Synthesis of 13 different tetrahydro-beta-carbolines (THBC) was accomplished by applying the Pictet-Spengler reaction with seven aldehydes, which have been coupled with tryptamine (6) and L-tryptophan methyl ester (7), respectively. The resulting products represent analogues of strictosidine (1) and carboxystrictosidine (5). They were investigated with respect to possible effects on herbivores in feeding bioassays upon the generalist Spodoptera littoralis. Maximum inhibition averages were 42% after four and 46% after six days for the most effective product (19) at 1000 ppm. Additionally, the frass of this particular bioassay was investigated via HPLC-UV for THBC digestion. All synthesized THBCs were also tested for their radical scavenger activity by monitoring their interaction with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Compounds 16-20, 24 and 25 exhibited radical scavenging activity, ranging from 50% to 74% compared to that of a-tocopherol. All results were discussed with respect to possible contributions of tetrahydro-beta-carboline moieties in bioactivities of strictosidine (1) and its biodegradation products. (c) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Selective construction of alkaloid scaffolds by alcohol-based direct and mild aerobic oxidative Pictet–Spengler reactions
Employing TBN/TEMPO as the catalysts and oxygen as the oxidant, the biologically and pharmaceutically significant tetrahydro-β-carboline and β-carboline alkaloid scaffolds that used to be obtained by multi-step processes can now be selectively obtained in only one-step via direct aerobicoxidative Pictet–Spengler reactions of tryptamines with alcoholsundermildconditions, with water generated as