64.4,
C-14; 44.1 ,C-11; 41.2, CH 2 -4; 38.3, C-10; 34.5, C-3; 32.8,
CH 2 -6; 32.1, CH 3 -13; 28.7, CH 3 -8; 28.6, CH 3 -9; 21.1, CH 3 -7;
19.5, CH 2 -5. IR ν max cm –1 2967, 2934, 2869, 1718, 1170, 842.
MS EI m/z M + 274 (13); M + +2, 276 (7); M + +4, 278 (3); 231
(87); 195 (49); 43 (100).
7,7-dichloro-2,5,6-trimethyl-1-(3-oxo-1-butenyl)bicyclo[4,1,0]
heptane. 5. Colorless liquid C 14 H 20 OCl 2 MW 274.
1HNMR δ 1.01, s CH 3 -9; 1.22, s CH 3 -8; 1.23, s CH 3 -7; 1.42,
m CH 2 -4; 1.84, m CH 2 -5; 2.02, m CH 2 -6; 2.28, s CH 3 -13;
6.16 d, CH-11 3 J = 16.5; 6.63, d CH-10 3 J = 16.5. 13 C NMR δ.
197.7 O=C-12; 143.2, C-10; 136.1, C-11; 76.3, C-14; 40.9, C-
3; 35.9, C-4; 33.8, C-2; 32.1, C-1; 30.2, CH3-8; 28.2, C-6;
27.4, CH 3 -13; 25.7, CH 3 -7; 22.7, CH 3 -9; 17.9, C-5. IR ν max
cm –1 ; 2959, 2935, 2870, 1678, 1253, 837. MS. EI m/z M + 274
(3); M + +2, 276 (1); M + +4, 278; 259 (27), 196 (38); 181 (88);
161 (53); 123 (100); 43 (97).
2-chloro-5-methyl-3-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexenyl)
furane. 6. Colorless liquid. C 14 H 19 OCl, MW 238 1 HNMR. δ
0.91, s CH 3 -8; 1.00, s CH 3 -9; 1.43, s CH 3 -7; 1.53, m CH 2 -4;
1.77, m CH 2 -5; 2.04, m CH 2 -6; 2.25, d , 4 J = 1.0, CH 3 -13;
5.80, q, 4 J = 1.0, CH-11. 13 C NMR δ 149.9, C-12; 132, C-2;
131.1, C-14; 130.1, C-1; 119.5, C-10; 111.0, C-11; 39.1, C-4;
34.9, C-3; 32.0, C-6; 29.1, C-8; 28.3, C-9; 20.8, C-7; 19.3, C-
5; 13.6, C-13. IR ν max cm –1 . 2960, 2931, 2867, 2832, 1614,
1236. MS EI m/z M + 238 (38), M + +2, 240 (15); 223, (100);
187 (34); 159, (24); 145, (31); 129, (53); 115, (40), 91, (50);
77, (49); 65, (35).
4-[4,4,4b, 8,8, 10a-hexamethyl-4a (3-oxo-but-1-enyl)-decahydro-9,10-
dioxa-phenanthren-8a-yl]-but-3-en-2-one. 9.
Colorless liquid C 26 H 40 O 4 MW 416. 1 H NMR δppm 0.86, s
CH 3 -9; 1.08, s CH 3 -8; 1.00 m, CH 2 -4; 1.08 s CH 3 -7; 1.37 m
CH 2 -5; 1.77, CH 2 -6; 2.22, s CH 3 -13; 6.22 d 3 J = 16.0 CH-11;
6.97 d 3 J = 16.0 CH-10. 13 C NMR δ 197.5 C-12; 142.6 C-10;
132.4 C-11; 70.5 C-2,65.8 C-1; 35.4 C-4; 33.5 C-3; 29.7 C-6;
28.1 CH 3 -13; 25.8 (2C) CH 3 -8, CH 3 -9; 20.8 CH 3 -7; 16.8 C-5. IR
ν max cm –1 2960, 2935, 2872, 1677, 1627, 1255. MS FAB m/z
M + 416, 400. 383, 355, 341, 327, 209, 191, 123(100), 69, 43.
5-(7,7-dichloro-1,3,3-trimethylbicyclo[4,1,0]heptyl-2-iden)-
3-methyl-Furan-2-one. 10. Colorless solid m. p. 80-81 ºC
C 15 H 18 Cl 2 O 2 MW 300. UV λ max
nm 295. 1 H NMR δppm 1.29, s
CH 3 -9; 1.30, s CH 3 -8; 1.43, m CH 2 -4; 1.58, s CH 3 -7; 1.68, q
CH 2 -6; 2.10, m CH 2 -5; 2.05, q CH 3 -13; 7.13, q H-11. 13 C
NMR δ 170.4 C-15; 149.1 C-10; 137.8 C-11; 128.3 C-12;
106.1 C-2; 71.2 C-14; 37.7 C-4; 36.2 C-6; 35.0 C-3; 29.6 C-8;
29.2 CH 3 -7; 28.1 CH 3 -9; 27.2 CH 3 -7; 17.3 C-5; 10.7 CH 3 -13.
IR ν max cm –1 2932, 2867, 1762,1207, 802, 741. MS EI, m/z
M + 300 (51), M + + 2, 302 (35); M + + 4 304 (7); 285, 265, 244,
217, 169 (100); 142 (78), 138 (60).
7,7-dichloro-1,3,3-trimethyl-2-(3-oxo-4-chloro-1-
butenyl)bicyclo[4,1,0] heptane. 11. 1 H NMR δppm. 0.78 (s)
CH 3 -9; 0.95 (s) CH 3 -8; 1.30 (s) CH 3 -7; 1.23, (m) CH 2 -4; 1.40
dd, J=10.0, 8.0, CH-6; 1.93 (m) CH 2 -5; 2.38 (m) CH-2; 4.22
CH 2 -13; 6.41, dd J=0.5, 15.5, CH-11; 7.12, dd J=10.5, 15.5,
CH-10. 13 C NMR δ 190.5 (C-12), 148.0, (C-10); 129.1 (CH-
11); 72.8 (C-14); 48.1 (CH-2); 47.2 (CH 2 -13); 37.8 (CH-6);
35.1 (CH 2 -4); 32.1 (C-3); 29.8 (C-1); 29.4 (CH 3 -8); 22.5
(CH 3 -7); 19.7 (CH 3 -9); 15.9 (CH 2 -5). MS CI M + m/z 309
(51), M + 2 m/z 311 (42); M + 4 m/z 313 (17); M + 6 m/z 316
(6); 273 (86); 237 (70); 217 (80); 169 (100); 123 (58). IR ν max
cm –1 . 2957, 2930, 2867, 1715, 1697, 838.
Acknowledgements
We thank M. I. Chávez and B. Quiroz for the NMR determinations.
We also thank R. Patiño, L. Velasco and R. A.
Toscano for the IR, MS and X-ray determinations, respectively.
L. Muciño thanks to CGI y EA of UAEM and SNI-
Conacyt for partial financial support. We thank also E. Rivera
of Akzo Chem. Chicago Ill. For the samples of ammonium
quaternary catalyst used in this work.
References
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Chem. Scand. 1972, 26, 2573-2576.
b) Wahlberg, I.; Enzell, C. R. Nat. Prod. Rep. 1987, 4, 237-276.
2. Kernan, M. R.; Faulkner, D. J.; Jacobs, R. S. J. Org. Chem. 1987,
52, 3081-3083.
3. Demole, E.; Enggest, P.; Winter, M.; Furrer, A.; Sculte-Elte, K.
H.; Egger B.; Ohloff, G.; Helv. Chem. Acta 1979, 62, 67-75.
4. Behr, D.; Wahlemberg, I.; Nishida, T.; Enzell, C. R. Acta Chem.
Scand. Ser. B 1977, B31, 609-613.
5. a) Buchi, G.; Vederas, J. C. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1972, 94, 9128-
9132.
b) Demole, E.; Berthet, D. Helv. Chim. Acta 1981, 54, 681-686.
c) Snowden, R. L.; Linder, S. M.; Muller, M.L.; Shulte-Elte, K
.H. Helv. Chim. Acta 1987, 70, 1858-1878.
6. Findlay, J. A.; MacKay, W.D. Can. J. Chem. 1971, 49, 2369-
2371.
7. a) Roberts, D. L.; Heckman, R. A.; Hege, B. P.; Bellin, S. A. J.
Org. Chem. 1968, 33, 3566-3569.
b) Ontani, T.; Yamashita, K. Tetrahedron Lett. 1972, 2521-2524.
8. Demlov, E. V.; Prashad, M. J. Chem. Res. 1982, 354.

2D 1 H and 13 C NMR from the adducts of the dichloro carbene addition to β-ionone 123
9. Baird, M. S., Baxter, A. G. W.; Devling, B. R. J.; Searle, R. J .G.
J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1979, 210-211.
10. Sydnes, L. K. Acta Chem. Scand. Ser B 1977, 31, 823-828.
11. Sydnes, L. K.; Skattebold, L. Tetrahedron Lett. 1975, 4603-4606.
12. Díaz, E.; Toscano, R. A.; Alvarez A.; Shoolery, J. N.; Jankowski:
Can. J. Chem. 1990, 68, 701-704.
13. Díaz, E.; Fuentes, A.; Villafranca, E.V.; Jankowski, K Acta
Crystallographica 1994, C50, 2030-3032.
14. Doddrell, D. M.; Pegg, D.T.; Bendall, M. R. J. Magn. Reson.
1982, 48, 323-327.
15. a) Bax, A.; Subramanian, S. J. Magn. Reson. 1986, 67, 565-569.
b) Bax, A.; Freeman, R. J. Magn. Reson. 1981, 44, 542-561.
16. a) Derome, A. E. in: Modern Techniques for Chemistry Research,
Pergamon Press, N.Y. 1987, p 240.
b) Martin, G. E.; Sektzer, A. S. in: Two Dimensional NMR
Methods for Establishing Molecular Connectivity, VCH
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18. Kessler, H.; M. Gehrke, M.; Griesinger, C. Angew. Chem. Int.
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26. Horspool, W. M. Photochem. 1985, V16, 248.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 124-126
Investigación
Reactivity of IrH 2 {C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } towards alkene compounds
Valente Gómez-Benítez, Rocío Redón, and David Morales-Morales*
Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cd. Universitaria, Circuito Exterior,
Coyoacán, 04510 México D. F. *E-mail: damor@servidor.unam.mx (D. Morales-Morales)
Dedicated to Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Recibido el 22 de noviembre del 2002; aceptado el 20 de marzo del 2003
Abstract. The reactions of IrH 2 {C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } with ethylene
and 1-octene have been carried out, products containing the
olefin compounds coordinated in a η 2 fashion have been obtained.
Both complexes have been characterized by multinuclear NMR probing
unequivocally the proposed formulations. Examination of the
thermal stability of both complexes under catalytic conditions shows
the 1-octene adduct to be more stable.
Keywords: PCP pincer ligands, iridium complexes, olefin complexes,
dehydrogenation, catalysis.
Resumen. Se llevaron a cabo reacciones del complejo IrH 2 {C 6 H 3 -
2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } con etileno y 1-octeno, obteniéndose los derivados
olefínicos coordinados de forma η 2 . Ambos complejos fueron caracterizados
por RMN multinuclear, probando las formulaciones propuestas.
El examen de la estabilidad térmica de ambos complejos
bajo condiciones catalíticas mostró que el aducto 1-octano es más
estable.
Palabras clave: ligandos tipo pinza PCP, complejos de iridio, complejos
olefínicos, deshidrogenación, catálisis.
Introduction
Terminal alkenes (alpha-olefins) are a major feedstock for the
production of plastics, detergents, and lubricants. Their production
through the selective dehydrogenation of linear alkanes
would be an attractive alternative to the present commercial
processes based on hydrogen, ethylene, and trialkylaluminum
catalysts.[1] The iridium PCP pincer complexes:
IrH 2 {C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PR 2 ) 2 } (R = Bu t , 1; Pr i , 2) are extraordinarily
active and robust catalysts for aliphatic dehydrogenation
reactions.[2-5] Recent studies of this reactivity lead to the
discovery of the first efficient catalytic system for the selective
dehydrogenation of n-alkanes to alpha-olefins [6]. While
this system serves to validate the concept of producing alphaolefins
through this method, it suffers from several practical
limitations. The concentrations of the dehydrogenated products
were found to quickly attain a low (1.5-4.0 %), constant
value. Furthermore, the high selectivity for alpha-olefins was
found to be short lived as the complexes show secondary catalytic
activity for alkene isomerization and the alkene distribution
rapidly shifted towards the internal isomers.[6] Finally,
the requisite consumption of a stoichiometric amount of a sacrificial
hydrogen acceptor used in the reported selective dehydrogenation
of n-alkanes is economically and environmentally
unattractive. Liu and Goldman had previously achieved the
thermochemical dehydrogenation of linear alkanes by 2 without
the use of a hydrogen acceptor. However, only internal
alkenes were produced in their experiments [4].
As a part of our continuous interest in the reaction mechanism
ruling in this process we have tried to identify the probable
olefin intermediate species during the reaction, although
some of these complexes are extremely reactive and shortlived,
reactions with simple alkenes might shed light in both
the initial stages of the olefin isomerization process and the
deactivation of the catalyst by product inhibition reactions
which have not yet been explored. Thus, in this paper we wish
to present the results obtained from the reactions of IrH 2
{C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } with ethylene and 1-octene.
Experimental
Materials and methods
Unless stated otherwise, all reactions were carried out under
an atmosphere of argon using conventional Schlenk glassware
and Young NMR tubes. Solvents were degassed and dried
using standard procedures. The 1 H NMR spectra were recorded
on a Varian Unity Inova 400 spectrometer. Chemical shifts
are reported in ppm down field of TMS using the solvent as
internal standard (cyclohexane-d 12 , δ 1.38). 13 C and 31 P NMR
spectra were recorded with complete proton decoupling and
are reported in ppm downfield of TMS with solvent as internal
standard (cyclohexane-d 12 , δ 26.45) and external 85 % H 3 PO 4
respectively. Elemental analyses were determined on a Perkin-
Elmer 240. Positive-ion FAB mass spectra were recorded on a
JEOL JMS-SX102A mass spectrometer operated at an accelerating
voltage of 10 Kv. Samples were desorbed from a
nitrobenzyl alcohol (NOBA) matrix using 3 KeV xenon
atoms. Mass measurements in FAB are performed at a resolution
of 3000 using magnetic field scans and the matrix ions as
the reference material or, alternatively, by electric field scans
with the sample peak bracketed by two (polyethylene glycol
or cesium iodide) reference ions. The 1-octene was purchased

Reactivity of IrH 2 {C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } towards alkene compounds 125
from Aldrich Chemicals Co. and used without further purification.
The complex, IrH 2 {C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } (1) was
synthesized by the literature method [2].
Synthesis of Ir(η 2 -CH 2 =CH 2 ){C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } (3)
A solution consisting of 5 mg (8.5 × 10 –3 mmol) of
IrH 2 {C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } (1) and 1 mL of cyclohexaned
12 , was freeze-pump-thaw degassed 3 times. The solution
was then treated with excess of ethylene at room temperature.
An immediate change from orange to deep red-brown is
observed. Removal of the solvent in vacuo affords Ir(η 2 -
CH 2 =CH 2 ){C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } as a deep red-brown solid
in nearly quantitative yield (based upon 31 P NMR). 1 H NMR
(400.03 MHz, cyclohexane-d 12 ) δ = 1.253 (vt, J HP = 5.8 Hz,
36H, PC(CH 3 ) 3 ), 3.049 (vt, J HP = 3.2 Hz, 4H, CH 2 PC(CH 3 ) 3 ),
3.287 (s, 4H, CH 2 =CH 2 ), 6.825 (t, J HH = 7.4 Hz, 1H, arom),
7.026 (d, J HH = 7.2 Hz, 2H, arom); 13 C NMR (100.59 MHz,
cyclohexane-d 12 ) δ = 178.28 (s, ArC), 153.84 (vt, J = 9.15 Hz,
ArC), 122.81 (s, ArC), 119.77 (vt, J PC = 7.7 Hz, ArC), 40.84
(vt, J PC = 13.53 Hz, CH 2 P), 37.968 (s, CH 2 =CH 2 ), 36.91 (vt,
J PC =8.4 Hz, PC(CH 3 ) 2 ), 31.02 (s, PC(CH 3 ) 3 ); 31 P NMR
(161.93 MHz, cyclohexane-d 12 ) δ = 54.68 (s, 1P). Anal calcd
for C 26 H 47 P 2 Ir 1 (613.82) C, 50.87 %; H, 7.72 %. Found: C,
50.76 %; H, 7.70 %.
Synthesis of Ir(η 2 -CH 2 =CH(CH 2 ) 5 CH 3 ){C 6 H 3 -2,6-
(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } (4)
IrH 2 {C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBut 2 ) 2 } (1) (5 mg, 8.5 × 10 –3 mmol) was
dissolved in 1 mL of 1-octene, an immediate release of hydrogen
was observed. A change in color from deep orange to
bright yellow was also observed, the reaction was stirred at
room temperature for further 5 min after this time the excess
of 1-octene is evaporated under vacuo for 36 h to yield a
Ir(η 2 -CH 2 =CH(CH 2 ) 5 CH 3 ){C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } as a
bright yellow microcrystalline powder in nearly quantitative
yield (based upon 31 P NMR). 1 H NMR (400.03 MHz, cyclohexane-d
12 ) δ = 0.895 (bs, 10H, -(CH 2 ) n -), 1.30 (bs, 36H,
PC(CH 3 ) 3 ), 1.56 (bs, 3H, -(CH 2 ) n -CH 3 ), 2.00 (bs, 4H,
CH 2 PC(CH 3 ) 3 ), 2.18 (bs, 2H, CH 2 =CH-R), 2.27 (s, 1H,
CH 2 =CH-R), 6.50 (t, J HH = 7.3 Hz, 1H, arom), 6.64 (d, J HH =
7.2 Hz, 2H, arom); 13 C NMR (100.59 MHz, cyclohexane-d 12 )
δ = 150.0 (bs, ArC), 148.0 (bs, ArC), 122.8 (bs, ArC), 121.0
Scheme 1
PBu t
H
Ir +
H
PBu t
PBu t 2
H
Ir
H
PBu t 2
+
H 2
H 2
PBu t 2
Ir
PBu t 2
PBu t
Ir
PBu t
(bs, ArC), 32.79 (bs, CH 2 P), 32.40 (bs, CH 2 =CH-R), 32.24
(bs, PC(CH 3 ) 2 ), 30.29 (s, PC(CH 3 ) 3 ), 23.42 (bs, -(CH 2 )n-),
14.41 (bs, -(CH 2 ) n -CH 3 ); 31 P NMR (161.93 MHz, cyclohexane-d
12 ) δ = 54.97 (s, 1P). Anal calcd for C 32 H 59 P 2 Ir 1 (697.98)
C, 55.07 %; H, 8.52 %. Found: C, 54.94 %; H, 8.47 %.
Results and discussion
Synthesis and characterization of Ir(η 2 -CH 2 =CH 2 )
{C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } (3) and Ir(η 2 -
CH 2 =CH(CH 2 )5CH 3 ){C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } (4)
The reaction of the PCP pincer complex IrH 2 {C 6 H 3 -2,6-
(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } (1) with excess of ethylene or 1-octene affords
complexes Ir(η 2 -CH 2 =CH 2 ){C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } (3) and
Ir(η 2 -CH 2 =CH(CH 2 ) 5 CH 3 ){C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } (4) as
unique products (Scheme 1) in quantitative yields as red
brown or bright yellow powders respectively. The 1 H NMR
spectrum of 3 clearly shows a singlet at 3.29 ppm corresponding
to the ethylene molecule coordinated in a η 2 fashion to the
metal center, moreover the fact that only one signal is
observed for this molecule implies that is placed in a highly
symmetrical environment. Besides the presence of the coordination
of the ethylene, the signals corresponding to the presence
of the PCP pincer ligand can also be clearly identified.
Thus, a signal corresponding to the methyl groups in the
PC(CH 3 ) 3 can be observed at 1.25 ppm. A virtual triplet due
to the CH 2 group can be observed at 3.5 ppm, the multiplicity
of the signal being due to the coupling of the protons on the
CH 2 group with the phosphorous nuclei in CH 2 PC(CH 3 ) 3 ). A
signal corresponding to the aromatic proton 4-H can be
observed as a triplet centered at 6.83 ppm, while that corresponding
to the aromatic protons 3,5-H is located at 7.03 ppm,
no signals corresponding to the presence of metal-hydrides
where detected at higher field. Analogously, signals in the 1 H
NMR spectrum of 4 corresponding to the presence of the 1-
octene coordinated in a η 2 fashion can be observed as broad
singlets in 2.18 and 2.27 ppm, other signals corresponding to
the rest of the coordinated 1-octene molecule can be observed
at 0.9 ppm for the -(CH 2 ) n - groups and a broad singlet at 1.56
ppm which can be assigned to the terminal -(CH 2 )n-CH 3 , signals
due to the presence of the PCP pincer ligand can be
observed at similar chemical shifts as those observed for the
analogous complex with ethylene. As is the case for 3, no signals
for the presence of hydride ligands were detected at higher
field.
The 13 C NMR spectrum of 3 exhibits all the signals
expected for the proposed formulation, it is noteworthy that
the signal at 37.97 ppm corresponding to the coordinated ethylene
is a singlet, thus the same conclusion regarding the molecule
to be in a highly symmetrical environment can be
deducted. The 13 C NMR spectrum of 4 exhibits signals corresponding
to the presence of the aliphatic moiety and the tertbutyl
groups in the PCP pincer ligand as well as those for the

126 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 1 (2003) Valente Gómez-Benítez et al.
CH 2 directly coordinated to the P centers. It is noteworthy the
presence of a signal at 32.40 ppm which evidences the presence
of the coordinated olefin, the shift to higher field of this
particular signal clearly illustrates the protecting effects of the
aliphatic chain moiety in the case of the 1-octene adduct 4.
In both cases, the 31 P NMR spectra shows a unique signal
at 54.7 and 54.97 ppm for 3 and 4 respectively which is consistent
with a trans configuration for both phosphorus nuclei
in the two molecules. Elemental analysis are also consistent
with the proposed formulations. The FAB + -Mass spectra of 3
exhibits a peak at 585 M/z [M + -H 2 C=CH 2 ] corresponding to
the loss of the ethylene molecule while that of 4 shows the
molecular ion at [M + = 698 M/z].
Both complexes have been exposed to catalytic conditions
where the reaction temperature reaches 200 °C, at this
temperature the complex containing ethylene, releases the ethylene
molecule which makes this complex an excellent candidate
for further studies oriented to the possible functionalization
of this molecule, however the complex containing the 1-
octene it is resistant even at this temperatures, therefore it can
be conclude that it is precisely this stability the problem
(product inhibition) we have to go against in order to optimize
the present system for the dehydrogenation process, other
alternatives will involve the design of new ligands where electronic
and steric factors could be tuned in such way that the
elimination of the alkene molecule could be carried out easier
and faster. Efforts aimed to achieve this goals are currently
under investigation in our laboratory.
Acknowledgements
V. G.-B. would like to thank CONACyT and DGAPA for
financial support. We would like to thank Chem. Eng. Luis
Velasco Ibarra and M. Sc. Francisco Javier Perez Flores for
their invaluable help in the running of the FAB-Mass Spectra.
The support of this research by CONACyT (J41206-Q) and
DGAPA-UNAM (IN116001) is gratefully acknowledged.
References
1. Behr, A. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry, 5th
edn.; Elvers, B.,Hawkins, S., Russey, W., Eds.; VCH
Verlagsgesellschaft: Weinheim, 1994, pp 242-249.
2. (a) Gupta, M.; Hagen, C.; Kaska, W. C.; Flesher, R.; Jensen, C.
M. Chem. Commun., 1996, 2083-2084. (b) Gupta, M.; Hagen, C.;
Kaska, W. C.; Cramer, V.; Jensen, C. M. J. Am. Chem. Soc.,
1997, 119, 840-841. (c) Gupta, M.; Kaska, W. C.; Jensen, C. M.
Chem. Commun., 1997, 461-462.
3. Xu, W. -W.; Rosini, G. P.; Gupta, M.; Jensen, C. M.; Kaska, W.
C. Krough-Jespersen, K.; Goldman, A. S. Chem. Commun., 1997,
2273-2274.
4. Liu, F.; Goldman, A. S. Chem. Commun., 1999, 655-656.
5. Jensen, C. M. Chem. Commun., 1999, 2443-2449.
6. Liu, F.; Pak, E. B.; Singh, B.; Jensen, C. M.; Goldman, A. S. J.
Am. Chem. Soc. 1999, 121, 4086-4087.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 127-129
Investigación
The Use of N,N’-Di[α-phenylethyl]-diamines as Phosphorylated Chiral
Derivatizing Agents for the Determination of the Enantiomeric Purity of
Chiral Secondary Alcohols
Gloria E. Moreno, 1,2 Virginia M. Mastranzo, 1,2 Leticia Quintero, 2 Cecilia Anaya de Parrodi, *,1
and Eusebio Juaristi *, 3
1 Centro de Investigaciones Químico Biológicas, Universidad de las Américas-Puebla, Santa Catarina Mártir, Cholula,
72820 Puebla, México. E-mail: anaya@mail.pue.udlap.mx
2 Centro de Investigación de la Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, 72570 Puebla, México.
3 Departamento de Química, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional,
07000 México, D. F. E-mail: juaristi@relaq.mx
Recibido el 17 de febrero del 2003; aceptado el 26 de marzo del 2003
This paper is dedicated to Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar in appreciation of his contributions to chemistry
Abstract: The influence of the framework structure in C 2 -symmetric
N,N’-di[α-phenylethyl]diamines as chiral derivatizing agents, on
their effectiveness for the determination of the enantiomeric composition
of chiral secondary alcohols by 31 P-NMR spectroscopy of
derived diastereomeric phosphonamides, is described.
Key words: chiral derivatizing agents, enantiomeric composition,
C 2 -symmetric diamines, 31 P-NMR spectroscopy.
Resumen: Se describe la influencia de la estructura de N,N’-di[αfeniletil]-diaminas
con eje de simetría C 2 , como agentes derivatizantes
quirales en la determinación de la composición enantiomérica
de alcoholes secundarios quirales empleando RMN de 31 P.
Palabras clave: Agente derivatizante quiral, composición enantiomérica,
diaminas con simetría C 2 , RMN de 31 P.
Introduction
Chiral derivatizing agents (CDAs) for NMR spectroscopy represent
one of the most effective tools to satisfy the great
demand for rapid and reliable methods for the determination
of the enantiomeric composition of chiral substrates [1]. Their
use involves the derivatization reaction of an enantiomerically
pure chiral auxiliary with the substrates to be analyzed, in
order to obtain diastereoisomeric products presenting
anisochronous absorptions in their NMR spectra. Efforts
directed to the development of fast and reliable CDAs continue
[2]. In this context, the high sensitivity afforded by 31 P
NMR spectroscopic methods makes attractive the use of phosphorus-containing
derivatives towards this goal [3].
Chiral diamines have been shown to be useful chiral
reagents and ligands for chemical catalysis, with especial
application in asymmetric synthesis [4]. By the same token,
(R)- and (S)-α-phenylethylamine are simple, yet powerful
stereodifferentiating auxiliaries in organic transformations [5].
Presently, there exist several reports in the literature
describing the use of diamines containing diverse N-substituents
as CDAs, which are based on the synthesis of chiral
phospholidines for the determination of enantiomeric composition
of chiral alcohols, amines, carboxylic acids, halohydrins
and thiols. In particular, N,N’-di[(S)-α-phenylethyl]ethane-
1,2-diamine, A, and N,N’-di[(S)-α-phenylethyl]propane-1,3-
diamine, B, (Fig. 1) have been reported as effective and inexpensive
CDAs [6]. In addition, the use of chiral diamines
based on enantiopure trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane as CDAs,
such as C has been demonstrated [7]. Furthermore, our group
also reported the use of trans-N,N’-di-[(S)-α-phenylethyl]-
cyclohexane-1,2-diamines, D and E as convenient CDAs [8].
Figure 1.
Ph
S
NH
S
S
Ph
A
D
HN
S
NH
NH
S
Ph
S
Ph
Ph
S
CH 3
R
NH
NH
R
CH 3
C
NH HN
B
S
R
NH
NH
R
Ph
S
E
Ph S
Ph

128 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Gloria E. Moreno et al.
Figure 2.
Ph
S
NH
Ph
NH
NH
4a
HN
Ph
S
Ph
Results and discussion
S
S
S
S
1
Ph
R
S
S
Ph
3
S
NH
NH
S
Ph
R
HN
Ph
2
Ph
R
NH
R
NH
NH
R
Ph
S
S
4b
R
Ph
Ph
Table 1. Synthesis of P-chloro-1,3-diazaphospholidines.
Entry Diamine Reaction Conversion δ (ppm) 31 P-NMR
time, h % a of Phospholidine
1 1 0.5 100 165.21
2 2 0.5 100 168.93
3 3 24 23 166.50
4 4a 0.5 100 177.40
5 4b 0.5 100 175.25
a The percent of conversion were determined from the 31 P-NMR spectra
in relation to the amount of PCl 3 .
The use of C 2 -symmetric N,N’-di[α-phenylethyl]-diamines 1, 2,
3, 4a and 4b as chiral ligands (Fig. 2) will be reported [9]. In
the present work their application as chiral derivatizing agents
(CDAs), via the formation of the corresponding P-chloro-1,3-
diazaphospholidines is described. These CDAs can be prepared
directly in the NMR tube employed for 31 P NMR analysis [8].
To this end, each diamine in CDCl 3 solvent was treated
with one equivalent of PCl 3 in CH 2 Cl 2 at room temperature to
give the corresponding phospholidines as intermediates. The
formation of the P-chloro-1,3-diazaphospholidines of interest
was very fast and quantitative with diamines 1, 2, 4a, and 4b,
but rather slow and incomplete with diamine 3 (Table 1).
Apparently, the reaction of diamine 3 with PCl 3 is also unfavorable,
because of strain in the trans-fused five-membered
bicyclic phospholidine formed.
Gratifyingly, the P-Cl bond of the phospholidines 2, 4a
and 4b were readily cleaved, upon treatment with the
carbinols of interest. So, derivatization was carried out by
addition of 0.8 equiv of the racemic secondary alcohols, 5a-d,
to afford the respective P-alkoxy-1,3-diazaphosphonamides
(Table 2). The all-(S) diamine 4a afforded the largest differences
of chemical shifts (∆δ) in the 31 P NMR spectra of the
diastereomeric phosphonamides. Nevertheless, the P-Cl bond
of the P-chloro-1,3-diazaphospholidine derived from 1 was
specially resistant upon treatment with carbinols. Thus,
diamines 1 and 3 were not useful as CDAs.
In summary, the P-chloro-1,3-diazaphospholidines
derived from chiral diamines 2, 4a, and 4b, incorporating N-
(α-phenylethyl) substituents, are convenient chiral derivatizing
agents for the determination of the enantiomeric purity of
chiral alcohols. The quantitative and fast P-Cl bond cleavage
upon alcoholysis leads to phosphonamide formation, directly
in the NMR tube prior to measurement. Large differences in
Table 2. 31 P NMR data of P-alkoxy-1,3-diazaphospholidines derived from secondary alcohols 5a-d recorded in CDCl 3 .
Entry Diamine R*OH Diastereoisomeric A B C D E
P-OR, ∆δ lit. 6 ∆δ lit. 6 ∆δ lit. 7a ∆δ lit. 8 ∆δ lit. 8 ∆δ
1 4a 5a 1.48
2 4b 0.44
— 2.73 0.27 1.07 0.38
3 4a 5b 1.61
4 4b 0.37
— — 0.27 0.98 0.31
5 4a 5c 2.79
6 4b 0.21
0.39 3.69 — 6.34 1.01
7 2 0.44
8 4a 5d 1.21
9 4b 0.18
0.20 1.38 0.40 4.71 0.58

The Use of N,N’-Di[α-phenylethyl]-diamines as Phosphorylated... 129
the 31 P NMR chemical shifts (∆δ) for the diastereomeric phosphonamides
were observed, allowing accurate integration and
quantitative determination of the diastereomeric ratios.
Experimental section
31P NMR spectra were measured on a Varian Mercury-200
MHz spectrometer. Chemical shifts are given as δ values
(ppm). All reagents were purchased from Aldrich Chemical
Co.
General Procedure for Chiral Alcohol Derivatization
In an NMR tube are placed with vigorous stirring 0.16 mmol
of free diamine, 0.5 mL of CDCl 3 , 119 mg (0.80 mmol) of
diethylaniline, and 23 mg (0.16 mmol) of PCl 3 previously dissolved
in 50 µL of CH 2 Cl 2 , affording the chlorodiazaphospholidine
and the 31 P NMR spectra are recorded (Table I). Immediately
after, 0.13 mmol of racemic secondary alcohols is
added, and the resulting mixture is stirred for 30 minutes
before 31 P NMR spectra are recorded at room temperature
(Table 2).
Acknowledgment
We thank CONACyT for financial support (Projects No.
32202-E and 33023-E, and Grants No. 91275 and 144937).
References
1. (a) For a detailed review, see: Parker, D. Chem. Rev. 1991, 91,
1441-1457. See, also: (b) Dale, J. A.; Mosher, H. S. J. Am. Chem.
Soc. 1973, 95, 512-519. (c) Pirkle, W. H.; Hoover, D. J. Top.
Stereochem. 1982, 13, 263-331. (d) Benson, S. C.; Cai, P.; Colon,
M.; Haiza, M. A.; Tokles, M.; Snyder, J. K. J. Org. Chem. 1988,
53, 5335-5341. (e) Jursic, B. S.; Zdravkovski, Z.; Zuanic, M.
Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1995, 5, 1711-1716.
2. (a) Uccello-Barreta, G.; Bernardini, R.; Lazzaroni, R.; Salvadori,
P. Org. Lett. 2000, 2, 1795-1798. (b) Reymond, S.; Brunel, J. M.;
Buono, G. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2000, 11, 1273-1278. (c)
Alexakis, A.; Chauvin, A.-S. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 2001, 12,
1411-1416.
3. (a) Verkade, L. D.; Quin, L. D. Phosphorus-31 NMR
Spectroscopy in Stereochemical Analysis; VCH Publishers:
Deerfield Beach, 1987. (b) See, also: Juaristi, E. Introduction to
Stereochemistry and Conformational Analysis; Wiley: New
York, 1991; pp 137-138. (c) Johnson, C. R.; Elliott, R. C.;
Penning, T. D. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1984, 106, 5019-5020. (d)
Kato, N. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1990, 112, 254-257. (e) Anderson, R.
C.; Shapiro, M. J. J. Org. Chem. 1984, 49, 1304-1305. f) Hulst,
R.; Kellogg, R. M.; Feringa, B. L. Rec. Trav. Chim. Pays-Bas
1995, 114, 115-138.
4. For excellent reviews, see: (a) Togni, A.; Venanzi, L. M. Angew.
Chem., Int. Ed. 1994, 33, 497-526. (b) Bennani, Y. L.; Hanessian,
S. Chem. Rev. 1997, 97, 3161. (c) Lucet, D.; Le Gall, T.;
Miokowski, Ch. Angewandte Chem., Int. Ed. 1998, 37, 2580-
2627.
5. (a) Jaen, J. In Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis,
Paquette, L. A., Ed.; Wiley: New York, 1995, Vol. 5, pp 3427-
3431. (b) Juaristi, E.; Escalante, J.; León-Romo, J. L.; Reyes, A.
Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1998, 9, 715-740. (c) Juaristi, E.; León-
Romo, J. L.; Reyes, A.; Escalante, J. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry
1999, 10, 2441-2495.
6. Hulst, R.; de Vries, K.; Feringa, B. L. Tetrahedron: Asymmetry
1994, 5, 699-708.
7. (a) Alexakis, A.; Mutti, S.; Mangeney, P. J. Org. Chem. 1992, 57,
1224-1237. (b) Alexakis, A.; Frutos, J. C.; Mutti, S.; Mangeney,
P. J. Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 3326-3334. For other chiral derivatizing
agents based on enantiopure trans-1,2-diaminocyclohexane,
see: (c) Resch, J. F.; Meinwald, J. Tetrahedron Lett. 1981, 22,
3159-3162. (d) Staubach, B.; Buddrus, J. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed.
1996, 35, 1344-1346.
8. Anaya de Parrodi, C.; Moreno, G. E.; Quintero L.; Juaristi, E.
Tetrahedron: Asymmetry 1998, 9, 2093-2099.
9. Mastranzo, V. M.; Quintero, L.; Anaya de Parrodi, C.; Juaristi,
E.; Walsh, P. J. Unpublished results.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 130-131
Investigación
Terpenoids and Flavones from Achillea falcata (Asteraceae)
Maurizio Bruno, 1 Sergio Rosselli, 1 Rosa Angela Raccuglia, 1 Antonella Maggio, 1 Felice Senatore, 2
Nelly Apostolides Arnold, 3 Claire A. Griffin 4 and Werner Herz 4
1 Dipartimento di Chimica Organica, Universitá di Palermo, Viale de Scienze, Pardo d'Orleans II, 90128 Palermo, Italy
2 Dipartimento Chimica Sostanze Naturali, Universitá Federico II, via D. Montesano, 49-80131 Napoli, Italy
3 Faculté des Sciences Agronomiques, Université Saint Esprit, Kaslik (Beirut), Lebanon.
4 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, The Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4390, USA.
Tel: (1)-850-644-2774; Fax: (1)-850-644-8281; E-mail: jdulin@chem.fsu.edu
Recibido el 25 de febrero del 2003; aceptado el 2 de abril del 2003
Dedicated to Professor Alfonso Romo de Vivar, a valued collaborator during the early stages of his career
Abstract. Aerial parts of Achillea falcata L. furnished the monoterpenes
3,7-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-1,5-octadiene and 3,6-dihydroxy-
3,7-dimethyl-1,7-octadiene, the sesquiterpene lactone sintenin and
the flavonoids 5-hydroxy-6,7,3', 4'-tetramethoxyflavone (6-hydroxyluteolin-6,7,3',4'-tetramethyl
ether) and 5-hydroxy-6,7,8,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone
(desmethoxynobiletin).
Keywords: Achillea falcata, Asteraceae, monoterpenes, sesquiterpene
lactone, sintenin, flavonoids.
Resumen. El análisis químico de las partes aéreas de Achillea falcata
permitió la caracterización de los monoterpenos 3,7-dihidroxi-3,7-
dimetil-1,5-octadieno y 3,6-dihidroxi-3,7-dimetil-1,7-octadieno, la
lactona sesquiterpénica sintenina y los flavonoides 5-hidroxi-6,7,3',4'-
tetrametoxi-flavona (6,7,3',4'-tetrametil éter de 6-hidroxi-luteolina) y
5-hidroxi-6,7,8,3',4'-pentametoxiflavona (desmetoxinobiletina).
Palabras clave: Achillea falcata, asteraceae, monoterpenos, lactona
sesquiterpénica, sintenina, flavonas.
Our groups have previously described the chemistry of two
Achillea species, A. ligustica All. from Sicily [1] and A. cretica
L. from Cyprus [2]. We now report the results of our study
of Achillea falcata L. from Lebanon.
Aerial parts of A. falcata L. (syns. A. damascene DC, A.
sulfurea Boiss.) were extracted at room temperature with acetone;
the extract was purified by silica gel chromatography
and radial chromatography to afford five compounds. Of
these, 5-hydroxy-6,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone(6-hydroxyluteolin-6,7,3',4'-tetramethyl
ether) and 5-hydroxy-6,7,8,3'4'-pentamethoxyflavone
(desmethoxynobiletin) were identified by
MS and comparison of their 1 H-NMR spectra with spectra in
our files. Two others, the monoterpenes 3,7-dihydroxy-3,7-
dimethyl-1,5-octadiene (1) and its isomer 3,6-dihydroxy-3,7-
dimethyl-1,7-octadiene (2), have been previously reported
from Cinnamum camphora [3]; diene 1 has also been isolated
in our laboratories from Achillea ligustica All. [1] where its
high resolution 1 H NMR spectrum was reported. Doubling of
the signals of H-1a, H-1b and H-2 in our 500 MHz 1 H NMR
spectrum of 2 (see Experimental section) indicated that it was
a 1:1 mixture of C-3 epimers. The remaining constituent was
the germacradienolide sintenin (3) first reported with incorrect
C-9 stereochemistry from Achillea sintenisii Hub.-Mor. [4], a
matter subsequently corrected with material from Achillea
biebersteinii Afran (as A. micrantha Willd.) [5].
Sintenin has also been isolated from the near Eastern
species A. aleppica DC. and pseudoaleppica Hub. Mor. [6], A.
cucullata (Hausskn.) Bornm., A. goniocephala Boiss. et Bal.
and A. vermicularis Trin. [7] as well as from A. teretifolia
Willd. [8], all, like A. sintenisii, A. biebersteinii and now A.
falcata, members of Achillea sect. Santolinoidea C. Koch [9]
which suggests that sintenin might be a marker for the section.
An exception is the Balkan species A. crithmifolia Waldst. et
Kit. several collections of which [10-13] yielded a variety of
sesquiterpene lactone types among which sintenin appeared
only once [12].
OH
OH
Experimental section
OH
General experimental procedures. Column chromatography
was performed using Merck Si gel (No. 7734). 1 H NMR spectra
were obtained on a Varian Inova 500 MHz NMR spectrometer
in CDCl 3 , whereas 13 C NMR spectra were run on an
IBM/Bruker WP27OSY NMR spectrometer at 67.5 MHz in
CDCl 3 . Mass spectra were acquired on a JEOL MS Route 600
H instrument.
Plant material. Aerial parts of Achillea falcata L. were collected
at Jab. Kneissé, Lebanon at 1700 m s / l in July 2000.
OH
AcO
1 2 3
OAc
O
O

Reactivity of IrH 2 {C 6 H 3 -2,6-(CH 2 PBu t 2) 2 } towards alkene compounds 131
A voucher specimen (leg., det. and confirmed by N. Arnold
s.n. is deposited in the herbarium of the Botanical Garden and
the Botanische Museum, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany.
Extraction and isolation. Dried and powdered aerial parts
(750 g) were extracted with acetone (3 × 5 l) at room temperature
for one week each time. The extracts were combined and
evaporated at reduced pressure and low temperature (35 °C) to
give 58 g of residue. The residue was subjected to dry column
chromatography over Si gel with a solvent gradient ranging
from petroleum ether (bp 50-70 °C) to EtOAc (100 %) and
finally with EtOAc-MeOH (19:1 and 9:1). The fraction eluted
with petroleum ether-EtOAc (2:3) was resubmitted to chromatography
using petroleum ether-EtOAc (4:1, 3:7 and 1:1)
as eluent to afford several subfractions. The subfraction eluted
with petroleum ether-EtOAc (3:70 weighing 250 mg was subjected
to radial chromatography using CH 2 Cl 2 -MeOH (99:1)
as eluent to afford, in order of increasing polarity, desmethokynobiletin
(20 mg) identified by MS and 1 H NMR spectrometry,
sintenin (10 mg), identified by MS, 1 H and 13 C NMR
spectrometry [5], and 10 mg of 2. The subfraction eluted with
petroleum ether-ethyl acetate (1:1) weighing 200 mg was subjected
to radial chromatography using CH 2 Cl 2 -MeOH (49:1)
as eluent to afford in order of increasing polarity 60 mg of 5-
hydroxy-6,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone and 45 mg of 1.
3,7-Dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-1,5-octadiene (1): Mass and 1 H
NMR spectra corresponded to data reported earlier.
3,6-Dihydroxy-3,7-dimethyl-1,7-octadiene (2): 1:1 mixture
of C-3 epimers; oil, MS CI (isobutene) 153.1279 (25),
135.1174 (21.9); calcd for C 10 H 18 -O 2 H 2 O + H 153.1279; for
C 10 H 18 O 2 - 2H 2 O + H, 135.1174; 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ) δ 5.89 and
5.88 (both dd, J = 17.3, 10.8 Hz, H-2 of epimers A and B),
5.22 and 5.21 (both dd, J = 17.3, 1.4 Hz, H-1a of epimers A
and B), 4.94 and 4.93 (both q, J = 4, 1 Hz, H-8a of both
epimers), 4.83 and 4.82 (both q, 4 Hz, H-8b of both epimers),
4.04 (brq, 6.3 Hz, H-6 of both epimers, 1.70 (brs, 3H, H-8),
1.64-1.53 (c, 4H, H-4a,b H-5a,b), 1.28 s (3H, H-10).
References
1. Bruno, M.; Herz, W. Phytochemistry 1988, 27, 1871-1872.
2. Bruno, M.; Bondi, M. L.; Paternostro, M. P.; Arnold, N. A.; Diaz,
J. G.; Herz, W. Phytochemistry 1996, 42, 737-740.
3. Takaoka, D.; Hiroi, M. Phytochemistry 1976, 15, 330-331.
4. Gören, N.; Öksüz, S.; Ulubelen, A. Phytochemistry 1988, 27,
2346-2347.
5. Hatam, N. A. R.; Yousif, N. J.; Porzel, A.; Seifert, K.
Phytochemistry 1992, 31, 2160-2162.
6. Appendino, G.; Jakupovic, J.; Özen, A. C.; Schuster, A.
Phytochemistry 1993, 34, 1171-1172.
7. Öksüz, S.; Gümüs, S.; Alpinar, K. Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 1991, 19,
439.
8. Öksüz, S.; Ulubelen, A.; Tuslaci, E. Fitoterapia 1990, 61, 283.
9. Davis, P. H. Ed., Flora of Turkey, Vol. 5, pp. 224-251, 1975.
Edinburgh University Press.
10. Miloslavljevic, S.; Aljancic, I.; Macura, S.; Milinkovic, D.; Stefanovic,
M. Phytochemistry 1991, 30, 3464-3466.
11. Miloslavljevic, S.; Macura, S.; Stefanovic, M.; Aljancic, I.;
Milinkovic, D. J. Nat. Prod. 1994, 57, 64-67.
12. Todorova, M. N.; Markova, M. M.; Tsankova, E. T.
Phytochemistry 1998, 49, 2429-2432.
13. Todorova, M. N.; Vogler, B.; Tsankova, E. T. Natural Prod. Lett.
2000, 14, 463-468.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 132-138
Investigación
Preparation of 11-Hydroxylated 11,13-Dihydrosesquiterpene Lactones
Howard G. Pentes, 1 Francisco A. Macias 2 and Nikolaus H. Fischer *1,a
1 Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA
a Present address: Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, University, MS 38677,
USA. Tel: (662) 915-7026; Fax: (662)-915-6975; E-mail: nfischer@olemiss.edu
2 Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cádiz, Apdo. 40,11080 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
Recibido el 4 de febrero del 2003; aceptado el 24 de abril del 2003
Dedicated to Professor Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Abstract. Hydroxylations of the α-position of lactonic carbonyl
groups of four different skeletal types (germacranolides, eudesmanolides,
guaianolides, and elemanolides) of 11,13-dihydrosesquiterpene
lactones were achieved by LDA-mediated generation of the corresponding
lactone enolates and trapping with gaseous oxygen or with a
chiral oxidizing agent, (camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine. The oxidations
with oxygen were non-stereospecific and generated both, the 11
α- and 11β-hydroxylactones in combined yields ranging from 13-47
% along with norsesquiterpene ketones which are most likely formed
by decomposition of the hydroperoxide anion intermediates.
Hydroxylation of the germacranolide-type 11,13-dihydroparthenolide
with either (+)- or (-)-(camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine gave exclusively
the 11β-hydroxylactone (66-72 %) with no detection of the norsesquiterpene
ketone.
Keywords: Sesquiterpene lactones, hydroxylation, LDA, enolates,
oxidations, nor-sesquiterpene ketones, germacranolides, eudesmanolides,
guaranolides, elemanolides.
Resumen. Se llevaron a cabo hidroxilaciones de las posiciones α- del
grupo carbonilo lactónico en cuatro esqueletos diferentes de 11,13-
dihidro- derivados de lactonas sesquiterpénicas (germacranólidas,
eudesmanólidas, guayanólidas y elemanólidas), mediante la generación
del enolato con LDA y su atrapamiento con oxígeno gaseoso
o con un agente oxidante quiral, (canforilsulfonil)aziridina. Las oxidaciones
con oxígeno no fueron estereo-específicas y generaron las
hidroxi-lactonas 11α- y 11β- en rendimientos combinados que fluctúan
entre 13 al 47 %, junto con cetonas nor-sesquiterpénicas, que se
forman probablemente por la descomposición de los aniones hidroperóxidos
intermediarios. La hidroxilación de la germacranólida
11,13-dihidropartenólida, con (+)- o (-)- (canforilsulfonil)-aziridina
produjo la 11β-hidroxi-lactona exclusivamente (66-72 %), sin detectarse
la cetona nor-sesquiterpénica.
Palabras clave: Lactonas sesquiterpénicas, hidroxilaciones, LDA,
enolatos, oxidaciones, cetonas nor-sesquiterpénicas, germacranólidas,
eudesmanólidas, guayanólidas, elemanólidas.
Introduction
7-Hydroxyl-bearing sesquiterpene lactones are uncommon in
nature [1]. However, they show very interesting biological
activities. For example, 7α-hydroxydehydrocostus lactone
(21a) exhibits molluscicidal activity against Biomphalaria
glabrata snails [2], that are hosts in the life cycle of the blood
fluke which is responsible for human Schistosomiasis (bilharzia),
a disease which affects more than 200 million people
in Africa, Asia, and South America [3]. In contrast, dehydrocostus
lactone (21b) is not active against Biomphalaria [1].
7α-Hydroxydehydrocostus lactone (21a) has been shown to
inhibit the in vitro activity of mammalian phosphofructokinase
(PFK), and exhibits a twenty-fold higher in vitro inhibitory
activity towards PFK than dehydrocostus lactone (21b) [4].
While there is no direct correlation of molluscicidal activity
and PFK inhibition by sesquiterpene lactones, it is interesting
to note that the most potent molluscicidal sesquiterpene lactone
is also the most active PFK inhibitor [4]. Most biological
activities of sesquiterpene lactones seem to depend on the
presence of the α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety which is a
receptor of biological nucleophiles such as essential thiol
groups present in a number of enzymes and proteins [5, 6].
While the presence of the α-methylene-γ-lactone moiety certainly
enhances the inhibition of PFK, Vargas et al. [4]
showed that a hydroxyl group located in proximity to the lactone
functionality of sesquiterpene lactones also enhances
inhibition of PFK. The hydroxyl group of 7-hydroxysesquiterpene
lactones is possibly enhancing PFK inhibition by hydrogen
bonding to the active site of the enzyme. With the
assumption that 11-hydroxysesquiterpene lactones might show
biological activities similar to their 7-hydroxy analogs, the
synthesis of a series of 11-hydroxylated sesquiterpene lactones
as synthetic models for the study PFK inhibition was desired.
In this paper, we describe the preparation of 11-hydroxysesquiterpene
lactones from the corresponding 11,13-dihydrosesquiterpene
lactones by reaction of the lactone enolates
with oxygen (Scheme 1) [7]. Transformations of four skeletal
types of 11, 13-dihydrosesquiterpene lactones (germacrolides,
eudesmanolides, guaianolides, and elemanolides) were carried
out.
Results and discussion
Dihydroparthenolide (4) was oxidized as outlined in Scheme
2. The enolate of 4 was generated at –70 °C in THF by deprotonation
with LDA under argon atmosphere. Subsequently

Preparation of 11-Hydroxylated 11,13-Dihydrosesquiterpene Lactones 133
Table 1. Selected 1 H NMR data a .
Sesquiterpene lactone CH 3 -13 H-6
Dihydroparthenolide (4) 1.26 (d) 3.80 (dd)
11α-Hydroxyhydroparthenolide
(5) 1.31 (s) 3.79 (dd)
11β-Hydroxydihydroparthenolide
(6) 1.39 (s) 4.12 (dd)
a Chemical shifts in ppm, multiplicity in parenthesis,
s = singlet, d = doublet.
oxygen, dried over P 2 O 5 , was bubbled through the solution for
about 20 minutes. The reaction was quenched by the addition
of 3-4 mL of distilled water. The solution was then carefully
neutralized with 5 % HCl and extracted with diethyl ether.
Sesquiterpene lactones 1, 10, 15, 21, and 24 were reacted
under similar conditions. The products were separated using
silica gel column chromatography, preparative thin-layer
chromatography, or reversed-phase HPLC.
The 11-hydroxylactones were analyzed by application of
IR, 1 H and 13 C NMR, and MS methods. The IR spectra of the
OH O
OO -
-
HO
B
HO
O
O
O
O
CH 3
O
CH 3
O -
O
CH 3
O -
CH 3
LDA
H 2 O
CO 3
2-
O
A
O
O
o - Li +
O 2
CH 3
O O -
O
1. H 2 O
2. Neutralize
Scheme 1. Proposed mechanism of lactone enolate oxidations.
O
CH 3
OH
derivatives clearly showed a broad absorption signal near
3400 cm –1 due to the lactonic 11-hydroxyl group. The 1 H
NMR data also indicated hydroxylation at C-11 by collapse to
a methyl singlet of the dihydrolactone C-11-methyl doublets
(C-13). The 1 H NMR data was also used to distinguish
between the 11α- and 11β-hydroxy-derivatives. Due to the
through-space deshielding effect of the C-11β hydroxyl group,
the chemical shift of the lactonic signal (H-6β) for all 11βhydroxy-derivatives
had shifted downfield by approximately
0.3-0.5ppm, when compared to the corresponding nonhydroxylated
starting compounds. In contrast, the chemical
shifts of the H-6β signals for all 11α-hydroxyderivatives
remained about the same as those of the corresponding dihydroprecursors
(Table 1). The total yield of the 11-hydroxylactones
in these reactions ranged from 13-47 % with no apparent
trends in stereoselectivity (Table 2).
Norsesquiterpene ketones 13, 14, 20, and 28 were obtained
as minor products of the reactions of 4, 10, 15, and 24,
respectively, and in some cases they represented the only
product. The IR spectra of these compounds showed absorptions
near 3400 cm –1 due to the C-6 hydroxyl group and
another at about 1710 cm –1 due to the C-11-ketone carbonyl
stretch absorption. The 1 H NMR data also showed methyl singlets
near 2.10-2.20 ppm, indicative of a methyl ketone. The
13C NMR spectra of these compounds indicated the presence
of only 14-carbons. Based on the above data, structures 13,
14, 20, and 28 were proposed. Table 3 summarizes the 13 C
NMR assignments of compounds 1-16, 20, and 21.
A possible mechanism for the formation of the norsesquiterpene
ketones may involve the decarboxylation of a
hydroperoxide anion intermediate (Scheme 1). Hydroperoxides
have been reported as the major products in reactions of
ester enolates with t-BuOK instead of LDA [9]. The existence
of lactonic hydroperoxide intermediates was supported by the
isolation of 18 and 27 from their respective product mixtures.
The hydroperoxide intermediates (Scheme 1, A) are then
reduced to the alcohols, probably by the conjugate acid, diisopropylamine,
generated from LDA during formation of the
enolate [10]. 1,2-Dioxetane formation could arise following
hydrolysis of the hydroperoxide anion (Scheme 1, B). 1,2-
dioxetanes have been observed to decompose cleanly to carbonyl
compounds which would generate the decomposition
products isolated [11].
The respective 1,10-epoxyderivatives 8, 9, 10 and 12
were obtained by stereo- and regiospecific epoxidations of the
1,10-double bond of the 11-hydroxy-derivatives 2, 3, 4, and 6
with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-CPBA) in the presence of
sodium acetate as a buffer to prevent further cyclizations [12].
Scheme 2

134 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Howard G. Pentes et al.
9
29 8a
30
N 2 N
4 3
S O
O S
O
1 2 O 2
Fig. 1. (+)-(2R, 8aS)-(Camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine (29) and (-)-
(2S, 8aR)-(Camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine (30).
Oxidation of the enolate anion of dihydroparthenolide (4)
with (-)-(camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine provided 11β-hydroxydihydroparthenolide
(6) in 66 % yield. Neither the 11αhydroxydihydroparthenolide
(5) nor the norsesquiterpene
ketone (13) were detected (Table 2). The same results were
observed for the oxidation of the enolate anion of 4 with (+)-
(camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine, except that the yield of 11βhydroxy-11,13-dihydroparthenolide
(6) was slightly higher
(72 %). When compared to the enolate oxidation with oxygen,
the (camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine oxidizing agents are clearly
superior due the higher yields and the regio- and stereospecificity
of the reactions.
Apparently, the frozen solute conformation of the 12,6-
trans-lactone 4, favors a β-attack by the (camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine
oxidizing agents from the β-face of the enolate
intermediate. This is in analogy to protonations that follow
NaBH 4 reductions in methanol of the α-methylene-γ-lactone
group in similar sesquiterpene lactones such as parthenolide
(4a) and costunolide (1a). Enolate oxidations with (camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridines
may not be stereospecific with
conformationally more flexible sesquiterpene lactones such as
12,8-lactonized or 12,6-cis-lactonized germacranolides.
Conclusions
In summary, four skeletal types of 11,13-dihydrosesquiterpene-γ-lactones
(germacrolides, eudesmanolides, guaianolides,
and elemanolides) were transformed into 11-hydroxy-

Preparation of 11-Hydroxylated 11,13-Dihydrosesquiterpene Lactones 135
Table 2. Yield (%) of Products from Enolate Oxidation of Sesquiterpene Lactones a .
Sesquiterpene Oxidizing Total Yield
lactone Agent of 11-OH-products 11α-OH 11β-OH Norketone
1 oxygen 37 15 22 —
4 oxygen 47 29 18 16
4 (–)-oxaziridine 66 — 66 —
4 (+)-oxaziridine 72 — 72 —
10 oxygen — — — 37
15 oxygen 24 15 9 14
21 oxygen 29 12 17 —
24 oxygen 13 5 8 13
aYields are based on recovered starting materials.
Tabla 3a. 13 C NMR Data for Compounds 1-11 a .
Carbon 1 2 3 4[13] 5 6 7 8 9
1 127.0 127.0 127.1 b 125.1 125.0 124.5 67.4 67.7 67.5
2 25.7 24.0 23.2 24.0 23.9 23.9 b 24.5 24.6 b 21.8
3 40.6 40.9 41.2 36.6 36.6 36.8 35.9 36.1 36.3
4 136.5 136.9 137.2 61.4 62.0 61.7 143.0 143.7 143.4
5 126.4 127.0 126.7 b 66.3 66.2 66.5 123.9 123.9 124.0
6 80.9 79.5 81.1 82.1 80.8 82.4 80.2 78.4 79.9
7 54.2 55.9 56.4 51.9 53.2 53.7 54.9 56.5 56.9
8 28.0 26.1 25.9 29.7 24.7 24.1 b 25.6 25.0 b 24.6
9 39.1 39.5 39.5 41.1 41.0 41.2 39.2 39.2 39.6
10 139.6 140.6 140.7 134.4 134.5 135.1 61.1 61.3 61.4
11 41.7 75.3 75.5 42.4 75.5 75.3 42.1 75.2 75.3
12 178.0 179.6 177.8 177.3 178.8 176.9 178.0 178.2 177.2
13 12.8 19.2 22.0 13.2 19.0 21.7 12.7 19.0 20.6
14 15.6 16.1 16.1 16.8 16.7 b 16.9 c 17.3 b 17.6 c 17.5 b
15 16.7 17.1 17.1 17.1 16.9 b 17.0 c 16.9 b 17.2 c 17.2 b
Table 3b. 13 C NMR Data of Compounds 12-16, 20 and 21 a .
Carbon 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 20 21
1 64.1 b 64.3 b 64.8 b 125.2 64.9 23.0 e 22.8 e 23.3 c 46.9
2 23.6 20.8 21.7 23.7 23.5 b 35.7 d 35.8 c 34.6 b 41.9
3 34.9 35.3 35.5 37.2 36.1 122.1 122.6 123.5 28.6
4 60.2 c 60.5 c 60.5 c 60.2 59.3 133.0 132.7 134.4 151.6
5 63.4 b 64.2 c 63.4 b 64.5 63.4 50.5 b 51.0 b 51.0 51.8
6 81.2 80.0 81.6 69.5 67.5 81.8 79.6 69.2 85.1
7 51.2 53.3 53.7 71.0 71.2 53.9 b 56.1 b 60.8 49.7
8 25.0 23.8 23.7 28.1 23.7 b 23.5 e 23.5 e 24.5 c 32.4 c
9 39.7 39.9 40.3 40.1 39.1 37.6 c 37.6 c 38.0 b 38.6 c
10 60.3 c 60.8 c 60.9 c 135.0 60.6 39.1 39.1 39.5 149.8
11 42.3 75.3 74.9 209.8 210.0 74.0 74.0 212.7 42.1 b
12 176.8 178.2 176.2 — — 179.6 180.4 — 178.5
13 12.6 19.2 19.5 29.6 30.6 12.3 f 19.0 f 29.4 13.1
14 16.6 d 16.9 d 16.9d 17.2 17.1 c 17.2 f 18.1 f 16.6 111.7
15 17.1 d 17.5 d 17.4 d 17.2 17.1 c 22.7 f 17.3 f 22.9 109.0
a = Spectra were determined in CDCl 3 at 200 MHz with Me 4 Si as internal standard. Chemical shifts are in ppm.
Assignments were made (except for 4) by comparison with 13 C NMR data of similar known compounds.
b-f = Assignments are interchangeable.

136 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Howard G. Pentes et al.
lactone analogs by LDA-mediated generation of the corresponding
lactone enolates followed by trapping with gaseous
oxygen or chiral oxidizing agent, (camphorylsulfonyl)
oxaziridines. The oxidations with oxygen were non-specific,
resulting in low to moderate yields (13-47 %) of mixtures of
11α- and 11β-hydroxylactone derivatives plus norsesquiterpene
ketones formed as degradation products of the hydroperoxide
intermediates. Improved yields (66-72 %) and stereoselectivity
were observed for enolate oxidations of 11,13-dihydrosesquiterpene
lactones with the respective (+)- and (-)-
(2S,8aR)-(camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine [8], providing the
11β-hydroxylactones exclusively.
Experimental section
1H and 13 C NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker-AC200
spectrometer in CDCl 3 using SiMe 4 as an internal standard.
Mass spectra were obtained on a HP5985 spectrometer. IR
spectra were recorded either on a Perkin-Elmer 257 or 1760x
spectrometer as a film on NaCl plates.
(-)-(2S,8aR)-(Camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine and (+)-
(2R,8aS)-(camphorylsulfonyl) oxaziridine (Aldrich) were
used without further purification. Reagent grade THF was
freshly distilled over Li metal before use to remove any traces
of water. A 1.5 M solution of LDA in cyclohexane (Aldrich)
was used without further purification.
Chromatographic separations were made on silica gel
(60-200 mesh, J.T.Baker Chemical Co.). HPLC separations
were carried out on a Milton-Roy HPLC using RSIL-C18-10
µ semi-preparative column (Alltech/Applied Science).
Dihydroparthenolide (4) was isolated from the dichloromethane
(DCM) extract of the aerial parts of Ambrosia artimisiifolia
[13,14]. Costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone (1a
and 21b) were isolated by vacuum liquid chromatography
[15] from Costus Resinoid (Pierre Chauvet, S.A.). The exocyclic
methylene groups of costunolide and dehydrocostus
lactone were reduced with NaBH 4 in methanol at 0 °C [16] to
give 1 and 21 respectively. α-Cyclodihydrocostunolide (15)
was prepared via acidic transannular cyclization of 1 [16].
Saussurea lactone (24) was prepared by thermolysis of 1 [17].
Spectroscopic and physical data for compounds 1, 4, 15, 21
and 24 are consistent with those previously reported in the literature.
11α-Hydroxydihydrocostunolide (2) and 11β-Hydroxydihydrocostunolide
(3). Compound 1 (325 mg, 1.39 mmol), dissolved
in 5 mL of dry THF, was added slowly over 15 min
by syringe to a stirred solution of 1.2 mL of LDA in 5 mL of
THF under argon at –70 °C. After an additional 15 min., dry
oxygen was bubbled through the solution for 20 min at 0 °C.
The reaction was then quenched with 5 mL of water. The
solution was neutralized with 5 % aq. HCl and extracted with
diethyl ether. The ether solution was dried over anhydrous
Na 2 SO 4 , filtered, and the solvent evaporated. Column chromatography
on silica gel using DCM / acetone (95:5) yielded
21 mg (15 %) of 2 and 31 mg (22 %) of 3. Lactone 2 was isolated
as a colorless powder: IR 3434, 1773, 1668 cm –1 ; 1 H
NMR: δ 4.80 (m, 1H, C 1 -H); 4.60 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H); 1.69 (s,
3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.40 (s, 3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); 1.33 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 );
MS m/z (relative intensity) 250 (M + ) (1.2), 232 (M-18 + ) (0.4),
222 (M-28 + ) (2.6), 207 (M-43 + ) (2.3). Compound 3 was isolated
as a colorless powder: IR 3435, 1754 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ
4.94 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H); 4.80 (m, 1H, C 1 -H); 4.60 (d, 1H, C 5 -H, J
= 10 Hz); 1.77 (s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.45 (s, 3H ,C 13- or C 14-
CH 3 ); 1.42 (s, 3H, C 13- or C 14 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity)
250 (M + ) (0.7), 222 (M-28 + ) (2.8), 207 (M-43 + ) (0.7).
11 α-Hydroxydihydroparthenolide (5), 11 β-Hydroxydihydroparthenolide
(6), and Ketone (13). Compound 4 (372
mg) was reacted with LDA and oxygen as described above.
Column chromatography on silica gel with hexane / EtOAc
(1:1) yielded 8 8mg (29%) of 5, 55 mg (18%) of 6, and 45 mg
(16%) of 13.
Compound 5 was isolated as a white powder: IR 3412, 1784
cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.18 (dd, 1H, C 1 -H, J= 10 Hz); 3.79 (dd,
1H, C 6 -H, J = 9 Hz); 2.76 (d, 1H, C 5 -H, J = 9 Hz); 1.70 (s,
3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); 1.31 (s, 6H, C 13 - and C 15 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative
intensity) 266 (M + ) (0.02), 223 (M-43 + ) (0.07), 207 (M-
59 + ) (0.08), 43 (C 2 H 3 O + ) (100).
Lactone 6 was obtained as a white powder: IR 3443, 1753
cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.15 (dd, 1H,C 1 -H, J = 2, 9 Hz); 4.12 (dd,
1H, C 6 -H, J = 9 Hz); 2.66 (d, 1H, C 5 -H, J = 9 Hz); 1.69 (s, 3H,
C 14 -CH 3 ); 1.39 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 1.28 (s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); MS
m/z (relative intensity) 266 (M + ) (0.03), 231 (M-35 + ) (0.04),
223 (M-43 + ) (0.02), 207 (M-59 + ) (0.14).
Compound 13 was isolated as a colorless gum: IR 3438, 1761
cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.14 (dd, 1H, C 1 -H, J = 4, 7 Hz); 3.56 (dd,
1H, C 6 -H, J = 9 Hz); 2.75 (d, 1H, C 5 -H); 2.19 (s, 3H, C 13 -
CH 3 ); 1.65 (s, 3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); 1.27 (s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); MS m/z
(relative intensity) 238 (M + ) (0.1), 223 (M-15 + ) (0.2), 220 (M-
18 + ) (0.7), 195 (M-43 + ) (0.4), 177 (M-61 + ) (6.1).
1,10-Epoxydihydrocostunolide (7). Compound 1 (200 mg)
was dissolved in 10 mL of DCM and stirred at room temp.
Sodium acetate (200 mg) was added to the solution to buffer
the epoxidation and prevent possible acid-catalyzed transannular
cyclization [12]. m-CPBA (220 mg) was added to the
suspension. After stirring at room temp. for 1 h, the solution
was filtered and washed with 5 % Na 2 CO 3 (2 × 50 mL) and
H 2 O (3 × 50 mL). The DCM solution was dried over anhydrous
Na 2 SO 4 , filtered, and the solvent evaporated yielding
181 mg (85 %) of 7: IR 1771, 1672 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.12 (d,
1H, C 5 -H, J = 10 Hz); 4.54 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 10 Hz); 2.61
(dd, 1H, C 1 -H, J = 2, 11 Hz); 1.75 (s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.14 (d,
3H, C 13 -CH 3 , J=7 Hz); 1.06 (s, 3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative
intensity) 250 (M + ) (0.9), 235 (M-15 + ) (0.3), 232 (M-18 + )
(0.3), 207 (M-43 + ) (0.6), 193 (M-57 + ) (1.8).

Preparation of 11-Hydroxylated 11,13-Dihydrosesquiterpene Lactones 137
1,10-epoxy-11α-hydroxydihydrocostunolide (8). Compound
2 (7 mg) was epoxidized as described above yielding 4 mg (54
%) of 8: IR 3418, 1775, 1671 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.20 (d, 1H,
C 5 -H, J = 10 Hz); 4.60 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J=10 Hz); 2.68 (dd, 1H,
C 1 -H); 1.83 (s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.33 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 1.12 (s,
3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity) 266 (M + ) (0.3), 221
(M-45 + ) (0.1), 210 (M-56 + ) (0.1), 189 (M-77 + ) (0.7).
1,10-epoxy-11β-hydroxydihydrocostunolide (9). Compound
3 (9 mg) was epoxidized as described above yielding 7 mg of
9: IR 3443, 1773, 1674 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.15 (d, 1H, C 5 -H, J
= 10 Hz); 4.97 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 10 Hz); 2.66 (dd, 1H, C 1 -H,
J = 2, 11 Hz); 1.80 (s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.43 (s, 3H ,C 13 -CH 3 );
1.14 (s, 3H, C 14 -CH 3 ). MS m/z (relative intensity) 266 (M + )
(0.1), 244 (M-22 + ) (0.1), 222 (M-44 + ) (0.2), 207 (M-59 + )
(0.2), 189 (M-77 + ) (0.3).
1,10-epoxydihydroparthenolide (10). Compound 4 (150 mg)
was epoxidized as described above yielding 151 mg (95 %) of
10. Spectroscopic and physical data for the title compound are
consistent with those reported in the literature [18].
1,10-epoxy-11α-hydroxydihydroparthenolide (11).
Compound 5 (31 mg) was epoxidized as described above
yielding 4 mg (10 %) of 11: IR 3422, 1782 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ
3.86 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 10 Hz); 2.87 (d, 1H, C 5 -H, J = 10 Hz);
2.80 (dd, 1H, C1-H); 1.40 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 1.33 (s, 6H, C 14 -
and C 15 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity) 282 (M + ) (0.03),
257 (M-25 + ) (0.6), 219 (M-63 + ) (0.3), 211 (M-71 + ) (0.5), 197
(M-85 + ) (0.9).
1,10-epoxy-11β-hydroxydihydroparthenolide (12).
Compound 6 (25 mg) was epoxidized as described above
yielding 25 mg (95 %) of 12: IR 3391,1781 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR:
δ 4.20 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 9 Hz); 2.81 (d, 1H, C 1 -H); 2.80 (d,
1H, C 5 -H, J = 9 Hz); 1.46 (s, 3H, C 13- ,C 14- , or C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.43
(s, 3H, C 13- , C 14- , or C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.36 (s, 3H, C 13- ,C 14- , or C 15 -
CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity) 282 (M + ) (0.1), 210 (M-72 + )
(0.1), 195 (M-87 + ) (0.1).
Ketone 14. Compound 10 (114 mg) was reacted with LDA and
O 2 as described before yielding 40 mg of ketone 14: IR 3449,
1711 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 3.65 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 9 Hz); 2.86 (d,
1H, C 5 -H); 2.24 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 1.38 (s, 3H, C 14 - or C 15 -
CH 3 ); 1.30 (s, 3H, C 14- or C 15 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity)
193 (M-61 + ) (0.1), 179 (M-75 + ) (1.4), 161 (M-93 + ) (1.2).
11α-Hydroxy-α-cyclodihydrocostunolide (16), 11β-
Hydroxy-α-cyclodihydrocostunolide (17), 11α-Hydroperoxy-α-cyclodihydrocostunolide
(18), 7,11-Dehydro-α-cyclodihydrocostunolide
(19), and Ketone 20. Compound 15 (102
mg) was reacted with LDA and O 2 as described before yielding
16 mg (15 %) of 16, 10 mg (9 %) of 17, 14 mg (14 %) of
20, 1 mg of 18, and 1 mg of 19. Compounds 17, 18, and 19
were isolated by HPLC following column chromatography.
16: IR 3449, 1770 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.37 (s, br, 1H, C 3 -H);
3.92 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 11 Hz); 2.75 (s, br, OH); 1.76 (s, 3H,
C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.36 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 0.90 (s, 3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); MS
m/z (relative intensity) 250 (M + ) (1.3), 207 (M-43 + ) (0.4), 191
(M-59 + ) (0.7).
17: IR 3458, 1761 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.38 (s, br, 1 H,C 3 -H);
4.36 (dd, 1 H, C 6 -H, J = 5 Hz); 1.82 (s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.45 (s,
3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 0.92 (s, 3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity)
250 (M + ) (2.0), 207 (M-43 + ) (1.2).
18: IR 3414, 1778 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 8.73 (s, 1H, OOH); 5.39
(s, br, 1H,C 3 -H); 3.96 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 10 Hz); 1.80 (s, 3H,
C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.37 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 0.91 (s, 3H ,C 14 -CH 3 ); MS
m/z (relative intensity) 266 (M + ) (0.04), 223 (M-43 + ) (0.5),
220 (M-46 + ) (0.2), 216 (M-50 + ) (0.3).
19: IR 1752, 1682 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.43 (s, br, 1H, C 3 -H);
4.67 (d, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 11 Hz); 1.89 (s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.83 (s,
3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 0.99 (s, 3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity)
232 (M + ) (2.7), 217 (M-15 + ) (7.3), 207 (M-25 + ) (7.4).
20: IR 3449, 1700 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.35 (s, br, 1H, C 3 -H); 4.02
(ddd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 5, 11 Hz); 2.21 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 1.83 (s,
3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 0.81 (s, 3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity)
222 (M + ) (0.6), 123 (M-99 + ) (12.7), 121 (M-101 + ) (17.1).
11α-Hydroxydihydrodehydrocostuslactone (22) and 11β-
Hydroxydihydrodehydrocostuslactone (23). Compound 21
(235 mg) was reacted with LDA and O 2 as described before
yielding 30 mg (12 %) of 22 and 42 mg (17 %) of 23.
22: IR 3467, 1770, 1638 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.16 (s, 1H, C 15 -
H); 5.05 (s, 1H, C 15 -H); 4.87 (s, 1H, C 14 -H); 4.77 (s, 3H, C 14 -
H); 3.87 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 9 Hz); 1.30 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); MS
m/z (relative intensity) 248 (M + ) (1.7), 220 (M-28 + ) (1.5), 202
(M-46 + ) (0.3), 192 (M-56 + ) (0.2).
23: IR 3423, 1761, 1630 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.20 (s, 1H, C 15 -
H); 5.05 (s, 1H, C 15 -H); 4.88 (s, 1H, C 14 -H); 4.80 (s, 1H, C 14 -
H); 4.20 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 9 Hz); 1.43 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); MS
m/z (relative intensity) 248 (M + ) (11.0), 204 (M-44 + ) (2.5),
191 (M-57 + ) (2.3), 189 (M-59 + ) (2.3).
11α-Hydroxysaussurea lactone (25), 11β-Hydroxysaussurea
lactone (26), 11α-Hydroperoxysaussurea lactone
(27), and Ketone 28. Compound 24 (93 mg) was reacted with
LDA and O 2 as described before yielding 4 mg (5 %) of 25, 6
mg (8 %) of 26, 9 mg (13 %) of 28, and less than 1 mg of 27.
25: IR 3440, 1778, 1638 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.79 (dd, 1H, C 1 -
H, J = 11, 17 Hz); 5.04 (m, 4H, C 2 -Ha,b, C 3 -Ha,b); 4.14 (dd,
1H, C 6 -H, J = 11 Hz); 2.27 (d, 1H, C 5 -H, J = 9 Hz); 1.79 (s,
3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.38 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 1.08 (s, 3H, C 14 -CH 3 );
MS m/z (relative intensity) 250 (M + ) (0.2), 223 (M-28 + ) (1.7),
207 (M-43 + ) (1.3), 189 (M-61 + ) (1.0).

138 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Howard G. Pentes et al.
26: IR 3449, 1752, 1638 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.80 (dd, 1H, C 1 -
H, J = 11, 17 Hz); 5.00 (m, 4H, C 2 -Ha,b, C 3 -Ha,b); 4.60 (dd,
1H, C 6 -H, J = 10, 11Hz); 2.20 (d, 1H, C 5 -H, J = 12 Hz); 1.79
(s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.46 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 1.10 (s, 3H, C 14 -
CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity) 250 (M + ) (0.3), 204 (M-46 + )
(0.4), 121 (M-129 + ) (3.2).
27: IR 3353, 1770, 1638 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: 8.68 (s, 1H, OOH);
5.80 (dd, 1H, C 1 -H, J = 11, 17 Hz); 5.00 (m, 4H, C 2 -Ha,b, C 3 -
Ha,b); 4.17 (dd, 1H, C 6 -H, J = 11 Hz); 2.32 (d, 1H, C 5 -H, J =
11 Hz); 1.78 (s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 ); 1.39 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 1.08 (s,
3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity) 266 (M + ) (0.5), 216
(M-50 + ) (0.5), 166 M-100 + ) (0.9).
28: IR 3466, 1708, 1638 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR: δ 5.76 (dd, 1H, C 1 -H,
J = 11, 17 Hz); 4.90 (m, 4H, C 2 -Ha,b, C 3 -Ha,b); 4.10 (dd, 1H,
C 6 -H, J = 11 Hz); 2.25 (s, 3H, C 13 -CH 3 ); 1.78 (s, 3H, C 15 -CH 3 );
1.04 (s, 3H, C 14 -CH 3 ); MS m/z (relative intensity) 222 (M + )
(2.0), 204 (M-18 + ) (1.5), 189 (M-33 + ) (1.0), 161 (M-61 + ) (3.6).
Oxidation of the enolate anion of dihydroparthenolide (4)
with (-)-(2S,8aR)-(camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine.
Dihydroparthenolide (4) (200 mg, 0.8 mmol) dissolved in 5
mL of dry THF was added slowly over 15 min by syringe to a
stirred solution of 0.7 mL (1.04 mmol) of LDA in 5 mL of
THF under argon at –70 °C. After stirring the solution for an
additional 15 min, a THF solution of (-)-(2S,8aR)-(camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine
(30, 370 mg, 1.6 mmol) was added to the
reaction flask by syringe over a 5 min period at –70 °C. After
5 more min, the reaction was quenched with the addition of 5
mL of a saturated aqueous NH 4 Cl solution. The reaction mixture
was extracted with diethyl ether (6 × 10 mL). The ether
solution was dried over anhydrous Na 2 SO 4 , filtered, and the
solvent was evaporated.
Attempted precipitation of the unreacted oxaziridine and
its reduced form, the imine, at –78 °C in diethyl ether only
removed 60-70 % of these reagents. Repeated precipitations
did not further purify the product. Dry column (silica gel)
chromatography [19] was used to separate the product mixture
eluting with DCM/acetone (9:1). The oxaziridine and the
imine eluted in the very early fractions. Dihydroparthenolide
(4) (58 mg) was recovered and 100 mg (66 %) of 11β-hydroxydihydroparthenolide
(6) was isolated. The 1 H NMR data of
compound 6 was identical with the data for the product isolated
from the reaction of oxygen with the enolate anion of dihydroparthenolide
(4). The norsesquiterpene ketone 13 and 11αhydroxydihydroparthenolide
(5) were not detected.
References
1. Fronczek, F.R.; Vargas, D.; Fischer, N.H.; Hostettmann, K. J.
Nat. Prod. 1984, 47, 1036-1039.
2. Vargas, D.; Fronczek, F.R.; Fischer, N.H.; Hostettmann, K. J.
Nat. Prod. 1986, 49, 133-138.
3. Hostettmann, K.; Marston, A. "Plants Used in African Traditional
Medicines." in Folk Medicine. The Art and the Science, editor
R.P. Steiner, 1986, ACS, Wash., D.C. pp. 111-124.
4. Vargas, D.; Younathan, E.S.; Fischer, N.H. Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx.
2001, 45, 159-162.
5. Picman, A.K. Biochem. System. Ecol. 1986, 14, 255-281.
6. Rodriguez, E.; Towers, G.H.N.; Mitchell, J.C. Phytochemistry
1976, 15, 1573-1580.
7. Collado, I.G.; Macías, F.A.; Massanet, G.M.; Molinillo, J.M.G.;
R.-Luis, F. J. Org. Chem. 1987, 52, 3323-3326.
8. Davis, F.A.; Hague, M.J.; Ulatowski, T.G.; Towson, J.C. J. Org.
Chem. 1986, 51, 2402-2404.
9. Gersmann, H.R.; Bickel, A.F. J. Chem. Soc. (B) 1971, 11, 2230-
2237.
10. Biloski, A.; Ganem, B. Synthesis 1983, 7, 537-538.
11. Bartlett, P.D.; Schaap, A.P. J. Amer. Chem. Soc. 1970, 92, 3223-
3226.
12. Rodriguez, A.A.S.; Garcia, M.; Rabi, J. Phytochemistry 1978, 17,
953-954.
13. Lu, T.; Fischer, N.H. Spectroscopy Letters 1996, 29, 437-448;
references therein.
14. Parodi, F.J.; Fronczek, F.R.; Fischer, N.H. J. Nat. Prod. 1989, 52,
554-566.
15. Coll, J.C.; Bowden, B.F. J. Nat. Prod. 1986, 49, 934-936.
16. Lee, I.-Y. "New Sesquiterpene Lactones from the Genera Calea
berlandiera (Asteraceae) and the Fragmentation Reactions of 1,3-
Dihydroxyeudesmanolide Derivatives." Dissertation, Louisiana
State University, 1983.
17. Rao, A.S.; Sadgopal, A.P.; Bhattacharyya, S.C. Tetrahedron
1961, 13, 319.
18. Govindachari, T.R.; Joshi, B.S.; Kamat, V.N. Tetrahedron 1965,
21, 1509-1519.
19. Loev, B.; Goodman, M. M. Chem. and Ind. 1967, 48, 2026-2032.
Oxidation of enolate anion of dihydroparthenolide (4) with
(+)-(2R,8aS)-(camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine. Dihydroparthenolide
(4) (200 mg) was oxidized as described above with (+)-
(2R,8aS)-(camphorylsulfonyl)oxaziridine 29. The product mixture
was separated by dry column (silica gel) chromatography
[19] eluting with DCM/acetone (9:1). Dihydroparthenolide (4)
(56 mg) was recovered and 110 mg (72 %) of 11β-hydroxydihydroparthenolide
(6) was isolated as the only product.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 139-142
Investigación
Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils
from Annona cherimola (Annonaceae)
María Yolanda Ríos, 1* Federico Castrejón, 2 Norma Robledo, 2 Ismael León, 1 Gabriela Rojas, 3
and Víctor Navarro 3
1 Centro de Investigaciones Químicas de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos. Av. Universidad 1001,
Col. Chamilpa, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México, 62210. Phone +52 (777) 329-997 ext. 6024; Fax: +52 (777) 329-7997.
E-mail: myolanda@buzon.uaem.mx
2 Centro de Desarrollo de Productos Bióticos del Instituto Politécnico Nacional. Carretera Yautepec-Jojutla Km. 8,
Yautepec, Morelos, México, 62731.
3 Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social. Argentina No. 1,
Col. Centro, Xochitepec, Morelos, México, 62790.
Recibido el 25 de febrero del 2003; aceptado el 23 de mayo del 2003
This paper is dedicated to Professor Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Abstract. The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained by
steam distillation of the fresh leaves, flowers and fruits from Annona
cherimola was analyzed by means of Gas Chromatography-Mass
Spectrometry (GC/MS). Sixty constituents were identified from the
oils. While bicyclogermacrene, trans-caryophyllene and δ-amorphene
were found to be the major constituents in the oil of the leaves;
bicyclogermacrene, α-terpinolene and germacrene D were the major
constituents in the oil of the flowers and β-pinene, α-terpinolene, β-
fenchyl alcohol and α-pinene were the major constituents in the oil of
the fruits. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the three essential oils
and of some of their major constituents against five Gram (±) bacteria
and one fungus is reported.
Keywords: Annona cherimola, essential oil, Gas Chromatography-
Mass Spectrometry, bicyclogermacrene, trans-caryophyllene, α-
amorphene, α-copaene, α-terpinolene, germacrene D, linalool, β-
fenchyl alcohol, β-pinene, α-pinene.
Resumen. La composición química de los aceites esenciales obtenidos
por arrastre de vapor de las hojas, flores y frutos frescos de Annona
cherimola fue analizada por Cromatografía de Gases-Espectrometría
de Masas (GC/MS). Sesenta componentes fueron identificados
en los aceites esenciales. Mientras que el biciclogermacreno, el
trans-cariofileno y el δ-amorfeno se identificaron como los constituyentes
mayoritarios en el aceite esencial de las hojas; el biciclogermacreno,
el α-terpinoleno y el germacreno D fueron los constituyentes
mayoritarios del aceite esencial de las flores, y el β-pineno,
el α-terpinoleno, el alcohol β-fenchílico y el α-pineno fueron los
principales componentes del aceite esencial de los frutos. La actividad
antimicrobiana in vitro de los tres aceites esenciales y de algunos
de sus contituyentes mayoritarios fue evaluada contra cinco bacterias
Gram (+), (-) y un hongo.
Palabras clave: Annona cherimola, aceite esencial, Cromatografía
de Gases-Espectrometría de Masas, biciclogermacreno, trans-cariofileno,
α-amorfeno, α-copaeno, α-terpinoleno, germacreno D,
linalool, alcohol β-fenchílico, β-pineno, α-pineno.
Introduction
The Annonaceae family includes 80 genera and about 850
species distributed in tropical and subtropical areas of
America, Africa and Asia. Only four genera of this family are
of economic importance, and the genus Annona is one of
them. Annona cherimola is highly appreciated for its exquisite
fruits and for its use in traditional medicine in the treatment of
skin diseases [1], tumors and cancer [2], and is reported to
have antimicrobial and insecticidal properties [3,4]. Although
several reports on the chemical composition of A. cherimola
have been published [1-9], to date there are no reports on the
chemical analysis of the essential oil of this species. We present
here the chemical composition and the antimicrobial
activity of the essential oils from the leaves, flowers and fruits
of A. cherimola.
Results and discussion
CG/MS analysis of the three oils led to the identification of
sixty constituents, which are listed in Table 1 along with their
quantitative data. The identification of each component was
based on a comparison of its mass spectrum with those contained
in the HP CHEMSTATION-Wiley275.L Library. A
high proportion of the essential oils is constituted by four
main compounds: more than 40 % of the essential oil from the
leaves is composed by bicyclogermacrene (18.20 %), transcaryophyllene
(11.50 %), α-amorphene (7.57 %) and α-
copaene (5.63 %); similarly, 34.02 % of the essential oil from
the flowers corresponds to bicyclogermacrene (11.73 %), α-
terpinolene (9.75 %), germacrene D (7.01 %) and linalool
(5.53 %); finally, almost 45 % of the essential oil from the
fruits corresponds to β-pinene (15.48 %), α-terpinolene (13.59

140 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Ríos Gómez et al.
Table 1. Chemical composition of the essential oils of leaves, flowers and fruits from A. cherimola.
Compound a rt b KI c d GC Area %
A e B e C e
1 Isoprene 2.41 421 0.35 0.08 —
2 α-Pinene 3.29 800 1.60 0.14 6.37
3 Camphene 3.41 804 — — 0.45
4 β-Terpinene 3.67 813 — 0.08 —
5 β-Pinene 3.73 815 4.11 1.32 15.48
6 Mircene 3.85 819 0.23 2.75 —
7 β-Phellandrene 4.02 825 — — 0.20
8 1,8-Cineole 4.30 837 0.32 0.30 4.02
9 trans-β-Ocimene 4.53 846 0.15 0.08 0.30
10 δ-3-Carene 4.67 853 — — 0.19
11 trans-Linalool oxide 4.79 868 — — 1.18
12 α-Terpinolene 5.13 876 — 9.75 13.59
13 Linalool 5.27 885 3.06 5.53 0.29
14 Borneol 6.00 939 — — 2.02
15 α-Terpinene-4-ol 6.21 959 0.17 1.67 2.04
16 β-Fenchyl alcohol 6.31 970 — 1.70 8.81
17 α-Terpineol 6.66 982 — 0.15 0.83
18 Borneyl Acetate 7.60 989 — — 0.21
19 α-Bisabolene 8.51 1085 1.69 1.74 1.38
20 α-Cubebene 8.67 1109 0.89 0.11 5.88
21 α-Copaene 9.04 1170 5.63 1.04 3.28
22 β-Cubebene 9.13 1189 — — 1.09
23 β-Elemeno 9.19 1202 3.57 1.82 —
24 Unknown 9.35 1204 — — 1.79
25 cis-Caryophyllene 9.40 1205 1.34 — 3.60
26 trans-Caryophyllene 9.60 1207 11.50 2.30 —
27 (-)Caryophyllene oxide 9.68 1209 — 0.16 0.81
28 β-gurjunene 9.70 1210 0.30 — 1.40
29 α-gurjunene 9.82 1213 1.37 — —
30 (-)Isoledene 9.90 1215 0.60 — 0.33
31 α-Humulene 9.97 1217 3.05 0.24 1.48
32 Aromadendrene 10.05 1220 0.39 0.18 0.43
33 α-Amorphene 10.26 1226 2.20 — —
34 Germacrene D 10.31 1228 3.75 7.01 1.44
35 Alloaromadendrene 10.40 1231 2.36 — —
36 Bicyclogermacrene 10.46 1233 18.20 11.73 1.49
37 10-Hydroxy-α-gurjunene 10.55 1236 4.47 1.01 0.69
38 δ-Amorphene 10.61 1239 7.57 1.08 —
39 γ-Cadinene 10.69 1242 2.50 0.14 —
40 Unknown 10.77 1244 0.60 — —
41 δ-Cadinene 10.81 1247 4.63 1.98 3.01
42 Cadina-1,4-diene 10.93 1251 1.27 0.12 —
43 9-Aromadendrene 10.99 1256 0.70 — —
44 β-Elemol 11.11 1259 — 0.40 —
45 Nerolidol 11.19 1264 — — 0.81
46 1(10),4,11-Germacratrien-9-ol 11.28 1269 2.99 4.57 1.01
47 γ-Cadinol 11.50 1281 0.24 0.86 2.00
48 Lauric acid 11.66 1287 — 0.58 0.27
49 T-cadinol 12.25 1407 0.42 3.40 2.03
50 α-Cadinol 12.39 1410 0.70 3.30 1.48
51 Muurolol 12.58 1415 — 2.39 2.48
52 Unknown 12.76 1430 — — 1.21
53 Azuleno 13.27 1434 — 1.51 —
54 Unknown 13.79 1452 0.39 2.90 —
55 Dehydroaromadendrene 14.63 1493 0.23 — —
56 9,10-Dehydroisolongifolene 15.14 1607 1.43 — —
57 Cycloisolongifolene 15.20 1610 1.39 — —
58 Unknown 16.34 1674 0.87 — —
59 Unknown 16.92 1732 1.40 — —
60 Palmitic acid 18.30 1801 0.27 12.97 —
61 (8 β,13β)-Kaur-16-ene 18.57 1811 0.49 — 0.44
62 Oleic acid 20.84 1886 0.57 6.64 —
63 Kauran-16-ol 21.56 1905 — — 0.99
64 Stearic acid 21.62 1908 — 6.25 —
65 Kaur-16-en-19-ol 21.84 1913 — — 0.64
66 Kaur-16-en-18-oic acid 24.52 2170 — — 1.90
Total of compounds identified (%) 96.70 97.08 96.25
a Composition listed in order of elution from a HP-1 column. b Retention times (rt) in minutes. c Kovats Indices (KI) on HP-1 capillary column
dGas Chromatography. e A, B and C represent the essential oil of leaves, flowers and fruits of Annona cherimola, respectively
- no detected

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils from Annona cherimola (Annonaceae) 141
Table 2. Proportion (%) of mono- and sesquiterpenes in the essential oils from A. cherimola.
Monoterpenes
Sesquiterpenes
Sample hydrocarbons alcohols oxides total hydrocarbons alcohols oxides total
Leaves 6.09 3.23 0.32 9.64 76.56 8.82 0.00 85.38
Flowers 14.12 9.05 0.3 23.47 31.00 15.93 0.16 47.09
Fruits 36.58 13.99 5.41 55.98 24.81 10.50 0.81 36.12
Table 3. Principal skeleta (%) of mono- and sesquiterpenes in the essential oils from A. cherimola.
Monoterpenes
Sesquiterpenes
Sample acyclic monoterpenes pinene p-menthane total caryophyllene germacrene aromadendrene total
Leaves 3.21 5.71 0.72 100.00 12.84 21.95 17.00 60.65
Flowers 5.61 1.46 14.70 92.70 2.46 18.74 2.09 49.45
Fruits 1.77 21.85 20.68 79.10 0.81 2.93 2.09 16.14
%), β-fenchyl alcohol (8.81 %) and α-pinene (6.37 %). The
identified components represent between 96-97% of the total
composition of the oils.
The monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes are the main type
of compounds in the three essential oils (Table 2). The essential
oil of the leaves have a high proportion of sesquiterpenes
(85.38 %) and showed a weak antimicrobial activity against
the assayed microorganisms (Tabla 4). In the essential oil of
the flowers the proportion of sesquiterpenes was lowest (47.09
%), increasing the proportion of monoterpenes (23.47 %), and
for this essential oil the MIC values observed were minor in
all the assayed microorganisms, with the exception of E. faecalis.
In the essential oil of the fruits the monoterpenes are the
major constituents (55.98 %) being this essential oil the most
active against S. aureous and P. mirabilis. These results indicate
that the antimicrobial activity of these essential oils could
be associated to the presence and amount of the monoterpenic
compounds. The mono- and sesquiterpenes isolated could be
classified as hydrocarbons, alcohols and oxides, being the
hydrocarbons the major components of the three essential oils
(Table 2).
In the three essential oils more than 79 % of the monoterpenes
belongs to acyclic monoterpenes, and monoterpenes
with pinene and p-menthane skeleton. In the essential oils
from the leaves and flowers 60 % and 49 %, respectively, of
the sesquiterpenes have the skeleton of caryophyllene, germacrene
and aromadendrene, while in the essential oil from fruits
the proportion of this sesquiterpenes is very lowest (16 %)
(Table 3).
The three essential oils of A. cherimola showed a significant
activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria
and one fungus (Table 4). Although no previous reports on the
antimicrobial activity of the major constituents of the essential
oil from the leaves were found in the literature, trans-caryophyllene
showed moderate activity against Staphylococcus
aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli and Shigella
sonei. The essential oil from the flowers was the most active
against all the microorganisms tested, and the second most
active against S. aureus, this activity could be associated with
its high concentration of linalool, that was very active against
all the microorganisms included in the Table 2, and which is
known to possess antimicrobial and antifungal activity
[10,11]. Previous reports have been carried out of the antimicrobial
activity for α-pinene [10,12,13], who in our hands
showed moderate activity, however, a very important activity
was observed for β-fenchyl alcohol, both presents in high proportion
in the essential oil of the fruits, which shows the best
effect against the bacteria S. aureus, E. faecalis and Proteous
mirabilis. Although at least one of the major constituents of
each essential oil showed antimicrobial activity against the
tested microorganisms, the MIC values obtained in each case
are biggest that those of their corresponding essential oils, this
suggest that the antimicrobial activity could be due to a synergistic
effect between the constituents of each essential oil.
Experimental section
Plant material: The leaves (442 g), flowers (309 g) and green
fruits with an average size of 2.5 cm (206 g) were collected from
10 individuals of a wild population of A. cherimola. The plant
material was collected during the flowering and fruiting stage in
April-May of 2002. A specimen (voucher No. 18854) was
deposited at the Herbarium of the Universidad Autónoma del
Estado de Morelos (HUMO), Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
Chemical analysis: The leaves, flowers and fruits of A. cherimola
were finely cuted and subjected to steam distillation (1.5
h) using a modified Clevenger-type apparatus, to yield 0.63
%, 0.39 %, and 0.83 % of a yellow oil, respectively. The
physical properties for each sample were: leaves ([α] D
25 +
16.1 (CHCl 3 , c = 1.1), d 25 0.83), flowers ([α] D
25 + 6.4 (CHCl 3 ,
c = 0.97), d 25 0.87) and fruits ([α] D
25 + 8.3 (CHCl 3 , c = 0.92),
d 25 0.84). The oils were subjected to GC / MS analysis in a
Hewlett Packard 6890 GC / 5972 MSD chromatograph
equipped with a HP-1 capillary column (length 30 m, id 0.25
mm, ft 0.25 µm). The carrier gas was helium and the linear
gas velocity was 36 cm/s. The injector temperature was 250

142 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Ríos Gómez et al.
Table 4. Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of leaves, flowers and fruits from A. cherimola.
MIC (mg / mL)
Sample Staphylococcus Enterococcus Escherichia Shigella Proteous Candida
aureus faecalis coli sonei mirabilis albicans
Leaves 0.25 0.5 10 5 5 5
Flowers 0.125 0.5 2 2.5 2 0.5
Fruits 0.06 0.5 2 2.5 1 2
trans-caryophyllene 8.0 16 16 16 > 16 > 16
Terpinolene > 16 > 16 > 16 > 16 > 16 > 16
linalool 2 4 2 2 2 4
β-Pinene > 16 > 16 > 16 > 16 > 16 > 16
α-Pinene 16 16 4 16 16 8
β-fenchyl alcohol 4 2 2 2 2 8
Gentamicin 0.004 0.004 0.008 0.008 0.008 —
Nystatin — — — — — 0.004
ºC and the column temperature, initially at 60 ºC, was gradually
increased at a rate of 10 ºC/min up to 160 ºC and then
gradually increased at a rate of 5º C/min up to 220 ºC and kept
at 220 ºC for 5 min. For detection, a flame ionization detector
at 280 ºC, IE (Scan 30-550 uma) was used.
Standards of pure metabolites. trans-caryophyllene (Aldrich,
C-9653), terpinolene (Fluka, 86485), linalool (Aldrich, L260-
2), β-pinene (Fluka, 80608), α-pinene (Aldrich, 26,807-0) and
β-fenchyl alcohol (Aldrich, 19,644-4) were obtained from
commercial sources.
Antimicrobial Activity: The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus
(ATCC 25213), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Escherichia
coli (ATCC 25922), Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 12453)
and Shigella sonei (ATCC 11060) were maintained on Trypticase
soya agar, while Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) was
maintained on Sabouraud 4 % dextrose agar. The inoculum
for each organism was 10 4 colony forming units (CFU)/ mL.
The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were measured
as described previously for essential oils [12]. Initial
emulsions of the oils (20 mg/mL) and the standards of pure
metabolites (16 mg/mL) were prepared in sterile distilled water
with 10 % DMSO. Serial dilutions of the stock solutions in
both media (100 µL of Muller Hinton broth or Sabouraud
broth) were prepared in a microtiter plate and 2 µL of microbial
suspension was added to each well. For each strain, the
growth conditions and the sterility of the medium were proved
and the plates were incubated 24 h at 37 °C for the bacteria,
and 48 h at 28 °C for the yeast. Standard antibiotics (gentamicin
and nystatin) were used as positive controls, and MICs
were determined as the lowest concentrations preventing visible
growth. To indicate the bacterial growth, p-Iodonitrotetrazolium
violet (SIGMA I-8377) was added to the microplate
wells, as described by Eloff [14].
Copies of the original GC and GC-MS chromatographs
and spectra can be obtained from the author of correspondence.
Acknowledgements
We thank Enrique Salazar Leyva for technical assistance.
References
1. Chen, Ch.Y.; Chang, F.R.; Pan, W.B.; Wu, Y.C. Phytochemistry
2001, 56, 753-757.
2. Chen, Ch.Y.; Chang, F.R.; Chiu, H.F.; Wu, M.J.; Wu, Y.C.
Phytochemistry 1999, 51, 429-433.
3. Cortes, D.; Myint, S.H.; Dupont, B.; Davoust, D. Phytochemistry
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12. Aligiannis, N.; Kalpoutzakis, E.; Chinou, I.; Mitakou, S. J. Agric.
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Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 143-145
Investigación
Sesquiterpene Lactone Sequestration by the Tortoise Beetle
Physonota arizonae (Cassidinae)
Manuel Aregullín and Eloy Rodríguez *
Natural Products Laboratory, Biotechnology 259, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University,
Ithaca, NY 14853-4301, USA
In honor of Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar for his contributions to the field of phytochemistry
the chemistry of sesquiterpene lactones
Recibido el 24 de marzo del 2003; aceptado el 28 de mayo del 2003
Abstract. The phenomenon of sequestration of plant secondary
metabolites by herbivorous arthropods and its importance as an
arthropod defense strategy is well documented in chemical ecology
studies. Damsin (1), and the related terpene damsinic acid (2), are
sesquiterpene lactones sequestered by the tortoise beetle Physonota
arizonae (Cassidinae) from its host plant Ambrosia ambrosioides
(Asteraceae) for possible chemical protection.
Keywords: Sequestration, sesquiterpene lactones, Asteraceae, Ambrosia
ambrosioides, Cassidinae, Physonota arizonae, Coleoptera,
tortoise beetles.
Resumen. El fenómeno de secuestro de metabolitos secundarios de
plantas por artrópodos hervíboros, y su importancia como estrategia
de defensa artrópoda, se encuentra bien documentado en estudios de
ecología química. Damsina (1), y el terpeno ácido damsinico (2), son
sesquiterpen lactonas secuestradas por el escarabajo tortuga Physonota
arizonae (Cassidinae) de su planta anfitrión Ambrosia ambrosioides
(Asteraceae) para su posible protección química.
Palabras clave: Secuestro, sesquiterpen lactonas, Asteraceae, Ambrosia
ambrosioides, Cassidinae, Physonota arizonae, Coleoptera,
escarabajos tortuga.
Introducción
The phenomenon of sequestration of natural products is a well
documented biological event occurring extensively in the
Arthropoda [1, 2]. The uptake of toxic substances of exogenous
origin, for purposes of defense, has been dramatically
demonstrated in several plant-insect interactions [3, 4]. In the
class Insecta, plant-derived chemicals are often stored internally
in the hemolymph or in specialized glands, and used in
acts of reflex bleeding or active secretion triggered by the
encounter with a potential predatorial threat [1].
However, less common are the cases of sequestration in
which the toxic chemicals are stored externally (i.e., appendages
or whole body coatings). The possible advantage of
such a defense posture is its utilization as visual or olfactory
warning of chemical protection. It is only recently that the
chemistry of these defense strategies or “shields” has been
recognized [5-7].
In this study, we investigated the chemistry of an interesting
case of external sequestration in the family Cassidinae
within the Coleoptera.
One such tortoise beetle species, Physonota arizonae [8], is
endemic to the southwest United States and northern Mexico
and it uses as host plant a commonly occurring shrub from the
family Asteraceae, Ambrosia ambrosioides (canyon ragweed).
We became very interested in learning the chemical composition
of the caudal globe the nymphal stages carry, in an
attempt to infer from this composition any potential defensive
value.
Because of the external adult morphology (i.e., analogous
to the reptilian Chelonia), the beetles in the family Cassidinae
are commonly referred to as tortoise beetles (Fig. 1a). The
pronotum and elytra in these beetles extend to cover completely
the margins of the body, and is an excellent example of
mechanical defense for the adult life stage. However, the
nymphal stages possess a very different morphology (i.e.,
platyform with lateral segmental appendages) that cannot be
used effectively for protection. The nymphal stages possess a
caudal bifurcated process (i.e., urogomphi) where exuvia are
accumulated, as the beetle develops, and covered with fecal
matter, this assemblage can be best described as a small green
caudal globe that can represent from 1 / 5 to 1 / 3 of the overall
size of the beetle (Fig. 1b). Because the urogomphi are
articulated with muscles, the beetle can raise this caudal globe
over the body in an umbrella or shield like fashion and conspicuously
display it. Moreover, in the event of a threat, this
display is accompanied by a typical defensive behavior in
which the caudal globe is actually pointed in the direction of
the threat (scorpion syndrome). Thus, we propose that the
nymphal stages are protected chemically by these accumulations
of fecal matter in combination with a behavioral response,
and that this protection represents a case of external sequestration
of plant derived chemicals.
We have now shown that P. arizonae covers its exuvia with
resinous fecal deposits that comprise up to 90 % (w/w) of a mixture
of two sesquiterpene lactones, Damsin (1) and Damsinic
acid (2), sequestered from A. ambrosioides. Flavonoids were
also present in the mixture but were not characterized.

144 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Manuel Aregullin and Eloy Rodriguez
Fig. 1. 1a (left) Adult tortoise beetle Physonota arizonae with typical Cassidinae morphology.
1b (right) Larval stages of Physonota arizonae feeding on host plant Ambrosia ambrosioides and displaying defensive fecal shields (FS).
Experimental
Collection of Plant Material and Beetles. Ambrosia ambrosioides
leaf material containing feeding Physonota arizonae
beetles were collected from wild populations in washes, in the
Coyote Mountains off of Hwy 86, approximately 20 mi. west
of Tucson, Arizona during the months of July and August.
The leaf plant material was brought to the laboratory, and the
beetles were removed manually and processed separately. The
leaf plant material was air-dried and ground prior to solvent
extraction, and from the beetles the exuviae and its resinous
coating were collected and extracted fresh with organic solvents.
Ambrosia ambrosioides Extraction and Chemical Analysis.
Dried and ground leaf plant material (250 g) was extracted
with 1500 mL of chloroform and magnetic stirring overnight.
The chloroformic extract was filtered and the solvent evaporated
to dryness in a rotavapor under vacuum. The residue was
retaken in methanol to remove most of the hydrocarbons and
filtered. The filtrate was evaporated to dryness to yield 24 g
(9.6 %) of methanol soluble crude extract.
The crude extract was dissolved in methanol and applied
to a Sephadex LH-20 chromatographic column and eluted
with methanol. Fractions from the column were collected
according to their fluorescence under longwave light from a
portable ultraviolet lamp. Fractions 1 and 2 showed to contain
a mixture of hydrocarbons that was not further characterized.
Fraction 5 was shown to contain the sesquiterpene lactone
Damsin (1). Fraction 6 was shown to contain the sesquiterpene
lactone Damsinic acid (2). The structures of the two
sesquiterpene lactones were established by spectroscopic
methods (i.e., UV, IR, 1 H-NMR and 13 H-NMR, and MS), and
comparison with authentic samples. Fractions 7-10 were
shown to contain a mixture of flavonoids that was not further
characterized.
Beetle Resinous Coating Extraction and Chemical
Analysis. Approximately 50 to 100 exuvia covered with feces
were removed from the beetles and extracted fresh with chloroform.
The chloroformic extract was filtered, and the solvent
evaporated to dryness in a rotavapor under vacuum. The
residue was redissolved in methanol, the insoluble fraction
was discarded, and the filtrate evaporated to dryness to yield a
gummy residue.
The residue was dissolved in methanol and applied to a
Sephadex LH-20 chromatographic column and eluted with
methanol. Several fractions from the column were collected
according to their different fluorescence under longwave ultraviolet
light. Two fractions showed to contain each one a
discrete sesquiterpene lactone that upon spectral analysis were
shown to be Damsin (1) and Damsinic acid (2). The structures
of (1) and (2) were established by spectroscopic analysis and
comparison with authentic samples.
Results and discussion
Field observations have revealed the occurrence of the tortoise
beetle Physonota arizonae on wild populations of canyon ragweed
(Ambrosia ambrosioides), suggesting high host-plant
specificity for this Asteraceae. All four life stages of the beetle
(i.e., eggs, larvae, pupae and adults) were present on the host
plant. Field observations also suggested that the appearance of
the beetle on the plant is closely associated with the initiation
of the regional monsoon season that usually starts in July-
August [9]. We suspected that the highly conspicuous accumulation
of fecal matter (primarily derived from plant material),
in combination with a discrete defensive behavior by the
nymphal stages, could be implicated in the chemical protection
of the beetle from potential predators (i.e., birds, lizards, etc.).
P. arizonae larvae, feeding on the plants, were collected
from wild populations of A. ambrosioides to obtain enough
material for chemical analysis. It was found that the fecal
excretions covering the urogomphi were essentially lipophilic
and that dissolved in chloroform rather easily. Thus, the chloroformic
solution of the excretions was analyzed preliminary
by tlc using a standard solvent system for terpenic chemicals
(i.e., chloroform-acetone, 9:1) [10], the tlc plates were sprayed
with a vanillin spray reagent highly specific for terpenoids
[11]. This preliminary analysis revealed the presence of two
major components in the excretion.

Sesquiterpene Lactone Sequestration by the Tortoise Beetle Physonota arizonae (Cassidinae) 145
In further analysis, the chloroform washings were combined
and the solvent evaporated to yield a green resinous
material. The green resinous material was dissolved in
methanol to remove the lipid fraction, and filtered. The filtrate
was concentrated and applied to a Sephadex LH-20 chromatographic
column and eluted with methanol. Several fractions
were collected and tlc analysis revealed that fractions 5 and 6
contained the two major constituents of the fecal excretions
identical to the ones originally detected by tlc. Final purification
of the constituents of fractions 5 and 6 was achieved by
preparative tlc. The 1 H-NMR spectra of fractions 5 and 6 had
a very important diagnostic value in determining that fraction
5 contained a sesquiterpene lactone (i.e., doublets at 6.27 and
5.57 ppm with a coupling constant of approximately 3 Hz corresponding
to the two protons in the exocyclic double bond
of the γ-butyrolactone), and that fraction 6 contained a structurally
related compound. This initial finding suggested that
the origin of these sesquiterpene lactones was actually the
host-plant. The sesquiterpene lactone chemistry of A. ambrosioides
has been previously reported [12-14] and it is known
that there are geographical variations in the chemistry of A.
ambrosioides [15]. Following the same isolation procedure as
the one used in the case of the beetle excretions our study
revealed that the population sampled, contained the sesquiterpene
lactones Damsin (1) and Damsinic acid (2). Moreover,
we determined by 1 H- and 13 C-NMR that these sesquiterpene
lactones are identical to the compounds in fractions 5 and 6
from the beetle secretions.
It is well known that sesquiterpene lactones are plant secondary
metabolites with a wide array of very important biological
activities (i.e., antifungal, insecticidal, allergenic, antitumoral,
etc.) on different biological systems [16-18]. It is reasonable
to suggest that for purposes of insect chemical protection,
the sesquiterpene lactones occurring naturally in plants
should be effective deterrents of predators.
We are currently conducting experiments to demonstrate
that arthropods that sequester and use sequiterpene lactones as
chemical defenses are capable of deterring more effectively
potential predators (i.e., birds, lizards, and other arthropods),
and parasites (i.e., wasps).
In summary, this is the first instance in which sesquiterpene
lactones are shown to be in the repertoire of plant chemicals
that are of defensive value to arthropods. Moreover, the
study of sequestration as presented by the tortoise beetles
should provide us with better insights into the evolution of
sequestration. Further study of tortoise beetles species within
the genus Physonota, its related genera, and their associations
with other plant species will shed light on the plant-insect
coevolutionary and adaptive aspects and the insect-predator
and insect-parasite relationships.
It is now necessary to evaluate the defensive value to the
insect of this new type of sequestered substance in order to
understand better the efficacy of its deterring activity.
Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank Dr. William S. Bowers and Dr.
Floyd G. Werner for their support and technical assistance.
The authors also wish to thank NIH grant TW000076-0751,
and Cornell Hatch funds for financial support.
References
1. Blum, M.S. Chemical Defenses of Arthropods. Academic Press,
London, 1981.
2. Duffey, S.S. Sequestration of Plant Natural Products by Insects.
Annual Review of Entomology 1980, 25, 447.
3. Rothschild, M. Secondary plant substances and warning colourations
in insects, In H.F. Van Emden (ed.). Insect / Plant
Relationships, Symp. R. Entomol. Soc. London 6, Blackwell Sci.,
Oxford, 1972. Pg. 59-83.
4. Schilknecht, H. Endeavour 1970, 30, 136.
5. Olmstead, K.L.; Denno, R.F. Ecology 1993, 74, 1394.
6. Gomez-Nelida, E.; Witte, L.; Hartmann, T. J. Chem. Ecol. 1999,
25, 1007.
7. Vencl, F.V.; Morton, T.C.; Mumma, R.O.; Schultz, J.C. J.
Chem. Ecol. 1999, 25, 549.
8. Sanderson, M.W. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 1948, XLI, 468.
9. Werner, F. Personal communication.
10. Yoshioka, H.; Mabry, T.J.; Timmermann, B.N. Sesquiterpene
Lactones. Chemistry, NMR and Plant Distribution. University of
Tokyo Press, Japan, 1973.
11. Picman, A.K.; Ranieri, R.L.; Towers, G.H.N.; Lam, J. J. Chrom.
1980, 189, 187.
12. Doskotch, R.W. and Hufford, C.D. J. Org. Chem. 1970, 35, 486.
13. Higo, A.; Hammam, Z.; Timmermann, B.N.; Yoshioka, H.; Lee,
J.; Mabry, T.J. Phytochemistry 1971, 10, 2241.
14. Romo, J.; Romo de Vivar, A.; Velez, A.; Urbina, E. Can. J.
Chem. 1968, 46, 1535.
15. Seaman, F.C. Bot. Rev. 1982, 48, 121.
16. Rodríguez, E.; Towers, G.H.N.; Mitchell, J.C. Phytochemistry
1976, 15, 1573.
17. Picman, A.K. Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 1986, 14, 255.
18. Robles, M., Aregullin, M., West, J., and Rodriguez, E. Planta
Medica 1995, 61, 199.
H
H
O
O
O
O
OH
O
(1 ) Damsin D a m sin (2) Damsinic acid acid

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 146-150
Investigación
Mechanism of Glutamate Neurochemistry: Electron Transfer
and Reactive Oxygen Species
Peter Kovacic 1 , Ratnasamy Somanathan 2* and Michelle Inzunza 1
1 Department of Chemistry, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-1030, USA.
2 Centro de Graduados e Investigación del Instituto Tecnológico de Tijuana, Apdo Postal 1166, 22000 Tijuana, B.C.
México. E-mail: somanatha@sundown.sdsu.edu
Recibido el 8 de abril del 2003; Aceptado el 3 de junio del 2003
Dedicated to Professor Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Abstract. Glutamate (Glu) undergoes metabolism to an imine derivative.
We propose involvement of the conjugated α-iminocarboxylic
acid in neurotoxicity and possibly in neurotransmission. Electrochemistry,
captodative effect and bioactivity of related cyclic α-imino
acids are relevant. There is also consistency with background literature
of Glu indicating participation of oxidative stress, reactive oxygen
species, and electron transfer. Alternatively, metal chelates of
Glu and Glu imine may play a role. Various analogs of Glu imine
were synthesized, namely, oxime and a cyclic model derived from
cyclization of the intermediate hydrazone.
Keywords: Glutamate, neurotransmission, toxicity, imine, electron
transfer, reactive oxygen species.
Resumen. El glutamato (Glu) se metaboliza a un derivado de imina.
Se propone la inclusión del ácido iminocarboxílico conjugado en la
neurotoxocidad y posiblemente en la neurotransmisión. La electroquímica,
el efecto captodativo y la bioactividad del los ácidos α-
imino-cíclicos son relevantes. Los hallazgos son consistentes con los
antecedentes de la literatura que indican la participación de Glu en el
estrés oxidativo, en la química de las especies reactivas de oxígeno, y
en la transferencia electrónica. Alternativamente, los quelatos metálicos
de Glu y de iminas Glu, juegan un papel importante. Varios análogos
de imina Glu fueron sintetizados, en particular la oxima, y un
modelo cíclico derivado de la ciclización de la hidrazona intermediaria.
Palabras clave: Glutamato, neurotransmisión, toxicidad, iminas,
transferencia electrónica, especies reactivas de oxígeno.
Introduction
During the last score of years extensive evidence has accumulated
in support of involvement of oxidative stress (OS) with
both endogenous and exogenous agents, including anti-infective
drugs [1], anticancer agents [2], carcinogens [3], reproductive
toxins [4], nephrotoxins [5], hepatotoxins [6], and various
others [7a].
The most common reactive oxygen species (ROS) are
superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, peroxyl radicals, and the
important hydroxyl radical, that are generated by electron
transfer (ET). ET functionalities comprise quinones (or precursors),
metal complexes (or chelators), aromatic nitro compounds
(or reduced products), and imines (or iminiums),
which on redox cycling with oxygen give rise to ROS. The
present article will focus on the conjugated imine category. In
some cases, ET occurs without oxygen participation. Very
many bioactive substances or their metabolites incorporate ET
groups. OS can produce beneficial results, as with drugs, or
unwanted side effects in toxicity. The mode of action is usually
complex and probably multifaceted in many instances.
This report deals with the mode of action of glutamate
(Glu), both in neurotransmission and in toxicity. We propose
that the α-imino metabolite may play a role as an ET agent in
these processes. Glu metabolism, generation of ROS and prior
literature on bioactivity of related α-iminocarboxylic acids
lend support to the thesis. Several synthetic analogs, both
acyclic and cyclic, of the α-imino metabolite were synthesized.
Metabolism
In relation to mechanism, Glu metabolism has attracted scant
attention even though metabolites often play an important role
in physiological activity. It is significant that Glu can serve as
substrate for an enzyme that effects conversion to the imine
derivative (1a), particularly since Glu dehydrogenase plays a
central role in amino acid deamination because in most
organisms Glu is the only amino acid that has an active dehydrogenase
[8].
The labile product (1a) can undergo several subsequent
conversions. Nucleophilic attack by a basic primary amino
O
OH
a.) R= H
1
NR
HO
b) R= Substituent
O

Mechanism of Glutamate Neurochemistry: Electron Transfer and Reactive Oxygen Species 147
entity, such as protein lysine, with elimination of ammonia,
gives rise to the more stable imine 1b possessing a substituent
on nitrogen. Alternatively, 1a could undergo hydrolysis to the
α-keto acid which also serves as precursor of (1b) by reaction
with pri-amine [8]. We will explore possible ramifications relative
to mode of action resulting from generation of conjugated
imine (1b). Several common routes are generally available
for imine and iminium synthesis in biological systems, including
oxidation of aliphatic amines and nonenzymatic condensation
of carbonyl compounds with the pri-amino moiety of
basic amino acids in protein. Hence, these transformations are
applicable to Glu, making for relevance to our report. Regarding
the iminium types, they can also be derived simply by
alkylation or protonation of imine.
Synthesis
Cyclic iminocarboxylates were synthesized from α-ketoglutaric
acid (2a), by condensing with hydrazine in methanol to
yield cyclic ester 2 which on hydrolysis gave the cyclic
iminocarboxylic acid (2c) in good yield. Similarly, acyclic
types were prepared by condensing 2a with hydroxylamine in
methanol to provide the corresponding methyl iminocarboxylate
2d and the carboxylic acid 2e, which were separated by
preparative thin layer chromatography (Scheme-1).
Neurotoxicity
Even before a decade ago, substantial data had built up pointing
to OS as a factor in neuropathology by excitory amino
acids, with Glu as the major effector [9].
O
OH
NH 2 NH 2 . HCl
CH 3 OH
O
OCH 3
2a
O
O
OH
O
NH 2 OH.HCl
CH 3 OH
N
OH
O
HO
O
Prominent evidence includes generation of ROS and subsequent
oxidative damage; radical scavengers and inhibitors
prevent neuronal degradation. Other suspected sources of OS
are nitric oxide, peroxynitrite, calcium, iron, and activated
ROS-generating enzymes.
Two broad mechanisms were offered to account for cell
vulnerability, based on OS and excessive activation of Glu
receptors. In one case, a sequential process pertains, whereas
the other, of particular interest, entails interaction of the two.
Four years later, increasing evidence supported the claim that
excitotoxicity and oxidative stress play important roles in
pathogenesis of both acute and chronic neurologic diseases
[10]. The view was reiterated that the two effects may cooperate
to induce neuronal degeneration. Hydroxyl radical levels
and the volume of lesions were attenuated by spin trapping,
pointing to radical scavenging. From our standpoint, the cooperative
effect consists of ET entailing the receptor bound
species. On the other hand, ET by imine might occur at another
site in keeping with the sequential scheme. The literature provides
little discussion of specific, detailed pathways for OS generation
from Glu, partly due to lack of working hypotheses. We
suggest that the α-imine metabolite may play a role in redox
cycling to produce ROS, at least in toxicity. This approach is in
harmony with various observations, “Although the activation of
Glu receptors is a key step in the sequence of events leading to
neuronal degeneration, it is by no means all that is necessary…
thus delayed neurotoxicity has been effectively dissociated
from neuronal excitation...” [9]. A goodly number of other
investigations document involvement of OS, of which several
will be cited, including generation of ROS [11-13], induction of
lipid peroxidation [13a], DNA fragmentation [13b] and protection
by antioxidants [13-15]. In addition, involving OS from
Glu imine in neurotoxocity represents yet another example in
the widespread documentation of ROS from conjugated imine
or iminium in toxic manifestations [3-7a].
R
H 2 N
3
N
O
M n+
O
n+
M
O
N
H
N
2b
OCH 3
2d
OCH 3
HO
O
O
O
O
N
H
2c
N
O
OH
O
OH
2e
N
OH
OH
O
Neurotransmission
4
Glu and related amino acids appear to be the major excitatory
neurotransmitters in the brain with involvement in 40 % of the
synapses [9]. The importance of Glu is reflected by its presence
in the CNS in relatively large quantities. An hypotheti-

148 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Peter Kovacic et al.
cal role for ET by Glu imine might also be invoked in this category.
Although ROS at high concentrations induce adverse
effects, OS at low levels may contribute in the transmission
process. By analogy, ROS have both beneficial and damaging
effects, depending on various factors, on sperm in the fertilization
process [16].
There is general consensus that neurotransmission occurs
by ionic pathways [17]. It should be recognized that ET is not
necessarily incompatible with polar processes. Movement of
negative electrons (ET) induces an electric field which could
affect the migration of negative and positive ions, e.g. Cl, Ca,
Na and K, in the vicinity. Electrons have been shown to migrate
over substantial distances [18]. Another analogy might comprise
movement of electrons in a conducting copper wire. The
ET framework may also be applicable to other neurotransmitters,
such as, nitric oxide [19] and catacholamines [7b].
Metal complexes
Another plausible scenario for ET by Glu involves the corresponding
metal complexes. This general class of ET agents is
omnipresent in the major drug and toxin categories [1-7].
There is the favorable feature generally of quite positive
reduction potentials which energetically favor ET in vivo.
Since the α-aminoacid moiety is a facile chelator, metal derivatives
(3) are well documented [20].
Similarly metal chelates (4) of the α-imino metabolites
should also be considered. Hence, it is conceivable that such
complexes 3 and 4 might participate in toxicity and/or transmission.
Possible involvement of cyclic analogs in physiological
activity is discussed in the subsequent section.
Cyclic α-iminocarboxylic acids
Prior literature contains various reports on participation of
these species in physiological activity from the ET viewpoint.
ß-Lactams inactivate bacterial cell wall enzyme by covalent
binding. Little attention has been given to the fact that a-
iminocarboxylic acids, e.g., 5 from cephalosporins, arise in
the process [21].
HO 2 C
In relation to bioactivity of ∆ 2 -thiazoline-2-carboxylate
(8), this compound in the category has been the object of most
attention [22]. Hypotheses have been advanced that it is an
intracellular messenger for insulin, and an effector of diverse
metabolic activities, such as diuretic response and cell growth
[23]. Also, it is a potent inhibitor of dopamine-ß-hydroxylase
[24], a metalloenzyme responsible for producing norepinephrine.
Compound 8 possessed electron affinity compatible with
ET in vivo [21]. Alternatively, all ligands (6-8) in this category
are expected to be avid chelators of metal ions in the biological
milieu, forming complexes of type (9). Cu and Fe
chelates with (6) and (8) exhibit quite positive reduction
potentials [22]. The role of ET-OS in eliciting a variety of
physiological responses from metal complexes is discussed
elsewhere [1-7a].
N
-O
N
8
HO 2 C
6 7
S
O
A related chelator is pyridine-2-carboxylic acid [25],
whose anticancer activity has been attributed to redox cycling
entailing OS by a derived metal complex [26].
Conformational Restriction and Bioactivity
The relatively high activities of kainic (10) [27] and domoic
(11) [28] acids in neurotransmission have been attributed to
conformational restriction [29] imposed by the cyclic structures.
Just how this property translates into improved activity
is unknown.
n +
N
M
N
O
9
S
O
EO
NHCOR
S
O
N
CO 2 H
5
Model compounds, such as 6 and 7, displayed favorable
reduction potentials, raising the possibility of ET participation
by 5 in vivo subsequent to site binding, both in toxicity and in
antibacterial action. The values increased with decreasing pH
in line with formation of conjugated iminium which conceivably
might be an actor in the physiological manifestations.
It is indicative that thiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid undergoes
dehydrogenation in vivo to the corresponding α-imino
acid (7) [22]. By analogy, 10 and 11 would be converted into
derivatives of 6 which has favorable properties for ET in biosystems.

Mechanism of Glutamate Neurochemistry: Electron Transfer and Reactive Oxygen Species 149
Although the synthetic counterpart (2c) fits into the cyclic
imino acid category, it is deficient in lacking an N-alkyl containing
substituent and a second carboxyl group.
The favorable influence shown by 10 and 11 may result
from assistance in coplanarity for the radical anion formed
from the proposed imine metabolite on electron uptake, thus
promoting resonance stabilization. There is widespread presence
of a γ-carboxyl group in the various neurotransmitters,
whose role has not been delineated, perhaps as a site binder.
In the acyclic structures, the γ-carboxyl may decrease adverse
steric interaction with the other carboxyl by association with
iminium nitrogen, as depicted in 12, but not as effectively as
for the covalent cyclic category.
Captodative effect
Various reports have shown that carbon radicals benefit from
enhanced stabilization when attached to both an electron withdrawing
and electron donating substituent [30]. As a result,
the combined influence is synergistic. Investigators predicted
that this effect would find application in vivo [30]. The following
examples can be cited: paraquat, flavins and quinones
[22]. The captodative radical formed from one- electron
reduction of α-iminium carboxylic acid is depicted in 13.
Future studies with model compounds 2c and 2e might
provide further insight into mechanistic aspects. The unifying
theme of ET and ROS in neurochemistry is further elaborated
in a review [31] dealing with nitric oxide, catecholamines, and
Glu.
Experimental
O
HN..
HO
.
12
δ+ δ-
O
H
R
+
H
O N
13
Synthesis of 1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-6-oxo-3-pyridazine carboxylic
acid methyl ester (2b). α-Ketoglutaric acid (1.61g,
11 mmol) and hydrazine dihydrochloride (1.16g, 11 mmol)
were stirred together in methanol at room temperature
overnight. Following removal of solvent under reduced pressure,
the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and
washed with water. After the organic phase was dried over
O
-
O
anhydrous sodium sulfate, removal of solvent gave a colorless
solid (1.37 g, 80 % yield). mp. 120-125 °C; IR (KBr) 3138,
2938, 1714, 1622, 1435, 1287, 1206, 1000 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR
(200 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 3.91( s, 3H), 2.86 ( t, 3H, J=8.0Hz), 2.60
(t, 3H, J=8.0Hz) ppm; EIMs: 156 (100 %), 124.
1,4,5,6-Tetrahydro-6-oxo-3-pyradazinecarboxylic acid
(2c). The above ester (2b) (0.5g) was hydrolyzed with 10 %
methanolic sodium hydroxide and neutralized with DOWEX
cation exchange resin to give the acid (2c) in quantitative
yield. mp. 194-196 °C; IR ( KBr) 3382, 1720; 1 H NMR ( 200
MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 10.85 (s, 1H), 2.84 (t, 2H, J= 8.0 Hz), 2.48 ( t,
2H, J=8 Hz) ppm. Prior synthesis: α-Ketoglutaric acid and
hydrazine [32,33], lit. [34] mp.194 °C for 2c.
Synthesis of 2-(Hydroxyimino)pentanedioic acid dimethyl
ester (2d) and 2-(Hydroxyimino)pentanedioic acid (2e)
[35]. α-Ketoglutaric acid (1.61 g, 11 mmol) and hydroxylamine
hydrochloride (0.77 g, 11 mmol) were dissolved in
methanol (20 mL) and stirred overnight at room temperature.
After solvent was removed under reduced pressure, the
residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and the organic
phase was washed with water. The organic phase was dried
over anhydrous sodium sulfate and removal of solvent gave a
viscous liquid which on triturating with diethyl ether gave a
crystalline solid (1.76g, 85 % yield). The crude solid was separated
on Chromatotron using dichloromethane: methanol (3
%) as eluting solvent to give (2d) and (2e) in 30 and 45 %
yields, respectively, which were characterized as follows:
2-(Hydroxyimino)pentanedioic acid dimethyl ester (2d).
[35]. Colorless solid (30 %); mp 113-115 °C; IR(KBr) 3382,
2956, 1733, 1442, 1127, 1035, 801 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (200 MHz,
CDCl 3 ) δ 3.70 (s, 3H ), 3.60 (s, 3H), 2.82 ( t, 2H, J= 8.0 Hz),
2.52 ( t, 2H, J= 8.0 Hz) ppm; 13 C (50 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ 172.92,
163.75, 150.87, 52.40, 51.58, 29,59, 20.03 ppm; MS (EI) 189,
156 (100 %).
2-(Hydroxyimino)pentanedioic acid (2e) [36]. Colorless
solid (45 %); mp. 152-153 °C; lit. [36] mp. 152 °C. IR (KBr)
3422, 1734, 1666, 1448, 1029, 635 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (200 MHz,
CDCl 3 ) δ 12.16 ( 2H), 2.83 (t, 3H J= 8.00 Hz), 2.52 ( t, 2H, J=
8.0 Hz) ppm.
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Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 151-154
Investigación
Cumarinas presentes en especies del género Casimiroa
Aída N. García-Argáez, 1 Nadia M. González-Lugo, 2 Carmen Márquez 2 y Mariano Martínez-Vázquez 2*
1 Departamento de Ecología y Recursos Naturales, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán 04510, México D. F.
2 Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria,
Coyoacán 04510, México D. F. Tel: +(52) 56224403; Fax: + (52) 56162203; E-mail: marvaz@servidor.unam.mx
Recibido el 21 de abril del 2003; aceptado el 13 de junio del 2003
Dedicado al Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Resumen. Los extractos orgánicos de hojas y semillas de Casimiroa
pubescens, C. edulis y C. calderoniae se analizaron mediante cromatografía
líquida de alta resolución; los resultados mostraron la
presencia de las cumarinas felopterina (6), isopimpinelina (9), heraclenol
(15) y heraclenina (16) en las tres especies estudiadas. En
promedio la mayor concentración de este tipo de metabolitos se presentó
en C. calderoniae. Estos resultados, además de los previamente
reportados en la literatura indican la presencia de 16 cumarinas en el
género. Aun cuando se ha postulado que las cumarinas aisladas del
género Casimiroa tienen como precursor común a la umbeliferona,
existe una clara diferencia entre las cumarinas sintetizadas por C.
greggii y al resto de las especies estudiadas. Así la seselina y el O-
geranil-ostenol, ambas provenientes de la umbeliferona prenilada en
C-8, son sintetizadas por C. greggii, mientras que las furanocumarinas
sintetizadas por las demás especies tienen como precursor a la
umbeliferona prenilada en C-6. El presente trabajo constituye el
primer estudio fitoquímico de C. pubescens y C. calderoniae.
Palabras clave: Casimiroa, cumarinas, Rutaceae, umbeliferona.
Abstract. Leaf and seeds extracts of Casimiroa pubescens, C. edulis
and C. calderoniae were analyzed by HPLC. The results showed that
coumarins phellopterin (6), isopimpinellin (9), heraclenol (15) and
heraclenin (16) were present in all species studied. Of all species, C.
calderoniae showed the highest concentration of this type of metabolites.
These results, in addition to those previously reported, indicate
that 16 different coumarins occur in the genus. Even though it has
been proposed that the umbelliferone is a common precursor in the
biogenesis of the Casimiroa coumarins, there is a clear difference
between the coumarins synthesized by C. greggii and those present in
the rest of the species. Thus, seselin and O-geranyl-osthenol, both
synthesized from an umbelliferone prenylated at C-8, are present in
C. greggii, while the coumarins present in the other species originate
from umbelliferone prenylated at C-6.
This is the first study of C. pubescens and C. calderoniae.
Keywords: Casimiroa, coumarins, Rutaceae, umbelliferone.
Introducción
Las cumarinas son probablemente los metabolitos más comunes
derivados de la ruta biosintética del shikimato-corismato
(1). En miembros de la familia Rutaceae se han encontrado
aproximadamente 200 cumarinas y las evidencias experimentales
han demostrado que éstas se sintetizan por las mismas
rutas biosintéticas observadas en otras familias de plantas,
donde la umbeliferona se considera el intermediario común
para la biosíntesis de cumarinas lineales y angulares (2).
El principal factor de diversificación estructural de las
cumarinas en las Rutaceae es la amplia incorporación de unidades
prenilo al núcleo cumarínico; en algunas especies de
esta familia se ha demostrado que la prenilación ocurre cuando
se ha formado la umbeliferona (1, 2). Las modificaciones
secundarias sobre los grupos prenilo, usualmente iniciadas por
epoxidación del doble enlace, contribuyen a esta diversificación
estructural de manera importante. La transformación del
doble enlace al diol respectivo en la cadena prenilada lateral,
teniendo al epóxido como intermediario, ha sido demostrada
con marcadores radioactivos (1).
Se ha postulado que las furano- y pirano-cumarinas se
forman biogenéticamente cuando al núcleo cumarínico se adiciona
un grupo prenilo y éste interacciona con un grupo ortofenólico,
de tal modo que se generan diferentes estructuras
con un anillo heterocíclico adicional. Con base a lo anterior se
ha propuesto que una prenilación en la posición 6 de la umbeliferona
da origen a las furanocumarinas lineales como el psoraleno,
mientras que una prenilación en la posición 8 da origen
a las furanocumarinas angulares como la angelicina (3).
Algunos autores argumentan que las pirano- y furanocumarinas,
tanto lineales como angulares, comparten caminos
biosintéticos y solo se diferencian en la etapa final de ciclización;
lo anterior se ha demostrado experimentalmente, utilizando
marcadores radioactivos, en la elucidación de la transformación
biogenética de la demetilsuberosina a psoraleno en
Ruta graveolens (3).
En el presente trabajo se dan a conocer los resultados del
análisis por cromatografía de líquidos de alta resolución, de
las cumarinas presentes en extractos de hojas y semillas de
Casimiroa pubescens, C. edulis y C. calderoniae. Adicionalmente
se comparan los resultados obtenidos, con los diferentes
tipos de cumarinas presentes en C. greggii.

152 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Aída N. García-Argáez et al.
Tabla 1. Cumarinas presentes en el género Casimiroa.
Compuestos
Especie
C. greggii C. pringlei C. edulis C. pubescens C. calderoniae
Seselina (1)
√
O-Geranil-ostenol (2)
√
8-Geraniloxipsoraleno (3) √ √
Bergapteno (4) √ √
Xantotoxol (5)
√
Felopterina (6) √ √ √ √
Cumarina 7
√
Cumarina 8
√
Isopimpinelina (9) √ √ √
Escopoletina (10)
√
Ester metílico de escopoletina (11)
√
5-Geranil-oxipsoraleno (12)
√
8-Geranil-5 metoxi-oxipsoraleno (13)
√
9-Hidroxi-4-metoxi-furano-(3,2,6) benzopiran-7-ona (14)
√
Heraclenol (15) √ √ √
Heraclenina (16) √ √ √
Resultados y discusión
Los resultados del análisis cromatográfico indicaron la presencia
de las cumarinas felopterina (6), isopimpinelina (9), heraclenol
(15) y heraclenina (16), tanto en hojas como en semillas
de las tres especies estudiadas (Tabla 1). La presencia de
estos compuestos se comprobó mediante procedimientos de
co-cromatografía. Sin embargo, no se detectó la presencia de
la seselina (1), cumarina previamente aislada de C. greggii
(5). El análisis de resultados para cada especie se presenta por
separado.
C. pubescens. El extracto de las hojas de esta especie mostró a
la heraclenina como la única y más abundante cumarina presente
en los cinco individuos estudiados; la felopterina se
detectó en cuatro individuos, mientras que la isopimpinelina
se encontró en dos individuos y el heraclenol solamente en
uno. La misma tendencia se observó en el análisis del extracto
de semillas.
Estos resultados indicaron que en esta etapa de crecimiento
de las plantas, y en este sitio de colecta, la especie acumula
y/o sintetiza preferentemente heraclenina y felopterina (Fig.
1).
C. edulis. El estudio del extracto de las hojas de esta especie
mostró una presencia abundante de las cuatro cumarinas de
referencia (6, 9, 15 y 16). Por otra parte, en el extracto de las
semillas, la presencia de las cuatro cumarinas fue escasa; la
única cumarina presente en todos los individuos fue la felopterina
mientras que el heraclenol solamente se detectó en un
solo individuo (Fig. 1).
C. calderoniae. Los resultados del análisis de esta especie
muestran un patrón similar al observado en C. pubescens, i.e.
la presencia de 6, 9, 15 y 16, tanto en frecuencia como en concentración,
es mayor en las hojas que en las semillas. Sin
embargo son notables las altas concentraciones de heraclenina
(20.9 mg / g) y de felopterina (23.8 mg / g) en el extracto de
hojas (Fig. 1).
Estos resultados combinados con los reportados previamente,
demuestran la presencia de 16 cumarinas en el género
(Tabla 1) (2, 5-10).
La presencia de 10 y 11 en el género se puede considerar
un hecho poco frecuente ya que solo la C. edulis sintetiza este
tipo de cumarinas.
La distribución del resto de las cumarinas en el género
indican claramente que difieren en el sitio de prenilación; en
C-8 en C. greggii como en 1 y en C-6 en C. edulis, C. pubescens,
C. pringlei y C. calderoniae, como en 3-9.
Conclusión
Los resultados de las tres especies estudiadas indican que la
presencia de 6, 9, 15 y 16, pero no de 1, previamente aislada
de C. greggii. No obstante existen diferencias notables en los
resultados de los análisis de hojas, así en C. pubescens y C.
calderoniae las cumarinas con mayor presencia fueron heraclenina
(16) y felopterina (6). Sin embargo, la concentración
de estas cumarinas fue del orden de cien veces más en C.
calderoniae que en C. pubescens.
Hasta el momento, las cumarinas aisladas del género Casimiroa
indican que tienen como precursor común a la umbeliferona,
propuesta biogenética que es general a la familia
Rutaceae (2). Sin embargo, tomando en cuenta nuestros resultados
y lo reportado hasta el momento, existe una clara diferencia
de la distribución entre las cumarinas sintetizadas por la
C. greggii y las especies C. edulis, C. pringlei, C. pubescens y
C. calderoniae.

Cumarinas presentes en especies del género Casimiroa 153
Esquema 1
Parte experimental
O O O Geranil O
O O
O
R 1
R
O
1
O
MeO
RO
10 R=H
11 R=Me
3 R = O-geranil R 1 = H
4 R = H R 1 = OMe
5 R = OH R 1 = H
6 R = isoprenil R 1 = OMe
7 R = 6,7-dihidroxi-3,7-dimetil-2-octenil R 1 = H
8 R = 4-acetoxi-3-metil-butil R 1 = H
9 R = R 1 = OMe
12 R = H R 1 = O-geranil
13 R = O-geranil R 1 = OMe
14 R = OH R 1 = OMe
15 R = O-(2,3-dihidroxi-3-metil)butil R 1 = H
16 R = O-(2,3-en-3-metil)butil R 1 = H
O
2
O
(15) y heraclenina (16), aislados previamente de Decatropis
bicolor (4). De cada cumarina se prepararon disoluciones en
acetato de etilo a concentraciones de 2.9, 2.6, 2.6, 2.7 y 3.6
mg / mL, respectivamente. Las soluciones estándar se utilizaron
para preparar cinco diluciones de cada cumarina en el
rango de 0.013 a 0.13 mg / mL. Las curvas de calibración se
prepararon inyectando, por triplicado, las diferentes diluciones
estándar. Los coeficientes de correlación (r 2 ) para cada gráfica
de cada cumarina se calcularon teniendo valores para r 2 mayores
a 0.997.
Obtención y análisis de los extractos hexánico y metanólico.
Hojas o semillas secas y molidas de cada individuo se
extrajeron tres veces con hexano, por maceración a temperatura
ambiente durante 24 h. Los extractos se combinaron y
después de evaporar el disolvente a presión reducida se obtuvo
el extracto hexánico. Este procedimiento se repitió utilizando
metanol para obtener el extracto metanólico correspondiente
a cada muestra. De cada extracto se prepararon disoluciones
de concentración conocida y se inyectaron en el cromatógrafo
de líquidos. Con el fin de identificar la presencia de
las cumarinas de referencia a las muestras analizadas se les
adicionaron cantidades conocidas de las soluciones estándar.
Para el procesamiento de los datos se empleó el software
Millenium (Waters), que calcula la cantidad de cada componente
presente en cada mililitro de disolución inyectada,
Se realizaron los análisis a cinco individuos de cada especie,
recolectados en el mismo sitio y en etapa de fructificación.
Las cumarinas 1, 6, 9, 15 y 16, utilizadas como metabolitos
secundarios de referencia, se aislaron previamente de Decatropis
bicolor (Rutaceae) (4).
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
mg/g de compuesto
mg/g de compuesto
Material biológico. Se colectaron cinco individuos de cada
especie, y los ejemplares de herbario se depositaron en el
Herbario de la Facultad de Ciencias de la Universidad Nacional
de México, (FCME). Casimiroa edulis se colectó en el
Mpio. de Comala, Colima, en julio de 2000 (Nos. de registro
del herbario 84847, 84849-84852). C. pubescens se colectó en
Ixmiquilpan, Hidalgo, en junio de 2000 (Nos. de registro
84835-84839), y C. calderoniae en la zona árida oaxaqueñopoblana,
Oaxaca, en octubre de 2000, (Nos. de registro 84876-
8480).
mg/g de compuesto
0.1
0.0
1.00
0.80
0.60
0.40
0.20
0.00
15
15
9 16
9 16
6
6
0.0
Casimiroa pubescens
C. edulis
mg/g de compuesto
1.50
1.00
0.50
0.00
15
15
9 16
9 16
6
6
Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Resolución. La cromatografía
líquida de alta resolución (CLAR) se efectuó en un cromatógrafo
de líquidos Waters modelo Delta PREP 4000,
equipado con detector UV modelo 486 que se mantuvo a una
longitud de onda de 310 nm. Se utiliizó 1 mL / min de flujo
del disolvente. Se utilizó MeOH / H 2 O 50/50 en gradiente
hasta MeOH / H 2 O 90/10 en 20 min. Para el procesamiento
de los datos se utilizó el software Millenium (Waters).
mg/g de compuesto
25.0
20.0
15.0
10.0
5.0
0.0
15
9 16 6 C. calderoniae
Hojas
mg/g de compuesto
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
15 9 16 6
Semillas
Estándares y curvas de calibración. Se utilizaron estándares
de seselina (1), felopterina (6), isopimpinelina (9), heraclenol
Fig. 1.
15 = heraclenol, 9= isopimpinelina, 16= heraclenina felopterina, 6= felopterina

154 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Aída N. García-Argáez et al.
tomando como base las curvas de calibración preparadas con
los estándares. La cantidad de cada cumarina presente en el
extracto hexánico se suma a la de la cumarina correspondiente
presente en el extracto metanólico y de esta manera se obtiene
el rendimiento de cada producto por gramo de planta seca.
Agradecimientos
Los autores agradecen el apoyo en el financiamiento parcial
del CONACyT (proyecto No. 34992-N) y la Beca de PASPA,
DGAPA para los estudios de doctorado de la M. en C. García-
Argáez.
Referencias
1. Dewick, P.M. Nat. Prod. Rep. 1994, 11, 173-203.
2. Gray, A. I.; Waterman, P.G. Phytochem. 1978, 17, 845-864.
3. Murray, R.; Méndez, J.; Brown, S. The Natural Coumarins, John
Wiley & Sons Ltd.; Norwich; 1982; 163-185.
4. García-Argáez, A. N.; Ramírez, A. T. O.; Parra, D. H.;
Velázquez, G.; Martínez-Vázquez, M. Planta Medica 2000, 66,
279-281.
5. Meyer, B. N., Wall, M.E., Wani, M.C., Taylor, H.L. J. Nat. Prod.
1985, 48, 952-956.
6. Castellanos, S. V. Tesis FES Zaragoza, UNAM, México, 1998.
124 pp.
7. Rizvi, S. H.; Kapil, R.S.; Shoe, A. J. Nat. Prod. 1985, 48, 146.
8. Iriarte, J.; Kincl, F.A.; Rosenkranz, G.; Sondheimer, F. J. Chem.
Soc. 1956, 4170-4173.
9. Kincl, F.; Romo, J.; Rosenkranz, G.; Sondheimer, F. J. Chem.
Soc., 1956, 4163-4169.
10. Enríquez, R. G.; Romero, M. L.; Escobar, L. I.; Joseph-Nathan,
P.; Reynolds, W. F. J. Chrom., 1984, 287, 209-214.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 155-159
Investigación
Preparación de materiales mesoporosos tipo Ti-MCM-41
y su uso en la apertura nucleófilica de epiclorhidrina con L-prolinol
Deyanira Ángeles Beltrán, 1 Ana Marisela Maubert Franco, 1 Leticia Lomas, 2
Victor Hugo Lara Corona, 2 Jorge Cárdenas 3 y Guillermo Negrón 1
1 Área de Química Aplicada. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Azcapotzalco, México 02200, D.F.
E-mail: gns@correo.azc.uam.mx
2 Departamento de Química. Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa, México 09340, D.F.
3 Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria,
Coyoacán 04510, México D. F.
Recibido el 7 de abril del 2003; aceptado el 23 de junio del 2003
En homenaje al Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Resumen. Materiales mesoporosos del tipo Ti-MCM-41 preparados
por tratamiento hidrotérmico, se caracterizaron por DRX, SEM, FT-
IR, Si 29 -RMN y análisis textural, fueron utilizados en la reacción de
apertura nucleofílica de epiclorhidrina con L-prolinol.
Palabras clave: Ti-MCM-41, tratamiento térmico, β-aminoalcoholes.
Abstract. Mesoporous materials Ti-MCM-41 were prepared by
hydrothermal treatment then characterized by DRX, SEM, FT-IR,
Si 29 -NMR and textural analysis to be used in a nucleophilic opening
reaction of epichlorydrine with L-prolinol.
Keywords: Ti-MCM-41, hydrothermal treatment, β-aminoalcohols.
Las características del MCM-41 (Mobil Composition of Matter-
41) así como los demás miembros de la familia M41S que
fueron sintetizados por primera vez en 1992 [1,2]. Pueden
clasificarse como materiales ordenados o semicristalinos, intermedio
en la clasificación de cristalinidad existente entre los
geles porosos y los silicatos laminares [3]. Particularmente el
MCM-41, posee canales unidimensionales en forma de panal de
abeja y una composición química modificable, mediante la adición
de cationes metálicos o variaciones en las condiciones de
síntesis. Una de las características más importante del MCM-41
es el tamaño de sus poros, los cuales pueden variarse, modificando
el surfactante que se utilice en su síntesis. En general los
MCM-41, pueden usarse para la adsorción de moléculas orgánicas
grandes, en separaciones cromatográficas, como anfitrión
para confinar moléculas huésped y arreglos atómicos, así como
también en catálisis de selectividad de forma [4]. La adición de
aluminio al MCM-41 silícico, ha permitido otorgarle acidez al
material, aunque siendo de naturaleza débil, tiene aplicación
catalítica en reacciones de síntesis química debido a su gran
área superficial [5]. Son variadas las técnicas de obtención del
MCM-41, ya que su morfología, propiedades y uso son función
de las condiciones experimentales de preparación [6].
La incorporación de titanio al MCM-41 convencional
estudiada desde 1993, ha generado importante información
sobre los efectos de dicho elemento en la red original del
material, demostrándose que el titanio se incorpora tetrahédricamente
en ésta, para constituir un catalizador útil en reacciones
de oxidación selectiva de moléculas orgánicas de gran
tamaño, hidroxilación de compuestos aromáticos [7], epoxidación
de olefinas [8], oxidación de sulfuros a sulfóxidos [9],
epoxidación de α-terpineol al epóxido correspondiente [10] y
oxidación de aminas, esta última reacción con interés por
parte de las industrias farmacéuticas [11].
La presencia de grupos Ti-OH en el Ti-MCM-41 permite
la adsorción de epóxidos, haciendo posible la apertura del
anillo oxiránico dando origen a dioles. Sobre estos antecedentes,
se consideró pertinente que estos materiales podrían ser
útiles en la obtención de pirrolidinas quirales, al usar como
materia prima un epóxido racémico barato, tal como la epiclorhidrina
y un nucleófilo quiral nitrogenado de cinco miembros
como el L-prolinol, seguida de una separación diastereoisomérica
de los productos pirrolidínicos. La obtención de pirrolidinas
ópticamente activas son de gran importancia, pues,
además de ser subunidades estructurales de substancias naturales
y sintéticas con actividad biológica, también pueden ser
utilizadas como catalizadores quirales en adiciones enantioselectivas
de dietilzinc a aldehídos [12].
Resultados y discusión
El patrón de difracción de rayos X del Ti-MCM-41 muestra
tres picos .que corresponden a los planos 100, 110 y 200 de la
estructura hexagonal del material característicos de los materiales
MCM-41 [13]. El primer pico, que usualmente se
encuentra en 2θ = 2.5, en el MCM-41 se observa desplazado
a la izquierda, comportamiento que se explica por la presencia
de titanio en la red del silicato mesoporoso. La distancia interplanar
calculada es de 38.65 Å (Fig. 1).
La gráfica de comparación de la función de distribución
radial de Ti-MCM-41 y un patrón de sílice nos demuestran
que el Titanio se encuentra dentro de la red (Fig. 2).

156 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Deyanira Ángeles Beltrán et al.
Fig. 1.
Tabla 1.
Longitud ideal Longitud por FDR Átomos vecinos
(Å)
(Å)
1.62 1.7 Si-O
2.65 2.55 O-O
3.24 3.10 Si-Si
3.90 Ti-Ti
4.10 4.05 Si-Si-O-O
4.90 Si-Ti
5.10 5.10 Si-Si
8.30 Ti-O
9.20 Ti-O
Fig. 2.
Tabla 2.
Oxígeno Silicio Titanio
57.25 41.49 1.24
60.09 37.79 2.11
58.11 39.93 1.92
65.03 33.55 1.41
O
Cl
H
N
OH
1 2 3 4 5
Esquema 1
N
OH
Cl
OH
N
O
OH
N
OH
O
O
OH
N
En la Tabla 1 se comparan los valores de longitud (Å)
entre átomos vecinos de los elementos componentes de la
muestra de Ti-MCM-41 (titanio, silicio y oxígeno) calculados
por función de distribución radial, FDR y los valores teóricos
de distancia entre vecinos de los mismos elementos en la
muestra de referencia de sílice.
Las distancias entre vecinos Si-O así como Si-Si, corresponden
a las teóricas, por lo que no se aprecia alteración en la
estructura de silicato del material mesoporoso con la adición de
titanio a la red. Además los valores de proximidad entre átomos
de Si y titanio son similares a los valores de referencia.
Mediante el análisis semicuantitativo por microscopía
electrónica de barrido, se calculó el porcentaje atómico de
titanio, silicio y oxígeno presentes en la muestra en distintos
puntos del analito. Se encontró una distribución promedio de
titanio igual a 1.67 en el material como se ilustra en la Tabla 2.
La muestra presenta un área superficial de 950 m 2 / g, con
una isoterma de adsorción-desorción de la forma IV de BET y
posee un ciclo de histéresis indicativo de la condensación
capilar, que ocurre frecuentemente en materiales clasificados
como mesoporosos [14] (Fig. 3).
La gráfica de distribución de tamaño de poro tiene tendencia
unimodal con diámetro de poros de 39.5255 Å y
0.9458 cc / g (Fig. 4).
Por análisis de RMN de Si 29 de sólidos se asignaron las
siguientes señales; una pequeña cercana a los –120 ppm asociada
con las uniones de enlace Si-Ti-O y un hombro en –110
ppm debido a interacciones [15] del tipo Q 4 como los Si(4Si),
otros más cercanos a –100 ppm de silicios Q 3 sobre sitios
Si(OSi) 3 OH (Fig. 5).
En el espectro de infrarrojo se observa un hombro en 957
cm –1 , que es atribuido al titanio incorporado a la red de los silicatos
mesoporos, la banda que aparece en 3746 cm –1 se relaciona
con los grupos silanol y las demás entre 1200 y 1300
cm –1 son vibraciones de enlace entre átomos de silicio y
oxígeno [16] (Fig. 6).
Al hacer reaccionar a temperatura ambiente dos milimoles
de epiclorhidrina (1) con dos milimoles de L-prolinol
(2), en presencia de 400 mg de Ti-MCM-41 calcinado, se
obtienen los productos 3, 4 y 5 con rendimientos del 84 %, 9
% y trazas, respectivamente. El primero es resultado de un
ataque nucleofílico del L-prolinol (2) sobre el oxiránico y el
segundo mediante una reacción intramolecular del producto 3
(Esquema 1).
La caracterización de los productos, así como los rendimientos
de la reacción fueron calculados de los crudos de
reacción usando la cromatografía de gases acoplado a un
detector de masas. En el espectro de masas del producto mayoritario
del cromatograma con tiempo de retención de 12.69
minutos se observan los iones moleculares a m/z 194 [M+1] +
que es también el pico base; 222 [M+29] + y 234 [M+41] + ;
todos estos iones con la contribución isotópica debida al cloro.
También se observan los iones a m/z 176 [M + -OH]; 158 [M + -
Cl] y 114 [M + -CHOH-CH 2 Cl] que corresponden con la
estructura (Espectro 1).

Preparación de materiales mesoporosos tipo Ti-MCM-41 y su uso en la apertura nucleofílica de epiclorhidrina con L-prolinol 157
Isoterma de adsorción-desorción de Nitrógeno muestra D19
-110ppm
Volumen adsorbido (cc/g)
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
0 0,2 0,4 0,6 0,8 1
Presión reducida, (P/Po)
-122ppm
Fig. 3.
Fig. 5.
100
98
96
94
92
90
1371.54
%Transmittance
88
86
84
82
80
78
3746.45
1708.21
1626.76
1235.79
957.84
816.20
76
74
72
UAMAZCAPOTZALCO
*D19
70
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
Wavenumbers (cm-1)
Fig. 4.
Fig. 6.
Abundance
Abundance
3500000
3000000
2500000
Scan 1553 (12.699 min): 110.D
194
N
OH
Cl
OH
260000
240000
220000
200000
180000
160000
Scan 710 (8.020 min): 110.D
140
158
N
O
OH
2000000
140000
1500000
158
176
120000
100000
1000000
500000
0
m/z-->
Espectro 1
114
222
234
70 84
140
102 126 206 250 262 278 292
60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240 260 280 300
70
80000
60000
84
40000
186
20000
102 114 198
126
0
170 223
267
212 281
241 255 297
240 260 300
60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 280
m/z-->
Espectro 2
El pico del cromatograma con tiempo de retención 8.02
min., presenta un espectro de masas con los iones moleculares
a m/z 158 [M+1] + ; 186 [M+29] + y 198 [M+41] + ; el pico base
se encuentra a m/z 140 [M-OH] + (Espectro 2).
El producto 5 podría resultar de la dimerización de 3 o 4
y la estructura que se propone se hace sobre la base de la existencia
de los iones moleculares a m/z 315 [M+1] + , siendo también
el pico base; 343 [M+29] + y 356 [M+41] + . El tiempo de
retención es de 17.72 min (Espectro 3).
Parte experimental
Para la preparación del material sólido catalítico se usó un
reactor Parr 4243. La caracterización de los sólidos se hizo
por difracción de rayos X de polvos, en un difractómetro
Siemens con radiación monocromática de CuK en un rango 2θ
= 0-10. Las determinaciones de adsorción-desorción de
nitrógeno, se llevaron a cabo en un equipo Micrometrics
ASAP 2000 a una temperatura de desgasificación de 400 °C.
El análisis semicuantitativo elemental se realizó con un microscopio
electrónico de barrido Leica-Zeiss LEO 440. Los

158 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Deyanira Ángeles Beltrán et al.
Abundance
50000
315
Scan 1124 (17.745 m in): 176.D
45000
40000
35000
OH
30000
25000
20000
299
N
O
O
N
15000
OH
10000
5000
0
343
355
283
242 269 329 357 373 389 415 429 445458 475 489 503516530 552565
240 260 280 300 320 340 360 380 400 420 440 460 480 500 520 540
Espectro 3
m /z-->
espectros de infrarrojo se realizaron en un instrumento Magna
Nicolet Spectrometer modelo 750 por la técnica de reflectancia
difusa de polvo.
Los productos de reacción de apertura nucleofílica de la
epiclorhidrina fueron analizados en un cromatografo de gases
con detector de masas, en el modo de ionización química, HP
5890 Serie II Plus con columna HP 5 de 60 m × 0.25 µm ×
0.25 mm con detector de masas HP modelo 5973.
Preparación del Ti-MCM-41
A una solución acuosa de bromuro de cetiltrimetilamonio, agitanda
vigorosamente, se agregó etilamina e hidróxido de
tetrametilamonio al 10 %. Posteriormente se adicionó tetracloruro
de titanio y tetraetilortosilicato. El gel obtenido
(TEOS:0.2CTMABr:0.02Ti:0.6EA:0.20TMAOH:150H 2 O) se
trató a 140 °C bajo presión autógena en un reactor de acero
inoxidable con recubrimiento de teflón por 68 h. Una vez terminado
el tratamiento hidrotérmico, se recuperó por filtración
el sólido obtenido y se lavó con suficiente agua desionizada
para eliminar el exceso de surfactante. Se secó a temperatura
ambiente y se calcinó a 600 °C por 7 h en flujo moderado de
aire cromatográfico, obteniéndose un sólido blanco.
Reacción de apertura nucleofílica de la epiclorhidrina
con L-prolinol
(0.156 mL, 2 mmol) de epiclorhidrina y (0.196 mL), 2 mmol
de (S)-(+)-pirrolidinametanol, se hicieron reaccionar en presencia
de 400 mg de TiMCM-41 a temperatura ambiente, bajo
atmósfera de nitrógeno, en 3 mL de acetonitrilo recién destilado,
en un matraz de 50 mL durante 8 h, tiempo en el que se
logra la máxima conversión El crudo de reacción se evaporó a
sequedad bajo presión reducida y se analizó en un cromatógrafo
de gases con detector de masas.
Conclusiones
Se prepararon materiales mesoporosos tipo Ti-MCM-41 usando
la técnica de hidrólisis de sales de Titanio por tratamiento
hidrotérmico. Mediante su caracterización se demostró la
presencia de titanio incorporado a la red del silicato mesoporoso,
sin que se vieran afectadas sus propiedades de superficie,
es decir, se obtuvo un material con amplios poros de
tamaño regular y gran área superficial con la incorporación de
titanio en su estructura. Se discutió la dispersión del metal en
el material mesoporoso y se comprobó su interacción con los
átomos de silicio y oxígeno presentes en la red inicial.
Se utilizó el catalizador preparado en la apertura nucleofílica
de la epiclorhidrina, notándose la influencia positiva del
uso del material Ti-MCM-41 en la formación de un β-aminoalcohol
clorado 3 como producto principal de la reacción, el
cual se transforma al epóxido 4 en el seno de la reacción.
Tanto 3 como 4 pueden dar origen al sistema cíclico 5.
Agradecimientos
Al CONACyT por el apoyo financiero mediante el proyecto
no. 33366-E. A la M. en C. María Isabel Chávez por los espectros
de RMN de sólidos.
Referencias
1. Beck, J.S.; Vartulli, J.C.; Roth, W.J.; Leonowicz, M.E.;
Kresge,C.I.; Schimitt, K.D.; Chu, C. T. W.; Olson, D. H.;
Sheppard, E. W.; McCullen, S. B.; Higgins J.B.; J. L. Schlenker.
J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1992 114, 10834-10843.
2. Tuel. A. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials 1999, 27, 151-
169.
3. Corma, A.; Iglesias, M.; Sánchez, F. Catalysis Letters 1996, 39,
153.

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5. Zholobenko, V.L.; Plant, D.; Evans, A.J.; Holms, S.M.
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6. Corma and D. Kumar. Mesoporous Molecular Sieves 1998. Studies
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7. He, J.; Xu, W.; Evans, D.G.; Duan, X.; Li, C. Microporous and
Mesoporous Materials 2001, 44-45, 581-586.
8. Laha, S.C.; Kumar, R. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials
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9. Corma, A.; Domine, M.; Gaona, J.A.; Jordá, J.L.; Navarro, M.T.;
Rey, F.; Pérez-Pariente, J.; Tsuji, J.; McCulloch, B.; Nemeth,
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10. Blasco, T.; Corma, A.; Navarro, M.T.; Pérez, P. Journal of
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12. Soai, K.; Konishi, T.; Shibata, T. Heterocycles, 1998, 51, 6.
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Applied Catalysis 1999, 181, 39-49.
14. Thieme, M.; Schüth, F. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials
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16. Bhaumik, A.; Tatsumi, T. Journal of Catalysis 2000, 189, 31-39.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 160-166
Investigación
New Eremophilanoids from the Roots of Psacalium radulifolium.
Hypoglycemic, Antihyperglycemic and Anti-Oxidant Evaluations
María Luisa Garduño-Ramírez 1 and Guillermo Delgado 2,*
1 Centro de Investigaciones Químicas de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Avenida Universidad 1001,
Chamilpa 62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
2 Instituto de Química de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria,
Coyoacán 04510, México, D.F. E-mail: delgado@servidor.unam.mx
Recibido el 21 de abril del 2003; aceptado el 23 de junio del 2003
Dedicated to Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Abstract. The investigation of the chemical constituents from the
roots of Psacalium radulifolium (Compositae), a member of the
matarique complex of medicinal plants, resulted in the isolation of
four additional new eremophilanoids: radulifolin D, radulifolin E
(ketodecompostin), radulifolin F (3β-hydroxy-cacalone-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside)
and epi-radulifolin F (3β-hydroxy-6-epi-cacalone-3-Oβ-D-glucopyranoside),
together with the known compounds maturinone,
acetylmaturine, dimaturine, triacontanol, hydroxycacalolide,
epi-hydroxycacalolide, β-sitosteryl-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, β-Dglucopyranose
and saccharose. The methanol extract from the roots
of this species displayed hypoglycemic activity, but cacalol, cacalone,
epi-cacalone, O-methyl-1,2-dehydrocacalol and decompostin
did not exhibit activity. The antihyperglycemic evaluation of the
extract demontrated that it was inactive. Some isolated compounds
were also tested for antioxidant activity, and cacalol was found to be
active.
Keywords: Psacalium radulifolium, Compositae, matarique, radulifolin
D, radulifolin E, radulifolin F, epi-radulifolin F, eremophilanoids,
hypoglycemic activity, antihyperglycemic activity, anti-oxidant
activity.
Resumen. La investigación de los constituyentes químicos de las
raíces de Psacalium radulifolium (Compositae), una especie
perteneciente al complejo matarique de plantas medicinales, resultó
en el aislamiento de cuatro nuevos eremofilanoides: radulifolina D,
radulifolin E (cetodecompostina), radulifolina F (3-O-β-D-glucopiranósido
de 3β-hidroxicacalona) y epi-radulifolina F (3-O-β-D-glucopiranósido
de 3β-hidroxi-6-epi-cacalona), junto con las substancias
conocidas maturinona, acetil maturina, dimaturina, triacontanol,
hidroxicacalólida, epi-hidroxicacalólida y 3-O-β-D-glucopiranósido
de β-sitosterilo, β-D-glucopiranosa y sacarosa. El extracto metanólico
de las raices de esta especie mostró actividad hipoglucémica, pero
cacalol, cacalona, epi-cacalona, el éter metílico de 1,2-deshidrocacalol
y la decompostina no mostraron actividad. La evaluación
antihiperglucémica del extracto demostró su inactividad. La actividad
anti-oxidante fue ensayada para algunas substancias, y se encontró
que el cacalol es activo.
Palabras clave: Psacalium radulifolium, Compositae, matarique,
radulifolina D, radulifolina E, radulifolina F, epi-radulifolina F, eremofilanoides,
actividad hipoglicémica, actividad antihiperglicémica,
actividad anti-oxidante.
Matarique is the common name for a group of plants used in
Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes,
kidney pains, infections, and general body pains, among other
ailments [1-4]. This group includes Psacalium decompositum,
P. palmeri, P. peltatum, P. sinuatum, and A. thurberi.
Psacalium belongs to the Tussilaginoid genera of the
Senecioneae (Compositae), and includes ca. 40 species which
are located chiefly in Mexico [5]. The structures and chemistry
of the secondary metabolites isolated from P. decompositum
(syn: Cacalia decomposita) have been the subject of several
investigations [6], and the synthesis of the main constituents,
cacalol (1), cacalone (2) and structural analogs have
been achieved [7]. Cacalol (1) has been found as the bioactive
constituent in anti-microbial [8], antioxidant [9], allelopatic
and phytopathogenic assays [10]. The hypoglycemic activity
of extracts of P. decompositum and P. peltatum in mice have
been evaluated [11,12], and the antihyperglycemic activity of
aqueous extracts and some constituents from P. decompositum
using diabetic mice have been determined [13].
P. radulifolium is considered a substitute for the preferred
P. decompositum in the matarique complex of medicinal
plants, and previous examination of the less polar constituents
of the roots of this species allowed the isolation of 1, 2, epicacalone
(3), radulifolin A (4), epi-radulifolin A (5), radulifolin
B (6), radulifolin C (7), O-methyl-1,2-dehydrocacalol
(8), adenostin A (9), decompostin (10) and neoadenostylone
(11), from which 1 displayed major antimicrobial activity
[14]. Here we report the hypoglycemic and antihyperglycemic
evaluations of the methanol extract of the roots of P. radulifolium,
and the isolation of the polar constituents, which
resulted in the characterization of four new metabolites: radulifolin
D (12), radulifolin E (ketodecompostin, 13), radulifolin
F (3β-hydroxy-cacalone-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, 14) and
epi-radulifolin F (3β-hydroxy-6-epi-cacalone-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,
15), together with the known compounds
maturinone (16), acetylmaturine (17), triacontanol, dimaturine
(18), hydroxycacalolide (19), epi-hydroxy-cacalolide (20), β-
sitosteryl-β-D-glucopyranoside, β-D-glucopyranose and sac-

New Eremophilanoids from the Roots of Psacalium radulifolium. Hypoglycemic, antihyperglycemic and anti-oxidant evaluations 161
charose. The anti-oxidant activity of some isolated compounds
is also reported.
Results and discussion
Compound (12) was isolated as a yellow solid, and its
HREIMS established the molecular formula C 15 H 14 O 4 . UV
spectrum showed bands of a conjugated ketone at lmax 336,
277, 245, and 207 nm, and the IR spectrum revealed the presence
of hydroxyl group (3583 cm –1 ), conjugated carbonyl
(1664 cm –1 ) and multiple carbon-carbon bonds (1585, 1463
cm –1 ). The 1 H NMR spectrum (Table 1) showed considerable
similarity with that of radulifolin C (7), a compound previously
isolated from this species [14], establishing a close structural
relationship. The most significant difference was the
downfield shift and multiplicity of H-14 (δ 1.85), which
appeared as a singlet, in comparison with the chemical shift of
the same protons of radulifolin C (δ 1.43), which resonated as
a doublet, indicating the presence of a hydroxyl at C-6 in 12,
in agreement with the molecular formula. 13 C NMR data
showed the expected chemical shifts, and the assignments
were corroborated by HMQC and HMBC experiments.
Therefore this substance was 6-hydroxy-radulifolin C, and
named radulifolin D (12). The 3-O-methyl derivative of 12
has been characterized from a chemical analysis of Cacalia
hastata L. var. tanakae [15], but it was considered as an artifact
due to the lack of optical activity. Radulifolin D (12) is
dextrorotatory, while radulifolin C (7) is levorotatory.
Considering that the twisting of the A/C rings is in the opposite
direction to the pseudo-axial methyl group at C-6 (to
avoid interactions with the methyls at C-13 and C-15), the
hydroxyl group at C-6 of radulifolin D could be tentatively
proposed with the β- configuration (12), to explain the opposite
specific rotation to that observed for radulifolin C (7).
Radulifolin E (13) was isolated as a UV active solid (λ max
320, 280, 257 nm), with a molecular formula C 17 H 18 O 5 established
from EIMS and NMR data. The IR spectrum contained
bands at 1740 and 1668 cm –1 consistent with the presence
of an acetate and an α,β-unsaturated ketone, respectively.
The 13 C NMR spectrum (Table 2) showed 17 signals (four
methyls, one methylene, four methines and eight quaternary
carbons, including three carbonyls), and the chemical shifts
and multiplicity observed in the 1 H NMR spectrum (Table 1)
could be accounted by the furanoeremophilane skeleton with
an acetate at C-6 similar to that of decompostin (10). The
major difference between radulifolin E (13) and decompostin
was the downfield chemical shift for H-1, due to the presence
of a ketone at C-2. Therefore, radulifolin E (13) was established
as 2-ketodecompostin, previously obtained as a derivative
of decompostin via bromination (NBS) and oxidation
(AgNO 3 ) [6d]. 1 H and 13 C NMR assignments (Tables 1 and 2)
were confirmed by HMQC and HMBC experiments.
The FABMS, 1 H and 13 C NMR data for compounds 14
and 15 were consistent with the molecular formula C 21 H 28 O 9 .
An intense IR band at ca. 3400 cm –1 for both compounds suggested
the presence of several hydroxyl groups, and bands at
ca. 1660 cm –1 were ascribed to α,β-unsaturated carbonyl
groups. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra (Tables 1 and 2) indicated the
presence of a β-D-glucopyranose fragment and a cacalone
aglycon. The anomeric hydrogen of 14 was observed at δ 4.42
and the analysis of the COSY spectrum determined the sequen-
OH
1
4
15 14
O
12
13
O
R 1 R 2
O
OH
OH
R 1
R 2
O O
1 Cacalol
R 1 R 2
2 CH 3 OH Cacalone
3 OH CH 3 Epi-cacalone
R 1 R 2
4 CH 3 OH Radulifolin A
5 OH CH 3 Epi-radulifolin A
OCH 3
O
OH
O
HO
O
O
O
OCH 3
OH
O
OH
O
R 1 R 2
O
O
R
10 Ac Decompostin
11 Ang Neoadenostylone
6 Radulifolin B
R 1 R 2
7 CH 3 H Radulifolin C
12 OH CH 3 Radulifolin D
8 O-Methyl-1,2-
dehydrocacalol
9 Adenostin
OAc

162 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) María Luisa Garduño-Ramírez and Guillermo Delgado
Table 1. 1 H NMR (500 MHz) Chemical Shift Assignments for Compounds 12-15.
H 12 a 13 b 14 c 15 c
1 8.05 d (8) 6.83 s 2.39 m 2.38 dd (3)
2a 6.95 d (8) 1.99 m 2.0 m
2b 1.87 m 1.79 m
3a 2.41 d (11) 4.03 ddd (3,3,3) 4.03 ddd (3,3,3)
3b 2.38 dd (11, 5)
4 2.54 qd (7, 5) 3.37 dq (7, 3) 3.02 qd (7,3)
6 6.43 s
12 7.43 q (1.5) 7.53 q (1) 7.52 q (1) 7.50 q (1)
13 2.31 d (1.5) 1.97 d (1) 2.21 d (1) 2.21 (1)
14α 1.85 s 1.31 s 1.63 s 1.60 s
14β
15 2.65 s 1.08 d (7) 1.21 d (7) 1.22 d (7)
OCOCH 3
2.25 s
1’ 4.42 d (8) 4.44 d (8)
2’ 3.01 dd (8, 8) 3.07 dd (9,8)
3’ 3.31 dd (9,8) 3.37 dd (9,9)
4’ 3.17 dd (9,9) 3.29 dd (9,9)
5’ 3.32 m 3.31 m
6’a 3.52 m 3.65 m
6’b 3.78 m 3.84 m
-OH 4.13 br s 4.18 br s
4.39 br s 4.26 br s
4.51 br s
a Recorded in CDCl 3 + DMSO. b Recorded in CDCl 3 . c Recorded in CD 3 COCD 3 . J values (in Hz).
Table 2. 13 C NMR Chemical Shifts Assignments for Compounds 12-15.
Position 12 a 13 b 14 c 15 c
C-1 126.45 (d) 129.715 (d) 18.36 (t) 18.44 (t)
C-2 114.30 (d) 198.11 (s) 20.88 (t) 20.40 (t)
C-3 161.03 (s) 43.26 (t) 79.15 (d) 77.34 (d)
C-4 124.28 (s) 38.43 (d) 33.88 (d) 36.00 (d)
C-5 148.14 (s) 47.53 (s) 158.81 (s) 161.18 (s)
C-6 71.216 (s) 72.63 (d) 70.70 (s) 72.43 (s)
C-7 142.82 (s) 137.065 (s) 142.34 (s) 142.53 (s)
C-8 144.345 (s) 146.415 (s) 146.09 (s) 146.07 (s)
C-9 172.99 (s) 173.45 (s) 174.88 (s) 175.05 (s)
C-10 123.65 (s) 156.35 (d) 131.02 (s) 129.94 (s)
C-11 120.90 (s) 121.59 (d) 121.52 (s) 121.40 (s)
C-12 145.08 (d) 147.76 (s) 145.14 (d) 144.83 (d)
C-13 8.956 (q) 8.446 (q) 9.01 (q) 8.86 (q)
C-14 27.46 (q) 14.38 (q) 27.39 (q) 28.15 (q)
C-15 13.44 (q) 16.904 (q) 20.32 (q) 20.89 (q)
OCOCH 3
21.271 (q)
OCOCH 3
170.374 (s)
C-1’ 102.71 (d) 102.24 (d)
C-2’ 74.78 (d) 74.91 (d)
C-3’ 77.65 (d) 77.87 (d)
C-4’ 71.64 (d) 71.83 (d)
C-5’ 77.65 (d) 77.40 (d)
C-6’ 62.97 (t) 63.08 (t)
a Recorded at 125 MHz in CDCl 3 + DMSO. b Recorded at 75 MHz in CDCl 3 .
c Recorded at 125 MHz in CD 3 COCD 3 at 25 °C. Multiplicity (in parenthesis) deduced by DEPT.

New Eremophilanoids from the Roots of Psacalium radulifolium. Hypoglycemic, antihyperglycemic and anti-oxidant evaluations 163
O
HO
OCH 3
CH=O
O
OAc
13 Radulifolin E
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
HO
HO
OCH 3
O
OH
O
tial vecinity for the carbinolic hydrogens of the β-D-glucopyranose
(δ 3.78 – δ 3.01), which correlated with the corresponding
signals at δ 74.78 (C-2’), 77.65 (C-3’), 71.64 (C-4’), 77.60 (C-
5’), 62.97 (C-6’) in the HMQC spectrum. The crosspeaks in
the HMBC spectrum between H-3 (δ 4.03) and H-2’ (δ 3.01)
with C-1’ (δ 102.71) confirmed that the glucopyranose was
bound to C-3 of the modifoed eremophilane. NOESY interactions
between H-1’ and H-3, and between H-3 and H-4, confirmed
the stereochemical assignments. Similar crosspeaks
were observed for 15, and therefore, the difference between the
two substances was in the aglycon fragment. The stereochemistry
at C-6 was deduced by comparing the 1 H NMR data of 14
and 15 with those of 2 and 3 [7d]. Specifically, the downfield
shift of H-4 in 14 (δ 3.37) with respect to that of H-4 in 15 (δ
3.18) was in agreement with the α- and β- orientation of the
hydroxyl groups, respectively [16].
The methanol extract obtained directly from the roots of
P. radulifolium was evaluated as hypoglucemic agent in normoglycemic
rats, following the standard procedures [17], and
the results are shown in Table 3. This residue showed significant
decrease of blood glucose concentration (p < 0.05) at 7 h
using several doses (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg), without returning
to the basal blood glucose level. The effect of the hypoglycemic
model drug is also included (glybenclamide, 10
mg/kg). Cacalol (1), The mixture of 2 + 3, O-methyl-1,2-
dehydrocacalol (8), and decompostin (10) did not display significant
hypoglycemic activity at doses of 3.1, 10 and 31
mg/kg.
The antihyperglycemic effect of the methanol extract was
also tested at the same doses using male diabetic Wistar rats,
OH
O
O
R 1 R 2
R 1 R 2
14 CH 3 OH Radulifolin F
15 OH CH 3 Epi-radulifolin F
OCH 3
CH=O
16 Maturinone 17 Acetylmaturine
18 Dimaturine
OH
O
O
O
R 1
R 2
O
OAc
R 1 R 2
19 CH 3 OH Hydroxycacalolide
20 OH CH 3 Epi-hydroxycacalolide
diabetized via streptozotocin injection, following the standard
procedures. The results obtained indicated that this residue did
noy display significant antihyperglycemic effect in comparison
with the model drug.
It has been proposed that the anti-oxidant activity may
play a role in the antihyperglycemic and hipoglycemic activities
[18], and some reactive oxygen species (superoxide anion,
hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl fee radical) are involved in
the physiology of several diseases, including diabetes [19].
Therefore, the antioxidant activity of some isolated compounds
(cacalol (1), the mixture of cacalone and epi cacalone
(2 + 3), radulifolin C (7), neoadenostylone (11), radulifolin D
(12) and radulifolin F (14)) was evaluated via the interaction
with the stable free radical DPPH, following the procedures
described in the experimental section. The results are included
in Table 4, and they showed that only cacalol (1) exhibited
significant activity, in agreement with previous reports [20].
It is interesting to note that some pure secondary metabolites
did not display hypoglicemic effect, while the activity the
methanolic extract of the roots of P. radulifolium was evident.
Although the mechanism of action of the eremophilanes, modified
eremophilanes or other natural products [21] in changing
the blood glucose levels remains unknown, the described
results suggest that there is some correlation with the ethnomedical
use of the plant as antidiabetic agent. However, this
plant, as all the plants used in traditional medicine, should not
be used until safety studies are completed.
Experimental Section
General Experimental Procedures. Melting points are
uncorrected. The 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra were recorded on a
Varian Unity Plus-500 instrument, and the chemical shifts are
expressed in parts per million (δ) relative to tetramethylsilane.
Infrared spectra were recorded with a Nicolet Magna IR TM
750 and Perkin Elmer 283B instruments. MS data were
recorded with a JEOL JMS-AX 505 HA mass spectrometer.
Electron impact mass spectra were obtained at 70 eV ionization
energy. Vacuum chromatography was performed on
Merck Kieselgel 60 (0.040-0.863 mm). TLC analyses were
performed on TLC plates with Si gel 60 F 254 (Merck) or ALU-
GRAM ® SIL G/UV 254 silica gel plates. The compounds were
detected by their absorbance under UV 254 and UV 366 , or with
a charring solution (12 g of ceric ammonium sulfate dihydrate,
22.2 mL of concentrated H 2 SO 4 and 350 g of ice).
Solvents were distilled prior to use.
Plant material. The roots of P. radulifolium (HBK) H. Rob.
& Brettell were collected in San Luis Potosí in 1995. Plant
material was identified by Dr. Robert Bye and M. Sc.
Edelmira Linares from the Instituto de Biología de la UNAM.
The voucher Bye & Linares 20028 was deposited in the
Ethnobotanical Collection, and the voucher Bye & Linares
20149 was deposited in the National Herbarium, of the
Instituto de Biología de la UNAM.

164 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) María Luisa Garduño-Ramírez and Guillermo Delgado
Table 3. Hypoglycemic Effect (Variation of Percentage Values) of the Methanol Extract
of the Roots of P. radulifolium (Oral administration).
Glybenclamide a Doses (extract)
Time (h) 10 mg/kg 30 mg/kg 100 mg/kg 300 mg/kg
1.5 –15.68 ± 3.66* –0.56 ± 5.87 –3.11 ± 3.91 –0.39 ± 4.66
3 –31.56 ± 7.75* –3.95 ± 6.52 0.16 ± 7.19 0.03 ± 4.75
5 –35.79 ± 6.74* –12.74 ± 2.97 –10.10 ± 5.70 –11.80 ± 3.43
7 –35.75 ± 4.33* –21.70 ± 1.77* –12.92 ± 8.51 –21.66 ± 3.09*
a Glibenclamide was used as positive control. *Significative values (p < 0.05).
The values represent the mean ± standard deviations from five independent experiments.
The negative value (–) indicates a decrease in glucemia.
Extraction and isolation. Previously we reported preparation
of the n-hexane, CH 2 Cl 2 -EtOH (3:2) and MeOH extracts from
the roots of this species, and the chemical analysis of the less
polar residue [14]. The CH 2 Cl 2 -EtOH (3:2) extract (10 g) was
loaded onto a column chromatography which was developed
under reduced pressure using a gradient of n-hexane-EtOAc
as elution system, to afford seven main fractions (named H to
N). Fractions H and I were combined (31.2 mg), and this mixture
was applied to a preparative TLC which was eluted with
n-hexane-EtOAc (20:1), to yield maturinone [6b] (16, 5.6
mg), acetylmaturine [22] (17, 1.7 mg), and triacontanol (9
mg). Column rechromatography over silica gel of fraction J
(350 mg) using n-hexane-EtOAc gradient as elution system
afforded dimaturine [23] (18, 2.6 mg). Fractions K (15 mg)
and L (1.3 g) were combined and subjected to Si-gel column
chromatography using n-hexane-EtOAc (4:1) as elution system,
affording decompostine [6d] (10, 896.5 mg). Fraction M
(3.135 g) was chromatographed over Si gel using n-hexane-
EtOAc gradient, to give several fractions. Some of these fractions
were purified by column chromatography on Si gel using
n-hexane-EtOAc gradient, leading to a mixture hydroxycacalolide
[13a] (19) and epi-hydroxycacalolide [13a] (20, 3.3
mg), cacalone (2) and 6-epi-cacalone (3, 20 mg), radulifolin C
[14] (7, 2.7 mg), radulifolin D (12, 7.1 mg), radulifolin E
(ketodecompostine, 13, 2.2 mg). Column chromatography
over Si gel of fraction N (2.56 g) using n-hexane-EtOAc as
gradient elution system yielded β-sitosteryl 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,
14, 8.9 mg, radulifolin F (3-β-hydroxycacalone-3β-
O-D-glucopyranoside, 14, 13.2 mg) and epi-radulifolin F (3-
β-hydroxy-6-epi-cacalone-3β-O-D-glucopyranoside, 15, 26.3
mg) and β-D-glucopyranose. From the polar fractions of the
metanolic extract (fractions Ñ to S) were identified O-methyl-
1,2-dehydrocacalol [6e] (8), cacalol (1), decompostin (10), β-
sitosterol, stigmasterol, cacalone (2) and 6-epi-cacalone (3),
saccharose and β-D-glucopyranose.
Radulifolin D (12). 7.1 mg, yellow solid mp 122-124 °C, Rf:
0.226 (7:3 hex-AcOEt), mp 122-124 ºC, [α] D = + 30.0 (c 0.05,
MeOH); UV λ max (log ε) 207 (4.50), 245 (4.20), 277 (4.00),
336 (4.00); IR (CHCl 3 , cm –1 ): 3583, 3268, 2928, 2854, 1762,
1664, 1585, 1463, 1419, 1354, 1288, 1156, 1113, 996, 996,
918; 1 H and 13 C NMR data, see Tables 1 and 2; EIMS:
C 15 H 14 O 4 , 258 [M + ] (26), 243 (100), 240 (7), 215 (10), 201
(3), 187 (3), 85 (3), 157 (3), 135 (6), 128 (6), 115 (8), 109
(11), 91 (3), 77 (6), 55 (3), 43 (6).
Radulifolin E (ketodecompostin, 13). 4.4 mg, yellow solid
mp 222-225 °C (lit. [6d] 220-221 °C), Rf: 0.413 (3:2 hex-
AcOEt); Mp. 222-225 ºC; UV λ max (log ε): 319.5 (3.95);
280.5 (3.58); 257 (3.71); 240.5 (3.65); 232 (3.66); 224.5
(3.65); 205.5 (3.72).; IR (CHCl 3 , cm –1 ): 3037, 2971, 2940,
1747, 1672, 1606, 1531, 1463, 1415, 1372, 1315, 1176, 1050,
1030, 983, 928; 1 H and 13 C NMR data, see Tables 1 and 2;
EIMS: C 17 H 18 O 5 , 302 [M + ] (10), 274 (0.5), 260 (64), 242
(100), 227 (15), 214 (9), 199 (14), 191 (24), 163 (5), 161 (5),
137 (20), 123 810), 115 (9), 109 (8), 91 (7), 77 (7), 65 (4), 53
(8), 43 (32), 41 (5).
Radulifolin F (3β-hydroxycacalone-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,
14). 13.2 mg, yellow oil; Rf: 0.295 (85:15 hex-
AcOEt); IR (CHCl 3 , cm –1 ): 3401, 2936, 1660, 1619, 1603,
1535, 1459, 1445, 1421, 1363, 1162, 1079, 1035, 923, 887; 1 H
and 13 C NMR data, see Tables 1 and 2; FABMS + : C 21 H 28 O 9 ,
447 [M + + Na] (58), 407 (20), 263 (48), 245 (100), 227 (72),
191 (24), 154 (31), 136 (28), 91 (20), 77 (19), 44 (17).
Epi-radulifolin F (3β-hydroxy-6-epi-cacalone-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside,
15). 26.3 mg yellow oil; Rf: 0.295 (85:15 hex-
AcOEt); IR (KBr, cm –1 ): 3411, 2930, 1654, 1614, 1535, 1451,
1422, 1369, 1256, 1224, 1201, 1164, 1078, 1038, 936, 888,
814, 623, 595, 532; 1 H and 13 C NMR data, see Tables 1 and 2;
Table 4. Percentage of Inhibition of the Free Radical (DPPH) by
Compounds 1-3, 7, 11, 12 and 14.
Concentrations
Compound 1 µM 10 µM 100 µM
1 15.27 47.70 73.13
2 + 3 8.91 13.60 26.98
7 9.47 11.72 14.01
11 6.77 10.23 25.79
12 8.8 9.09 16.76
14 5.06 11.37 19.55

165 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) María Luisa Garduño-Ramírez and Guillermo Delgado
FABMS + : C 21 H 28 O 9 , 447 [M + + Na] (100), 425 (17), 399 (8),
371 (38), 263 (49), 245 (44), 227 (26), 191 (21), 177 (35), 154
(59), 136 (51), 91 (26), 77 (25), 55 (24), 41 (25), 23 (58).
Biological evaluations. The methanol extract used for biological
assays was obtained by direct maceration of the dried
roots of the plant at room temperature (1 L per each 100 g) by
48 h two times. Male Wistar normoglycaemic rats of 60-65
days old, generally weighing 200-250 g, were used. The animals
were housed under standard laboratory conditions and
maintained on standard pellet diet and water ad libitum. Rats
were placed in single cages with wire-net floors and deprived
of food for 18 h before experimentation but allowed free
access to tap water throughout. All experiments were carried
out using 5 animals per group. Male Wistar rats were made
diabetic by an intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (60
mg/kg) in citrate buffer, pH 6.3 [24]. Extracts were suspended
in 0.05 % of Tween 80 in saline solution. Glibenclamide (10
mg/kg) was used as a hypoglycemic model drug [25]. All
extracts were prepared freshly immediately before the experimentation
and administered by intragastrical route at 30, 100
and 300 mg/kg. Control rats received the vehicle (0.05 %
Tween 80) in the same volume (0.5 mL/100 g) by the same
route. Blood samples were collected from caudal vein by
means of a little incision in the end of the tail at 0, 1.5, 3, 5, 7
and 9 h after drug administration. Blood glucose concentration
was estimated by enzymatic glucose oxidase method using a
commercial glucometer (One Touch Basic I, Jonhsons-Johnsons).
The percentage variation of glycemia for each group
was calculated with respect to initial (0 h) level according to:
% variation of glycemia = [(G t – G i ) / G i ] × 100,
Where G i was initial glycemia values and G t was the
hypoglycemia value at +1.5, +3, +5, and +7 h, respectively
[17b]. Statistical significance was estimated by analysis of variance
(ANOVA) followed by Dunnett’s test t. p < 0.05 implies
significance.
Evaluation of antioxidant activity. The potential antioxidant
activity of plant extracts and pure compounds was assessed on
the basis of the scavenging activity of the stable 1,1-diphenyl-
2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical [26]. Reaction mixtures
containing test samples (dissolved in ethanol, at 1, 10 and 100
µM) and DPPH ethanolic solution (66.66 µM) in ambar vials
(4 mL) were stirred for 30 min, and absorbances were measured
at 515 nm. Percent of inhibition by sample treatment was
determined by comparison with a control group [27].
Acknowledgements
We thank Rocío Patiño, Beatriz Quiroz, María Isabel Chávez,
Héctor Ríos, Luis Velasco, Javier Pérez-Flores, María Teresa
Ramírez-Apan, and Antonio Nieto from the Instituto de
Química de la UNAM for technical assistance; and Dr. Andrés
Navarrete, Facultad de Química de la UNAM, for the use
of certain research facilities and guidance in some hypoglycemic
evaluations assays. Financial support by grants from the
DGAPA-UNAM and PROMEP-UAEMor is gratefully acknowledged.
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Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 167-172
Investigación
Isolation and Chemical Transformations of Some
Anti-inflammatory Triterpenes from Salvia mexicana L. var. minor Benth.
Rosalba Argumedo Delira, Hortensia Parra-Delgado, Ma. Teresa Ramírez Apan,
Antonio Nieto Camacho y Mariano Martínez-Vázquez*
Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria,
Coyoacán 04510, México, D. F. Tel: +(52) 56224403; E-mail: marvaz@servidor.unam.mx
Recibido el 6 de mayo del 2003; aceptado el 24 de junio del 2003
Dedicated to Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Abstract. The acetone and methanol extracts of aerial parts of Salvia
mexicana L. var. minor showed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant
properties in the TPA y DPPH models respectively. The chromatography
of these extracts led the isolation of β-sitosterol, betulinol,
betulinic acid, ursolic acid and arbutin. The presence of these triterpenes
is in agreement with previos phytochemical studies of Salvia,
however this is the first time that arbutin is isolated from a species of
this genus. On the other hand, since none or the isolated compound
showed antioxidant properties in the DPPH model, it can be inferred
that minor compounds not isolated or synergism effects could
account for the antioxidant properties of the extracts. It is known that
some pentacyclic triterpene derivatives with an α,β-unsaturated carbonyl
in the ring A showed a better nitric oxide synthase inhibition
activity that the natural triterpenes. It was decided to synthesize the
methyl ester of 2-formyl-3-oxo-urs-28-oic and 2-formil-3-oxo-urs-1-
en-28-oic acids from ursolic acid and evaluate them using the DPPH
and TPA models. The results showed that both compounds have antiinflammatory
activity, but only the 2-formyl-3-oxo-ursol-28-oic acid
methyl ester was active in DPPH assay, which is in agreement with
the proposed mechanism of this test. This is the first chemical study
of Salvia mexicana L. var. minor (Benth).
Keywords: Triterpenos, Salvia mexicana var. minor, antiinflamatory
activity, chemical transformations.
Resumen. Los extractos acetónico y metanólico de las partes aéreas
de Salvia mexicana L. var. minor, mostraron poseer propiedades antiinflamatorias
y antioxidantes en los modelos de TPA y DPPH,
respectivamente. La cromatografía de estos extractos permitió el aislamiento
de β-sitosterol, betulinol, ácido betulínico, ácido ursólico y
arbutina. La presencia de estos triterpenos está de acuerdo con estudios
previos de Salvia, sin embargo, es la primera vez que se aísla
arbutina de una especie de éste género. Posiblemente las propiedades
antiinflamatorias de los extractos se deban a la presencia del β-sitosterol
y ácido ursólico, compuestos con probadas actividades antiinflamatorias.
Por otro lado, es probable que las propiedades antioxidantes
de estos extractos, se deban a la presencia de compuestos
minoritarios o a efectos sinérgicos, ya que ninguno de los compuestos
aislados fue activo en el modelo de DPPH. Datos recientes en la literatura
señalan que algunos derivados de triterpenos pentacíclicos con
una cetona α,β-insaturada en el anillo A, presentan una mayor inhibición
de la enzima óxido nítrico sintetasa que los triterpenos naturales,
por lo que se decidió obtener los ésteres metílicos de los ácidos 2-
formil-3-oxo-urs-28-oico y 2-formil-3-oxo-urs-1-en-28-oico a partir
del ácido ursólico, y evaluarlos en los modelos de DPPH y TPA. Los
resultados muestran que ambos tienen propiedades antiinflamatorias,
pero solo el éster metílico del ácido 2-formil-3-oxo-ursol-28-oico fue
activo en el modelo de DPPH, resultado que está de acuerdo con el
mecanismo asociado a esta prueba. Este es el primer estudio químico
de la especie Salvia mexicana L. var. minor (Benth).
Palabras clave: Triterpenos, Salvia mexicana var. minor, actividad
anti-inflamatoria, transformaciones químicas.
Introduction
Salvia is an important genus consisting of ca 900 species in
the family Lamiaceae (formerly Labiatae). Some species of
Salvia have been cultivated worldwide to be used in folk medicine
and for culinary purposes [1]. The dried leaves of S.
officinalis (sage) L., for example, is well known for their
antioxidative properties used in the food processing industry
but applicable also to the area of human health [2]. Studies on
the chemical constituents of Salvia have been mainly confined
to the diterpenoids and the tanshinones [3,4], and several
reviews of these components have already been published [5,
6]. In addition, there are several reports on the biological
activities of some species of this genus [7-9].
Most of the 500 species of Salvia found in Mexico,
Central and South America belong to the Subgenus Jungia
(formerly Calosphace) [10]. The species Salvia mexicana has
been divide in two varieties: S. mexicana var. major Benth.
and S. mexicana L. var. minor Benth. Acetone extract of the
aerial parts from the former afforded narigenine and a cis-languidulane
diterpenoid named salvimexicanolide [10]. In addition,
from the chloroform extract of the aerial parts of this
species β-sitosterol, betulinic acid and a triterpenic lactone
called salviolide were isolated [11]. As a part of our ongoing
systematic studies looking for bioactive compounds from
Mexican species [12], we report in this paper the chemical
study, the free radical scavenging and the anti-inflammatory
activities of some extracts and isolates from S. mexicana L.

168 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Rosalba Argumedo Delira et al.
R
HO
1
HO
2 R = CH 2OH
5 R = COOH
OH
COOR
H
OH
H
O
HO
HO
3 R = H
6 R = Me
HO
H
H
OH
H
O
4
O
COOMe
COOMe
R
H
O
O
9
7 R = H
8 R =
OH
Scheme 1
H
var. minor. To our knowledge this is the first report on the
chemical constituents as well as the free radical scavenging
and anti-inflammatory activities of this species.
Results and Discussion
Flowers and leaves of this species were studied separately.
The hexane, acetone and methanol extracts of each limb were
obtained.
The method of DPPH free radical can be used to evaluate
the antioxidant activity of specific compounds or extracts in a
short time. It is based on the transformation of the stable free
radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) to α,αdiphenyl-β-picryl
hydrazine by means of putative antioxidant
compounds [13].
On the other hand, the TPA-induced edema test is a
screening method to evaluate the ability of test compounds or
extracts to prevent an inflammatory reaction in response to the
edemogen.
The values of the anti-oxidative evaluation, by DPPH
method of some extracts of S. mexicana var. minor are shown
in Table 1. Those of the anti-inflammatory evaluation assessed
by TPA-induced edema in mice are shown in Table 2.
According to these results, the acetone and methanol
extracts from flowers, as well as the methanol from leaves
were active in the DPPH assay. A different pattern is observed
in the TPA assay where only the hexane and acetone extracts
from the flowers were active.
In order to isolate the possibly involved components, all
the active extracts were chromatographed. Then, from the
flower hexane extract, β-sitosterol (1; 157 mg; 0.034 %) and
betulinol (2; 10 mg; 0.002 %) were isolated, while ursolic acid
(3; 3.612 g; 0.8 %) and arbutin (4; 563 mg; 0.12 %) were isolated
from the flower acetone extract. Arbutin (4) was the only
compound isolated from the flower and leave methanol
extracts, 3.180 g (0.69 %) and 5.103 g (0.96 %) respectively.
The presence of 1, 2 and 3 in S. mexicana var. minor are in
agreement with previous phytochemical reports of this genus.
To our knowledge this is the first time that arbutin is isolated
from species of Salvia genus.
All the isolated compounds were inactive in DPPH assay,
thus indicating that activity of the extracts is due to the minor
constituents not isolated or to a synergic effect. These results
are in agreement with the assumed mechanism of this reaction,
which postulate that the free radical scavenging activity
of a compound in DPPH assay is attributed to their hydrogen
donating ability [14].
On the other hand, the anti-inflammatory activities of the
β-sitosterol (1) and ursolic acid (3) are well documented [15,
16] then the presence of 1 and 3 in this species could account
for its anti-inflammatory activity (Table 2).
It is known that phorbol esters, such as TPA, induce skin
inflammation and a hyperproliferative response with an infiltration
of neutrofils [17]. It is also known that TPA stimulates
PLA 2 , and that consequently a release of arachidonic acid and
prostaglandins occurs [18]. Although the mechanism by
which TPA causes inflammation is not completely clear, it
seems to be related in part to the release of eicosanoid mediators.
Then inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase, as
ursolic acid, have proven activity in the TPA model [19, 20].
The high output of nitric oxide (NO) produced by inducible
nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which is expressed in activated
macrophages, plays an important role in host defense. However,
excessive production of NO can also destroy functional
normal tissues during acute and chronic inflammation. From a
structure-activity study between 80 ursolic and oleanolic
derivatives, the 2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic, is

Isolation and Chemical Transformations of Some Anti-inflammatory Triterpenes from Salvia mexicana... 169
Table 1. Free radical scavenging activities of some extracts of S.
mexicana L. var. minor.
Extracts Concentration Reduction of DPPH
(ppm) (%)
Acetone (flowers) 10 12.64*
100 84.47*
1000 95.35*
Methanol (flowers) 10 17.74*
100 92.86*
1000 91.55*
Methanol (leaves) 10 13.55*
100 90.76*
1000 92.52*
Nordihydroguaiaretic 7.17 94.69*
acid (positive control)
The results were analyzed by ANOVA. Statistical comparison were made
between control group and the experimental groups using a Dunnet’s test. *p
< 0.05.
the product with the highest inhibitory activity against production
of nitric oxide (NO) induced by interferon γ (IFN-γ) in
mouse macrophages. In general, it was found that oleanolic
and ursolic derivatives with a 1-en-3-one functionality in ring
A have significant inhibitory activity against production of
NO. Also it is known that ursolic acid up regulate iNOS and
TNF-α expression through NF-κB transactivation in the resting
macrophages [21]. Taking this information into account, it
was decided to evaluate the free radical scavenging as well as
the anti-inflammatory properties of both 8 and 9. Compounds
8 and 9 were synthesized from 3, according to the route illustrated
in Scheme 1.
The results showed that only 8 was active as free radical
scavenger (Table 3). However, both 8 and 9 showed almost
the same activity as anti-inflammatory agents as ursolic acid
(Table 4). These findings clearly indicate that the free radical
scavenger activity of 8 is due to its hydrogen donating ability.
On the other hand, in contrast to their inhibitory activity
against the production of nitric oxide, the presence of unsaturated
moieties in 8 and 9 are not relevant in terms of their antiinflammatory
activity, since both of them showed almost the
same activity as ursolic acid.
Materials and Methods
General. The melting points (uncorrected) were determined
on a Fisher-Johns apparatus. IR spectra were recorded as KBr
pellets or liquid film on a Nicolet spectrophotometer model
Magna 750. Mass spectra were recorded at 70 eV on a Jeol
JMS-AX505HA mass spectrometer. NMR spectra were measured
using Varian-Gemini 200 and Varian VXR-300 ( 1 H,
200 or 300 MHz, 13 C, 75 MHz) spectrometers in CDCl 3 or
DMSO-d 6 with TMS as internal standard.
Plant material. Aerial parts of S. mexicana L. var. Minor
Benth. were obtained from an orchard localized in Xahuen
street in San Miguel Tlaixpan (Texcoco, Edo. de Mexico,
Mexico) in 2002. A voucher specimen was deposited in the
Herbario Nacional (MEXU-1054424).
Flowers (456 g) and leaves (531 g) were separately treated.
Then, plant material was exhaustively extracted with n-
hexane, acetone and MeOH, successively. From the flowers,
24.62 g (5.39 %, dry weight) of the hexane extract, 24.47 g
(5.36 %, dry weight) of acetone extract and 73.26 g (16.06 %,
dry weight) of methanol extract were obtained, while from the
leaves, 13.19 g (2.48 %, dry weight), 29.33 g (5.52 %, dry
weight) and 179.55 g (33.77 %, dry weight) were obtained
respectively.
All the extracts were cromatographed using an open column
packed with Si-gel (G- Altech, 0.2-0.5 mm, ASTM) in a
1:30 proportion to the extract and eluted with solvent mixtures
of increasing polarity starting with hexane and ending with
methanol.
Chromatography of hexane extract of flowers. From the
hexane extract of the flowers a total of 65 fractions of 200 mL
each, were collected. Fractions showing similar TLC data
were combined, affording eight pools (F1-F8): F3 (fractions
24-26, eluted with hexane-EtOAc, 9:1), F4 (fractions 27-35,
eluted with hexane-EtOAc, 8:2). β-sitosterol (1, 157 mg) was
isolated from F3 and betulinol (2; 10 mg) from F4.
Chromatography of acetone extract of flowers. From the
acetone extract of the flowers a total of 265 fractions of 200
mL each were collected. Fractions showing similar TLC data
were combined, affording six pools (F1-F6): F3 (fractions 36-
161, eluted with hexane-EtOAc, 7:3), F4 (fractions 162-237,
eluted with hexane-EtOAc, 1:1). Ursolic acid (3; 3.682 g) was
isolated from F3 and arbutin (4; 563 mg) from F4.
Chromatography of MeOH extract of flowers. From the
MeOH extract of the flowers a total of 111 fractions of 200
mL each were collected. Fractions showing similar TLC data
were combined, affording nine pools (F1-F9): F5 (fractions
50-77, eluted with EtOAc), F6 (fractions 78-89, eluted with
EtOAc-MeOH, 9:1), F7 (fractions 90-93, eluted with EtOAc-
MeOH, 7:3), F8 (fractions 94-102, eluted with EtOAc-MeOH,
1:1) and F9 (fractions 103-111, eluted with MeOH). Arbutin
(4; 3.180 g) was isolated from F5-F8 pools.
Chromatography of hexane extract of leaves. When the
extract was concentrated, a yellowish solid precipitate (235
mg), which was filtered and chromatographed. A total of 16
fractions of 50 mL each were collected. Fractions showing
similar TLC data were combined, affording three pools (F1-
F3): F1 (fractions 1-4, eluted with hexane), F2 (fractions 5-8,
eluted with hexane-EtOAc, 9:1) and F3 (fractions 9-16, eluted
with hexane-EtOAc, 8:2). Betulinic acid (5; 84 mg; 36%) was
isolated from F3. The remanent extract (13.19 g) afforded a
total of 22 fractions of 200 ml each. Fractions showing similar
TLC data were combined, affording six pools (F1-F6): F3
(fractions 7-12, eluted with hexane-EtOAc, 7:3), F4 (fractions

170 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Rosalba Argumedo Delira et al.
Table 2. Anti-inflammatory activities of some extracts of S. mexicana
L. var. minor.
Extracts Edema Inhibition (%)
(mg, average SE)
Control (methanol) 15.47 ± 0.32 —
Hexane (flowers) 4.77 ± 0.50 69.17*
Acetone (flowers) 5.60 ± 0.91 63.79*
Methanol (flowers) 13.70 ± 0.31 11.42
Methanol (leaves) 13.10 ± 1.07 15.0
Indomethacin
(positive control) 1.07 ± 0.03 91.35*
All the extracts were tested at 1 mg / ear doses. The results were analyzed by
ANOVA. Statistical comparison were made between control group and the
experimental groups using a t student test. *p < 0.01
13-14, eluted with hexane-EtOAc, 1:1), F5 (fractions 15-19,
eluted with hexane-EtOAc, 3:7) and F6 (fractions 20-22, eluted
with EtOAc). β-sitosterol (1; 686 mg) was isolated from
F3-F6 pools.
Chromatography of acetone extract of leaves. From the
acetone extract of the leaves a total of 33 fractions of 200 mL
each, were collected. Fractions showing similar TLC data
were combined, affording nine pools (F1-F9): F3 (fractions 8-
10, eluted with hexane-EtOAc, 7:3), F4 (fractions 11-15, eluted
with hexane-EtOAc, 1:1), F5 (fractions 16-18, eluted with
hexane-EtOAc, 3:7), F6 (fractions 19-21, eluted with EtOAc),
F7 (fractions 22-25, eluted with EtOAc-MeOH, 7:3), F8 (fractions
26-29, eluted with EtOAc-MeOH, 1:1) and F9 (fractions
30-33, eluted with MeOH). Ursolic acid (3; 4.210 g; 14.35%)
was isolated from F3-F5 pools and arbutin (4; 2.103 g;
7.168%) was isolated from F5-F8 pools.
Chromatography of MeOH extract of leaves. The MeOH
extract was partitioned between n-butanol and CH 2 Cl 2 . It
afforded the n-butanol extract (46.16 g), which was chromatographed
yielding a total of 22 fractions of 200 mL each.
Fractions showing similar TLC data were combined, affording
nine pools (F1-F9): F6 (fractions 9-13, eluted with EtOAc-
MeOH, 9:1), F7 (fractions 14-15, eluted with EtOAc-MeOH,
7:3), F8 (fractions 16-18, eluted with EtOAc-MeOH, 1:1) and
F9 (fractions 19-22, eluted with MeOH). Arbutin (4; 5.103 g,
4.3 %) was isolated from F6-F9 pools.
Ursolic acid methyl ester (6). A solution of ursolic acid (1 g,
2.19 mmol) in a mixture of ether / MeOH (50 mL) was cooled
down to 0 °C in an ice-bath. Ethereal diazomethane was added
until permanent yellow color was obtained. After 24 h the solvent
was removed by distillation under low pressure to give
ursol-28-oic acid methyl ester (6; 758 mg; 1.61 mmol; 73.5 %
yield).
3-oxo-urs-28-oic acid methyl ester (7). To a solution of 6
(750 mg, 1.6 mmol) in acetone (10 ml) was added an excess
of Jones's reagent at 0 °C while stirring. The reaction course
was followed by TLC. After 55 min, the excess of Jones's
was destroyed by addition of MeOH, and then the reaction
mixture was diluted with H 2 O (30 mL). Extraction with
CH 2 Cl 2 (4 × 10 mL), drying (Na 2 SO 4 ), filtration and evaporation
of the solvent gave a residue, which by crystallization
from hexane-EtOAc afforded 7 (321 mg; 0.7 mmol; 43.7 %
yield). Mp 182-184°C, IR (KBr) ν max : 2935, 2867, 1726,
1695, 1459, 1380 and 1142 cm –1 . EIMS 70eV m/z: 468 (M + ,
C 31 H 48 O 3 ), 453, 419, 407, 262, 249, 203 and 189. 1 H NMR
200 MHz CDCl 3 δ: 5.27 (1H, m, H-12), 3.61 (3H, s, OMe),
2.60 (1H, d, H-18), 2.25 (2H, m, H-2), 1.08 (3H, s), 1.04 (6H,
s), 1.06 (3H, d, J=8 Hz), 0.95 (3H, s), 0.85 (3H, d, J=7Hz),
0.79 (3H, s).
2- Formyl-3-oxo-urs-28-oic acid methyl ester (8). To a solution
of 0.7 mmol of 7 in 7 mL of dry pyridine, held under
nitrogen, was added 1.5 mL (18.7 mmol) of ethyl formate
(distilled from phosphorus pentoxide) followed by 1 mL of a
solution of 294 mg (13.3 mmol) of sodium in 6 mL of
absolute methyl alcohol. The resulting solution was then kept
at room temperature under nitrogen overnight. The reaction
was evidenced by the appearance of a deep color and / or the
formation of an insoluble precipitate. The mixture was poured
into a cold solution of 16 mL of glacial acetic acid in 150 mL
of water, and the resulting precipitate was extracted with
CH 2 Cl 2 . The organic layer was washed with water and then
extracted with 3 × 100 mL of 2 % potassium hydroxide solution.
The combined basic extract were washed with ether and
acidified with 10 mL of glacial acetic acid. Extraction of the
aqueous layer with CH 2 Cl 2 in the usual manner, afforded 2-
formyl-3-oxo-urs-28-oic methyl ester (8; 226 mg; 0.46 mmol;
70 % yield).
Reddish viscous liq. IR (CHCl 3 ) ν max : 2925, 2869, 1725,
1636, 1587, 1455, 1360 and 1147 cm –1 . EIMS 70eV m/z: 496
(M + , C 32 H 48 O 4 ), 481, 478, 437, 421, 262, 249, 233, 203 and
189. 1 H NMR 200 MHz CDCl 3 δ: 14.91 (1H, s, OH chelated),
8.57 (1H, s, H-23), 5.29 (1H, m, H-12), 3.61 (3H, s, OMe),
2.32 (1H, d, H-18), 1.25, 1.19, 1.11, 1.09, 0.8 (3H, s, each),
0.93 (3H, d, J=8 Hz), 0.86 (3H, d, J=7Hz).
Table 3. Free radical scavenging activities of 8 and 9.
Compound Concentration Reduction
(ppm) of DPPH (%)
2- Formyl-3-oxo- 10 12.69*
urs-28-oic acid 100 40.87*
methyl ester (8) 1000 79.43*
2- Formyl-3-oxo- 10 N. A.
urs-1-en-28-oic 100 N. A.
acid methyl ester (9) 1000 N. A.
The results were analyzed by ANOVA. Statistical comparison were made
between control group and the experimental groups using a Dunnet’s test. *p
< 0.05, N. A. = Not active.

Isolation and Chemical Transformations of Some Anti-inflammatory Triterpenes from Salvia mexicana... 171
Table 4. Anti-inflammatory activities of 8 and 9.
Compound Edema Inhibition (%)
(mg, average SE)
Control (EtOAc) 11.80 ± 0.045 -
2- Formyl-3-oxo- 3.03 ± 0.86 74.29*
urs-28-oic acid
methyl ester (8)
2- Formyl-3-oxo- 3.03 ± 0.86 74.29*
urs-1-en-28-oic
acid methyl ester (9)
All the compounds were tested at 1 mg / ear doses. The results were analyzed
by ANOVA. Statistical comparison were made between control group and the
experimental groups using a t student test. *p ≤ 0.01. The reported % of inhibition
of ursolic acid is 74.4 % at 1 mg/ear doses [16].
2- Formyl-3-oxo-urs-1-en-28-oic acid methyl ester (9).
PhSeCl (120 mg) was dissolved in 12 mL of CH 2 Cl 2 and
cooled to 0 °C and 0.06 g (40 µl) of pyridine was added. After
15 min, 0.2 g of 8 in 3 mL of CH 2 Cl 2 was added and the mixture
was stirred for 15 min more. The CH 2 Cl 2 solution was
extracted with two 5 mL portions of 10 % HCl and cooled
back to 0 °C, at which time 0.1 mL of 30 % H 2 O 2 was added.
An additional 0.1 mL of 30 % H 2 O 2 was added after 10 min
and again after 20 min. After an additional 10 min, 0.5 mL of
H 2 O was added and the CH 2 Cl 2 layer was separated and
washed with 5 mL of saturated NaHCO 3 . After being dried
over Na 2 SO 4 , the solution was filtered and the solvent evaporated
under vacuum to yield 9 (53 mg; 0.11 mmol; 24 %
yield). Reddish viscous liq. IR (CHCl 3 ) ν (cm –1 ): 2921, 2858,
2721, 1719, 1672, 1604, 1455, 1379, 1224 and 1110. EIMS
70eV m/z: 494 (M + , C 32 H 46 O 4 ), 479, 476, 435, 419, 314, 262,
249, 233, 203, 189, 158, 133 and 117. 1 H NMR (200 MHz,
CDCl 3 ): 10.01 (1H, s, COH), 7.80 (1H, s, H-1), 5.38 (1H, m,
H-12), 3.62 (3H, s, OMe), 2.28 (1H, d, H-18), 1.25, 1.18,
1.09, 0.96, 0.87 (3H, s, each), 1.17 (3H, d, J = 7 Hz), 0.87
(3H, d, J = 8Hz).
Free radical scavenging Activity. DPPH assay was performed
essentially according to the modified method of
Cottele. Reaction mixture containing different concentrations
of test samples in DMSO and 100 mM DPPH ethanol solution
in 96-well microliter plates, were incubated at 37 °C for 30
min, and subsequently the absorbencies were measured at 515
nm in a microplate reader Elx 808. Measurements were performed
in triplicate in at least three independent experiments.
The % inhibition of each compound was determined by comparison
with a DPPH ethanol blank solution [22]. The results
were analyzed by ANOVA. Statistical comparisons were
made between control group and the experimental groups
using Dunnet’s test.
Animals. Male CD-1 mice, weighing 20-25 g each were used.
Instituto de Fisiología Celular, Universidad Nacional Autónoma
de México provided the experimental animals. All animals
were held under standard laboratory conditions in the animal
house (temperature 27 ± 1 °C). They were fed laboratory diet
and water ad libitum. All experiments were carried out using
4-8 animals per group.
TPA-induced edema model. Effects of the test substances on
TPA-induced ear edema in mice were studied as described by
De Young [17] with slight modifications. The substances (1
mg / ear) were applied topically. A solution of TPA (2.5 µg)
in EtOH (10 µL) was applied topically to both faces (5 µL
each face) of the right ear of the mice, 10 min after the test
substances were applied (10 µL each face). The left ear
received ethanol (10 µL) first, and 20 µL of the respective solvent
subsequently.
Four hours later the mice were killed by cervical dislocation.
A 7-mm diameter plug was removed from each ear. The
swelling was assessed as the difference in weight between
right and left ear plugs [19]. Inhibition of edema (EI, %) was
calculated by the equation:
EI (%) = 100 – [B × 100 / A], with A = edema induced by
TPA alone, and B = edema induced by TPA plus sample.
Data were expressed as the mean SEM of 4-8 mice. All
the extracts and compounds were tested at 1 mg / ear doses.
The results were analyzed by ANOVA. Statistical comparisons
were made between control group and the experimental
groups using a t student test. *p < 0.01.
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Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 173-177
Investigación
Two New Oleanolic Acid Saponins from the Roots of Viguiera hypargyrea
Laura Alvarez, 1* Alejandro Zamilpa, 2 Silvia Marquina, 1 and Manasés González 1
1 Centro de Investigaciones Químicas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Morelos, Av. Universidad 1001, Chamilpa,
62210, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México. Tel/Fax: (+52) (01 77) 7329 7997; E-mail: lalvarez@intermor.net.mx
2 Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Sur, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Argentina No. 1, Centro,
62790 Xochitepec, Morelos, México
Recibido el 20 de mayo del 2003; aceptado el 24 de junio del 2003
Dedicated to Professor Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Abstract. Two new triterpene saponins whose aglycons are based on
the oleanane skeleton (1-2), were isolated from the roots of Viguiera
hypargyrea, together with two known triterpene saponins (3 and 4) as
well as the triterpenes friedelin, friedelan 3β-ol and oleanolic acid.
The structures of the new compounds were established mainly by 2D
NMR techniques of their peracetylated derivatives as 3-O-[α-Lrhamnopyranosyl
(1 → 3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1 → 4)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl-oleanolic
acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and 3-O-[α-Lrhamnopyranosyl
(1 → 3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1 → 4)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl
oleanolic acid respectively.
Keywords: Viguiera hypargyrea, Asteraceae, roots, oleanolic acid
saponins, bisdesmosides.
Resumen. De las raíces de Viguiera hypargyrea se aislaron dos nuevas
saponinas triterpénicas (1-2), cuyas agliconas corresponden al esqueleto
del oleanano, junto con dos saponinas triterpénicas conocidas (3 y
4), así como los triterpenos friedelina, friedelan-3β-ol y ácido oleanólico.
Las estructuras de los compuestos novedosos fueron establecidas
principalmente por medio de técnicas de RMN 2D de sus derivados
peracetilados como 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopiranosil (1 → 3)-β-D-xilopiranosil
(1 → 4)]-β-D-glucopiranosil-ácido oleanólico-28-O-β-D-glucopiranósido
y ácido 3-O-[α-L-ramnopiranosil (1 → 3)-β-D-xilopiranosil
(1 → 4)]-β-D-glucopiranosil oleanólico respectivamente.
Palabras clave: Viguiera hypargyrea, Asteraceae, raíces, saponinas
del ácido olanólico, bisdesmósidos.
Introduction
Viguiera hypargyrea Blake (Asteraceae) is a perennial herb
distributed on Northern Mexico [1]. The roots of this plant are
used for gastrointestinal disorders in Mexican traditional medicine
and it is commonly known as “plateada” [2]. Diterpenic
acids and sesquiterpene lactones have been reported from the
leaves [3]. We have recently reported that the n-hexane and
ethyl acetate-soluble portions and their principal diterpenic
acid components ent-beyer-15-en-19-oic and ent-kaur-16-en-
19-oic acids showed antispasmodic and antimicrobial effects
[4]. Although the methanol-soluble portion did not exhibit
apparent antispasmodic and antimicrobial activity at a sample
concentration of 25 µg/mL and 10 mg/mL respectively, we
had interest in the chemical constituents of this fraction, and
here we report the results.
Results and discussion
Chromatographic separations of the methanol soluble fraction
have resulted in the isolation of the known triterpenes friedelin,
friedelan-3-β-ol and oleanolic acid, which were identified
by direct comparison with authentic samples. Two new triterpene
saponins based on the oleanane skeleton (1,2), which
were characterized as their peracetate derivatives (1a,2a) were
also isolated, together with the known saponins β-D-glucopyranosyl
olean-12-en-28-oate (3) and 3-O-[methyl-β-D-glucuronopyranosiduronoate]-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl
oleanolate
(4), which were identified by comparison of their spectroscopic
data with those previously described [5, 6].
In this paper, we report the structural determination of the
new saponins on the basis of spectroscopic analysis and acidcatalyzed
hydrolysis.
Compound 1a was obtained as an oil after acetylation of
the natural product 1. In the positive-ion FABMS of 1a, quasimolecular
ion peaks were observed at m/z 1600 [M + K + H] + ,
1584 [M + Na + H] + , and 1561 [M + H] + , and HRFABMS
analysis revealed the molecular formula to be C 77 H 108 O 33 .
Other significant peaks visible at m / z 1254 [M + K –
C 14 H 19 O 10 ] + , 1068 [M – C 12 H 17 O 7 – C 11 H 15 O 7 ] + , and 777 [M
– C 33 H 45 O 21 ] + , indicated the successive loss of one hexosyl,
one deoxyhexosyl, one pentosyl and one hexosyl moieties.
Another fragment ion at m/z 437 corresponded to the pseudomolecular
ion of the aglycon. On acid hydrolysis, 1a liberated
oleanolic acid as the genin, and glucose, rhamnose and xylose,
which were identified by comparison with authentic samples
by co-TLC, IR and NMR. On alkaline hydrolysis, only glucose
was detected by co-TLC with an authentic sample, indicating
that the glucose was bound to the genin by a glycosidic
ester linkage at C-28 [7]. The 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra of 1a,
which are presented in Table 1, showed that most of the signals
of the aglycon were in good agreement with literature
data for oleanolic acid [8]. Glycosylation shifts were observed

174 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Laura Alvarez et al.
Table 1. 13 C (125 MHz) and 1 H (500 MHz) NMR Spectral Data for the Aglycon Part of Compounds 1a, 2a and 2b (CDCl 3 , δ in ppm).
1a 2a 2b
δ C δ H δ C δ H δ C δ H
1 38.50 0.82, 1.59 38.46 0.89, 1.56 38.6 0.85, 1.60
2 27.69 1.07, 1.67 27.65 1.07, 1.67 27.1 1.07, 1.66
3 90.41 2.97 dd(11.7, 5) 90.44 2.95 dd(13.5, 4.5) 90.41 2.97 dd (13.0, 5)
4 38.81 38.84 38.80
5 55.56 0.64 55.59 0.67 54.9 0.67
6 18.15 1.32, 1.46 18.13 1.31, 1.46 18.13 1.31, 1.46
7 31.74 1.26, 1.61 32.37 1.59, 1.74 dd(13.5, 4.5) 32.5 1.55,
8 39.33 39.30 39.30
9 47.58 1.46 47.65 1.49 dd(11, 6.5) 47.60 1.47 dd (11, 6.5)
10 36.68 36.75 36.74
11 23.41 1.86 23.38 1.86 23.30 1.83
12 122.92 5.31 t(3) 122.64 5.26 t(3.5) 122.59 5.25 t(3.5)
13 142.85 143.60 143.61
14 41.02 40.96 41.00
15 25.62 1.1, 1.72 25.69 1.64, 1.74 25.65 1.60, 1.73
16 22.82 1.28, 1.54 2.97 1.60, 1.90 22.95 1.60, 1.92
17 46.81 46.49 46.52
18 41.68 2.81 dd(14, 4) 1.60 2.80 dd(14, 4) 41.65 2.80 dd (13.5, 5)
19 45.79 1.14, 1.62 45.95 1.13, 1.60 45.93 1.14, 1.62
20 30.58 30.63 30.60
21 33.74 1.20, 1.32 33.80 1.20, 1.33 33.79 1.21, 1.32
22 32.96 1.27, 1.36 32.63 1.27, 1.36 32.59 1.27, 1.36
23 27.69 0.90 27.72 0.86 27.70 0.88
24 16.27 0.70 16.25 0.69 16.25 0.69
25 15.22 0.86 15.19 0.87 15.20 0.88
26 16.92 0.72 17.01 0.73 17.10 0.73
27 25.62 1.10 25.85 1.11 25.80 1.11
28 175.59 183.05 179.80
29 32.96 0.89 33.02 0.89 32.90 0.89
30 23.41 0.88 23.54 0.91 23.50 0.90
OMe 51.82 3.61
at C-3 and C-28 of the aglycon, indicating that the saccharide
units were attached at these positions (i.e., signals at δ 90.44
and 175.56 represented a downfield shift by 10.6 ppm and an
upfield shift by 3.6 ppm, respectively, when compared with
the analogous data for oleanolic acid). Compound 1a was
shown to contain four sugar residues in a HMQC NMR experiment,
which revealed the correlations between anomeric carbons
in the δ 105-90 range and anomeric proton signals resonating
between δ 4.0 and 6.1. Thus, the anomeric 13 C signals
at δ 103.0, 100.89, 95.98 and 91.58 gave cross-peaks
with anomeric protons at δ 4.35 d (J = 8.0 Hz), 4.44 d (J = 8.0
Hz), 5.07 d (J = 1.5 Hz), and 5.58 d (J = 8.0 Hz) respectively.
The sugar moieties of 1a were assigned mainly from the 1 H-
1H COSY, HMQC, and HMBC NMR spectra. Evaluation of
spin-spin couplings and chemical shifts allowed the identification
of one β-xylopyranose unit with the anomeric proton at
δ 4.44, one α-rhamnopyranose unit with the anomeric proton
at δ 5.07, and two β-glucopyranose units with the anomeric
protons resonating at δ 5.58 and δ 4.35 respectively, with the
former linked to the carboxylic group of the aglycon through
an ester linkage, and the latter being linked to C-3 of the aglycon
[9,10]. The common D-configuration for xylose and glucose
and the L-configuration for rhamnose were assumed to
be those of the most commonly encountered analogues in the
plant kingdom [11]. The sequence of the sugar moieties in 1a
was determined from the HMBC and NOESY NMR spectra.
In the HMBC spectrum, long-range 13 C- 1 H correlations were
observed between the signals at δ C 175.56 and δ H 5.58, δ C
72.65 and δ H 5.07, δ C 74.87 and δ H 4.44, and δ C 90.44 and δ H
4.35. Accordingly, the glucopyranose unit with the anomeric
proton at δ 4.35 was linked to C-3 of the aglycon, and the
rhamnose and xylose units were linked to C-3 and C-4 positions
of this glucose unit. The other glucose unit (δ 5.58) was
linked to C-28 of the aglycon. On the basis of all evidence, the
natural product (1) was identified as 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl
(1 → 3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl (1 → 4)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl-oleanolic
acid-28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside.
Compound 2a displayed a 1 H NMR spectrum very similar
to that of compound 1a, with a triplet at δ H 5.20 (J = 3.0 Hz)
and seven methyl singlets in the high-field region. A significant
difference was the absence of the anomeric doublet at δ H
5.58. The 13 C NMR spectrum contained six carbon less (47

Two New Oleanolic Acid Saponins from the Roots of Viguiera hypargyrea 175
Table 2. 13 C (125 MHz) and 1 H (500 MHz) NMR Spectral Data for the Sugar Moieties of Compounds 1a, 2a and 2b (CDCl 3 , δ in ppm; J in
Hz).
1a 2a 2b
δ C δ H δ C δ H δ C δ H
C-3-glucose
1 103.0 4.35 d(8) 103.05 4.36 d(8) 103.05 4.36 d(8)
2 73.91 5.03 dd(9.5, 8) 73.92 5.02 dd(9.5, 8) 73.90 5.02 dd(9.5, 8)
3 72.65 3.87 t(9.5) 72.65 3.87 t(9.5) 72.65 3.87 t(9.5)
4 74.82 3.79 t(9.5) 74.87 3.79 t(9.5) 74.85 3.78 t(9.5)
5 72.87 3.47 ddd(9.5, 5, 2) 72.86 3.47 ddd(9.5, 5, 2) 72.86 3.47 ddd(9.5, 5, 2)
6 61.70 4.01 dd(12, 5) 61.73 4.01 dd(12. 5) 61.72 4.01 dd(12,5)
4.60 dd(12, 2) 4.60 dd(12, 2) 4.60 dd(12,2)
xylose
1 100.89 4.44 d(8) 100.91 4.44 d(8) 100.90 4.44 d(8)
2 71.33 4.96 dd(9.5, 8) 71.36 4.96 dd (9.5, 8) 71.35 4.96 dd(9.5, 8)
3 73.0 5.14 t(9.5) 73.05 5.14 t(9.5) 73.02 5.14 t(9.5)
4 68.03 5.09 ddd(10.5, 9.5, 5) 68.30 5.07 ddd(10.5, 9.5, 5) 68.30 5.07 ddd(10.5, 9.5,
5)
5 62.82 3.28 t(10.5) 62.83 3.28 t(10.5) 62.84 3.28 t (10.5)
4.35 dd(10.5, 5) 4.36 dd(10.5, 5) 4.36 dd (10.5, 5)
rhamnose
1 95.98 5.07 d(1.5) 96.02 5.07 d(1.5) 96.05 5.06 d(1.5)
2 70.95 5.01 dd(3.5, 1.5) 70.93 5.01 dd(3.5, 1.5) 70.95 5.01 dd(3.5, 1.5)
3 67.85 5.68 dd(10.5, 3.5) 67.87 5.68 dd(10.5, 3.5) 67.87 5.68 dd (10.5, 3.5)
4 71.49 5.13 t(9.5) 71.53 5.13 t (9.5) 71.52 5.13 t(9.5)
5 66.26 4.53 dd(9.5, 6.5) 66.27 4.53 dd(9.5, 6.5) 66.25 4.53 dd (9.5, 6.5)
6 17.13 1.25 d(6.5) 17.13 1.25 d(6.5) 17.13 1.25 d(6.5)
C-28-glucose
1 91.58 5.58 d(8)
2 68.28 5.10 dd(9.5,8)
3 72.87 5.24 t(9.5)
4 69.96 5.17 t(9.5)
5 72.46 3.79 ddd(9.5, 5, 2)
6 61.54 4.04 dd(12, 5)
4.27 dd(12, 2)
singlets) than 1a, and the chemical shifts values of the carbons
were within the range of 1 ppm of those found for compound
1a, with the exception of C-28, which appeared at δ C 183.05
(cf. δ C 175.56 for 1a, Tables 1 and 2). These observations
indicated the absence of the glucopyranose unit at the carboxyl
group. As additional proof, compound 1 was hydrolyzed
with KOH giving compound 2 and glucose. Moreover,
methylation of 2a with diazomethane afforded the methyl
ester derivative (2b). The position of the methyl ester in 2b
was determined from the HMBC correlation between the
methyl ester proton δ H 3.61 (s, -OCH 3 ) and C-28 (δ C 179.80).
All those data allowed compound 2 to be assigned the
structure 3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl (1 → 3)-β-D-xylopyranosyl
(1 → 4)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl oleanolic acid.
Although the methanol extract from the roots of Viguiera
hypargyrea did not show any antispasmodic and antimicrobial
activities [4], the presence of mono and bisdesmoside
saponins in this extract is noteworthy, since various triterpene
saponins structurally related to those isolated in this work,
have shown important biological activities such as inhibitory
effects on ethanol absorption [12], as well as hypoglycemic
activity [13].
Experimental
General Experimental Procedures. Optical rotations were
measured on a Perkin-Elmer 241 digital polarimeter at 25 °C.
IR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Vector 22 FTIR. All
NMR spectra were recorded on a Varian Unity Plus-500 at
500 MHz for 1 H NMR, 1 H- 1 H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and
1H- 1 H TOCSY and 125 MHz for 13 C NMR and 13 C DEPT in
CDCl 3 . Chemical shifts are reported in ppm relative to TMS.
FABMS and HRFABMS were performed using a Hewlett
Packard 5985-B and a JEOL-AX 505 HA mass spectrometer,
respectively.

176 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Laura Alvarez et al.
R 2 O
R 2 O
R 2 O
3 R = H
4 R =
R 2 O
MeOOC
HO
HO
H COOR 1
OR 2
O
O
O
OR
O
O
2
OR 2
O
OR 2
R 1 R 2
1 Glcp H
1a Glcp Ac
2 H H
2a H Ac
2b Me Ac
O
OH
O
RO
Plant Material. The roots of V. hypargyrea were collected
near to Durango City, on September 15 th of 1997 and identified
by Dr. Robert Bye (Instituto de Biología de la UNAM). A
Botanical sample was prepared and deposited for reference at
the National Herbarium of Mexico (MEXU) with the code
number MEXU961417.
Extraction and Isolation. 200 g of the methanol extract
obtained previously [4] were fractionated by percolation using
a gradient of CH 2 Cl 2 -MeOH yielding six fractions: Fr. I (9:1,
16.0 g); Fr. II (85:15, 2.4 g); Fr. III (4:1, 4.0 g); Fr. IV (7:3,
7.3 g); Fr. V (1:1, 18.2 g) and Fr. VI (3:7, 22.4 g). Fr. I was
purified by column chromatography using mixtures of n-hexane-EtOAc;
fractions eluted with 95:5 (n-hexane-EtOAc)
afforded 325 mg of friedelin (0.010 %, mp 242-245 °C); from
fractions eluted with n-hexane-EtOAc 9:1 crystallized 83 mg
of friedelan-3-β-ol (0.0027 %, mp 249-253 °C), fractions eluted
with n-hexane-EtOAc (85:15) yielded 54 mg of the mixture
of β-sitosterol and stigmasterol. Fr. II was applied to a silica
gel column using a gradient system of CH 2 Cl 2 -MeOH to yield
1.7 g of oleanolic acid (0.056 %, mp 196-198 °C).
Chromatographic analyses of Fr. III showed that this was
mainly composed by the saponins glucopyranosyl oleanolate
(3), found previously in the ethyl acetate extract [4], and 3-O-
(methyl-β-D-glucuronopyranosiduronoate)-28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl
oleanolate (4, mp 217-218 °C) isolated previously
from V. decurrens [5]. Fr. IV was applied to a silica gel column
using EtOAc-MeOH-AcOH-H 2 O (11:2:2:1) as isocratic
elution mixture. Fractions 8-12 afforded 50 mg of 4; fractions
17-26 yielded 12 mg of 1 (mp 129-132 °C) and 9 mg of 2 (mp
276-278 °C), and fractions 31-43 afforded 820 mg of glucose.
18
HO
H
O
O
O
OH
OH
OH
Fr. V was mainly composed by sucrose, identified by direct
comparison with authentic sample. Fr. VI was ground with
acetone to yield a mixture of saponins which was acetylated
with Ac 2 O-Py and the residue was chromatographed on silica
gel column using mixtures of CH 2 Cl 2 -Acetone: Fractions eluted
with 9: 1 (CH 2 Cl 2 -acetone) yielded 843 mg of 1a (0.028 %
of dry plant). Fractions eluted with CH 2 Cl 2 -acetone (8:2)
afforded sucrose acetylated and 632 mg of 2a (0.021 % of dry
plant).
Friedelin, friedelan-3-β-ol and oleanolic acid, were identified
by direct comparison (IR, TLC) with authentic samples,
while compounds 1a, 2a and 3-4 were characterized by means
of physicochemical evidence.
Compound 1a. Oil, [α] D
25 – 4.4° (c 0.05, MeOH); IR
(CHCl 3 ) ν max 2922, 1757, 1452, 1376, 1050 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR
(CDCl 3 , 500 MHz) see Tables 1 and 2; 13 C NMR (CDCl 3 , 125
MHz) see Tables 1 and 2; FABMS m/z 1600 [M + K + H] +
and 1584 [M + Na + H] + , 1254 [M + K – Glc] + , 1068 [M –
rham – xyl] + , 785 [M – glc – rham – xyl] + , 437 [C 30 H 46 O 2 ] + ;
HRFABMS m/z 1561.6983 (calcd for C 77 H 108 O 33 , 1561.
6995).
Compound 2a. Colorless powder, mp 101-102 °C, α D
25 + 6°
(c 0.05, CHCl 3 ); IR (CHCl 3 ) ν max 3500-3400, 2922, 1757,
1452, 1376, 1050 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 , 500 MHz) see
Tables 1 and 2 13 C NMR (CDCl 3 , 125 MHz) see Tables 1 and
2; FABMS m/z 1271 [M + K] + , 1255 [M + Na] + , 1233 [M] + ,
958 [M – xyl] + , 954 [M – rham] + , 669 [M – rham – xyl] + , 467
[M – rham – xyl – glc] + ; HRFABMS m/z 1233.4209 (calcd
for C 63 H 92 O 24 , 1233.4212).
Compound 2b. Compound 2a (20 mg) was treated with diazomethane
in diethyl ether to yield 20 mg of 2b: Oil, [α] D
25 +
2.5° (c 0.2, CHCl 3 ), IR (CHCl 3 ) ν max 2958, 1728, 1462, 1377,
1072 cm –1 ; 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 , 500 MHz) see Tables 1 and 2;
13C NMR (CDCl 3 , 125 MHz) see Tables 1 and 2.
Acid hydrolysis of compounds 1 and 2. Saponins 1 (5 mg),
and 2 (5 mg) in 0.5 M HCl (dioxane-H 2 O, 1:1; 5 ml) were
refluxed on a water bath at 100 °C for 2 h. After cooling, the
nonpolar reaction product was separated by precipitation with
ice (3 g) and filtration. The aqueous layer was neutralized
with NH 4 OH and reduced to dryness by lyophilization. The
sugars were analyzed by silica gel TLC [EtOAc-MeOH-H 2 O-
AcOH (11:2:2:2)] by comparison with standard sugars.
Alkaline hydrolysis of compound 1. The saponin (12 mg) in
KOH 10 % (4 mL) was heated at 100 °C for 75 min. After
acidification with HCl (pH 5), the monodesmoside was
extracted with n-BuOH. Comparison with compound 2
demonstrated that both compounds were identical. The aqueous
solution contained glucose was identified by TLC comparison
with an authentic sample.

Two New Oleanolic Acid Saponins from the Roots of Viguiera hypargyrea 177
Acknowledgment
We thank Rocío Patiño, María Isabel Chávez, Francisco
Javier Pérez, and Luis Velasco (Instituto de Química, UNAM)
for assistance. This work was supported in part by CONA-
CYT (Project 3419P-N and grant 96363).
References
1. Blake, S. F. Contribution Gray Herbarium Harvard University
1918, 54, 11-16.
2. Martínez, M. Catálogo de Plantas Medicinales de México. Ed.
Botas, 1969, 45.
3. Alvarez, L.; Mata, R.; Delgado, G.; Romo de Vivar, A.
Phytochemistry 1985, 24, 2973-2976.
4. Zamilpa, A.; Tortoriello, J.; Navarro, V.; Delgado, G.; Alvarez,
L. Planta Med. 2002, 68, 281-283.
5. Sakai, S.; Katsumata, M.; Satoh, Y.; Nagasao, M.; Miyakoshi,
M.; Ida, Y. Phytochemistry 1994, 35, 1319-1321.
6. Marquina, S.; Maldonado, N.; Garduño-Ramírez, M. L.; Aranda,
E.; Villarreal, M. L.; Navarro, V.; Bye, R.; Delgado, G.; Alvarez,
L. Phytochemistry 2001, 56, 93-97.
7. Shibata, S.; Kitagawa, I.; Fujimoto, H. Tetrahedron Lett. 1965,
3783-3788.
8. Kubota, T.; Hinoh, H. Tetrahedron Lett. 1968, 303-306.
9. Agrawal, P. K.; Jain, D. C.; Gupta, R. K.; Thakur, R. S.
Phytochemistry 1985, 24, 2479-2496.
10. Shashi, B.; Sudip, K.; Poddar, G. Phytochemistry 1988, 27, 3057-
3067.
11. Ahmad, V. O.; Basha, A. Spectroscopic Data of Saponins. The
triterpenoid glycosides Vol. I-III. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2000.
12. Yoshikawa, M.; Murakami, T.; Harada, E.; Murakami, N.;
Yamahara, J.; Matsuda, H. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1996, 44, 1915-
1918.
13.Yoshihawa, M.; Murakami, T.; Harada, E.; Murakami, N.;
Yamahara, J.; Matsuda, H. Chem. Pharm. Bull. 1996, 44, 1923-
1925.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 178-185
Investigación
Análisis isobolográfico de la interacción entre α-sanshool, sesamina,
asarinina, fagaramida y piperina sobre la actividad larvicida
en Culex quinquefasciatus Say
Andrés Navarrete, 1,* Alejandro Flores, 2 Carmen Sixtos 3 y Benito Reyes 3
1 Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria,
Coyoacán 04510, México D.F.; Fax: +5622-5329; E-mail: anavarrt@servidor.unam.mx
2 Facultad de Estudios Superiores Zaragoza. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Avenida Guelatao 66,
Colonia Ejercito de Oriente, Iztapalapa 09230, México D.F., México.
3 Laboratorio de productos Naturales. Área de Química, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. Texcoco 56230,
Estado de México, México
Recibido el 29 de abril del 2003; aceptado el 25 de junio del 2003
Dedicado al Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Resumen. Se realizó el análisis isobolográfico de la interacción larvicida
entre α-sanshool con sesamina, asarinina, fagaramida y piperina
en Culex quinquefasciatus. El α-sanshool fue el compuesto más activo
(CL 50 = 3.97 ± 0.61 ppm) seguido de fagaramida (CL 50 = 7.92 ±
1.22 ppm), piperina (CL 50 = 10.02 ± 2.44 ppm), asarinina (CL 50 =
69.95 ± 15.00 ppm) y sesamina (CL 50 = 277.4 ± 35.75 ppm). La
sesamina y la asarinina presentaron una interacción sinérgica con el
α-sanshool, en tanto que con fagaramida y con piperina se observó
un efecto aditivo.
Palabras clave: Análisis isobolográfico, actividad larvicida, α-sanshool,
sesamina, asarinina, fagaramida piperina, Culex quinquefasciatus.
Abstract. An isobolographic analysis of larvicidal interactions between
α-sanshool with sesamin, asarinin, fagaramide and piperine on
Culex quinquefasciatus was performed. α-Sanshool was the most
active compound (LC 50 =3.97 ± 0.61 ppm) followed by fagaramide
(LC 50 = 7.92 ± 1.22 ppm), piperine (LC 50 = 10.02 ± 2.44 ppm),
asarinin (LC 50 = 69.95 ± 15.00 ppm) and sesamin (LC 50 = 277.4 ±
35.75 ppm). Synergistic interaction between a-sanshool and sesamin
or asarinin was observed, whereas with fagaramide or piperine produced
an additive effect.
Keywords: Isobolographic analysis, larvicidal activity, α-sanshool,
sesamin, asarinin, fagaramide, piperine, Culex quinquefasciatus.
Introducción
Los mosquitos son transmisores de varias enfermedades entre
los que se encuentran la malaria, la filariasis, la encefalitis y el
dengue [1]. Los insecticidas sintéticos son los recursos más
importantes en la actualidad para el control de los mosquitos,
sin embargo, su uso indiscriminado ha tenido un efecto negativo
sobre el medio ambiente y muchas especies de mosquitos
han creado resistencia a ellos [2]. Estos factores han dado
lugar a investigaciones dirigidas a encontrar agentes de control
de los mosquitos que sean biodegradables, específicos y
en armonía con la ecología. Los productos derivados de las
plantas cumplen con algunas de estas características, y han
sido utilizados tradicionalmente por comunidades humanas en
muchas partes del mundo en contra de las especies de insectos
vectores y plagas por sus propiedades larvicidas, reguladoras
del crecimiento, repelentes y por sus efectos sobre la ovoposición
en insectos [2]. La investigación en los productos naturales
para el control de los insectos vectores de enfermedades
sigue siendo una actividad prioritaria y aún no agotada. Una
estrategia en esta área es la búsqueda de nuevas estructuras
bioactivas, otra puede ser la utilización de los compuestos
bioactivos en combinaciones estratégicas que mejoren sus
efectos individuales y que puedan dar lugar a productos de
más pronto uso.
El α-sanshool 1 (Fig. 1) es una isobutilamida con actividad
larvicida aislada de la corteza de Zanthoxylum liebmannianum
[3]. El α-sanshool pertenece a un grupo de compuestos
de origen natural con propiedades insecticidas importantes,
cuyas fuentes principalmente de obtención son las plantas de
las familias Piperaceae, Aristolochiaceae y Rutaceae [4-9].
Las isobutilamidas causan la caída rápida y la muerte de
insectos voladores [5], sin embargo, la mayoría de ellas son
poco estables al medio ambiente y son oxidadas rápidamente
por los insectos. Se sabe que las isobutilamidas afectan a los
canales de sodio [9] y que bloquean a los canales de calcio
[10], pero en realidad, se conoce muy poco de su mecanismo
de acción insecticida y menos aún se conoce la forma en la
cual causan una variedad de actividades en diversos organismos,
incluyéndose a los mamíferos en donde provocan anestesia
local y convulsiones [11-15].
En la formulación de insecticidas comerciales es común
la adición de otras sustancias para mejorar su efecto. Entre
estas sustancias se encuentran aquellas que inhiben a las enzimas
responsables de la oxidación microsomal como la sesamina
2 (Fig. 1) [16] o la combinación con otros compuestos que

Análisis isobolográfico de la interacción entre α-sanshool, sesamina, asarinina,... 179
O
O
3"
O
3"
O
2"
4"
2"
4"
12
11
H
O
7
8 6
1 5
1"
H
6"
5"
H
O
7
8 6
1 5
1"
H
6"
5"
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
O
1
N
H
1'
2'
4'
3'
5'
O
4'
6'
1'
3'
O
2'
2
4
3
O
5'
O
4'
6'
1'
3'
O
2'
2
4
O 3
1 2 3
O
O
O
3"
2"
1"
2
3 1
1' N
2' 3'
O
3"
2"
1"
5
4
3
2
1
1'
N
2'
3'
O
4"
5"
6"
H
4 5
Fig. 1. Estructura de los compuestos evaluados. α-Sansool 1, sesamina 2, asarinina 3, fagaramida 4 y piperina 5.
4'
O
4"
5"
6"
6'
5'
4'
tienen actividad insecticida, como la asarinina 3, que se sabe
incrementa la actividad de las piretrinas [17]. En los últimos
años el estudio de la interacción entre dos sustancias activas
se ha realizado utilizando el análisis isobolográfico [18], una
estrategia utilizada en farmacología que ha dado lugar a la
combinación óptima de fármacos de uso clínico [19]. Este
método ofrece una evaluación rigurosa de la interacción entre
dos sustancias activas, ya que permite definir una simple adición
de los efectos individuales (efecto aditivo), una atenuación
(efecto subaditivo) o un sinergismo (efecto superaditivo)
entre ellas [20]. Mediante la construcción de un isobolograma
(Fig. 2), que es una gráfica en coordenadas rectangulares
de pares de dosis o concentraciones (z 1 , z 2 ) de las sustancias
respectivas que producen un nivel determinado de efecto
(por ejemplo 50 % del efecto) cuando se aplican en forma
conjunta. En esta gráfica los interceptos (Z 1 *,0) y (0, Z 2 *) corresponden
a la concentración del compuesto menos activo
(Z 1 *) y del compuesto más activo (Z 2 *) que producen individualmente
el mismo nivel de efecto (muerte del 50 % de las
larvas). La línea que une a estos dos puntos define a la línea
de aditividad y todos los puntos sobre esta línea, que tienen
las coordenadas (z 1 , z 2 ), teóricamente representan los pares de
dosis aditivas (Z teo) de los constituyentes administrados en
forma conjunta que provocan el mismo nivel de efecto que los
compuestos individuales. En la Fig. 2 los puntos A y B corresponden
a las concentraciones teóricas aditivas (Z teo) para dos
proporciones fijas de las dos sustancias activas. Si al realizar
el experimento, las concentraciones para provocar el mismo
efecto (Z exp) son menores que las teóricas aditivas (Z teo)
indicará que existe un efecto superaditivo o sinergista entre
ambas sustancias (puntos P y R en la Fig. 2) pero por el contrario,
si las concentraciones experimentales (Z exp) son mayores
a las concentraciones teóricas aditivas (Z teo) indicará
que existe un efecto subaditivo entre ambas sustancias (puntos
Q y S en la Fig. 2). En el análisis isobolográfico de la interacción
de dos sustancias activas se demuestra estadísticamente
si existe diferencia significativa entre las concentraciones
teóricas aditivas (Z teo) y las concentraciones experimentales
(Z exp) que provocan el mismo nivel de efecto en una proporción
determinada de dichas sustancias, si no se encuentran
diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre Z teo y Z exp
indicará una interacción aditiva entre estas dos sustancias, es
decir que el efecto resultante será la suma de los efectos individuales
de las dos sustancias activas [20]. Por el contrario, si
no hay diferencia entre Z teo y Z exp, esto indicará que el mecanismo
de acción por el cual actúan las dos sustancias es
similar [20]. En el presente trabajo se realizó el estudio de la
interacción del α-sanshool con diferentes proporciones de
sesamina, asarinina, fagaramida 4 o piperina 5 (Fig. 1) a
través del análisis isobolográfico, con el propósito de conocer
de una manera objetiva las combinaciones que permitan mejorar
el efecto larvicida del α-sanshool. Un segundo objetivo de
este trabajo fue definir, mediante este análisis, qué tipo de
interacción se presenta entre estos compuestos bioactivos de
origen natural, a fin de proporcionar información dirigida
hacia encontrar las combinaciones que permitan el desarrollo
de productos larvicidas eficaces en el control de vectores
transmisores de enfermedades importantes para el hombre y
los animales. Para alcanzar esta meta se determinó el efecto
Cuadro 1. Valores de la CL50 ± EEM del efecto larvicida de los
compuestos individuales sobre larvas de mosquito común en su cuarto
instar.
Compuesto CL 50 ± EEM (ppm) 1 Potencia relativa 2
α-Sanshool 3.97 ± 0.61 1.0
Sesamina 277.4 ± 35.75 69.8
Asarinina 69.95 ± 15.00 17.6
Fagaramida 7.92 ± 1.22 1.99
Piperina 10.02 ± 2.44 2.51
1 EEM = error estándar de la media para 4 niveles de concentración
con n = 30 en cada nivel y un valor de r > 0.9 del análisis probit.
2 Respecto al valor de α-sanshool: CL 50 del compuesto/CL 50 de α-
sanshool, e indica el número de veces que debe incrementarse la
concentración del compuesto para que se presente el mismo nivel
del efecto larvicida que el α-sanshool.

180 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Andrés Navarrete et al.
Cuadro 2. Concentraciones equiefectivas teóricas (Z teo) y experimentales (Z exp) ± EEM de las combinaciones que provocan el 50 % de la
muerte de las larvas de C. quinquefasciatus a .
Combinación Proporción Zteo ± EEM Zexp ± EEM Fracción totalb
α-Sanshool: sesamina 1: 24.45 14.722 ± 1.52 2.19 ± 0.31* 0.31
1: 6.48 40.44 ± 4.80 3.512 ± 0.127** 0.14
1: 0.32 210.96 ± 27.06 10.074 ± 0.012** 0.05
1: 0.11 250.40 ± 32.16 100.15 ± 0.018 **0.39
α-Sanshool: asarinina 1: 15.7 7.95 ± 1.07 1.84 ± 0.13** 0.22
1: 6.4 12.95 ± 2.1 4.03 ± 0.29* 0.30
1: 0.13 62.45 ± 13.3 10.08 ± 0.03** 0.16
α-Sanshool: fagaramida 1: 2.5 5.11 ± 0.56 4.51 ± 0.47 0.88
1: 0.9 6.07 ± 0.71 4.34 ± 0.56 0.72
α-Sanshool: piperina 1: 7.3 4.7 ± 0.61 3.89 ± 0.58 0.82
1: 1.6 6.3 ± 1.00 4.93 ± 0.6 0.78
aLas concentraciones son el total en la combinación expresadas en ppm. b De acuerdo a la ecuación 1 descrita en la parte experimental, los valores
cercanos a 1 indican aditividad y los valores < 1 indican superaditividad o sinergismo [36]. Diferencia significativa con un valor de *p <
0.05 o **p < 0.01 respecto al valor teórico correspondiente [19, 36].
letal de diferentes concentraciones de los compuestos puros y
en diferentes combinaciones sobre larvas de Culex quinquefasciatus
en su cuarto instar [21].
Resultados y discusión
EL α-sanshool, la sesamina, la asarinina, la fagaramida y la
piperina en forma individual presentaron efecto larvicida sobre
Culex quiquefasciatus dependiente de la concentración (p <
0.05). En el Cuadro 1 se presentan los valores de la concentración
letal 50 (CL 50 ) de cada una de estas sustancias determinadas
por el método probit [22]. El α-sanshool presentó el
efecto larvicida más potente, seguido en orden descendente por
fagaramida, piperina, asarinina y sesamina (Cuadro 1).
Las proporciones y los valores teóricos y experimentales
de la concentración equiefectiva de las diferentes combinaciones
evaluadas se proporcionan en el Cuadro 2. El isobolograma
de la combinación α-sanshool-sesamina en las cuatro diferentes
proporciones evaluadas indica que existe una interacción
superaditiva entre estas dos sustancias (Fig. 3). La combinación
con 10 ppm de sesamina presentó el efecto sinergista mayor, ya
que incrementó la actividad del α-sahsnool que pasó de una
CL 50 = 3.97 ppm (Cuadro 1) a sólo 0.07 ppm en la combinación
(Fig. 3). La administración simultánea de α-sanshool + asarinina
también indican una interacción superaditiva en las tres combinaciones
evaluadas y también la combinación con 10 ppm de
asarinina presentó el efecto sinergista mayor (Fig. 4). En contraste,
los isobologramas resultantes de la administración
simultánea de α-sanshool + fagaramida (Fig. 5) y α-sanshool +
piperina (Fig. 6) presentaron una interacción aditiva, a pesar de
que los puntos de las concentraciones experimentales que
provocan la muerte del 50 % de las larvas de C. quinquefasciatus
se encontraron en la zona de superaditividad, las diferencias
no fueron lo suficientemente grandes para que existieran diferencias
estadísticamente significativas con respecto a las concentraciones
teóricas para provocar el mismo efecto como resultado
de la adición de los efectos individuales (Cuadro 2).
La interacción superaditiva o sinergista de la sesamina
con el α-sanshool apoyan la propuesta de que las isobutilamidas
actúan de manera similar a las piretrinas; en efecto, se
sabe que la sesamina aumenta la actividad insecticida de las
piretrinas al inhibir el sistema enzimático oxidante de función
mixta [23], en particular el proceso de oxidación dependiente
de la isoforma CYP3A [24]. Las propiedades sinérgicas de la
asarinina para incrementar la actividad de las piretrinas fue
descrito desde 1942 por Haller y sus colaboradores [18]; sin
embargo, no se ha descrito cual es su mecanismo de acción
por el que se produce el sinergismo. En el análisis isobolográfico
(Fig. 4) se observó un comportamiento similar con la
Sustancia 2
S t i 2
Z 2
*
P
A
Q
R
B
0
Z
Sustancia 1
1
*
Fig. 2. Isobolograma en donde se muestra la línea de aditividad (línea
continua) para las sustancias 1 y 2, determinada por las concentraciones
equiefectivas individuales Z 1 * y Z 2 *. Las líneas radiales discontinuas
representan las combinaciones de dos proporciones fijas de
las dos sustancias. La línea radial 0S representa las combinaciones de
las sustancias 1 y 2 que guardan una proporción fija 0.5 Z 1 * : 0.5 Z 2 *.
La línea radial 0Q representa las combinaciones de las sustancias 1 y
2 que guardan otra proporción de Z 1 * y Z 2 *. Los puntos A y B representan
las cantidades teóricas aditivas (Z teo), los puntos P y R representan
las cantidades experimentales (Z exp) con un efecto superaditivo
y los puntos Q y S representan las cantidades experimentales (Z
exp) con un efecto subaditivo.
S

Análisis isobolográfico de la interacción entre α-sanshool, sesamina, asarinina,... 181
S h l( )
α-Sanshool (ppm)
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
Sesamina (ppm)
Fig. 3. Isobolograma de la interacción entre α-sanshool y sesamina
en las cuatro proporciones de concentraciones evaluadas. Los círculos
vacíos sobre la línea oblicua entre los ejes x y y representan los
valores teóricos de aditividad, en tanto que los círculos llenos sobre
las líneas radiales discontinuas representan los valores experimentales
encontrados. Las barras horizontales y verticales indican el error
estándar de la media. Los puntos experimentales cayeron muy por
debajo de la línea de aditividad, indicando un sinergismo significativo
(p < 0.05) en las cuatro proporciones de concentración evaluadas.
sesamina, lo que podría indicar que la asarinina, que es un
estereoisómero de la sesamina, actúe también inhibiendo el
sistema oxidante de los insectos [23]. Cabe señalar que la
sesamina y la asarinina presentaron el efecto larvicida más
bajo cuando se evaluaron en forma individual (Cuadro 1).
La CL 50 (7.92 ± 1.22 ppm) de la fagaramida encontrada
en este trabajo, es cercana a la encontrada por Kubo y sus
colaboradores, quienes reportan un valor de la CL 50 de 15
ppm en Culex pipiens [13]. De acuerdo a la información que
proporciona el análisis isobolográfico, el efecto aditivo observado
en la interacción entre α-sanshool y fagaramida (Fig. 5),
indica que estos dos compuestos actúan por un mecanismo de
acción similar [25]. Este efecto aditivo puede deberse a que
ambos compuestos pertenecen a la familia de las isobutilamidas,
aunque una es alifática y la otra es aromática de cadena
corta. La interacción α-sanshool-piperina también resultó en
una interacción aditiva (Fig. 6). El análisis isobolográfico permite
postular que el efecto larvicida de la piperina se realiza
por un mecanismo de acción similar al de las isobutilamidas.
La baja actividad antioxidante descrita para la piperina [26]
debido más bien a su efecto inhibidor selectivo por las isoformas
CYP1A1 y CYP2B1 [27-29] ponen de manifiesto que el
α-sanshool no se oxida por estas enzimas o que dichas isoformas
del citocromo P450 no existen en las larvas de C. quinquefasciatus.
Existe contradicción respecto a un trabajo en el
cual, de una manera indirecta, demuestran que la piperina
inhibe a la isoforma CYP3A4 en células hepáticas de seres
humanos [30], de ser así se esperaría que la piperina presentara
un efecto sinergísta similar al de la sesamina, sin embargo,
lo que se onservó fue un efecto aditivo. Se requiere de
mayor trabajo experimental para definir la importancia de las
diferentes isoformas del citocromo P450 en la inhibición de
las enzimas oxidantes de las isobutilamidas.
En conclusión, el análisis isobolográfico de la interacción
del α-sanshool con sesamina y con asarinina, permitió definir
una interacción sinérgica entre las mezclas binarias de α-sanshool
con estos dos lignanos, atribuida pobablemente al efecto
inhibidor del sistema oxidante en las larvas de Culex quinquefasciatus;
en tanto que la interacción con fagaramida y con
piperina presentó un efecto aditivo, que indica que estos dos
insecticidas actúan por un mecanismo de acción similar al del
α-sanshool. El incremento importante en la actividad larvicida
del α-sanshool por sesamina y por asarinina puede considerarse
para el desarrollo de un larvicida con estos productos
naturales, ya que supera la actividad larvicida de otros productos
naturales individuales y la formación de mezclas binarias
que presenten sinergismo puede ser una buena estrategia a
considerar para obtener agentes útiles en el control de los
mosquitos vectores de enfermedades importantes y que
puedan constituirse en productos comercialmente rentables.
Por otro lado, la aplicación del análisis isobolográfico en el
campo de los biocidas puede representar una estrategia útil
para optimizar la actividad de susutancias bioactivas.
Parte experimental
Material vegetal. Las hojas y la corteza del tronco de Z. liebmannianum
fueron colectadas en de 1995 en San Andrés
Cacaloapan del municipio de Tehuacán, Puebla. Una muestra
de referencia se encuentra depositada en el Herbario de
Plantas Útiles Efraim Hernández X de la Universidad Autónoma
Chapingo con el registro XOLO19822126.
Procedimientos Generales. Los puntos de fusión se determinaron
en un aparato Electrothermal Digital IA9100 y no están
corregidos. Los espectros de IR se registraron e un espectrómetro
Perkin Elmer modelo 599. Los espectros de RMN- 1 H
(300 MHz) y de RMN- 13 C (75MHz) se obtuvieron en un
S h l( )
α-Sanshool (ppm)
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Asarinina (ppm)
Fig. 4. Isobolograma de la interacción entre α-sanshool y asarinina
en las tres proporciones de concentraciones evaluadas. Los puntos
experimentales (círculos llenos) cayeron por debajo de la línea de
aditividad, indicando un sinergismo significativo (p < 0.05) en las
tres proporciones de concentración evaluadas.

182 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Andrés Navarrete et al.
5
5
4
4
α-Sanshool (ppm)
S h l( )
3
2
1
0
-Sanshool α (ppm)
α-Sanshool (ppm)
3
2
1
0
0 2 4 6 8 10
Fagaramida (ppm)
Fig. 5. Isobolograma de la interacción entre α-sanshool y fagaramida
en las dos proporciones de concentraciones evaluadas. Los valores
experimentales (círculos llenos) no fueron estadísticamente diferentes
de los valores teóricos (círculos vacíos) representados sobre la línea
de aditividad, lo que indica un efecto aditivo entre estas dos sustancias.
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
Piperina (ppm)
Fig. 6. Isobolograma de la interacción entre α-sanshool y piperina en
las dos proporciones de concentraciones evaluadas. Los valores
experimentales (círculos llenos) no fueron estadísticamente diferentes
de los valores teóricos (círculos vacíos) representados sobre la línea
de aditividad, lo que indica un efecto aditivo entre estas dos sustancias.
espectrómetro Varian VXR-3005 en CDCl 3 , utilizándose TMS
como estándar interno. Los espectros de masas se obtuvieron
en un espectrómetro Hewlett-Packard modelo 5890 a 70 eV.
La rotación óptica se midió en un polarímetro Perkin-Elmer
241 utilizándose cloroformo como disolvente.
Extracción e identificación de los compuestos. La corteza
seca y molida (2 kg) se extrajo por maceración por períodos
de tres días en forma sucesiva con hexano (8 LX3) y con
cloruro de metileno (8LX3). Después de eliminar el disolvente
a presión reducida se obtuvieron 58 g de extracto de hexano y
141 g de extracto de cloruro de metileno. Una fracción del
extracto de cloruro de metileno (31 g) fue separado por cromatografía
en columna preparativa (5 d.i. × 80 cm), utilizándose
300 g de gel de sílice (Merck 70-230 mallas). La elución
de la columna se realizó con cloruro de metileno y mezclas de
cloruro de metileno y acetato de etilo (9:1; 8:2 y 1:1). Se
colectaron un total de 80 fracciones de 100 mL cada una. Se
reunieron las fracciones 29-46 de la elusión con cloruro de
metileno/acetato de etilo (9:1). El total de este conjunto de
fracciones (4 g) se separaron en una segunda columna de gel
de sílice (Merck 70-230 mallas, 40 g, 2.5 d.i. × 80 cm) utilizándose
como mezcla de elusión cloruro de metileno / acetato
de etilo (9:2, 20 mL por fracción) de las fracciones 14-65 se
obtuvo el α-sanshool 1 en forma de aceite de color amarillo(0.635
g, 0.144 % de rendimiento, considerando la cantidad
que se obtendría del total del extracto), el cual fue identificado
por comparación de sus espectros de IR, masas, RMN- 1 H (300
MHz, CDCl 3 ) y RMN- 13 C (125 MHz, CDCl 3 ) con los datos
espectroscópicos descritos previamente para esta amida [4,
31]: IR ν max (CHCl 3 ) cm –1 : 3448, 2872, 1674, 1638, 1518,
994, 970; EMIE: m/z (int.rel): 247 (M + , C 16 H 25 NO, 29), 204
([M-C 3 H 7 ] + , 5), 167(20), 147(10), 141(97), 107(100), 98(12),
91(46), 79(70); RMN- 1 H (CDCl 3 , 300 MHz), δ: 0.86 (s, 3H,
H-3’) 0.88 (s, 3H, H-4’), 1.75 (d, 3H, J=6Hz, H-12), 1.80 (m,
1H, H-2’), 2.25 (m, 4H, H-4, H-5), 3.10 (dd, 2H, 6.4,12.9 Hz,
H-1’), 6.20 (sa, H-N), 6.36-5.37 (m, H-6-H-11), 6.82 (m, H-2,
H-3); RMN- 13 C (CDCl 3 , 125 MHz) δ: 165.98 (C-1),
124.22(C-2), 143.38 (C-3), 32.05 (C-4), 26.54 (C-5), 129.62
(C-6), 129.59 (C-7), 125.27 (C-8), 133.46 (C-9), 131.79 (C-
10), 130.10 (C-11), 18.29 (C-12), 46.88 (C-1’), 28.59 (C-2’),
20.13 (C-3’, C-4’).
Para obtener la sesamina 2 y la asarinina 3, 2.9 kg de hojas
secas y molidas de Z. liebmannianum se extrajeron por maceración
con hexano (7L × 3) por periódos de tres días.
Después de eliminar el disolvente se obtuvieron 62 g de
extracto. El total del este extracto se separó por cromatografía
en columna de gel de sílice (Merck 70-230 mallas, 970 g, 10
d.i. × 120 cm) iniciándose la elusión con hexano y después
con mezclas de hexano y acetato de etilo (9:1, 8:2, 1:1) y
acetato de etilo. Se colectaron un total de 270 fracciones de
250 mL cada una. De las fracciones 15-67, eluidas con hexano/acetato
de etilo (9:1), se obtuvo un sólido cristalino, que
después de recristalizarlo de éter isopropílico se obtuvieron
350 mg (0.012 %) de asarinina (p.f 117-118 ºC). De las fracciones
93-103, eluidas también con hexano/acetato de etilo
(9:1), cristalizaron 1.3 g (0.044 %) de sesamina (p.f. 121-122
ºC). La identificación de estos compuestos se realizó por comparación
de sus espectros de IR, masas y RMN con las
descritas previamente [4]. d(+)-Sesamina 2: [α] d
20 = +68 (c
0.1, CHCl 3 ); IR ν max (CHCl 3 ) cm –1 :3022, 2881, 1488, 1245,
1041, 935, 810; EMIE: m/z (int.rel): 354 (M + , C 20 H 18 O 6 , 92),
203 (32), 150 (45), 149 (100), 135 (45), 121 (20), 103 (12), 65
(8); RMN- 1 H (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ: 3.04 (m, 2H, H-1, H-5),
3.85 (dd, 2H, J= 4, 9 Hz, H-4e, H-8e), 4.22 (dd, 2H, J=8, 9Hz,
H-4a, H-8a), 4.70 (d, 2H, J=5 Hz, H-2, H-6), 5.90 (s, 4H, O-
CH2-O), 6.76 (m, 6H, H-2', H-5', H-6'). (+) Asarinina 3:
[α] d
20 = +120 (c0.1, CHCl 3 ); IR ν max (CHCl 3 ) cm –1 :3010,

Análisis isobolográfico de la interacción entre α-sanshool, sesamina, asarinina,... 183
2985, 1500, 1475, 1435, 1250, 1030, 925, 790, 630; EMIE:
m/z (int.rel): 354 (M + , C 20 H 18 O 6 , 25), 203,(15), 179 (10), 150
(26), 149 (100), 135 (49), 121(15); RMN- 1 H (300 MHz,
CDCl 3 ) δ: 3.3 (m, 2H, H-1, H-8e), 4.81 (d, J = 6.43 Hz, 1H,
H-2), 3.85 (m, 2H, H-4a, H-8a), 4.08 (d, J = 6.9 Hz, 1H, H-
4e), 2.85 (m, 1H, H-5), 4.38 (d, J = 7.1 Hz, 1H, H-6), 6.88 (m,
3H, H-2', H-5', H-6'), 5.93 (s, 2H, O-CH 2 -O), 595 (s, 2H, O-
CH 2 -O); ); RMN- 13 C (CDCl 3 , 75 MHz) δ: 54.6 (d,C-1), 82.0
(d, C-2), 70.9 (t, C-4), 50.10 (d, C-5), 87.6 (d, C-6), 69.6 (t, C-
8), 132.2 (s, C-1'), 135.1 (s, C-1''), 106.3 (d, C-2'), 106.5 (d,
C-2"), 146.5 (s, C-3'), 147.1 (s, C-3"), 147.6 (s, C-4'), 147.9
(s, C-4"), 108.1 (d, C-5', C-5"), 118.6 (d, C-6'), 119.5 (d, C-
6"), 100.9 (t, O-CH 2 -O), 101.0 (t, O-CH 2 -O).
La piperina 5 se obtuvo de la pimienta negra comercial,
siguiendo la metodología descrita por Epstein y colaboradores
[32]. Brevemente, 60 g de pimienta negra se calentaron
a reflujo durante 20 minutos con 120 mL de cloruro de
metileno. La mezcla se dejó enfriar a temperatura ambiente
(22 ± 2 ºC), se filtró al vacío y el residuo se lavó varias veces
con cloruro de metileno. Después de eliminar el disolvente a
presión reducida se obtuvo un aceite obscuro al cual se le adicionó
éter etílico para inducir la precipitación de la piperina.
El filtrado dejó un residuo amarillo en el papel filtro, el cual
se lavó varias veces con éter etílico frío y posteriormente se
recristalizó de acetona, obteniéndose finalmente 1.36 g de
piperina pura. P.f. 130-131 ºC, IR ν max (KBr) cm –1 : 1633,
1611, 1583, 1491, 1447, 1252, 1133, 1031, 996, 927; EMIE:
m/z (int.rel): 285 (M + , C 17 H 19 O 3 N, 86), 201 (100), 173 (26),
115 (45), 84 (10); RMN- 1 H (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ: 1.62 (m,
6H, H-3', H-4', H-5'), 3.58 (m, 4H, H-2', H-6'), 5.98 (s, 2H, O-
CH 2 -O), 6.43 (d, 1H, J = 15Hz, H-2), 6.74 (m, 2H, H-5", H-
6"), 6.89 (m, 1H, H-5), 6.98 (s, 1H, H-2"), 7.41 (m, 2H, H-3,
H-4). RMN- 13 C (CDCl 3 , 75 MHz) δ: 165.36 (C-1), 119.99 (C-
2), 142.43 (C-3), 125.30 (C-4), 138.15 (C-5), 46.26 (C-2'),
26.09 (C-3'), 24.60 (C-4'), 26.09 (C-5'), 46.26 (C-6'), 130.95
(C-1"), 105.60 (C-2"), 148.12 (C-3"), 148.05 (C-4"), 108.41
(C-5"), 122.43 (C-6"), 101.21 (O-CH 2 -O).
La fagaramida 4 se obtuvo por síntesis siguiendo la técnica
descrita por Elliot y colaboradores [33]. Brevemente, Se
calentaron a reflujo por 5 h 5.7 mmol de ácido 3-(1,3-benzodioxol-5-il)-2E-propenóico
(Aldrich) con 27.3 mmol de cloruro
de tionilo en 20 mL de benceno anhidro. Al término de este
tiempo se destiló el exceso de cloruro de tionilo. Al cloruro de
ácido así obtenido se le agregaron 13 mmol de isobutilamina
disuelta en 50 mL de éter etílico anhidro. La mezcla de reacción
se dejó con agitación por 20 h a temperatura ambiente.
Después de eliminar el éter etílico, la mezcla de reacción se
disolvió en acetato de etilo a la cual se le realizaron extracciones
sucesivas con ácido clorhídrico al 10% (p/v), bicarbonato
de sodio y agua destilada hasta obtener un pH neutro en la
fase acuosa. La fase orgánica se secó con sulfato de sodio
anhidro y se eliminó a presión reducida; de esta forma se obtuvo
la fagaramida, la cual después de recristalizarla de etanol
presentó un pf de 115-116 ºC. Sus datos espectroscópicos de
RMN coincidieron con los descritos previamente [34]: RMN-
1H (300 MHz, CDCl 3 ) δ: 0.95 (s, 1H, H-3'), 0.97 (s, 1H, H-4'),
1.84 (m, 1H, H-2'), 3.22 (dd, J= 6.4, 12.9, 2H, H-1'), 5.66 (sa,
1H, NH), 5.98 (s, 2H, O-CH 2 -O), 6.26 (m, 1H, H-2), 6.77 (m,
1H, H-5"), 6.80 (m, 1H, H-6"), 7.3 (s, 1H, H-2"), 7.56 (d, J=
15Hz, 1H, H-3); RMN- 13 C(CDCl 3 , 75 MHz) δ: 166.05 (C-1),
118.95 (C-2), 140.60 (C-3), 47.11 (C-1'), 28.68 (C-2'), 20.16
(C-3'), 20.16 (C-4'), 129.38 (C-1"), 106.37 (C-2"), 148.24 (C-
3"), 148.99 (C-4"), 108.52 (C-5"), 123.71 (C-6"), 101.40 (O-
CH 2 -O).
Determinación de la actividad larvicida. Los huevecillos de
Culex quinquefasciatus se colectaron en estanques de agua del
"Campo Experimental El Ranchito" de la Universidad
Autónoma Chapingo. Los huevecillos se mantuvieron en
recipientes con agua y alimento vegetal, la cual se cambió
cada 72 h hasta que emergieron los insectos. Los insectos
adultos se mantuvieron en una jaula entomológica en condiciones
óptimas para que continuaran su ciclo biológico. Como
fuente de sangre para la hembras se utilizaron pollos de aproximadamente
15 días de edad, los cuales se introdujeron a la
jaula sólo por las noches. Se colocaron recipientes con agua
dentro de la jaula entomológica para que las hembras ovopositaran.
Diariamente se colectaron los huevecillos y se mantuvieron
en recipientes con agua y alimento vegetal. Este procedimiento
se siguió hasta la tercera generación, para evitar
efectos residuales de la posible exposición a insecticidas. Los
huevecillos de la tercera generación se dejaron desarrollar
hasta el cuarto instar para realizar los experimentos.
Se colocaron 10 larvas de C. quinquefasciatus del cuarto
instar en 5 mL de agua, se adicionaron 100 µL de las soluciones
de los compuestos de prueba y se aforaron a 10 mL con
agua, 24 h después se determinó el número de larvas muertas.
En experimentos preliminares se determinó la ventana de
actividad biológica de cada uno de los compuestos, ensayándose
concentraciones de 1 a 1000 ppm, en espacios logarítmicos.
Cada una de las concentraciones de los compuestos de
prueba disueltos en acetona se evaluaron por triplicado. Se
ajustó el rango de concentraciones de manera tal que al menos
existieran 4 niveles de concentración para determinar la
Concentración letal 50 (CL 50 ) por el método probit [22].
Paralelamente se evaluaron lotes controles tratados con 100
µL de acetona [21].
Para el estudio de la interacción, los compuestos se adicionaron
en las proporciones definidas en el Cuadro 2 en el
mismo volumen de acetona utilizado en la evaluación de los
compuestos individuales.
Análisis de la interacción. Para caracterizar la interacción
entre α-sanshool con sesamina, asarinina, fagaramida y piperina
se utilizó un análisis isobolográfico [20]. De acuerdo a este
método sólo se consideraron para el análisis las concentraciones
equiefectivas (CL 50 ) de cada compuesto y sus combinaciones
obtenidas de las curvas concentración-respuesta. Las
concentraciones teóricas aditivas (Z teo) se calcularon de las
concentraciones equiefectivas (CL 50 ) de los compuestos individuales
de acuerdo al método descrito por Tallarida [35]. La
comparación de las concentraciones teóricas (Zteo) y experi-

184 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Andrés Navarrete et al.
mentales (Z exp) permite definir la naturaleza de la interacción
(subaditividad o superaditividad) o concluir que no hay
interacción (aditividad).
Los isobologramas se construyeron de acuerdo al procedimiento
descrito por Tallarida y colaboradores [19]. Brevemente,
las concentraciones equiefectivas (CL 50 ) de cada compuesto
se graficó sobre los ejes x y y. En x se graficó el compuesto
menos activo y en y el más activo (α-sanshool). Los
interceptos con coordenadas (Z 1 *,0) y (0, Z 2 *) corresponden a
la CL 50 del compuesto menos activo y a la CL 50 del compuesto
más activo, respectivamente. La línea que se forma por la
unión de los dos interceptos corresponde a la línea de aditividad.
Todos los puntos sobre esta línea con coordenadas (z 1 ,
z 2 ), representa el par de concentraciones teóricas aditivas (Z
teo) para los compuestos administrados juntos que dan el mismo
nivel de efecto que los compuestos administrados individualmente
[19]. Las coordenadas de los puntos experimentales
de la combinación (Z exp), que caen por debajo de la línea de
aditividad indicarán una superaditividad o sinergismo y si
caen por arriba de la línea de aditividad indicarán una subaditividad
o que uno de ellos está disminuyendo el efecto del otro
[21].
Para describir la magnitud de la interacción se calculó el
valor de la fracción total (Cuadro 2) de la concentración
equiefectiva del compuesto A, del compuesto B y su combinación,
de acuerdo a la Ecuación 1 [36]:
Fracción total = (Concentración del compuesto A
en al combinación/Concentración del compuesto A solo)
+ (Concentración del compuesto B (1)
en la combinación/Concentración del compuesto B solo)
El valor de esta fracción total indica la divergencia entre la
concentración equiefectiva experimental (Z exp) de la combinación
y la concentración teórica aditiva (Z teo). Valores cercanos
a 1 indican aditividad; valores menores de 1 implican una
interacción sinérgica; y un valor mayor de 1 indica una interacción
subaditiva o de atenuación del efecto [36]. La fracción
total se calculó con los valores de las concentraciones de los
compuestos solos o en la combinación que provocan la muerte
del 50 % de las larvas de C. quinquefasciatus (Cuadro 2).
Análisis estadístico. Los valores de la CL 50 ± EEM de los compuestos
individuales o en las combinaciones en las diferentes
proporciones se calculó por el método probit [22]. Para determinar
que el efecto es dependiente de la concentración, se realizó
el análisis de varianza de la regresión lineal entre probits y logaritmo
de la dosis [20]. Para distinguir una interacción sinérgica
de un efecto aditivo entre los valores experimentales de las concentraciones
que provocan el 50 % de la muerte de las larvas en
las diferentes combinaciones (Z exp) y las concentraciones aditivas
teóricas (Z teo), se utilizó la prueba t de Student, siguiendo
el procedimiento para el análisis isobolográfico [19, 36].
Agradecimientos
Se agradece a Q. Marisela Gutíerrez, Q. Georgina Duarte,
QFB Margarita Guzmán, QFB Rosa Isela Del Villar Morales
y QFB Oscar S. Yañes, USAI Facultad de Química UNAM,
por el registro de los espectros de IR, Masas y RMN. El presente
trabajo fue financiado parcialmente por la Dirección
General de Asuntos del Personal Académico de la UNAM a
través del Proyecto IN 203902.
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PL417-425.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 186-189
Investigación
Cytotoxic Evaluation of a Series of Bisalkanoic Anilides
and Bisbenzoyl Diamines
Luis Chacón-García, M. Elena Rodríguez, and Roberto Martínez*
Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán 04510,
México, D.F. E-mail: robmar@servidor.unam.mx
Dedicated to Profesor Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Recibido el 10 de marzo del 2003; aceptado el 26 de junio del 2003
Abstract. A series of bisalkanoic anilides and bisbenzoyl diamines
were synthesized with the aim of elucidating the relationship between
molecular structure and cytotoxic activity. Twenty-one derivatives
were synthesized and tested on three tumoral cell lines. No apparent
relationship was observed between electronic effects and cytotoxic
activity, but it was found that compounds in which the 4'-phenyl substituent
is fluoride or bromide gave the best inhibition of tumoral cell
growth.
Keywords: Diamides, alkanediamides, cytotoxic activity.
Resumen. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue encontrar la relación
entre la estructura molecular y la actividad citotóxica de una serie de
anilidas de diácidos y diamidas bisbenzoiladas, para lo cual se sintetizaron
veintiuno de los compuestos mencionados. Los resultados de la
evaluación citotóxica de estos derivados, en tres líneas celulares, no
indicaron ninguna relación con respecto a efectos electrónicos de los
substituyentes, si bien los derivados 4-bromofenil y 4-fluorofenil son
los más activos.
Palabras clave: Diamidas, alcano diamidas, actividad citotóxica.
Introduction
DNA recognizing molecules such as DNA-intercalators and
groove binders have been the subject of increasing interest due
to the ongoing search for more active antitumoral compounds.
DNA-groove binders have been widely studied as anticancer
compounds. In addition, they have been studied as anti-HIV
agents and have been incorporated as a linker in DNA bisintercalators
[1-4]. The most typical DNA-groove binders are
the antibiotics Distamycine A (1) and Netropsin (2), which are
characterized by polyamide and polyaromatic functional
groups along the DNA recognizing chain [5]. The aromatic
portion of these compounds is the pyrrolo system; however,
recent studies have investigated compounds incorporating
thiazolyl (3) or phenyl (4) (Fig. 1) instead of pyrrolyl, and
groove binders that contain the benzimidazolyl moiety have
been described in earlier reports [6-8]. Recently, we reported a
series of N,N’-(diaminophenyl)alkanediamides 5 which differ
in the length of the aliphatic portion. These compounds were
shown to inhibit the growth of tumoral cell lines, indicating
that this topographical factor has an important influence on
DNA recognition [9]. However, the cytotoxic activity of the
N,N’-(diaminophenyl)alkanediamides was low. The present
investigation was undertaken to study the influence of aryl
substituents in these compounds and to find compounds of this
type with improved cytotoxic activity. To achieve this, we
synthesized a series of bisalkanoic anilides and bisbenzoyl
diammines (6-27) and their activities as cytotoxic agents were
evaluated.
Results and discussion
The N,N’-diarylalkanediamides (6-20) (Fig. 2) were synthesized
by condensation of the respective 4-substitued aniline (2
equiv.) with succinyl, glutaryl or adipoyl chloride (1 equiv.) in
acetone while being stirred and cooled in an iced bath. The
products were precipitated, filtered, and washed with acetone.
Yields varied from 65 to 96 %.
Compounds 21-23 and 25-27 were obtained as described
for 6-20 but from condensation of the respective benzoyl chloride
and ethylenediamine, 1,2-propanediamine, or piperazine
as shown in Figure 2. The compounds were obtained in yields
of 75 to 95 %. Compound 24 was obtained by reduction of the
nitro derivative 23, using Pd/C and hydrazine in ethanol at
reflux for 1 h. Recrystallization from methanol afforded the
amine derivative. The yields and spectroscopic data of compounds
6-27 are summarized in Table 1.
The percentage of inhibition of the growth of the three
tumoral cell lines after treatment with each compound at a
concentration of 31 µM is given in Table 1. The groups bonded
at the 4’ position were selected on the basis of their electron
withdrawing or donating properties, and their hydrogen
bonding capabilities.
The first series of compounds comprises N,N’-diarylalkanediamides
with different numbers of methylenes in the
aliphatic chain. The first compounds synthesized and probed
were 6 to 10 (n = 2). These compounds displayed little activity
in the three cell lines. The compound which inhibits cell
growth to the greatest extent (57 % in K562) is 6 (R = F), followed
by 7 (R = Br) in the same cell line.

Cytotoxic Evaluation of a Series of Bisalkanoic Anilides and Bisbenzoyl Diamines 187
Table 1. Physical properties, spectroscopic data and inhibition of the growth of compounds 6-27 at concentration 31 µM.
Comp. R n M.W. Yield (%) m.p. Ref. (a) K562 PC-3 U251
No. (b) (c) (d)
6 F 2 304 65 243-245 [10] 57 25 0
7 Br 2 426 69 281-282 [10,11, 12] 40 6 0
8 OMe 2 328 80 255-256 [10] 22 13 10
9 OH 2 300 92 273-274 [13] 0 13 0
10 H 2 268 83 231-232 [10, 12] 0 16 0
11 Br 3 318 70 254-256 [10] 55 0 4
12 F 4 332 65 230-233 — 96 10 39
13 Cl 4 365 75 255-256 [10] 13 0 0
14 Br 4 454 75 287-288 [12] 5 0 3
15 I 4 548 77 — 0 0 0
16 OMe 4 356 89 233-235 [10, 14] 74 18 17
17 OH 4 328 96 [13, 15] 80 34 4
18 H 4 296 95 244-245 [10, 12] 24 18 0
19 HNCOCH 3 4 410 80 > 350 — 0 0 0
20 CN 4 346 85 272-233 [14] 9 13 42
21 Br — 440 75 268-270 — 83 72 100
22 Br — 426 80 281-283 — 0 0 5
23 NO 2 — 358 80 253-254 — 0 8 0
24 NH 2 — 298 85 284-285 — 0 3 0
25 NO 2 — 372 75 235-237 — 0 26 0
26 Br — 452 89 270-273 — 0 0 6
27 NO 2 — 384 95 318-320 [16] 0 4 0
(a) References of the synthesis for previously reported compounds. (b) Leukemia (c) Prostate (d) CNS.
O
H
H 2 N
H
N
Me
N
N
H
H
N
O
H
N
O
N
Me
NH 2
1
N
Me
2
H
R N
N
O S
3
HN
O
HN
O
R'
O
n
H NH
N
2
N
Me
O
N
Me
O
H 2 N
H 2 N
H NH
N
2
H 2 N
H 2 N
H 2 N
H
N
O
O
HN
HN
O
4
H
( )n N
O
5
HN
O
HN
( )n
HN
O
Fig. 1. Examples of compounds containing polyamide and polyaromatic
functional groups along the DNA recognizing chain.
HN
O
O
NH 2
NH 2
R
COCl
R
23
COCl
R
ClCO(CH 2 )nCOCl
H 2 N
R'
H
N
N
H
NH 2
R
R
R
H
N
O
O
O
N
H
N
( )n
6-20
R'
H
N
O
H
N
N
O
O
21,25 R'=Me
22,23 R'=H
O
Pd / C
H
N
N
NH 2 NH 2 H
O
H 2 N
24
26-27
Fig. 2. Synthesis of compounds 6-27. (R values are reported on Table
1.)
R
R
R
NH 2
To study the influence of the length of the aliphatic chain
on cytotoxic activity, we prepared compounds with a four
methylene chain (12, 14, 16-18). It should be pointed out that
compounds 13 (R = Cl) and 15 (R = I) were included due to
the apparent tendency of halogens to present activity. In addition,
compounds 19 (R = NHCOCH 3 ) and 20 (R = CN) were
included in the study to investigate the effects of the
NHCOCH 3 and CN functional groups. In contrast to the
almost complete lack of activity shown by the first series (n =
2), compound 12 (R = F) induced almost 100 % inhibition of
growth in K562 cell line and the functional groups OMe (16)
and OH (17) were found to enhance cytotoxicity. The rest of
the compounds showed no activity.

188 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Luis Chacón-García et al.
Compounds 21-25 were examined to analyze the importance
of the relative position of the amide group and the presence
of branching in the aliphatic chain. Surprisingly, compound
21 was the most active in the bromide series, displaying
relatively good inhibition in the three cell lines. Given the
activity of 21, it is surprising that 22 was inactive. To complete
the series of bromide compounds, 11 (n = 3, R = Br) was
obtained; it showed greater activity than 7 (R = Br, n = 2) but
less than 14 (R = Br, n = 4) in K562 cell line.
The inhibition resulted by 21, lead to the resentment that
conformation could be implicated in the cytotoxic activity. To
test this idea, compounds 26 and 27 were synthesized; however,
both of these compounds were inactive. Although these
molecules are structurally similar to 21-25, the formers (26
and 27) are not very capable of interacting by hydrogen bonding.
This is a very important factor affecting cytotoxicity in
DNA groove binders due to the stability of the DNA-ligand
complex.
Conclusions
The data presented here are inconclusive regarding the relationship
between electronic factors or hydrogen bonding capability
and inhibition of the growth in tumor cell lines. The present
results also show no clear link between the presence of
halogens or the length of the aliphatic chain and the cytotoxicity
of a compound. However, this study did reveal the interesting
finding that the compounds which presented cytotoxic
activities were primarily those containing fluoride or bromide.
Experimental
Chemistry
General procedure for the preparation of 6-20. Diacyl chloride
(0.72 mmol) was added to a solution of 4-R-aniline (1.44
mmol) in 15 mL of acetone at 5 °C. After 2 h stirring, the
mixture was filtered and washed with acetone to afford 6-20.
12: 1 H NMR (δ, J(Hz)): 1.60 (s, 4H), 2.30 (s, 4H), 7.10 (m,
4H), 7.57 (m, 4H), 9.94 (s, 2H); IR ν (cm –1 ) 1652, 3305. 15:
1H NMR (δ, J(Hz)): 1.59 (s, 4H), 2.31 (s, 4H), 7.41 (d, J =
8.8, 4H), 7.60 (d, J 8.7, 4H), 9.97 (s, 2H); IR ν (cm –1 ) 1657,
3292. 19: 1 H NMR (δ, J(Hz)) 1.59 (m, 4H), 1.99 (s, 6H), 2.28
(s, 4H), 7.46 (s, 8H), 9.80 (s, 2H), 9.83 (s, 2H); IR ν (cm –1 )
1659, 3298.
General procedure for the preparation of 21-23 and 25-27. 4-
bromobenzoyl chloride (1 mmol) was added to a solution of
diamine (0.7 mmol) in 15 mL of acetone at 5 °C. After 2 h
stirring, water was added and the precipitated filtered and
washed with water and acetone to afford 21-23 or 25.
21: 1 H NMR (δ, J(Hz)) 1.15 (d, J 6.64, 3H), 3.35 (t, J 9, 2H),
4.23 (m, 1H), 7.64 (d, J 8.6, 4H), 7.76 (d, J 8.5, 2H), 8.34 (d, J
8.2, 1H) 8.63 (t, J 5.6, 1H); IR ν (cm –1 ) 1637, 3301.
22: 1 H NMR (δ, J(Hz)): 1.33 (s, 4H), 7.65 (d, J 8.85, 4H),
7.77 (d, J 8.5, 4H), 8.67 (s, 2H); IR ν (cm –1 ) 1633, 3287. 23:
1H NMR (δ, J(Hz) 3.47 (d, J=2.7, 4H), 8.07 (d, J = 8.8, 4H),
8.30 (d, J 8.9, 4H), 9.00 (s, 2H); IR ν (cm –1 ) 1640-3319. 25:
1H NMR (δ, J(Hz)): 1.2 (d, J 6.7, 3H), 3.45 (t, J 6.3, 2H), 4.3
(m, 1H), 8.03 (d, J 8.96, 2H), 8.05 (d, J 9, 2H), 8.63 (d, J 8.14,
1H), 8.92 (t, J 5.6, 1H); IR ν (cm –1 ) 1661, 3318. 26: 1 H NMR
(δ, J (Hz)) 3.54 (m, 8H), 7.37 (d, J 8.4, 4H), 7.64 (d, J 8, 4H);
IR ν (cm –1 ). 1635.
Preparation of 24.
Ethanol (10 ml), Pd/C 5% (0.046 g), Hidrazine (0.818 ml,
25.9 mmol), water (0.93 ml) and 23 (756 mg, 2.59 mmol)
were mixed in a bottom flask. The mixture was refluxed for
2h. The resulting solid was dissolved in methanol with heat
and filtered at vacuum. Methanol was eliminated up precipitation
of a solid that was filtered and crystallized from
methanol to afford 24. 1 H NMR (δ, J(Hz)): 3.33 (d, J 7.2, 4H),
5.58 (d, J 3.18, 4H), 6.51 (d, J 8.5, 4H), 7.54 (d, J 8.5, 4H),
8.12 (s, 2H); IR ν (cm –1 ) 1600, 3333, 3437.
Cytotoxic Activity
Tumoral cell lines were supplied by the National Cancer
Institute. The cytotoxicity assays were carried out at 5000 to
7500 cells / mL as reported by Skehan et al. and Monks et al
using the sulforhodamine B (SRB) protein assay to estimate
cell growth [17, 18]. Compounds were dissolved in DMSO
which has not effect on the inhibition has shown by the control.
The percentage of inhibition of the growth described for
all compounds were obtained from three different experiments.
The percentage growth was evaluated spectrophotometrically
in a Bio kinetics reader spectrophotometer. Daunomicyne
and 5-fluorouracyl were used as references. These
compounds under the described conditions gave 100 % of
inhibition. Each experiment was made two times by gave triplicate.
Acknowledgment. We thank CONACyT (32633-E) and
DGAPA-UNAM (IN-211601) for financial support. We also
thank M.T. Ramírez Apan for obtaining the biological data, R.
Patiño, H. Rios, A. Peña, L. Velasco and J. Pérez for technical
assistance. Contribution No. 1765 from Instituto de Química,
UNAM.
References
1. Timofeeva, O. A.; Ryabinin, V. A.; Sinyakov, A. N.; Zakharova,
O. D.; Yamkovoy, V. I.; Tarrago-Litvak, L.; Litvak, S.;
Nevinsky, G. A. Mol. Biol. (Moscow) 1997, 31, 359-365.
2. Eliadis, A.; Phillips, D. R.; Reiss, J. A.; Skorobogaty, A. J.
Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun 1988, 1049-1052.
3. Martínez, R.; Cogordan, J. A.; Mancera, C.; Díaz, M. L. Fármaco
2000, 55, 631-636.
4. Chacón-García, L.; Martínez, R. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2002, 37,
261-266.
5. For a review of Lexitropsin see: Lown, J. W. Drug Dev. Res.
1996, 34, 145-183.

Cytotoxic Evaluation of a Series of Bisalkanoic Anilides and Bisbenzoyl Diamines 189
6. Ryabinin, V. A.; Sinyakov, A. N.; Soultrait, V. R.; Caumont, A.;
Parissi, V.; Zakharova, O.D.; Vasyutina, E. L.; Yurchenko, E.;
Bayandin, R.; Litvak, S.; Tarrago-Litvak, L.; Nevinsky G.A.
Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2000, 35, 989-1000.
7. Warner, P. M.; Qi, J.; Meng, B.; Li, G.; Xie, L.; El-Shafey, A.;
Jones G. B. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2002, 12, 1-4.
8. Wemer, D. E.; Dervan, P. B. Curr. Op. Struct. Biol. 1997, 7, 355-
361.
9. Chacón-García, L.; Martínez, R. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2001, 36,
731-736.
10. Kubicova, L.; Waisser, K.; Kunes, J.; Kralova, K.; Odlerova, Z.;
Slosarek, M.; Janota, J.; Svovoda, Z. Molecules 2000, 5, 714-726.
11. Sanna, A.; Repetto, G. Gazz. Chim. Ital. 1927, 57, 777-780.
12. Richmond, B. C. J. Chem. Soc. 1927, 2923-2929.
13. Takahashi, H.; Nobuhara, A.; Kimura, H.; Yakugaku Kenkyu
1965, 36, 149-162; Chem. Abstr., 65 (1966), 2875f.
14. Brisson , J.; Gagné, J.; Brisse, F. Can. J. Chem. 1989, 67, 840-
849.
15. Michio, N.; Atsushi, T. JAPAN 1970, 70, 37,009; Chem. Abstr.,
74 (1970) 64086t.
16. Stebemann, C.; Schnitze, J. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 1943, 2126-2128.
17. Skehan, P.; Storeng, R.; Scudiero, D.; Monks, A.; McMahon, J.;
Vistica, D.; Warren, J. T.; Bokesch, H.; Kenney, S.; Boyd, M. R.
J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 1990, 82, 1107-1112.
18. Monks, A.; Scudiero, D.; Skehan, P.; Shoemaker, R.; Paull, K.;
Vistica, D.; Hose, C.; Langley, J.; Cronise, P.; Vaigro-Wolff, A.;
Gray-Goodrich, M.; Campbell, H.; Mayo, J.; Boyd, M. J. Nat.
Cancer Inst. 1991, 83, 757-765.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 190-201
Investigación
El análisis conformacional a la luz de la teoría topológica de átomos
en moléculas. Contribución de la energía atómica a la energía molecular
Fernando Cortés Guzmán, a* Jesús Hernández-Trujillo, b* Gabriel Cuevas a*
a Instituto de Química. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Circuito Exterior Apdo. Postal 70213.
Ciudad Universitaria. C.P.04510 Coyoacán, D.F. México.
b Departamento de Fisicoquímica. Facultad de Química. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México.
Circuito Interior. Ciudad Universitaria. C.P.04510 Coyoacán, D.F. México.
Recibido el 4 de mayo del 2003; aceptado el 8 de julio del 2003
Dedicado al Prof. Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar en homenaje a su trabajo científico
Resumen. La teoría de átomos en moléculas permite definir un
átomo en una molécula y provee las herramientas para el cálculo de
sus propiedades, entre ellas la energía atómica. Esta energía es utilizada
en este trabajo para estudiar el comportamiento tanto de los
átomos como de algunos grupos funcionales en las barreras rotacionales
del etano y de etanos-1,2-disustituidos, en la preferencia
conformacional de ciclohexanos y de 1,3-diheterociclohexanos
monosustituidos. Este análisis permitió encontrar que los átomos de
carbono en los sistemas de etano son los responsables de las barreras
rotacionales y que la preferencia conformacional de los ciclos sustituidos
es producto de un balance energético entre el anillo y el sustituyente.
Este trabajo muestra una nueva manera de abordar el análisis
conformacional, a partir de la contribución de la energía atómica a la
energía molecular.
Palabras clave: átomos en moléculas, barreras rotacionales, etano,
preferencias conformacionales, energía atómica, energía molecular.
Abstract. The Topological Theory of Atoms in Molecules allows the
description of an atom in a molecule and provides the tools to calculate
their properties, including atomic energy. Atomic energy is used
in this study to analyze the behavior of atoms and functional groups
in the rotational barriers of ethane, and 1,2-disubstituted ethanes and
in the conformational preference of cyclohexanes and monosubstituted
1,3-diheterocyclohexanes. The results show that the carbon atoms
of the ethane systems are responsible for the rotational barriers and
that the conformational preference of the substituted cycles is a product
of an energetic balance between the ring and the substituent.
This study presents a new method to approach conformational analysis
using the contribution of individual atomic energies to the molecular
energy.
Keywords: Atoms in molecules, rotational barriers, ethane conformational
preferences, atomic energy, molecular energy.
Introducción
La teoría de átomos en moléculas [1] define un átomo en una
molécula como una región del espacio delimitada por una
superficie S(r) que exhibe la propiedad de cero flujo, del gradiente
de ρ lo que significa que S(r) no es cruzada por ningún
vector del gradiente de la densidad electrónica ρ(r). Esta
condición se expresa en la ecuación 1, donde n(r) representa
al vector unitario perpendicular a la superficie en el punto r.
∇ρ (r) • n(r) = 0 para todo punto r en al superficie S(r)
La superficie S(r) se obtiene como solución de la ecuación
diferencial 1. Como consecuencia, el espacio tridimensional
se divide en regiones disjuntas que se identifican como
los átomos de la química, separados por superficies interatómicas
S(r). Por lo que la teoría de átomos en moléculas define:
1) la contribución atómica a todas las propiedades moleculares
y su aditividad y 2) la transferibilidad de átomos y grupos
funcionales de una molécula a otra.
La definición rigurosa del átomo en una molécula que la
teoría topológica de átomos en moléculas provee, permite estimar
propiedades atómicas fundamentales como la energía.
Mediante la aplicación del programa proaimv [2], se calcula la
contribución de cada átomo a la energía molecular. Debido a
que la conformación molecular se refleja en la energía de la
molécula, es posible, a través del estudio de la contribución
atómica a la energía total, determinar el efecto que tiene cada
átomo en el arreglo molecular estudiado y por lo tanto la función
que este desempeña.
El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la contribución
energética de los átomos en las moléculas a la preferencia conformacional
de los derivados del etano, ciclohexanos monosustituidos
y 1,3-diheterociclohexanos-2-sustituidos.
El etano (1, esquema 1) es la molécula orgánica más sencilla
que presenta barreras rotacionales, cuyo valor experimental
aceptado es de 2.93 kcal/mol [3]. Esta barrera ha sido
explicada de diversas formas: por la presencia de repulsiones
estéricas entre átomos o entre enlaces en el confórmero eclipsado,
por la presencia de hiperconjugación en el confórmero
alternado o por balances entre las componentes de la energia
potencial molecular [4]. Cuando se sustituye un hidrógeno de
cada carbono por otro grupo como metilo, cloro o flúor, se
presentan dos barreras rotacionales, la primera donde los dos
sustituyentes eclipsados se encuentran frente a frente y la
segunda donde cada grupo esta eclipsado con un átomo de

El análisis conformacional a la luz de la teoría topológica de átomos en moléculas... 191
H
H
H
H
H
H
H H
X
H H
X 3
X 6
H 3
8 H 6
4 6 X 4
X
X 3
3
H 5 H 7
C 1
H 5 H 7
H 5 H H
H 8
H 5 H 7
6 7
X X
H 4
4
8
H 8
Esquema 1
hidrógeno. En estos casos, la barreras se han explicado invocando
repulsiones de van der Waals [5]. En los casos en los
que el grupo es metilo o cloro, el confórmero más estable es el
anti mientras que en caso del flúor, el confórmero más estable
es el gauche, este comportamiento se conoce como efecto
gauche y se ha explicado por la presencia de dos interacciones
hiperconjugativas σ C-H →σ* H-F en este confórmero [6].
También es conocido que la mayoría de los sustituyentes
en el ciclohexano prefieren adoptar la posición ecuatorial y no
la axial. Esta preferencia conformacional ha sido atribuida a
que en el confórmero axial existe repulsión entre los hidrógenos
de las posiciones 3 y 5 y el sustituyente de la posición
1[7]. Por otro lado el efecto anomérico es la preferencia que
muestran los sustituyentes electronegativos por asumir la posición
axial cuando sustituye en la posición a respecto a un heteroátomo
que forma parte del anillo heterocíclico y no la
ecuatorial como sucede en el ciclohexano [8]. Hasta ahora, el
origen de este efecto conformacional se considera esencialmente
diferente al que opera en el ciclohexano.
Todas las moléculas que se estudian aquí se presentan en
el Esquema 1 y fueron optimizadas por completo a nivel
HF/6-311++G (2d, 2p) con el programa Gaussian 94 [9]. Las
funciones de onda obtenidas fueron usadas para determinar la
energía atómica empleando el programa PROAIMV. En todos
los casos se comparó la suma de las energías atómicas con la
energía molecular y se obtuvo en general una diferencia
menor a 1 kcal/mol, lo que permite comprobar la aditividad de
H
H
Etano
H
H
Etanos 1,2-disustituidos
1: X = H, 2: X = CH 3 ; 3: X = Cl; 4: X = F
5: R 1 = R 2 = H, X = Y = CH 2
9-ec: R 1 = H, R 2 = Cl, X = Y = CH 2
6: R 1 = R 2 = H, X = Y = O
10-ax: R 1 = Cl R 2 = H, X = Y = O
7: R 1 = R 2 = H, X = Y = S
10-ec: R 1 = H, R 2 = Cl, X = Y = O
8: R 1 = R 2 = H, X = O, Y = S
11-ax: R 1 = Cl, R 2 = H, X = Y = S
9-ax: R 1 = Cl, R 2 = H, X = Y = CH 2
11-ec: R 1 = H, R 2 = Cl, X = Y = S
H
H
H
H
H
H
las propiedades atómicas, pero además, valida el análisis que a
continuación se presenta. La inclusión de la correlación electrónica
será objeto de análisis en trabajos posteriores.
Resultados
A. Etano (1)
Las posibles explicaciones que se han dado al aumento de
energía del confórmero eclipsado o a la disminución de la
misma para el confórmero alternado se han relacionado con la
estabilización o desestabilización de átomos dentro de la
molécula. En el caso de las explicaciones de origen estérico se
espera que los átomos de hidrógeno involucrados se desestabilicen,
mientras que en el caso de la participación de interacciones
hiperconjugativas se espera la estabilización de los
mismos átomos.
Hasta el momento no existe una metodología experimental
que permita medir la energía de los átomos dentro de una
molécula. Por fortuna, empleando métodos computacionales,
la teoría de átomos en moléculas provee herramientas para
conocer la respuesta de los átomos a los cambios conformacionales.
Para esto, se estudio al etano manteniendo fijo el
ángulo diedro H-C-C-H y dejando libres el resto de las variables.
La optimización parcial se realizo cada cinco grados a
nivel HF/6-311++G (2d, 2p).
El perfil de energía durante la rotación se muestra en la
Fig. 1a, donde se observa una barrera de 3.05 kcal/mol, un
valor muy cercano al experimental (2.9 kcal/mol). Como se
observa, el confórmero eclipsado es de mayor energía que el
alternado. Para cada punto en la curva se genera una función
de onda, a partir de la cual se obtiene la energía de cada átomo
en cada rotámero. En la Fig. 1b se presentan los perfiles de las
energías del átomo de carbono y de hidrógeno durante la
rotación y en la Tabla 1 se presentan los valores numéricos. El
carbono en el confórmero eclipsado presenta una energía de
–37.66808 hartrees mientras que el confórmero alternado es
de –37.67199, lo que genera una diferencia de 2.45 kcal/mol
por cada carbono. Esto es, el confórmero eclipsado se desestabiliza
por 4.9 kcal/mol a causa de los átomos de carbono. Por
otro lado, el átomo de hidrógeno en el confórmero eclipsado
tiene –0.65271 hartrees de energía mientras que el confórmero
alternado se determinan –0.65223 hartrees, lo que genera una
diferencia de –0.3 kcal/mol. Por lo tanto, el confórmero eclipsado
se estabiliza por –1.8 kcal/mol a causa de los seis átomos
de hidrógeno. A diferencia de lo que generalmente se
encuentra en los libros de texto sobre química orgánica, aquí
Tabla 1. Energía del etano (1) (hartrees) y diferencias energéticas
(kcal/mol) calculadas a nivel HF/6-311++G (2d, 2p).
átomo E (0°) E (60°) DE
C –37.66808 –37.67199 2.45
H –0.65271 –0.65223 –0.3

192 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Fernando Cortés Guzmán et al.
Energía molecular
kcal/mol
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
a)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Angulo ( o )
Fig. 1. a) Barrera rotacional del etano. b) Energía atómica de los átomos de carbono e hidrógeno en el etano durante la rotación.
Energía atómica
kcal/mol
3
2
1
0
-1
b)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
Angulo ( o )
C
H
a)
Butano
b)
Energía molecular
(kcal/mol)
12
10
8
6
4
2
0
-2
0
20
40
60
80
100
Angulo ( o )
120
1,2-dicloroetano
1,2-difluoroetano
140
160
180
Energía atómica
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Angulo ( o )
Butano
1,2-dicloroetano
1,2-difluroetano
140
160
180
Energía atómica
(grupo)
0
-2
-4
-6
-8
10
30
50
70
c)
90
110
Angulo ( o )
130
150
170
CH3
Cl
F
Fig. 2. a) Energía molecular relativa de etanos 1,2-disustituidos. b) Energía relativa (kcal/mol) del átomo de carbono en etanos 1,2-disustituidos.
c) Energía relativa (kcal/mol) de X en etanos 1,2-disustituidos. d) Energía relativa (kcal/mol) de los átomos del 1,2-difluoroetano.
Energía atómica
30
20
10
0
-10
0
20
40
60
d)
80
100
Angulo ( o )
120
140
160
C
F
H5
H7
180
se puede observar que el carbono se desestabiliza cuando la
rotación se realiza del confórmero alternado al eclipsado
mientras que el hidrógeno se estabiliza ligeramente en el
mismo movimiento. Si se presentara una repulsión entre los
átomos de hidrógeno o entre los enlaces C-H se observaría la
desestabilización de este átomo. En cambio, el perfil de la
energía del átomo de carbono reproduce el perfil del cambio
en la energía molecular del etano durante la rotación. La principal
contribución a la barrera rotacional se debe a los átomos
de carbono, 4.9 kcal/mol, estos son los átomos causantes de la
barrera rotacional del etano [1].
B. Etanos disustituidos
En el caso de los etanos disustituidos se siguió la misma
metodología computacional que para el etano. Se realizaron
optimizaciones parciales cada 10 grados manteniendo fijo el
ángulo diedro X-C-C-X, donde X puede ser un átomo de
cloro, flúor o un grupo metilo, y optimizando el resto de las
variables. En la Fig. 2a se muestra el perfil de energía molecular
durante la rotación de cero a 180 grados del butano, 1,2-
dicloroetano y 1,2-difluoroetano. En la Tabla 2 se muestran
los valores numéricos.
En esta figura se observa que en los tres sistemas la diferencia
entre el confórmero gauche y el anti es de 1.19
kcal/mol para butano, 1.77 para el 1,2-dicloroetano y de -0.34
para el 1,2-difluoroetano mientras que los valores experimentales
son de 0.89 kcal/mol, 1.1 kcal/mol y -0.5 kcal/mol para
estos sistemas respectivamente. Con lo anterior se comprueba
que los cálculos realizados reproducen el comportamiento
experimental de los tres sistemas.
La misma concordancia se observa con los valores de las
barreras. Aunque hay que tener en cuenta que el principal
objetivo de la química computacional no es solo reproducir
los hechos experimentales sino proveer la información que la
experimentación no puede proporcionar.
En la figura 2b se muestra el perfil de energía del átomo
de carbono en los tres sistemas. Los perfiles coinciden con el
comportamiento molecular durante la rotación. Para el caso
donde los sustituyentes son metilo y cloro se observa que el
átomo de carbono es más estable en el confórmero anti mien-

El análisis conformacional a la luz de la teoría topológica de átomos en moléculas... 193
Tabla 2. Energía del átomo de carbono de los etanos disustituidos 2 a 4 (Hartress) y diferencias energéticas (kcal/mol) calculadas a nivel HF/6-
311++G (2d, 2p).
X E (0°) E (gauche°) E (120°) E (180°)
(2) CH 3 –37.68222 –37.69633 –37.69454 –37.70134
11.9955 3.1413 4.2652 0.0
(3) Cl –37.61019 –37.62993 –37.62555 –37.63410
15.0031 2.6167 5.3633 0.0
(4) F –37.34202 –37.37979 –37.37631 –37.37776
22.4285 –1.2732 0.9130 0.0
tras que en el caso del flúor el átomo de carbono lo es a los 90
grados. En la figura 2c se muestra la respuesta del sustituyente
a la rotación. En todos los casos, los sustituyentes contribuyen
a la estabilización de la molécula. En el caso del cloro el cambio
es del orden de 2 kcal/mol mientras que con el metilo es
de 5 kcal/mol y con el flúor 7 kcal/mol. El hecho de que el
confórmero en 70 grados sea el más estable para la molécula
del 1,2-difluoroetano, se debe a un balance energético entre el
átomo de carbono y el átomo de hidrógeno 7 (Figura 2d, ver
Esquema 1 para la numeración), que no es antiperiplanar al
átomo de flúor vecinal. En la figura 2d se observa que cuando
el ángulo es 70 grados el efecto desestabilizador del hidrógeno
7 es menor. Del análisis anterior se puede concluir que el
comportamiento de los etanos disustituidos es producto del
cambio energético del átomo de carbono durante de la
rotación y no se debe a la repulsión entre los sustituyentes. El
efecto gauche es ocasionado por el balance entre la energía del
carbono y del hidrógeno que no mantiene una relación de
antiperiplanaridad con el flúor vecinal.
C. Ciclohexano
En el ciclohexano (5), las contribuciones a la energía total
son: –37.71790 hartrees del átomo de carbono, –0.66530 para
el átomo de hidrógeno que asume la posición axial y –0.66302
para el átomo de hidrógeno que asume la posición ecuatorial.
El átomo de la posición axial se estabiliza por 1.43 kcal/mol.
En el esquema 2 se muestran las numeraciones correspondientes
a este y al resto de los sistemas heterocíclicos analizados
adelante.
La energía del grupo metileno es de –39.04622 hartrees,
por lo que después de la suma de la contribución de cada uno
de los metilenos, la energía total es de –234.27732 Hartrees.
La diferencia con la energía total determinada por el cálculo
es de 0.05 kcal/mol, diferencia ocasionada por el error en la
integración numérica y que genera un valor razonable para los
fines de análisis que persigue este trabajo.
Se conoce que al átomo de deuterio prefiere asumir la
posición ecuatorial y no la axial por 6.3 cal/mol [10] lo que
prueba la mayor estabilidad del átomo de hidrógeno axial que
recibe carga por transferencia electrónica del anillo (0.006 e).
Otras consecuencias de esto, son el hecho de que el átomo de
hidrógeno axial sufre corrimiento a campo alto en el espectro
de resonancia magnética nuclear respecto al ecuatorial y que
la constante de acoplamiento a un enlace 1 J C-Hax sea menor
que la correspondiente constante ecuatorial. La diferencia en
energías de punto cero hace que sea mayor la energía de activación
necesaria para romper el enlace σ C-D que la C-H, la
interacción σ C-H → σ* C-H puede ser más accesible en el caso
de átomo de hidrógeno que para el de deuterio.
D. 1,3-dioxano y sistemas relacionados
La introducción de los átomos de oxígeno en el 1,3-dioxano
(6, Esquema 1) produce un incremento sustancial de las
energías de los átomos de carbono que se unen a átomos de
oxígeno. La energía del átomo de carbono del metileno de la
posición anomérica, que sufre una doble sustitución, se
encuentra a 489.7 kcal/mol por arriba de la energía del carbono
del ciclohexano. El carbono del metileno que se encuentra
sustituido por un solo átomo de oxígeno (C 4,6 ) es 221.90
kcal/mol superior respecto al del metileno del ciclohexano y
finalmente, el carbono del metileno de la posición 5 se situó
por debajo del metileno de referencia por 20.43 kcal/mol. De
hecho el C 5 es el único átomo de carbono que proporciona una
energía estabilizante al sistema.
Por su parte, los átomos de hidrógeno muestran un comportamiento
muy interesante. El átomo de hidrógeno H 2 ax es
más estable que el ecuatorial (∆E = 11.15 kcal/mol), siendo a
su vez más estable que el átomo de hidrógeno axial del ciclohexano
por apenas 0.71 kcal/mol. El átomo H 2 ec es menos
estable que el átomo de hidrógeno ecuatorial del ciclohexano
por 9.01 kcal/mol A este tipo de metileno se le denominará
normal por la semejanza que tiene en el orden de estabilidad
(Hax más estable que Hec) con el metileno del ciclohexano.
Para los metilenos C 4,6 el átomo de hidrógeno axial se ubica a
2.4 kcal/mol por arriba del hidrógeno del ciclohexano. Este
metileno es normal también por el orden de estabilidad de sus
átomos de hidrógeno respecto al ciclohexano. Respecto al
ciclohexano H 4,6 ec se ubica a 6.44 kcal/mol. H 4,6 ax pierde
estabilidad respecto a H 2 ax por 1.91 kcal/mol y H 4,6 ec es más
estable que H 2 ec por 2.57 kcal/mol.
El metileno de C 5 es especialmente interesante pues el
átomo de hidrógeno axial es el menos estable de los dos
hidrógenos de este carbono (∆E = 1.44 kcal/mol), por lo que
es el primer caso inverso con respecto al ciclohexano. En este
caso el hidrógeno axial sufre una fuerte pérdida de estabilidad,
y respecto a Hax del ciclohexano se ubica a 9.83 kcal/mol. El
hidrógeno H5ec es más estable que H 5ax por 2.05 kcal/mol,
pero menos estable que el hidrógeno Hec del ciclohexano por
6.97 kcal/mol.

194 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Fernando Cortés Guzmán et al.
Tabla 3. Energía de las moléculas 5 a 11 (Hartress) y diferencias energéticas (kcal/mol) calculadas a nivel HF/6-311++G (2d,2p).
5 6 7 8
X –37.71790 –75.60167 –397.59313 –75.56022
C2 –36.95073 –37.75316 –37.33889
Y –75.60168 –397.59312 –397.65709
C4 –37.37647 –37.73416 –37.73722
C5 –37.77724 –37.70975 –37.73878
C6 –37.37647 –37.73420 –37.36389
R 1 –0.66530 –0.66643 –0.63371 –0.64982
R 2 –0.66302 –0.64866 –0.62279 –0.63655
H4ax –0.66338 –64744 –0.64800
H4ec –0.65276 –0.64024 –0.64039
H5ax –0.64963 –0.64669 –0.64769
H5ec –0.65192 –0.65554 –0.65353
H6ax –0.66338 –0.64744 –0.66354
H6ec –0.65276 –0.64025 –0.65290
Contribucion de C –226.30740 –149.48091 –150.93127 –150.17878
Contribucion de H –7.96992 –5.24892 –5.13410 –5.19242
suma C+H –235.60564 –154.72983 –156.06537 –155.37120
suma H axial –3.99180 –2.64282 –2.57528 –2.60905
suma H ecuatorial 3.97812 –2.60610 –2.55882 –2.58337
Energía Total calc. –234.27740 –305.93341 –951.25166 –628.58852
suma anillo –234.27732 –305.93318 –951.25162 –628.58851
Anillo sin susti.
∆E calculo–suma (kcal/mol) 0.05 0.14 0.03 0.01
9-ax 9-ec 10-ax 10-ec 11-ax 11-ec
X –37.72787 –37.73089 –75.64077 –75.61807 –397.57724 –397.57803
C2 –37.65739 –37.66397 –36.71803 –36.77767 –37.67141 –37.66836
Y –37.72784 –37.73089 –75.64078 –75.61807 –397.57724 –397.57803
C4 –37.71722 –37.71530 –37.39930 –37.38562 –37.74016 –37.73709
C5 –37.71394 –37.71563 –37.76828 –37.76946 –37.70926 –37.71146
C6 –37.71722 –37.71528 –37.39930 –37.38564 –37.74014 –37.73705
H1ax –0.65812 –0.65422
Hec –0.65102 –0.65256
R 1 –459.72273 –0.65044 –459.78623 –0.64854 –459.69173 –0.62451
R 2 –0.64946 –459.71381 –0.62796 –459.75496 –0.61338 –459.67302
H3ax –0.65813 –0.65422
H3ec –0.65100 –0.65256
H4ax –0.65630 –0.66291 –0.64757 –0.65943 –0.63862 –0.64571
H4ec –0.66009 –0.65714 –0.64878 –0.64572 –
0.63756 –0.63641
H5ax –0.66589 –0.66246 –0.64886 –0.64570 –0.64702 –0.64480
H5ec –0.65966 –0.65946 –0.64612 –0.64761 –0.65264 –0.65262
H6ax –0.65630 –0.66295 –0.64878 –0.65943 –0.63861 –0.64571
H6ec –0.66009 –0.65712 –0.64757 –0.64572 –0.63756 –0.63641
Contribución de C 226.26148 –226.27196 –149.28491 –149.31836 –150.86097 –150.85396
Contribución de H –7.22606 –7.22602 –4.51564 –4.55215 –4.46539 –4.48617
suma C+H –233.49812 –233.49798 –153.80055 –153.87051 –155.32636 –155.34013
suma H axial –3.29474 –3.94716 –1.94521 –2.61310 –1.92425 –2.56073
suma H ecuatorial –3.93132 –3.27886 –2.57043 –1.93905 –2.54114 –1.92544
Energía Total calc. –693.21060 –693.21211 –764.86943 –764.86159 –1410.17273 –1410.16941
suma anillo –233.48754 –233.49798 –305.08210 –305.10665
–950.48084 –950.49619
Anillo sin susti. –693.21027 –693.21179 –764.86833 –764.86161 –1410.17257 –1410.16921
∆E calculo – suma 0.21 0.19 0.67 0.01 0.10 0.13
∆E conformacional 0.95 0.0 0.0 4.92 0.0 2.09

El análisis conformacional a la luz de la teoría topológica de átomos en moléculas... 195
Tabla 4. Energía de los tres confórmeros del dimetoximetano y del ditiometilmetano (Hartrees) y diferencias energéticas (kcal/mol) calculadas a
nivel HF/6-311++G (2d, 2p).
H 8
H 9
H 1 1
H 1 0
H 9
H 1 3
H 6
H 7
X
Y
H 1 0
H 1 3
H 9
H 8
H 1 0
X
Y
H 11
H 1 2
H 6 H 1 2
Y
X
H 7
H 8
H 6
H 7
H 1 1
H 1 2
H 1 3
6 ' ; X = O
7 ' ; X = S
6’-gg 6’-ga 6’-aa 7’-gg 7’-ga 7’-aa
C1 –37.34031 –37.34316 –37.32673 –37.71170 –37.70986 –37.70586
X –75.60142 –75.61180 –75.61553 –397.58213 –397.56662 –397.56666
C3 –36.94529 –36.92899 –36.91324 –37.74114 –37.74700 –37.74700
Y –75.60141 –75.60582 –75.61558 –397.58219 –397.57915 –397.56666
C5 –37.34032 –37.32604 –37.32673 –37.71171 –37.70655 –37.70582
H6 –0.64619 –0.65525 –0.65426 –0.62889 –0.63679 –0.63635
H7 –0.64894 –0.64552 –0.64230 –0.62722 –0.62839 –0.62712
H8 –0.65406 –0.64590 –0.65425 –0.63646 –0.62853 –0.63576
H9 –0.65965 –0.65988 –0.66987 –0.62828 –0.63024 –0.63756
H10 –0.65966 –0.66903 –0.66987 –0.62827 –0.63493 –0.63755
H11 –0.64894 –0.65467 –0.65426 –0.62723 –0.63700 –0.63575
H12 –0.64620 –0.64323 –0.64230 –0.62889 –0.62744 –0.62713
H13 –0.65404 –0.65367 –0.65425 –0.63646 –0.63627 –0.63636
Energía Total –268.04655 –268.04313 –268.03886 –913.37098 –913.36904 –913.36592
Energía Total calc. –268.04643 –268.04296 –268.03917 –913.37057 –913.36877 –913.36558
∆E calculo – suma 0.08 0.10 0.19 0.26 0.17 0.21
∆E conformacional 0.0 2.17 4.56 0.0 1.21 3.18
De esta manera, la estabilidad de Hax disminuye en la
serie C 2 > C 4,6 > C 5 mientras que Hec varia en la serie C 4,6 >
C 5 > C 2 .
El término efecto Perlin normal se asigna a los grupos
metileno en donde la constante de acoplamiento sigue el orden
1J C-Hax < 1 J C-Hec , mientras que el término efecto Perlin inverso
se usa para definir el orden relativo inverso: 1 J C-Hax > 1 J C-Hec
[11].
En el 1,3-dioxano, el efecto Perlin es normal para los
metilenos C 2 y C 4,6 , mientras que es inverso para el metileno
C 5 , hecho que es concordante con el orden de estabilidad relativa
determinado para los diferentes átomos de hidrógeno del
dioxano. El origen de esta estabilidad está en que los
metilenos en C 2 y C 4,6 del dioxano, sufren la participación de
la interacción estereoelectrónica n O →σ* C-Hax , mientras que
el efecto Perlin inverso en el metileno C 5 se debe a la participación
de la interacción homoanomérica n O → *σ* C-Hec como
ha descrito Anderson et al. [12].
Es importante destacar el hecho que el efecto de la sustitución
del grupo metileno por oxígeno, independientemente
de su origen, disminuye paulatinamente con la distancia y que
la transferencia electrónica asociada con la interacción hiperconjugativa
produce la estabilización del átomo que la recibe.
Se sabe que el 1,3-dioxano (6) es más estable que el 1,4-
dioxano debido a la participación de dos interacciones estereoelectrónicas
de tipo n O →σ* C-O pues ambos átomos de
oxígeno mantienen un par de electrones no compartido antiperiplanar
a un enlace C-O. [13] En un sistema anular como en
el 1,3-dioxano, es imposible tener el arreglo conformacional
en el que los enlaces C-O se mantengan en conformación anti
por lo que no es posible evaluar el efecto que tiene el cambio
relativo en la orientación de los pares electrónicos no compartidos.
Para evaluar el efecto que tiene la interacción estereoelectrónica
n O →σ* C-H , se estudiaron las contribuciones a la
energía molecular de los diferentes átomos de los tres confórmeros
del dimetoximetano. En la Tabla 4 se incluyen las
energías de los confórmeros 6'-g,g, 6'-g,a y 6'-a,a, mismas
que guardan una razonable similitud con las previamente
descritas [14]. El confórmero g,g es el más estable de los tres.
Se acepta que dos interacciones estereoelectrónicas de tipo n O
*σ* C-O participan en su estabilización y es el confórmero que
se considera análogo al 1,3-dioxano, aunque los grupos metilo
no mantienen la misma relación que guardan los metilenos de
las posiciones 4 y 6 en este último. En el confórmero a,g, solo
puede existir una interacción estereoelectrónica de tipo n O *
→ σ* C-O , razón por la que este confórmero se encuentra 2.15
kcal/mol por arriba del anterior. Finalmente, el menos estable
de todos (a 4.82 kcal/mol respecto al más estable) es el confórmero
a,a, en donde no existe posibilidad alguna de interacción
n O →σ* C-O .
En el confórmero g,g el carbono C 3 (anomérico) es el
menos estable de los tres átomos de carbono que forman la
molécula (∆E = 247.88 kcal/mol), evidenciando el efecto de la

196 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Fernando Cortés Guzmán et al.
4
5 6
3
X
2
1
Hec
Hec
1 Hec
X 6 5
Y Hec Hec
2 3
Hax
4
Esquema 2. Numeración de los derivados del ciclohexano y heterociclohexanos.
sustitución por átomos electronegativos. Este átomo de carbono
tiene una estabilidad similar a la del carbono anomérico
del 1,3-dioxano (∆E = 3.41 kcal/mol), y por lo tanto ambos
presentan desestabilización con respecto al carbono del ciclohexano
(∆E = 484.82 kcal/mol). Los carbonos 1 y 5 muestran
también valores similares al de los metilenos C 4,6 del 1,3-
dioxano, aun cuando la comparación debe hacerse con cuidado,
pues un átomo de hidrógeno sustituye al átomo de carbono
anular y su contribución es ligeramente desestabilizante con
respecto a estos (∆E = 22.69 kcal/mol), y desestabilizante
también con respecto al metileno de referencia en el ciclohexano.
Por su parte, los átomos de oxígeno muestran una estabilidad
similar a la que presentan los oxígenos en el 1,3-dioxano.
Estos confórmeros prueban que los efectos de estabilización
de los átomos de oxígeno y de desestabilización de
los átomos de carbono, principalmente el anomérico, no son
sólo producto de la conectividad, sino de la conformación. El
átomo de carbono del metileno anomérico pierde estabilidad,
al incrementar su energía en 20.11 kcal/mol, pero los átomos
de oxígeno se estabilizan por 232.30 kcal/mol. Los carbonos
de los grupos metilo pierden estabilidad también (∆E = 8.52
kcal/mol). Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que el efecto
anomérico ocasiona una notable estabilización de los heteroátomos
a costa de la desestabilización del átomo central del
segmento anomérico, en este caso del átomo de carbono y de
los átomos de hidrógeno unidos a él.
Con respecto a los átomos de hidrógeno del metileno
anomérico en el confórmero g,g, cada uno es antiperiplanar a
un enlace O-CH 3 y a un par electrónico no compartido, a
diferencia del metileno anomérico del 1,3-dioxano en el que
un átomo de hidrógeno es antiperiplanar a dos pares electrónicos
no compartidos y el otro hidrógeno es antiperiplanar a dos
enlaces C-H, pues los grupos metilo se mantienen lo más distantes
posible en el sistema abierto. Desde el punto de vista
energético, este par de átomos no está diferenciado. En el confórmero
a,a, cada uno de los átomos de hidrógeno del
metileno en cuestión es antiperiplanar a dos pares electrónicos
no compartidos y susceptible de estabilizarse a través de dos
interacciones nO →σ* C-H , por lo que el cálculo predice apropiadamente,
además de una energía similar para ambos átomos
de hidrógeno, una mayor estabilidad (∆E = 6.41 kcal
respecto a los hidrógenos anoméricos del confórmero g,g). En
el confórmero a,g, uno de los átomos de hidrógeno del
metileno anomérico es susceptible de estabilizarse a través de
dos interacciones n O →σ* C-H , mientras que el otro sólo puede
estabilizarse a través de una interacción de este tipo. Estos
Hax
Hax
Hax
átomos de hidrógeno son diferenciados por el cálculo, siendo
aquel que cuenta con dos interacciones n O →σ* C-H , más
estable respecto al que solo tiene una (∆E = 5.73 kcal/mol).
Los átomos de hidrógeno de los tres confórmeros pueden
clasificarse en tres tipos:
— Aquellos que son antiperiplanares a pares electrónicos
localizados (que no toman parte en interacciones
estereoelectrónicas de tipo n O →σ* C-O ); por lo tanto
son antiperiplanares a buenos donadores y se estabilizan.
— Aquellos que mantienen una relación de antiperiplanaridad
con enlaces C-O con baja capacidad donadora
y por lo tanto no ganan estabilidad.
— Aquellos átomos de hidrógeno que son antiperiplanares
a heteroátomos que se encuentran participando
en interacciones de tipo nO →σ* C-O .
En el confórmero g,a los átomos de hidrógeno con los
números 6,7 y 8 (ver estructuras de la tabla 4 para la
numeración) pertenecen al grupo metoxi donador (nO) mientras
que los hidrógenos 11,12 y 13 pertenecen al grupo metoxi
aceptor (σ* C-O ). Los átomos de hidrógeno H 6 y H 11 son
antiperiplanares a pares electrónicos no compartidos que no
participan en interacciones estereoelectrónicas y se ven estabilizados,
al igual que H 13 . El hidrógeno H 7 es antiperiplanar al
par electrónico no compartido que participa en la interacción
n O →σ* O-C , por lo que no se ve estabilizado en igual magnitud
que su análogos anteriores. Finalmente los hidrógenos H 8
y H 12 al ser antiperiplanares a enlaces C-O se encuentran
desestabilizados.
En el confórmero g,g, los dos grupos metilo son equivalentes
por simetría, sin embargo, existen los tres tipos de átomos
de hidrógeno descritos anteriormente. Los átomos de
hidrógeno H 8 y H 13 se estabilizan fuertemente debido a que
son antiperiplanares a un par de electrones localizado. Los
átomos de hidrógeno H 6 y H 12 pierden estabilidad debido a
que se ubican en forma antiperiplanar a enlaces C-O, y finalmente
los átomos de hidrógeno H 7 y H 11 se estabilizan poco,
debido a que son antiperiplanares a enlaces que participan en
la interacción n O →σ* O-C .
En el tercer confórmero, los átomos de hidrógeno 8, 13, 6
y 11 se encuentran dispuestos en forma antiperiplanar a pares
electrónicos no compartidos, por lo que se estabilizan respecto
a los hidrógenos H 7 y H 12 , los que al mantenerse en forma
antiperiplanar a enlaces C-O, se encuentran por arriba en términos
de energía.
E. 1,3-ditiano y sistemas relacionados
En el 1,3-ditiano (7, esquema 1) se observa la estabilización
del carbono anomérico con respecto al carbono del ciclohexano
(∆E = 22.13 kcal/mol), lo que contrasta con el 1,3-dioxano
analizado previamente. Los átomos de carbono C 4,6 , que también
ganan estabilidad, se ubican 10 kcal/mol por debajo del
carbono de referencia pero, a diferencia del ciclohexano, el

El análisis conformacional a la luz de la teoría topológica de átomos en moléculas... 197
carbono 5 es el menos estable de todos los átomos de carbono
(∆E = 5.11 kcal/mol). La diferencia entre la energía de los átomos
de hidrógeno del metileno C 2 es de 6.85 kcal/mol, la de
los metilenos C 4,6 es de 4.52 kcal/mol y la de C 5 es de 5.55
kcal/mol. La energía relativa de los átomos de hidrógeno
unidos a C 2 y C 4,6 indica que el átomo de hidrógeno axial es
más estable que el correspondiente ecuatorial, mientras que
para C 5 se invierte el orden de estabilidad.
Es bien sabido que todos los metilenos en el 1,3-ditiano
presentan un efecto Perlin de tipo inverso [15]. Sin embargo,
el orden relativo de estabilidad de los átomos de hidrógeno de
los diferentes metilenos es análogo al del dioxano (6), que
muestra, como ya se dijo, efectos normales. Esto hace pensar
que el efecto que da origen al efecto Perlin no solo ocasiona
la estabilización del átomo de hidrógeno axial, sino que, cuando
el carbono asociado al metileno gana estabilidad como en
el 1,3-ditiano, en lugar de perderla como en el 1,3-dioxano, se
observará un efecto Perlin inverso, pero de forma contraria, si
el átomo de carbono se desestabiliza, entonces se observará un
efecto Perlin normal. En el caso en que la estabilidad de los
átomos de hidrógeno se invierte y el carbono se mantenga
estabilizado, entonces se observará un efecto Perlin inverso
(metileno 5 del 1,3-dioxano).
Nuevamente, el problema del efecto anomérico en el segmento
S-C-S no puede ser abordado con sólo estudiar al 1,3-
ditiano, ya que es necesario tener un modelo en el que la interacción
n S * → σ* C-S se pueda modificar. Para ello, se abordó
el estudio de los tres confórmeros del ditiometilmetano (7’,
Tabla 4). Como se puede apreciar en la Tabla 4, y en analogía
al dimetoximetano, el confórmero g,g es más estable que el
g,a por apenas 1.21 kcal/mol y 3.18 kcal/mol más estable que
el a,a, poniendo de manifiesto la menor capacidad donadora
del átomo de azufre [16].
Como se puede apreciar en el confórmero g,g, análogo al
1,3-ditiano (7), el carbono anomérico se estabilizar con respecto
al carbono del ciclohexano (∆E = 14.58 kcal/mol), pero
es menos estable que en el caso del metileno del 1,3-ditiano
(∆E = 7.54 kcal/mol). Nuevamente, el efecto de la sustitución
es estabilizante para el carbono anomérico del análogo de 7 y
no como en el caso del análogo de 6 para el que es desestabilizante.
Los átomos de azufre pierden estabilidad con respecto
a los átomos correspondientes en el 1,3-ditiano (∆E = 6.90
kcal/mol), comportamiento compartido por los átomos de carbono
de los grupos metilo, aunque este comportamiento debe
considerarse con cuidado dada la sustitución de un átomo de
hidrógeno por un átomo de carbono. Al parecer, la pérdida de
la estabilidad en el átomo de azufre ocasiona la estabilización
de los átomos vecinos.
En el confórmero aa, no existe la posibilidad de que se
produzcan interacciones estereoelectrónicas siendo el orbital
aceptor el σ* C-S . En este sistema, los átomos de azufre pierden
estabilidad respecto al confórmero g,g (∆E = 9.71 kcal/mol),
pero el carbono anomérico se estabiliza. Los átomos de carbono
de los grupos metilo también sufren estabilización.
En el confórmero g,a, un segmento mantiene la interacción
estereoelectrónica n S →σ* C-S pero el otro no. La energía
de los átomos involucrados da evidencia de esto. El átomo de
azufre donador se estabiliza respecto al confórmro a,a, pero es
menos estable que el mismo átomo en el confórmero g,g.
Sorprendentemente, el átomo de azufre que sólo es aceptor en
el segmento, es isoenergético con respecto al confórmero a,a,
al igual que el carbono anomérico, pero el átomo de azufre
que es donador se estabiliza por 7.84 kcal/mol, aproximándose
energéticamente al carbono que es donador.
El comportamiento de los átomos de hidrógeno de esta
molécula es idéntico al de los átomos de hidrógeno del dimetoximetano,
tomando sólo en consideración la menor capacidad
donadora del átomo de azufre, y la estabilidad inversa de
los átomos de carbono de los metilos.
En el caso del dimetoximetano la estabilidad ganada por
los átomos de oxígeno está ligada a la desestabilización que
sufre de carbono anomérico, y ambos factores se incrementan
en ausencia de la interacción estereoelectrónica n O →σ* C-O .
En el caso del sistema con azufre, el comportamiento es
contrario. El carbono anomérico se estabiliza en la medida en
que se desestabiliza el heteroátomo involucrado en el segmento.
Es claro que el mecanismo de estabilización no puede ser
el mismo, aunque tienen en común su dependencia con la
estereoquímica, ya que el comportamiento de la sustitución en
el segmento es diferente. Eso puede deberse a que el átomo de
carbono y el de azufre tienen una electronegatividad similar a
diferencia de la relación entre átomo de oxígeno-carbono.
F. 1,3-oxatiano
Surge ahora la pregunta con respecto al comportamiento que
experimentaría una molécula en donde los heteroátomos O y S
se enfrentasen en un mismo segmento anomérico, pues si
operan los mismos mecanismos de estabilización que en las
moléculas ya analizadas, se esperaría la desestabilización del
átomo de oxígeno con estabilización del carbono anomérico
por participación de n O → σ* C-O , y la desestabilización del
carbono anomérico con estabilización del átomo de azufre por
participación del mecanismo n S →σ* C-S .
Posiblemente este hecho contradictorio sea la explicación
del porqué la síntesis de 1,3-oxatianos es complicada y los
rendimientos son bajos cuando se le prepara por condensación
de un hidroxitiol y un compuesto carbonílico o al hecho de
que el 2-metoxi-1,3-ditiano no se pueda preparar por condensación
entre ortoformiato de metilo y el 3-hidroxipropanotiol,
además de que es responsable de que los dos átomos de
hidrógeno del metileno anomérico del 1,3-oxatiano sean sincrónicos
en el espectro de 1H RMN [17].
El compuesto 8 combina al átomo de oxígeno y el de
azufre en un mismo segmento. El átomo de oxígeno pierde la
estabilidad que gana en el dioxano 6 (∆E = 26.01 kcal/mol),
mientras que el átomo de azufre gana estabilidad (∆E = 40.14
kcal/mol). La estabilidad del carbono anomérico es intermedia
con respecto a la de los carbonos anoméricos de 6 y 7, la cual
es menor a la del ciclohexano (∆E = 237.84 kcal/mol). Este
comportamiento sería el esperado a partir de la observación
hecha con anterioridad, y pone en evidencia la participación
de ambos mecanismos en la estabilización de 8.

198 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Fernando Cortés Guzmán et al.
Por su parte, el metileno C4 (α respecto al átomo de
azufre) es más estable que el carbono metilénico del ciclohexano,
y de energía muy similar a la del C 5 (∆E = 12.12 y
13.10 kcal/mol respectivamente). Finalmente, el metileno C 6
(α al átomo de oxígeno) muestra una mayor desestabilización
respecto al carbono de referencia (∆E = 222.14 kcal/mol).
Desde el punto de vista experimental, se ha descrito un efecto
Perlin compensado para C 2 y C 4 , inverso para C 5 y normal
para C 6 , lo que aunado a lo descrito con anterioridad permite
establecer relación entre el efecto Perlin y la estabilidad del
átomo de carbono que constituye el metileno.
Así, el metileno C 6 muestra Hax más estable que Hec (∆E
= 6.68 kcal/mol) y al átomo de carbono que lo soporta más
estable respecto al del metileno del ciclohexano. Por otra
parte, el metileno C 4 muestra Hax 4.78 kcal/mol menos
energía que Hec, pero el carbono es más estable que el átomo
de carbono de referencia. Un hecho similar sucede en C5, en
donde el carbono metilénico se encuentra más estabilizado
con respecto a la referencia, pero Hax es menos estable que
Hec (∆E = 3.66 kcal/mol), lo que produce un efecto compensado.
Finalmente, el carbono anomérico de la posición 2 en la
molécula 8 es menos estable que el carbono metilénico del
ciclohexano y Hax es más estable que Hec (∆E = 8.32
kcal/mol). En estas condiciones, una mayor desestabilización
del C 2 ocasionaría un efecto Perlin normal, pero esta no es
suficiente y se produce un efecto Perlin compensado.
G. Sistemas sustituidos
La energía total del confórmero axial del clorociclohexano
axial (9-ax) al nivel de teoría empleado en este trabajo es de
–693.21060 hartrees, mientras que la del confórmero ecuatorial
(9-ec) es de –693.21210 hartrees, lo que lleva a una diferencia
de 0.95 kcal/mol a favor del confórmero ecuatorial, de
acuerdo con la observación experimental. (Signo negativo en
la tabla 3). (∆E = 0.80 kcal/mol [18].
La introducción del átomo de cloro ocasiona la desestabilización
del átomo de carbono que lo soporta (C 2 ) siendo más
afectado por la sustitución del confórmero axial que el ecuatorial,
con una diferencia energética de 4.13 kcal/mol. Los carbonos
C 3 y C 5 ganan estabilidad en el confórmero ecuatorial
(∆E = 1.91, 1.06 kcal/mol), mientras que los carbonos C 4,6 son
más estables en el axial por 1.2 kcal/mol. Nuevamente, el
efecto del sustituyente disminuye al aumentar la distancia.
Por su parte, el átomo de cloro es considerablemente más
estable en el confórmero axial que en el ecuatorial por 5.6
kcal/mol, hecho que contrasta con la idea general de que en el
ciclohexano la preferencia es por la posición ecuatorial. Los
hidrógenos de las posiciones 1,3,5 son más estables en ambos
confórmeros que sus correspondientes hidrógenos ecuatoriales.
Para el confórmero 9-ax: ∆E C1,3 = 4.47, ∆E C5 = 3.90; para 9-ec:
∆E C1,3 = 1.04, ∆E C5 = 1.88 kcal/mol (la numeración no sigue la
regla establecida, ver el Esquema 1). Sólo en el confórmero 9-
ax para el metileno C 4,6 el orden de estabilidad se invierte, siendo
más estable el hidrógeno ecuatorial con ∆E = 2.38 kcal/mol.
∆E para C 4,6 en el confórmero 5-ec es de 3.60 kcal/mol.
Un argumento para justificar la preferencia del sustituyente
por la posición ecuatorial en el ciclohexano, es el de la
repulsión estérica que puede sufrir con los átomos de hidrógeno
syn-diaxiales de las posiciones 4,6. El análisis de la deslocalización
electrónica permite establecer que los átomos
involucrados no presentan una superficie interatómica, por lo
que no hay una interacción enlazante entre ellos [19]. Posiblemente
un efecto electrónico de naturaleza hiperconjugativa
podría ser el origen de ésto. El hecho es que el átomo de
hidrógeno de la posición axial del metileno C 3 en el confórmero
9-ax se ubica 5.4 kcal/mol con respecto al hidrógeno
en C5-eq. La saturación de la participación del enlace C2-Hax
en la interacción σ C-H →σ* C-Cl y no con σ* C3-Hax puede ser el
origen de esto.
Con respecto al ciclohexano, los átomos de carbono C 2 ,
C 4,6 y C 5 se desestabilizan en el confórmero 9-ax por 37.97,
0.43 y 2.48 kcal/mol respectivamente, mientras que C 1,3 se
estabiliza por 6.24 kcal/mol. En el confórmero ecuatorial
todos los átomos de carbono se desestabilizan con las diferencias:
33.84 para C 2 , 1.63 para C 4,6 y 1.42 para C 5 y 8.15 para
C 1,3 kcal/mol respectivamente.
De manera contraria a lo que experimenta el átomo de
cloro, el átomo de hidrógeno de la posición C 2 es más estable
en el confórmero ecuatorial que en el axial con ∆E = 0.61
kcal/mol.
Los átomos de hidrógeno de las posiciones 2ax, 3ec, 4ax
y 4ec son más estables en el confórmero axial por 2.45, 1.85,
2.15 y 0.13 kcal/mol respectivamente, mientras que el de la
posición 2-ec es más estable en el confórmero ecuatorial por
0.98 kcal/mol.
En el ciclohexano, los seis átomos de carbono contribuyen
a la estabilidad del sistema con –226.30740 Hartress,
energía que está 28.82 kcal/mol por debajo de la contribución
de los seis átomos de carbono del isómero 9-ax y 22.24
kcal/mol con respecto a 9-ec. El anillo completo en el derivado
9-ax contribuye con –233.49798 Hartrees (∆E = 6.55
kcal/mol), lo que permite establecer que la preferencia conformacional
observada proviene del balance entre la estabilización
lograda por el átomo de cloro, que prefiere asumir la
posición axial, y el anillo de ciclohexano, que es más estable
cuando sufre la sustitución ecuatorial. En este caso, la contribución
del anillo domina y la preferencia observada es la
ecuatorial.
El cálculo a nivel HF/6-311++G(2d,2p) establece que el
confórmero 10-ax es más estable que su análogo 10-ec por
prácticamente 5 kcal/mol. Como se ha visto en este análisis, la
introducción de uno o dos átomos electronegativos ocasiona
un aumento en la energía del átomo de carbono que los soporta.
La introducción del átomo de cloro en la posición anomérica
del dioxano ocasiona una pérdida adicional de estabilidad
del átomo. Con respecto al 1,3-dioxano (6) el átomo C 2 del
confórmero axial (10-ax) se desestabiliza por 146.02
kcal/mol, mientras que el mismo átomo en el confórmero 10-
ec se desestabiliza por 108.60 kcal/mol, poniendo de manifiesto
que la desestabilización es aditiva con respecto a la
incorporación de átomos electronegativos, y que el efecto

El análisis conformacional a la luz de la teoría topológica de átomos en moléculas... 199
desestabilizante es mayor para el confórmero con el átomo de
cloro axial que para el ecuatorial (∆E = 37.41 kcal/mol).
Por su parte, la diferencia energética entre los átomos de
cloro es de 19.62 kcal/mol, contribuyendo más a la estabilidad
molecular el átomo de cloro axial que el ecuatorial. El átomo
de hidrógeno de la posición anomérica es más estable cuando
adopta la conformación axial que la ecuatorial (∆E = 12.91
kcal/mol).
El átomo de cloro en el 1,3-dioxano axial es 39.85
kcal/mol más estable que el átomo de cloro axial en el ciclohexano,
mientras que para el átomo de cloro ecuatorial la diferencia
es también a favor del dioxano por 25.82 kcal/mol. Los
átomos de oxígeno juegan un papel fundamental en este caso.
La diferencia energética entre los átomos de oxígeno de 10-ax y
10-ec es de 14.24 kcal/mol en favor del confórmero axial.
De esta forma, los tres átomos electronegativos que sustituyen
en la posición anomérica aportan mayor estabilidad al
confórmero axial que al ecuatorial, a pesar de ocasionar una
fuerte desestabilización en el carbono anomérico.
Con respecto al 1,3-dioxano, cada átomo de oxígeno del
confórmero 10-ax se estabiliza por 24.54 kcal/mol con la
introducción de un átomo de cloro, mientras que en 10-ec la
estabilización es tan solo de 10.29 kcal/mol.
El efecto estabilizante de la sustitución por un átomo
electronegativo también afecta a los átomos de carbono C 4,6 y
lo hace con más intensidad en el confórmero 10-ax (∆E =
14.33 kcal/mol) que en el 6-eq (∆E = 5.74 kcal/mol), pero esta
sustitución produce desestabilización con respecto al ciclohexano.
Esta sustitución es desestabilizante para el carbono
del metileno C 5 con respecto a 10, por 2.56 kcal/mol para 10-
ax y 4.88 kcal/mol para 10-ec.
Los átomos de hidrógeno de las posiciones 4,6-ax son
más estables que los correspondientes ecuatoriales en el confórmero
10-ec, (∆E = 8.60 kcal/mol) pero el orden se invierte
en el confórmero 10-ax, en forma similar a como sucede en 9-
ax. (∆E = 0.76 kcal/mol). H4ax en el confórmero 10-ec es
7.44 kcal/mol más estable que en 10-ax, lo que implica que
está operando un mecanismo similar al que opera en el clorociclohexano.
En el metileno C 5 del confórmero 10-ax, Hax es más
estable que Hec, siguiendo el comportamiento normal de un
metileno en ciclohexano, pero el orden de estabilidad se
invierte en 10-ec (∆E = 1.72 y 1.20 kcal/mol respectivamente)
en donde la interacción homoanomérica no compite con la
interacción n O →σ* C-Cl .
La contribución a la estabilidad total de los átomos de
carbono e hidrógeno del anillo del 1,3-dioxano en el confórmero
axial es de –153.80055 Hartrees, mientras que la del
confórmero ecuatorial es de –153.87051 (∆E = 43.90 kcal
/mol). Cuando se incorporan los átomos de oxígeno, se produce
la estabilización del confórmero ecuatorial, pero la diferencia
disminuye sustancialmente: 6-ax: –305.08210; 6-ec:
–305.10665; ∆E = 15.41 kcal/mol. El átomo de cloro, más
estabilizante en el confórmero axial que en el ecuatorial como
se indicó (∆E = 19.62 kcal/mol), invierte la preferencia conformacional
observada.
Los cálculos predicen mayor estabilidad del confórmero
11-ax con respecto al 11-ec, por 2.09 kcal/mol. Este valor es
consistente con el esperado pues se predice menor al del 2
cloro-1,3-dioxano [20].
La introducción del átomo de cloro en la posición anomérica
del 1,3-ditiano ocasiona severos cambios con respecto a
los sucedidos en el análogo con oxígeno. Por ejemplo, los átomos
de azufre son más estables en el confórmero ecuatorial,
pero el metino anomérico es más estable en el axial. Mientras
que en los sistemas relacionados con el dioxano los heteroátomos
de 10-ax y de 10-ec se estabilizan con respecto a 6, en
11-ax y 11-ec son menos estables con respecto al 1,3-ditiano
(7). Además, el átomo de cloro, que se estabiliza en el dioxano
con respecto al ciclohexano, se desestabiliza en el ditiano.
Sin embargo, nuevamente el átomo de cloro es más
estable en el confórmero axial de que en el ecuatorial (∆E =
11.74 kca/mol). Esta diferencia es de 19.76 en 10, mientras
que a diferencia de 10, el átomo de azufre en 11 es apenas más
estable en el confórmero ecuatorial que en el axial (∆E = 0.5
kcal/mol). La diferencia energética entre los carbonos
anoméricos es de 1.95 kcal/mol a favor del confórmero axial a
diferencia del comportamiento del mismo metileno en 10.
La diferencia energética de la contribución de todos los
átomos de carbono exceptuando los de cloro (contribución del
anillo), es de 9.63 kcal/mol a favor del confórmero ecuatorial,
pero la estabilidad ganada por el átomo de cloro decide la tendencia
conformacional. Este hecho también sucede en el dioxano,
pero no en el ciclohexano, en donde la estabilidad ganada
por el átomo de cloro no es suficiente para contrarrestar la
estabilidad del anillo a ser sustituido en la posición ecuatorial.
El átomo de cloro tiene la tendencia natural a ocupar la
posición axial debido a que se estabiliza, independientemente
del tipo de anillo, ocasionando desestabilización del carbono
que sustituye. Este hecho obliga a redefinir el término Efecto
Anomérico, ya que, al menos para el caso del cloro, la tendencia
de este átomo en el ciclohexano también es por la posición
axial. Es importante destacar que este análisis le da un origen
común al efecto anomérico y a la preferencia conformacional
del ciclohexano.
El anillo es más estable cuando se le sustituye en posición
ecuatorial, pero no el heteroátomo, ya que su estabilización se
produce a expensas de la desestabilización anular. El efecto
anomérico se observa cuando la estabilización del sustituyente
tiene la capacidad de contrarrestar la desestabilización del heterociclo.
En este sentido, el efecto anomérico es estabilizante,
pues cuando opera el anillo no pierde sustancialmente la estabilidad
al ocasionar la estabilización del heteroátomo.
En los sistemas que incorporan átomos de oxígeno, todos
los heteroátomos sustituyentes en la posición anomérica se
estabilizan, mientras que el carbono anomérico sufre una
fuerte desestabilización (la energía del C 2 en el confórmero 6-
ax es la más elevada de todas la determinadas en este estudio).En
el derivado del 1,3-ditiano se produce la estabilización
del carbono anomérico, ocasionando la desestabilización de
los sustituyentes heteroatómicos vecinos (después del C 2 del
1,3-ditiano, el C2 de 11-ax es el carbono anomérico más

200 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Fernando Cortés Guzmán et al.
estable del sistema), pero esta desestabilización afecta más a
11-ec que a 11-ax.
Conclusiones
La teoría topológica de átomos en moléculas permite descomponer
la energía molecular total en sus componentes atómicas
gracias a su definición de un átomo en una molécula, de manera
tal que es posible explicar en forma satisfactoria observaciones
experimentales como la preferencia conformacional y
el efecto Perlin.
La barrera rotacional en el etano se produce por un cambio
en la energía del átomo de carbono. Esta energía es mayor
en el confórmero eclipsado que en el alternado, mientras que
el hidrógeno presenta el comportamiento inverso, es más
estable en el confórmero eclipsado que en el alternado. Esto
contrasta con la idea de que la barrera se deba a repulsiones de
los átomos de hidrógeno.
Cuando se estudia a los etanos 1,2-disustituidos se
encuentra que el causante de la barrera es también el átomo
de carbono, ya que su energía presenta el mismo comportamiento
que el perfil de energía de la molécula, mientras que
los sustituyentes siempre tienen una contribución estabilizante.
Este también es el origen del efecto gauche en el 1,2-
difluoroetano.
El efecto anomérico en segmentos que presentan átomos
de oxígeno, se caracteriza por la desestabilización del átomo
de oxígeno con estabilización del carbono anomérico por participación
de la interacción estereoelectrónica n O →σ* C-O ,
mientras que por una interacción de naturaleza opuesta, pero
también de tipo estereoelectrónica, se espera desestabilización
del carbono anomérico con estabilización del átomo de azufre.
Ambos mecanismos muestran una notable dependencia de la
estreoquímica molecular.
Los átomos electronegativos tienen la tendencia a estabilizarse
más cuando ocupan la posición axial y no la ecuatorial,
no siendo necesaria la presencia de átomos electronegativos
en la red anular para conseguir este efecto. Por esta razón, se
debe revisar la definición del efecto anomérico, pues el átomo
de cloro muestra preferencia por la posición axial (sustituyente
electronegativo) independientemente si el anillo es
heterocíclico o carbocíclico. La estabilización del sustituyente
se produce a costa de la estabilidad del anillo, que, si presenta
un mecanismo de estabilización interna, no perderá demasiada
estabilidad (efecto anomérico) y entonces se observará el confórmero
axial, mientras que cuando no existe este mecanismo,
la desestabilización del anillo dominará a la estabilización del
sustituyente y se observará la preferencia por la posición ecuatorial.
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Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 202-206
Investigación
Synthesis and Properties of 2-diazo-1-[2-(thiophen-2-ylmethoxy)-
phenyl]-ethanone. Intramolecular Cyclization Through a Carbenoid
Intermediate
Erick Cuevas Yañez, 1 Abraham Arceo de la Peña, 1 Joseph M. Muchowski 2 y Raymundo Cruz Almanza 1*
1 Instituto de Química, UNAM. Circuito Exterior, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510, México, D.F.
Tel. (52) (55) 5622-4408; Fax: (52) (55) 5616-2217. E-mail: raymundo@servidor.unam.mx
2 Roche Biosciences Department of Chemistry, Roche Palo Alto, 3431 Hillview Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1320, USA.
Recibido el 24 de junio del 2003; aceptado el 10 de julio del 2003
Dedicated to Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar Romo
Resumen. Se describe la síntesis de la 2-diazo-1-[2-(2-tiofenilmetoxi)-fenil]-etanona
(1) la cual involucra la reacción de sustitución
nucleofílica aromática del (2-tiofenil) metóxido de sodio con 2-flurorobenzaldehído,
la oxidación en condiciones suaves del grupo aldehído
al ácido carboxílico y posteriormente la transformación a α-diazocetona
a través de un anhídrido carbónico-carboxílico como intermediario
de reacción. El tratamiento del compuesto 1 con cantidades
catalíticas de acetato de rodio (II) da la tiofenilmetil benzofuranona
10 por medio de una transposición sigmatrópica [2,3] del iluro de
oxonio 9 derivado del carbenoide de rodio que se postula como intermediario
de reacción.
Palabras clave: α-diazocetona, ciclización, carbenoide de rodio.
Abstract. The synthesis of 2-diazo-1-[2-(thiophen-2-ylmethoxy)-
phenyl]-ethanone (1) is described. The procedure involves an aromatic
nucleophilic substitution between the sodium 2-thiophenyl
methoxide and 2-fluorobenzaldehyde, the subsequent mild-condition
oxidation to the corresponding carboxylic acid, and final transformation
through carbonic-carboxylic anhydride intermediate to the a-diazoketone.
Treatment of compound 1 with catalytic amounts of rhodium
(II) acetate gives the thienylmethyl benzofuranone 10 which
comes from the [2,3] sigmatropic rearrangement of the oxonium ylide
9 derived from the rhodium carbenoid that is postulated as reaction
intermediate key.
Key words: α-diazoketones, cyclization, rhodium carbenoid.
Introduction
The diazo group chemistry has taken a new interest as a consequence
of the development of catalytic methods with transition
metals that convert diazoketones in valuable tools in
organic synthesis with several applications in homologations,
X-H bond insertions, ylide formations, and reactions with
alkenes and aromatic compounds [1].
Our interest has especially been focused in aryl and heteroaryl
diazoketone synthesis since there are few examples
that show the reactivity of this kind of compounds. Recently
Doyle and coworkers [2] took advantage of the furan reactivity
to prepare a macrocycle by the intramolecular insertion of
the rhodium carbenoid from a w-furanyl diazoketone. On the
other hand, Capretta and coworkers [3] reported that the treatment
of diverse diazoalkanoyl thiophenes with catalytic rhodium
(II) acetate gave the intramolecular cyclization compounds
as major reaction products, and they isolated 5 and 6
mermbered-fused rings to thiophene.
structure a thiophene ring and a diazo group, in such a way
they could react to each other to form 5 or 6 membered rings
when a carbenoid from a rhodium or copper salt were generated.
For this purpose we believed molecule 1 was appropriate
for the study and we proceeded to prepare it.
Initially, we reacted the sodium salt of 2-hydroxymethylthiophene
2 with 2-fluorobenzaldehyde 3 to obtain the alkyl
aryl ether 4 in 73 % yield through a nucleophilic aromatic
substitution. Previously, the substitution on 2-fluorobenzaldehyde
was reported as a process that readily occurs [4]. The 2-
hydroxymethylthiophene used in this part was prepared by
Fig. 1.
1
O
O
N 2
S
Results and discussion
Taking the preceding reactions and as a part of a project that
involves a study of the ω-diazoalkanoylthiophene reactivity,
we were interested in synthesize a molecule which had in their
S
2
Scheme 1
OH
3
O
F
H
NaH
DMF
4
O
O
H
S

Synthesis and properties of 2-Diazo-1-[2-(thiphen-2-ylmethoxy)-phenyl]... 203
Scheme 2
5
Scheme 3
O
O
4
O
O
OH
H
S
S
AgNO 3 , NaOH
THF-H 2 O
N-methylmorpholine
ClCO 2 Et,ether
0°C, 15 min
Table 1. Crystal data for compound 1.
Crystal data
6
1
5
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
O
OH
OEt
S
S
CH 2 N 2 /ether
Empirical formula
C 13 H 10 N 2 O 2 S
Formula weight 258.29
Crystal color
Colorless needle
Crystal system
Orthorrombic
Space group
Pbca
a, Å 5.5049(2) α = 90°
b, Å 17.914(2) β = 90°
c, Å 24.750(1) γ = 90°
Volume, Å 3 2440.8(3)
Z 8
Density (calcd.), g / cm 3 1.406
Absorption coefficient, (mm –1 ) 2.327
F(000) 1072
Crystal Size (mm) 0.56 × 0.12 × 0.07
Data collection
Temperature, K 292(2)
Radiation, l (Å) 1.54178
θ min, max,° 1.50,56.50
Index ranges
–5 [h [5,-19 [k[19,-26[1[26
Reflections Collected 3015
Independent reflections 1508 (R int = 0.0830)
Observed reflects[I > 2.0 σ (1)] R1 = 0.0723, wR2 = 0.2159
Refinement
Data-to-parameter ratio 1508 / 0 / 164
R, wR2 R1 = 0.0723, wR2 = 0.2159
G.O.F. 0.996
Largest diff. peak,hole,e Å –3 0.264,-0.288
N 2
S
sodium borohydride reduction of thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde,
which is commercially available [5].
The next step in the synthetic route consisted on the aldehyde
group oxidation in molecule 4 to the corresponding carboxylic
acid. For this purpose, aldehyde 4 was treated with
silver oxide, which was prepared in situ from the reaction of
silver nitrate and sodium hydroxide. The oxidation reaction
was performed at room temperature during 48 h in THF. After
work up, benzoic acid 5 was obtained in 38 % yield.
Finally, the thiophen-2-ylmethoxy benzoic acid 5 became
diazoketone 1 by the reaction with N-methylmorpholine and
ethyl chloroformate in ether at 0 °C during 15 min, and subsequent
addition of an excess of ethereal diazomethane (10:1) to
the carbonic-carboxylic anhydride 6 which is postulated like
the acylating agent. This technique has been successful in the
synthesis of diverse pirrolyl diazoketones [6], and in this case
gave quantitative yield.
Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 were characterized by the conventional
spectroscopic techniques, and especially the diazoketone
1 was a crystalline solid which was studied by X-ray
diffraction. The compound structure is represented in Fig. 2
and some important crystallographic data are in Table 1.
The X-ray study revealed some interesting data about the
compound structure. For example, we observed that the angle
formed between the nitrogen atoms of the diazo group is
177°, which indicates a strong tendency toward the lineal
structure given by a resonant structure that favors two consecutive
double bonds, one between C2 and N1 and the other
between N1 and N2. Additionally, the bond distance between
C1 and C2 is shorter than other distances with sp 2 atoms, such
as the C1-C3 bond distance. This can be explained by the resonance
effects that should exist between the carbonyl group
and the diazo group. In Table 2 some relevant angle and bond
distances from the X-Ray study are presented for molecule 1.
In the Fig. 3 we also could appreciate the packing cell representation
for compound 1 that shows a great separation
among the ring substituents. This suggests a strong repulsion
between the ortho substituents which is probably due to the
steric effect, and is reflected in the dihedral angle (C1-C3-C4-
O2) with 8 ° instead of 0 °. Therefore, the substituents are not
coplanar.
It is important to mention that there are not reported
examples where a diazoketone has been studied and characterized
by X-ray diffraction. Thus, the present work contributes
with new data about the space distribution that presents this
functional group.
Once prepared, diazoketone 1 reacted with catalytic a-
mounts of rhodium (II) acetate. At the moment, when we carried
out the reaction, we considered two possible reaction
routes: the first consisted on the C-H insertion on the benzylic
position of the carbenoid species 7 that it is formed from the
diazoketone 1 and the catalyst, which would give thienylchromanone
8 as the major product; while in the second route we
intended the formation of an oxonium ylide (9) after a sigmatropic
rearrangement [2, 3] would afford benzofuranone 10. In
this respect, we were not able to predict the reaction course

204 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Erick Cuevas Yañez et al.
Table 2. Selected bond distances (Å) and angles (°) for 1.
Bond
Distance (Å)
S1-C13 1.689(8)
O1-C1 1.221(9)
O2-C9 1.440(8)
N1-C2 1.316(9)
C1-C3 1.483(9)
C3-C4 1.409(9)
C3-C8 1.407(10)
C4-C5 1.370(9)
S1-C10 1.707(9)
O2-C4 1.366(9)
N1-N2 1.117(8)
C1-C2 1.433(12)
C9-C10 1.487(10)
C11-C12 1.419(11)
Fig. 2. ORTEP representation for compound 1.
because there are not overwhelming evidences about the reaction
mechanism. The McKervey group [7-9] found that varying
the catalyst they could modify the course of this kind of
reactions to obtain both chromanones and benzofuranones.
However, the five-membered ring formation and subsequent
Stevens rearrangement is more common in these processes
[10].
Treatment of diazoketone 1 with rhodium (II) acetate in
dichloromethane at room temperature under inert atmosphere
gave a reaction product whose physical and spectroscopic
constants did not correspond to those expected for chromanone
8 as have been reported previously [11, 12]. In this way,
spectroscopic data indicated that the compound obtained was
thienylmetylbenzofuranone 10. Additionally, Gefflaut and
Périe [13] informed a similar cyclization process when the
diazoketone derived from 2-benzyloxybenzoic acid reacted
with catalytic rhodium (II) acetate. Therefore, in this case the
carbenoid 7 derived from the diazoketone 1 reacted in an
intramolecular way with the phenoxy oxygen to generate a
five-membered ring and also an oxonium ylide which is
kinetically favored and is rearranged later to the benzofuranone
10.
In conclusion, this work presents the first synthesis of the
2-diazo-1-[2-(thiophen-2-ylmethoxy)-phenyl]-ethanone 1 and
its intramolecular cyclization to the benzofuranone 10, which
expands the possibilities to carry out reactivity studies with
transition metals and to synthesize some derivatives from this
molecule.
Experimental section
Bond Angle (°)
C13-S1-C10 92.0(5)
N2-N1-C2 177.0(10)
O1-C1-C3 121.6(8)
N1-C2-C1 115.0(8)
C8-C3-C1 116.4(6)
O2-C4-C5 124.0(7)
C5-C4-C3 120.6(7)
C11-C10-C9 126.1(8)
C9-C10-S1 122.3(6)
C4-O2-C9 117.4(5)
O1-C1-C2 121.0(6)
C2-C1-C3 117.3(7)
C8-C3-C4 117.9(6)
C4-C3-C1 125.7(7)
O2-C4-C3 115.4(6)
O2-C9-C10 108.2
C11-C10-S1 111.5(6)
The starting materials were purchased from Aldrich Chemical
Co. and were used without further purification. Solvents were
distilled before use, ether and tetrahydrofuran (THF) were
dried over sodium using benzophenone as indicator. Diazomethane
was prepared from N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide
(Diazald ®) using a minimum amount of water and
ethanol as co-solvent, and dried over KOH pellets before use.
Silica gel (230-400 mesh) and neutral alumina were purchased
from Merck. Silica plates of 0.20 mm thickness were used for
thin layer chromatography. Melting points were determined
with a Fisher-Johns melting point apparatus and they are
uncorrected. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra were recorded using a
Varian Gemini 200, chemical shifts (d) are given in ppm relative
to TMS as internal standard (0.00). For analytical purposes,
mass spectra were recorded on a JEOL JMS-5X 10217 in
the EI mode, 70 eV, 200 °C via direct inlet probe. Only molecular
and parent ions (m/z) are reported. IR spectra were
recorded on a Nicolet Magna 55-X FT instrument. For X-Ray
diffraction studies, crystals of compound 1 were obtained by
slow evaporation of a dilute ethanol solution, and reflections
were acquired with a Nicolet P3 / F diffractometer. Three
standard reflections every 97 reflections were used to monitor
crystal stability. The structure was solved by direct methods,
missing atoms were found by difference-Fourier synthesis,
and refined on F2 by a full-matrix least-squares procedure
using an isotropic displacement parameters using SHELX-97.

Synthesis and properties of 2-Diazo-1-[2-(thiphen-2-ylmethoxy)-phenyl]... 205
washed with water (150 mL), dried over Na 2 SO 4 and the solvent
was removed in vacuo. Purification by column chromatography
(SiO 2 , hexane / AcOEt 9:1) yield a colorless oil (2.67
g, 73 %). IR (CHCl 3 , cm –1 ). 3105, 1687. 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 ,
200 MHz) δ 5.35 (s, 2H), 7.07 (m, 3H), 7.35 (dd, 2H), 7.55(m,
1H), 7.85 (m, 1H), 10.5 (s, 1H). MS [EI+] m/z (%): 218 [M]+
(10), 97 [M-C 7 H 5 O 2 ] + (100).
2-(Thiophen-2-ylmethoxy)benzoic acid (5). Silver nitrate
(8.4 g, 49.5 mmol) was added to a solution of sodium hydroxide
(2.97 g, 74.2 mmol) in water (75 mL). The mixture was
added to a solution of compound 4 (2.67 g, 12.3 mmol) in
THF (14 mL) and the resulting mixture was stirred for 48 h at
room temperature. The mixture was filtered and acidified to
pH = 4, and the product was extracted with ethyl acetate (3 ×
100 mL). The organic phase was dried over Na 2 SO 4 and the
solvent was removed in vacuo. The product was purified by
crystallization (1.1 g, 38 %). m.p. 100 °C. IR (CHCl 3 , cm –1 ).
3511, 1664. 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 , 200 MHz) δ 5.46 (s, 2H), 7.05
(m, 3H), 7.29 (dd, 1H), 7.45 (m, 1H), 7.6 (m, 1H), 8.22 (dd,
1H). MS [E I+] m/z (%): 234 [M]+ (7), 97 [M-C 7 H 5 O 3 ] +
(100).
Fig. 3. Representation of the packing cell of compound 1.
2-Hydroxymethylthiophene (2). To a suspension of sodium
borohydride (0.339 g, 8.92 mmol) in absolute ethanol (9 mL)
a solution of 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde (2 g, 17.85 mmol) in
ethanol (25 mL) was added maintaining the temperature
below 25 °C. The resulting mixture was then heated at 50 °C
during 1 h. The solvent was removed in vacuo, and water (50
mL) was added, the solution acidified with diluted HCl (10 %)
to pH = 5. The product was extracted with ether (3 × 50 mL),
the organic phase was dried over Na 2 SO 4 and the solvent was
removed in vacuo to yield a colorless oil (1.93 g, 95 %),
which was used without additional purification. IR (CHCl 3 ,
cm –1 ). 3434, 2930, 1668. 1 H NMR (CDCl 3 , 200 MHz) δ 2.25
(s, 1 H), 4.79 (s, 1H), 6.98 (m, 2H), 7.33 (m, 1H). MS [EI+]
m/z (%): 114 [M] + (100), 113 [M - H] + (40).
2-Diazo-1-[2-(thiophen-2-ylmethoxy)-phenyl]-ethanone
(1). An ice-cold solution of the acid 5 (0.28 g, 1.2 mmol) in
freshly distilled ether (2 mL) was treated successively with
ethyl chloroformate (0.14g, 1.3 mmol) and N-methylmorpholine
(0.12 g, 1.2 mmol), the mixture was stirred under nitrogen
atmosphere for 15 min at 0 °C, then an ether solution of diazomethane
(12 mmol) from N-methyl-N-nitroso-4-toluenesulfonamide
was added at 0 °C. A vigorous evolution of nitrogen
occurred, and the mixture was allowed to warm to room temperature
overnight. The solvent was removed in vacuo and the
product was purified by column chromatography (SiO 2 , hexane
/ AcOEt 9:1) to yield a yellow crystalline product (100
%).m. p 70 °C. IR (CHCl 3 , cm –1 ). 3139, 2104, 1762. 1 H NMR
(CDCl 3 , 200 MHz) δ 5.27 (s, 1H), 5.46 (s, 2H), 7.05 (m, 3H),
7.29 (dd, 1H), 7.45(m, 1H), 7.6 (m, 1H), 8.22 (dd, 1H). MS
[EI+] m/z (%): 258 [M] + (5), 120 [C 7 H 4 O 2 ] + (100).
2-(Thiophen-2-ylmethyl)benzofuran-3-one (10). A solution
of the diazopropanone 1 (0.3096 g, 1.2 mmol) in dry CH 2 Cl 2
2-(Thiophen-2-ylmethoxy)benzaldehyde (4). To a suspension
of sodium hydride (0.97 g, 20.3 mmol) in DMF (17 mL)
a solution of 2-hydroxymethylthiophene 2 (1.93 g, 16.9
mmol) in DMF (17 mL) was added at 0 °C, the resulting mixture
was stirred under a nitrogen atmosphere at room temperature
for 15 min. The mixture was cooled at 0 °C and 2-fluorobenzaldehyde
(2.2 g, 17.8 mmol) was added. The resulting
mixture was stirred for additional 15 minutes at room temperature.
The reaction was quenched by addition of water (100
mL) and diluted HCl (10 %) to pH = 5. The aqueous phase
was extracted with ether (3 × 75 mL), the organic phase was
O
O
N 2 Rh
Rh 2 (OAc) 4
H
O
S -N 2 O
S
1
7
Rh 2 (OAc) 4 -N 2
O
O
Rh
-Rh 2 (OAc) 4
O
S
+O
7
9
S
Scheme 4
-Rh 2 (OAc) 4
O
O
8
O
O
10
S
S

206 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) Erick Cuevas Yañez et al.
(10 mL) was stirred with Rh 2 (OAc) 4 (2 mg) under nitrogen
atmosphere at room temperature. After 2 h, the mixture was
evaporated in vacuo and purified by column chromatography
(SiO 2 , hexane / AcOEt 9:1) to yield a white solid (0.118 g, 43
%). m.p. 45 °C. IR (CHCl 3 , cm –1 ). 2923, 1716, 1612. 1 H NMR
(CDCl 3 , 200 MHz) δ 3.30 (dd, 1H), 3.62 (dd, 1H), 4.78 (dd,
1H), 6.95-7.22 (m, 4H), 7.60-7.80 (m, 3H). MS [EI+] m/z
(%): 230 [M] + (15), 121 [C 7 H 5 O 2 ] + (100), 97 [C 5 H 5 S] + (75).
Acknowledgments
Financial support from CONACyT (no. 27997E) is gratefully
acknowledged. The authors would like to thank Rocío Patiño,
Angeles Peña, Javier Pérez and Rubén A. Toscano for their
technical support.
References
1. Doyle, M. P.; McKervey, M.A.; Ye, T.; Modern Synthetic
Methods using Diazocompounds: from Cyclopropanes to Ylides,
John Wiley & Sons: New York, 1998.
2. Doyle, M.P., Chapman, B.J.; Hu, W.; Peterson, C.S.; McKervey,
M.A.; Garcia, C.F.; Org. Lett. 1999,1, 1327-1329.
3. a)Frampton, C.S.; Pole, D.L.; Yong, K.; Capretta, A. Tetrahedron
Lett. 1997, 38, 5081-5084. b) Yong, K.; Salim, M.; Capretta, A.
J. Org. Chem. 1998, 63, 9828-9833.
4. Yeager, G.W.; Schissel, D.N. Synthesis 1995, 28-30.
5. Gronowitz, S.; Liljefors, S. Chem. Scr., 1978-79, 13, 39-45.
6. Jefford, C.W.; Kubota, T.; Zaslona, A. Helv. Chim. Acta 1986,
69, 2048-2061.
7. Pierson, N.; Fernández-García, C.; McKervey, M. A.;
Tetrahedron Lett. 1997, 38, 4705-4708.
8. Ye, T.; Fernandez-García, C.; McKervey, M. A.; J. Chem. Soc.
Perkin Trans. 1, 1995, 1373-1379.
9. Ye, T.; McKervey, M.A. J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 1992,
823-824.
10. Hodgson, D. M.; Pierard, F. Y. T. M.; Stupple, P.A. Chem. Soc.
Rev. 2001, 30, 50-61.
11. De, M.; Majundar, D. P.; Kundu, N. G. J. Indian Chem. Soc.
1999, 76, 665-674.
12. Corvaisier, A. Bull. Soc. Chim. Fr. 1962, 528-535.
13. Gefflaut, T.; Périe, J. Synth. Commun. 1994, 24, 29-33.

Revista de la Sociedad Química de México, Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) 207-209
Investigación
Estudio fitoquímico de Salvia uruapana †
René Manjarréz, Bernardo A. Frontana-Uribe y Jorge Cárdenas*
Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito Exterior Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán 04510,
México D.F. Tel. +52 (55) 5622-4413; Fax. +52 (55) 5616-2217; E-mail: rjcp@servidor.unam.mx
Recibido el 20 de junio del 2003; aceptado el 14 de julio del 2003
En homenaje a los 50 años de vida académica del Dr. Alfonso Romo de Vivar
Resumen. De las partes aéreas de Salvia uruapana se aislaron dos
diterpenos, salviafaricina y tonalensina ambos previamente descritos
en Salvia tonalensis, así como 7-O-luteolina diglucósido peracetilado.
La mezcla de los ácidos oleanólico y ursólico se aisló de las fracciones
de baja polaridad.
Palabras clave: Salvia uruapana; Labiatae; Diterpenos; neo-clerodano;
5-10-seco-neo-clerodano; flavona; triterpenos.
Abstract: From the aerial parts of Salvia uruapana were isolated two
diterpenic compounds previously isolated from Salvia tonalensis:
salvifaricin and tonalensin, as well as the peracetylated 7-O-luteolin
diglucoside. The mixture of oleanolic and ursolic acids was also isolated
from the low polarity fractions.
Keywords: Salvia uruapana; Labiatae; Diterpenos; neo-clerodane;
5-10-seco-neo-clerodane; flavone; triterpenoids.
Introducción
El género Salvia, miembro de la familia Labiatae, consta de
aproximadamente 900 especies en el mundo. En México existen
más de 300 salvias que se encuentran predominantemente
en bosques de pinos-abeto y encino por encima de los 1000 m
de altura, lo que hace de México uno de los países con mayor
diversidad botánica en este género [1].
De los estudios fitoquímicos de especies americanas del
género Salvia se han obtenido diterpenos con esqueleto de tipo
clerodano, abietano y pimarano, además de los esqueletos
modificados como riacofano y tilifolano, que se propone
provienen de precursores clerodánicos. Se han obtenido otros
compuestos como flavonoides, ácidos triterpénicos y β-sitosterol
por mencionar algunos otros. Esta gran riqueza y diversidad
fitoquímica, aunada a la abundancia de especies de este
género en nuestro país, ha alentado la búsqueda de compuestos
con propiedades biológicas interesantes en plantas de
este género. Algunas especies vegetales pertenecientes a este
género se han utilizado con fines medicinales por sus propiedades
antitumorales, bactericidas, bacteriostáticas, carminativas,
entre otras [2].
Continuando con estudios fitoquímicos realizados en
plantas del género Salvia endémicas de México [3, 4], en este
trabajo se presentan los resultados del estudio de Salvia uruapana
(Fern.) Labiatae. Esta planta crece en la zona central de
México, encontrándose abundantemente en los estados de Michoacán,
Jalisco y Colima. Es una hierba con flor azul intenso,
de talla moderada (40-60 cm) que crece en zonas altas (> 1300
msnm) y húmedas.
†Contribución No 1768 del Instituto de Química, UNAM.
Discusión de resultados
El producto blanco cristalino mostró en el espectro de IR las
señales características de un furano monosubstituido (1505 y
875 cm –1 ) y de una γ-lactona α,β-insaturada (1755, 1670
cm –1 ). Con la espectroscopia de RMN y experimentos
bidimensionales RMN 1 H-RMN 13 C, se logró la determinación
de la estructura 1 para este compuesto. Este ha sido
reportado previamente de la partes aéreas de Salvia farinacea
asignándole el nombre de salvifaricina [9]. Se observaron
claramente las señales reportadas como típicas para este compuesto
en el espectro de RMN 1 H, como son las generadas por
la sustitución β del anillo de furano, el sistema de metilo
secundario entre C-8 y C-17, el sistema A-B del metileno de la
γ-lactona α,β-insaturada y el protón cetálico de C-20. En el
primer reporte de 1 se describe parcialmente la espectroscopía
de RMN y es en un reporte reciente [5] donde se confirman las
O
AcO
AcO
1
4
18
20
O
9
10 8
O
19
O
AcO
OAc
12
16
AcO
O
17
O
O
15
1 O
2
O
AcO
OAc
3
O
O
OAc
Fig. 1. Compuestos aislados de Salvia uruapana.
O
O
O
O
OAc
O
OAc

208 Rev. Soc. Quím. Méx. Vol. 47, Núm. 2 (2003) René Manjarréz et al.
Fig. 2. Estructura obtenida por rayos X de la tonalensina (2).
asignaciones y se completan los datos espectroscópicos faltantes,
mismos que concuerdan correctamente con los obtenidos
para el compuesto 1.
De las aguas madres de donde se obtuvo el producto anterior,
se logró aislar por cristalización otro producto que
mostró tener un espectro de RMN 1 H y RMN 13 C complicado.
Al variar la temperatura, este último mostró cambios importantes
por lo que se sospechó la presencia de confórmeros.
Mediante el estudio de cristalografía de Rayos-X de un
monocristal (Fig. 2), se logró obtener la estructura 2 para el
compuesto aislado. Este producto ha sido reportado previamente
del estudio fitoquímico de Salvia tonalensis y se
denominó tonalensina [10]. Los datos reportados en el estudio
cristalográfico y los obtenidos en este estudio concuerdan, así
como las señales reportadas para los espectros de RMN 1 H y
RMN 13 C [6].
La salvifaricina podría derivarse de la tonalensina vía la
fusión de los anillos A y B mediante un reacción electrocíclica
del compuesto 2 permitida térmicamente [7]. Con el fin de
verificar esta hipótesis, la tonalensina se sometió a reflujo
durante 48 h en diferentes disolventes monitoreando la reacción
por ccf. En tolueno (p.eb. 110 °C) y 1,1,2,2-tetracloroetano
(p.eb. 142 °C) no hubo reacción; en decalina (mezcla
de isómeros p.eb. 183 °C) se observó descomposición del
producto, pero ninguno de los productos observados en la
placa correspondió a la salvifaricina. Esto demostró que el
simple calentamiento del producto no induce la reacción y se
requiere la presencia de otro tipo de catalizadores, tal vez del
tipo enzimáticos, que se podrían encontrar en la planta.
La acetilación de la fracción de 20 % metanol en acetato
de etilo permitió obtener un compuesto peracetilado. Este
compuesto mostró claramente en RMN 1 H el patrón de
señales para dos sistemas aromáticos, uno de ellos tetra-substituido
y el otro tri-substituido, además del protón singulete
característico de las flavonas. Diez grupos hidroxilo fueron
identificados mediante las correspondientes señales de los
acetatos (δ 1.99-2.40). Las glucosas fueron identificadas
mediante las dos señales en RMN 13 C de los carbonos CH 2
base de oxígeno y los dos dobletes en RMN 1 H típicos del
protón anomérico del sistema disacárido. Los sistemas observados
son característicos de la luteolina 7-O-diglucósido,
compuesto frecuentemente encontrado en los productos naturales
[8]. El compuesto mostró un pico molecular en 1030
uma que confirmó a la luteolina con un disacárido de dos glucosas.
S. uruapana pertenece a la sección Angulatae del subgénero
Calosphace y S. tonalensina y pertenecen a la sección
Polystachyae del mismo subgénero [1]. El hecho de haber
encontrado los mismos productos reportados en dos secciones
diferentes podría indicar una relación botánica muy cercana de
ambas plantas.
Parte experimental
La Salvia uruapana (Fern.) fue obtenida por Bernardo A.
Frontana Uribe y Dagoberto Alavés en el camino de Teretán
hacia Zirimícuaro, Edo. de Michoacán, México en noviembre
de 1999. El especimen fue identificado por la Biol. Irene Díaz
del Instituto de Biología UNAM y se depositaron dos ejemplares
en el herbario del mismo Instituto con el registro
MEXU 967718 y 967719.
Los puntos de fusión no están corregidos y fueron determinados
en un equipo Fisher-Johns. Los espectros de IR se
obtuvieron con un espectrofotómetro Nicolet Magna 750. Las
espectrometrías de masas de baja resolución se obtuvieron con
la técnica de impacto electrónico a 70 eV en un equipo Jeol
JMS-AX 505. Las espectrometrías de alto peso molecular se
obtuvieron con la técnica FAB + con un equipo Jeol JMS-SX
102A. Los experimentos de 1 H RMN (300 MHz) y 13 C RMN
(75 MHz) se obtuvieron con un equipo Varian Unity 300 y
con TMS como estándar interno empleando como disolvente
deuterocloroformo. Las cromatografías de placa fina (CCF) se
realizaron en hojas de aluminio precubiertas con sílica gel
(Macherey-Nagel Alugram Sil G / UV 254 ). Las cromatografías
Flash se realizaron empleando sílica gel (Merck 60 0.030-
0.075 mm) y las cromatografías al vacío empleando sílica gel
para cromatografía en placa fina (Merck 60).
Extracción y aislamiento
2.98 kg de planta seca se sometieron a maceración con acetona,
se evaporó el disolvente obteniendo 21.5 g de residuo
acetónico. Se cromatografió en columna al vacío empacada
con sílice en una proporción de 1 a 10 con respecto al peso del
residuo obtenido. La elución se efectuó iniciando con hexano,
y mezclas hexano-acetato de etilo de polaridad creciente,
acetato de etilo y finalmente con mezclas acetato de etilometanol
de polaridad creciente hasta un 20 % de metanol. La
mezcla de los ácidos triterpénicos ursólico y oleanólicos se
separó de las fracciones con polaridad 20-40 % de AcOEt. De
la fracción obtenida con 50 % de AcOEt en hexano y por
recristalización por par de disolventes con CH 2 Cl 2 y éter (1:1),
se purificó la salvifaricina (1). De las aguas madres de esta
misma fracción y con recristalización por par de disolventes
con CH 2 Cl 2 y éter (1:1) se aisló la tonalensina (2). De la frac-

Estudio fitoquímico de Salvia uruapana 209
ción obtenida con 25 % de hexano en AcOEt, mas los restos
de la fracción anterior, se obtuvo la mezcla de los ácidos
ursólico y oleanólico con un p.f. 225-228 °C. Finalmente,
mediante la acetilación con anhídrido acético y piridina de la
fracción de 20 % metanol en acetato de etilo, se obtuvo el
derivado peracetilado de la luteolina 7-O-diglucósido (3).
Salvifaricina (1): p.f. 214-216 °C (lit. p.f. 214-215°C [9]), IR
(CHCl 3 ) ν max cm –1 : 3050, 2964, 2943, 2904, 1755, 1670,
1579, 1505, 1465, 1238, 1164,1052, 1008, 980, 875. EM m/z
(abundancia relativa) M + 340 (100), 282 (22), 259 (26), 244
(23), 217 (44), 189 (22), 163 (100), 135 (72), 95 (97), 81 (61),
77 (25), 55 (26), 39 (16).
Tonalensina (2): p.f. 192-194 °C (lit. p.f. 191-193 °C [10]),
IR (CHCl 3 ) ν max cm –1 : 1750, 1635, 1502, 1465, 1350, 1313,
1148, 1022, 946, 875. EM m/z (abundancia relativa) M + 340
(73), 322 (13), 294 (42), 279 (22), 265 (24), 217 (59), 201
(54), 185 (50), 171 (45), 141 (42), 128 (54), 115 (53), 94
(100), 81 (78), 77 (53), 65 (33).
Luteolina 7-O-[β-D-Glucopiranosyl-D-Glucopiranósido] (3):
p.f. 121-124 °C; IR (CHCl 3 ) ν max cm –1 : 3100, 2940, 2877,
1756, 1645, 1617, 1428, 1370, 1119, 1072, 1039. 1 H RMN
CDCl 3 δ J (Hz): 6.58 (s, 1H, H-3), 6.71 (d, 1H, J = 2.6, H-6),
7.0 (d, 1H, J = 2.6, H-8), 7.77 (d, 1H, J = 2.2, H-2’), 7.36 (d,
1H, J = 8, H-5’), 7.71 (d, 1H, J = 8, 2.2, H-6’), 5.33-4.9 (m,
6H), 4.73 (d, 1H, J = 2), 4.33-3.66 (m, 7H), 2.43-1.99 (10s,
30H); 13 C RMN CDCl 3 δ 167.2 (C-2), 102.3 (C-3), 176.1 (C-
4), 160.5 (C-5), 100.8 (C-6), 167.9 (C-7), 98.3 (C-8), 158.3 (C-
9), 108.9 (C-10), 129.8 (C-1’), 121.5 (C-2’), 144.7 (C-3’),
150.6 (C-4’), 124.2 (C-5’), 124.5 (C-6’), 20.37 q, 20.57 q,
21.09 q, 29.17 q, 29.66 q, 61.5 t, 61.88 t, 68.01 d, 68.15 d,
71.05 d, 71.9 d, 72.0 d, 72.7 d, 74.05 d, 109.6 d, 112.6 d, 160.3
s, 169.3 s, 169.4 s, 169.6 s, 169.8 s, 170.3 s, 170.5 s. EM
FAB+, m/z (abundancia relativa): [M + +1] 1031 (28), 989 (12),
619 (2), 550 (2), 522 (2), 413 (5), 371 (31), 331 (42), 289 (12),
169 (86) 154 (55), 136 (55), 127 (28), 109 (109), 84 (19), 77
(18), 69 (19), 55 (23), 43 (100).
Agradecimientos
Los autores agradecen a las siguientes personas por su ayuda
en la obtención de los datos espectroscópicos: Javier Pérez,
Nieves Zavala, Alejandrina Acosta, Rocío Patiño y Alfredo
Toscano; a Irene Díaz por la clasificación del especimen vegetal
y a Carmen Márquez por su ayuda en la separación por
cromatografía preparativa. Este trabajo fue parcialmente
financiado con el proyecto CONACyT J34873-E.
Referencias
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Flores, E.A., Domínguez, R.M.; Rev. Latinoamer. Quím. 1996,
24, 44-64.
3. Rodríguez-Hahn, L.; Esquivel, B.; Cárdenas, J. En: Secondary
metabolites from Mexican plants: Chemistry and Biological,
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1996, p. 19.
4. Rodríguez-Hahn, L.; Esquivel, B.; Cárdenas, J. En:
Phytochemistry of Medicinal Plants, Arnason, J.T. Ed. Plenum
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8. Imperato,F.; Nazzaro, R. Phytochemistry 1996, 41, 337-338.
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