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Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck is a very common cultivar belonging to the Rutaceae family. It is largely diffused in several areas of the world characterized by mild to warm climate conditions. Its abundant worldwide production (up to 107 Tons. per year) and consumption both as the edible part of the fruit and as several types of derivative products imply the production of a huge amount of waste, such as the fruit pomace. Several ways of recycling this material have been developed in recent years: employment as fertilizer, fodder ingredient, and even cloth material. However, the chemical added value of Citrus sinensis peel has been underestimated despite the diversified and significant content of useful chemicals, such as polyphenols, polymethoxylated phenols, glycosylated flavonoids, volatile and non-volatile terpenoids, pectins, enzymes, etc. This work aims to highlight the outstanding chemical potential of Citrus sinensis peel.

The hydrolysis of acetyl moieties on a set of commercially relevant substrates was performed by employing the whole tissue of Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck peel as an efficient biocatalyst in mild reaction conditions with high degree of regioselectivity. The reaction is done in aqueous media and the product is easily recovered. Optimal reaction conditions were deduced and two practical applications were investigated: the elaboration of acetylglicerols and the preparation of vitamin K1 precursor. Peel waste (flavedo and albedo) from orange juice manufacturing was successfully employed as a biocatalyst.

Oleanolic and ursolic acids are two ubiquitous isomeric triterpene phytochemicals known for their anticancer activity. A set of derivatives of the two compounds with a modified oxidation state and lipophylicity at C-3 and C-28 positions, were prepared and tested as anticancer agents versus the lines HepG2, Hep3B and HA22T/VGH of hepatocarcinoma, a strongly aggressive tumor that is not responsive toward the standard therapies. New derivatives containing a three carbons side chain on the C-3 position were synthetized in both stereoisomeric forms by the Barbier-Grignard procedure and three of them were found to be active toward all of the three targets. The implication of the transcriptional nuclear factor NF−κB in the mechanism of action was assessed for the more active compounds in the set, as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cyto-types are known to overexpress NF−κB.

The electron ionization (EI)-induced fragmentations of a series of 1,1-(2,2'-dimethoxyphenyl)-substituted 2-methylpropanes (1-20) in both 70 eV and mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy (MIKE) spectra have been investigated. The EI-MS spectra of these compounds are characterized by the presence of abundant benzyl ions. These ions result from competitive hydrogen migration from the 2- and 2'-methoxy groups on the carbenium center of the diphenylmethyl cations formed by benzylic cleavage of the molecular ions. The relative abundances of the benzyl ions arising from such competitive processes are discussed and rationalized. The steric effect of the 3- or 3'-substituents is the main discriminating factor between the two competitive processes. The structural information, arising either from the 70 eV or the MIKE spectra, is discussed.

pi-Allylpalladium complexes could be generated in water by the palladium(0) water soluble catalyst prepared in situ from palladium acetate and TPPTS. These complexes were transmetalated with indium to react with benzaldehyde. The aqueous solution of Pd(0)(TPPTS)(n) could be reused without deterioration of the catalyst in the first and second recycling. The system proved to be efficient with primary and secondary allylic substrates. The stereochemical outcome of the allylation through umpolung of allylpalladium, was also studied using models with a restraint conformation.

The chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of Mentha pulegium L. (Linné) collected in Sicily was evaluated by GC and GC-MS. The main components were pulegone (50.6%), piperitenone (27.8%) and menthone (6.9%). Comparison of this oil with other studied oils of different populations is discussed. The oil showed good antibacterial and antifungal activities against some microorganisms that infest historical art works.

Three naturally occurring ajugarins and seven semisynthetic derivatives of them, possessing different functionalities in the decalin part, together with two natural furoneoclerodane diterpenes, have been assessed as feeding behavior modifying agents of larvae of the generalist Spodoptera exigua and a specialist like Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Ajugarin I and some of its derivatives exhibited a significant antifeedant activity against larvae of S. exigua in both choice and no-choice assays. Conversely, the furoneoclerodane diterpenes only presented antifeedant activity against larvae of L. decemlineata. These results indicate that the biological action of the tested substances is strongly modulated by minimal structural variations, which are also responsible for the specificity of action.

The methoxide-promoted elimination reaction of some 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(phenyl-substituted)ethanes (1) was investigated. The ortho-substituted derivatives were found to be less reactive than the corresponding ortho-unsubstituted derivatives, irrespective of the nature of their substituent. The reactivity data were correlated with the 13C NMR chemical shift values of C-β of either 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(phenyl-substituted)ethanes or 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(phenyl-substituted)ethenes and the better result was obtained for the former correlation. Activation parameters for the methoxide-promoted elimination of 1 show very similar values for ortho-substituted derivatives. The total data set seems to be more indicative, even if not compelling, of an irreversible E1cB mechanism. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Some neoclerodane (2–4) and labdane (5 and 6) diterpene ketones having a β- or γ-hydroxy function, an α-epoxy group, or an α-olefinic double bond have been irradiated at λ = 313 nm in dry solvents (benzene or methanol). Fruticolone (2) yielded the naturally occurring 5,6-seco-neoclerodan-6,1α-olide derivative fruticolide (1), while hispanolone (5) gave the δ-lactone 8, both transformations involving a Norrish type I photoreaction. The α,β-unsaturated ketone derivative 4 was transformed into 7 by a stereoselective intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition reaction involving its furanic 13(16)-double bond. Finally, the α-epoxy ketone 6 was rearranged to the 10(98)abeo-labda-7,9-dione derivative 10. Apart from the interest in these reactions for synthetic purposes, the photochemical transformation of fruticolone (2) into fruticolide (1) suggests that the latter might originate from the former as an artefact during the extraction and isolation procedure, rather than from any biogenetic pathway.

The base–promoted elimination reactions of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(dimethoxyphenyl)ethanes were investigated. The bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethane was found to be more reactive than the bis(2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)ethane and the latter more reactive than the bis(2,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethane. Kinetic data relative to 1,1,1-trihalo(chloro or bromo)-2,2-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethanes show that the tribromo reacts faster than trichloro derivative and that the reactions are general-base promoted with Bronsted β values of about 0.6. A kinetic isotope effect, with kH/kD ratio ranging from 3.5 to 5.7, for the base-promoted elimination reaction of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethane was found. Tunneling occurs for methoxide and ethoxide ion-promoted eliminations. Activation parameters for alkoxy-promoted elimination show a similar trend for chloride and bromide derivatives. The data collected seem to confirm that there is contiguity between E1cBirr and E2 mechanisms. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Salvinorin A (1), a neoclerodane diterpene from the hallucinogenic mint Salvia divinorum, is the only known naturally occurring non-nitrogenous and specific κ-opioid agonist. Some oxidative modifications of the A ring in the congeners of 1 isolated from Salvia splendens salviarin, splenolide B, splendidin and in the non-natural 8-epi-salviarin gave new derivatives, some of which were tested as agonists at opioid receptors. However, none of these compounds were active. The presence of the C-18, C-19 lactone could be at the origin of the observed lack of binding affinity.

Substituted derivatives such as (Ib,c) react with very high degree of stereochemistry explained by a cationic palladacycle intermediate similar to the one postulated for the Cope-rearrangement of 1,5-dienes.

Three new complexes of Ru(II), namely [RuCl 2 (Glun-N,O) 2 ]Na 2 ( I ; Glun = glucosaminate), [RuCl 2 (1-Tglu)(EtOH) 2 ]Na ( II ; 1-Tglu = 1-thio-β- d -glucose) and [Ru 2 (EtOH) 6 (AL)Cl 4 ] ( III ; AL = 6′-aminolactose) were prepared from the same Ru(II) precursor, [RuCl 2 (DMSO) 4 ] (DMSO = dimethyl sulfoxide). The characterization of the complexes was carried out by elemental analysis, FT-IR, ES-MS, NMR, EXAFS and DFT calculations. The effectiveness of the complexes on metastatic melanoma A 375 was investigated. The results show that complex II is the most active species.

A new efficient palladium(II)-catalyzed [3,3] aza-Claisen, formal sigmatropic rearrangement of 3-allyloxy-5-aryl-1,2,4-oxadiazoles was developed. The mechanism was studied by analyzing the regiochemical and stereochemical course of the reaction. The results obtained indicated the intervention of a cationic pallada-cycle similar to the one postulated for the Cope rearrangement of 1,5-dienes.

Some neoclerodane (2–4) and labdane (5 and 6) diterpene ketones having a β- or γ-hydroxy function, an α-epoxy group, or an α-olefinic double bond have been irradiated at λ = 313 nm in dry solvents (benzene or methanol). Fruticolone (2) yielded the naturally occurring 5,6-seco-neoclerodan-6,1α-olide derivative fruticolide (1), while hispanolone (5) gave the δ-lactone 8, both transformations involving a Norrish type I photoreaction. The α,β-unsaturated ketone derivative 4 was transformed into 7 by a stereoselective intramolecular [2+2] cycloaddition reaction involving its furanic 13(16)-double bond. Finally, the α-epoxy ketone 6 was rearranged to the 10(98)abeo-labda-7,9-dione derivative 10. Apart from the interest in these reactions for synthetic purposes, the photochemical transformation of fruticolone (2) into fruticolide (1) suggests that the latter might originate from the former as an artefact during the extraction and isolation procedure, rather than from any biogenetic pathway.

Salvinorin A ( 1 ), a neoclerodane diterpene from the hallucinogenic mint Salvia divinorum , is the only known non-nitrogenous and specific κ-opioid agonist. Several structural congeners of 1 isolated from Salvia splendens ( 2 – 8 ) together with a series of semisynthetic derivatives ( 9 – 24 ), some of which possess a pyrazoline structural moiety ( 9 , 19 – 22 ), have been tested for affinity at human μ, δ, and κ opioid receptors. None of these compounds showed high affinity binding to these receptors. However, 10 showed modest affinity for κ receptors suggesting that other natural neoclerodanes from different Salvia species may possess opioid affinity.

An unusual (24S)-24-ethylcholesta-5,25-dien-3β-yl β- d -glucopyranoside possessing a mixture of fatty acid esters at the C-6′ position of the sugar moiety has been isolated from Teucrium fruticans. Spectroscopic studies and chemical transformations allowed the characterization of the sterol and sugar parts and palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids as the main constituents of the 6′-O-acyl moiety.

An array of poly- and mononuclear complexes of Pt(II) with polypyridyl ligands is reported. The framework complexes [(PtCl 2 ) 2 (bpp) 2 (μ-PtCl 2 )](H 2 O) 2 [bpp = 2,3-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazine], [PtCl 2 (μ-tptz)PtClNCPh]Cl [tptz = 2,4,6-tris(2-pyridyl)-1,3,5-triazine], and mononuclear PtCl 2 (NH 2 dpt) [NH 2 dpt = 4-amino-3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)-1,2,4-triazole] have been prepared and structurally characterized. Both neutral and ionic complexes are present, with bifunctional and monofunctional Pt(II) moieties, whose size and shape enable them to behave as novel scaffolds for DNA binding. Pt(II) complexes were tested for their biological activity. Cell viability assay and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that these complexes, particularly [PtCl 2 (μ-tptz)PtClNCPh]Cl, were effective death inducers in human colon rectal carcinoma HT29 cells and their cytotoxic activity was higher than that exerted by cisplatin. Morphological analysis of treated HT29 cells, performed by fluorescence microscopy after Hoechst 33258 staining, showed the appearance of the typical features of apoptosis. Moreover, our results suggested that mitochondria are involved in apoptosis induced by Pt(II) complexes in HT29 cells as demonstrated by dissipation of mitochondrial transmembrane potential.

Two new compounds, 2,5-dihydroxyisocostic acid and 2,3-dihydroxycostic acid together with three known sesquiterpene compounds, Isocostic acid, Carabrone and Tomentosin, have been isolated from the acetone extract of Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton. The structures of all new compounds were determined by spectroscopic methods, in particular 1D and 2D (1)H- and (13)C-NMR. The (13)C-NMR spectra of Isocostic acid and of Tomentosin are reported here for the first time.

Four new clerodane diterpenoids, salvisplendins A-D (1-4), have been isolated from an acetone extract of the flowers of SalVia splendens, together with an artifact (5), arising from salvisplendin D (4) by addition of diazomethane, and the already known clerodane olearin (6). The structures of the new compounds (1-5) were established mainly by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies and, in the case of salvisplendin A (1), by chemical correlation with splenolide B (7). Complete 1H and 13C NMR assignments for olearin (6), not published hitherto, are also reported.

Unambiguous and complete assignments of 1H and 13C NMR chemical shifts for five clerodane diterpenes, four of them isolated from Salvia splendens (salviarin, splendidin and splenolides A and B) and one obtained by acetylation of splenolide A, are presented. The assignments are based on 2D shift-correlated [1H,1H–COSY, 1H,13C-gHSQC–1J(C,H) and 1H,13C-gHMBC-nJ(C,H) (n = 2 and 3)] and nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) experiments. The conformation of the rings of these compounds is supported by the 3J(H,H) values and NOE results. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The amount of the ring puckering in methyl-substituted 9,10- dihydroanthracene was theoretically determined through DFT calculations. Theoretical calculations allowed to obtain the geometrical structures and energetic data on the different considered isomers.

2-(Methyl(3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-5-yl)carbamoyl)thiophene-3-diazonium hydrogen sulfate 20, 2-(methyl(3-methyl-isoxazol-5yl)carbamoyl)-benzenediazonium hydrogen sulfate 21 and 2-(methyl(phenyl)carbamoyl)-benzenediazonium hydrogen sulphate 22 were synthesized and reacted with a CuSO4/NaCl/ascorbic acid combination to give complex mixtures. The structures of the reaction products were elucidated, depending upon the pathways followed. Compound 20 almost exclusively afforded an Ar-5 cyclization product and trace amounts of the product derived from a competing Ar-6 Pschorr closure. In the case of compound 21, the Ar-6 cyclization was not observed, while the Ar-5 cyclization and 1,5-hydrogen radical transfer processes equally occurred. Finally, the Ar-6 cyclization was observed as the main process for compound 22, accompanied by the Ar-5 cyclization and, in a much lesser extent, by an 1,5-hydrogen radical transfer process.