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Vaccines and antiviral drugs are widely used to treat influenza infection. However, they cannot rapidly respond to drug-resistant viruses. Therefore, new anti-influenza virus strategies are required. Naringenin is a flavonoid with potential for new antiviral strategies. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral effects of naringenin derivatives and examined the relationship between their cellular uptake and antiviral effects. Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells were infected with the A/PR/8/34 strain and exposed to the compound-containing medium for 24 h. The amount of virus in the supernatant was calculated using focus-forming reduction assay. Antiviral activity was evaluated using IC50 and CC50 values. Cells were exposed to a constant concentration of naringenin or prenylated naringenin, and intracellular uptake and distribution were evaluated using a fluorescence microscope. Prenylated naringenin showed strong anti-influenza virus effects, and the amount of intracellular uptake was revealed by the strong intracellular fluorescence. In addition, intracellular distribution differed depending on the position of the prenyl group. The steric factor of naringenin is deeply involved in influenza A virus activity, and prenyl groups are desirable. Furthermore, the prenyl group affects cellular affinity, and the uptake mechanism differs depending on its position. These results provide important information on antiviral strategies.

Asymmetric total synthesis of (−)-javaberine A and its epimer was achieved by utilizing two methods for isoquinoline synthesis, asymmetric hydroamination of N-methyl-2-(2-styrylaryl)ethylamine and Bischler-Napieralski cyclization. Intramolecular asymmetric hydroamination of N-methyl aminoalkene 4 was catalyzed by lithium amide–chiral bisoxazoline to give tetrahydroisoquinoline (S)-laudanosine with good enantioselectivity in excellent yield. N-Demethylation of (S)-laudanosine was accomplished by Polonovski-type reaction to give (S)-norlaudanosine. Condensation of (S)-norlaudanosine with homoveratric acid, and subsequent Bischler-Napieralski cyclization, LiAlH4 reduction, and O-demethylation furnished (8R,14S)-(−)-javaberine A, corresponding to antipode of natural javaberine A. (8S,14S)-(−)-Javaberine A, which corresponds to C14-epimer of natural javaberine A, was also successfully synthesized.

A novel etherification of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives with alkoxyalkyl chlorides and hydride bases is described. Precise study of the conditions and substrate scope suggested that the reaction occurs specifically in the molecule having a 2-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone skeleton. A chemoselective O-methylation reaction was achieved to afford a synthetically important intermediate, which offered easy access to a natural product possessing anti-tumor activity.

Hit, Lead & Candidate Discovery Antiangiogenesis therapy is a promising way for treatment of solid cancers, and many angiogenesis inhibitors that target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or its receptors have been developed. We explored novel antiangiogenic compounds other than anti-VEGF drugs by screening our synthetic compound library and found that 6-thiophen-3-yl-2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (6-TMNQ) had potential as a novel angiogenesis inhibitor. This paper describes the effects of 6-TMNQ on angiogenesis and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. 6-TMNQ inhibited serum-, VEGF-, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-stimulated proliferation of endothelial cells in a concentration-dependent manner, but had no effect on the proliferation of fibroblasts. VEGF-induced activation of VEGF receptor-2 in endothelial cells was not affected by the compound. 6-TMNQ markedly abrogated both migration and tube formation of endothelial cells. Orally administered 6-TMNQ inhibited angiogenesis in response to VEGF or bFGF in mice in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, when tumor-bearing mice were treated with 6-TMNQ, increase in tumor size was significantly prevented due to inhibition of angiogenesis in the tumor tissues. These results demonstrate that 6-TMNQ is an orally available compound that selectively inhibits endothelial cell proliferation and migration, and abrogates angiogenesis, resulting in the prevention of tumor growth. The mechanism of 6-TMNQ action is different from that of conventional anti-VEGF drugs.

Described here is the first enantioselective total synthesis of lantalucratin C, which was isolated from the rainforest plant Lantana involucrata, and which possesses anti-tumor activity. The OH group on the aromatic ring was systematically introduced by an appropriate management of the OH protecting groups. The alkyl side chain connected to a chiral carbon center was incorporated by directed ortho-lithiation of naphthalenes followed by asymmetric epoxidation. The furano-1,2-naphthoquinone skeleton was constructed from 3-hydroxyalkylnaphthalene by CAN-mediated oxidative cyclization. The absolute stereochemistry at the C2 carbon was assigned the R-configuration by the Kusumi–Mosher method.

A new type of O-alkylation of 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone with alkoxymethyl chlorides is described. The reaction course can be controlled by the choice of base and yields O-alkylated or O-alkoxymethylated products in high yield with high selectivity.

The oxidative intramolecular cyclization of 3-hydroxyalkyl-1,2,4-trimethoxynaphthalenes was investigated. A series of 1,2-naphthoquinone fused cyclic ethers were synthesized directly from 3-hydroxyalkyl-1,2,4-trimethoxynaphthalenes by exposure to diammonium cerium (IV) nitrate. To understand the reaction mechanism, the intramolecular cyclization of 3-hydroxyalkyl-naphthoquinones that were formed as reaction intermediates was also examined. The results suggested that the reaction proceeds by a stepwise oxidation–cyclization mechanism. Using this methodology, five-step synthesis of rhinacanthone was achieved with high yield.

The first total synthesis of (±)-lantalucratins A and B is described. Introduction of an alkyl side chain at the 6-position was proceeded by directed ortho -lithiation and subsequent alkylation reaction to afford 6-alkyl-5,7,8-trimethoxy-1-naphthol as a synthetically important intermediate for (±)-lantalucratins A and B in excellent yield with complete regioselectivity. The 1,2-naphthoquinone fused five-membered cyclic ether framework was constructed directly from 3-hydroxyalkyl-naphthalenes by oxidative intramolecular cyclization reaction with diammonium cerium(IV) nitrate. (±)-Lantalucratins A and B were obtained in 69% and 45% overall yields, respectively.

A concise method has been developed for the synthesis of caroverine and its derivatives. The quinoxalinone scaffold of these compounds was constructed via the tandem nitrosation/aerobic oxidative C N bond formation reaction of N -(2-chloroethyl)-2-cyano- N -phenylacetamide, followed by sequential Grignard, Finkelstein and nucleophilic substitutions reactions to give several different derivatives. Herein, we describe the development of this strategy in terms of the optimization of each step as well as the effect of different additives on the individual reactions.

A simple method for the direct synthesis of 2,2′-binaphthols 2 and dinaphtho[1,2-b;2′,1′-d]furans 3 under mild conditions was developed, utilizing a biaryl coupling reaction via electron donor–acceptor complexes of 1-naphthols with SnCl4. Heating of the complex in a sealed tube for (18–24 h) afforded the corresponding o–o coupled product 2 in excellent yield. Prolonged reaction (56–65 h) under the same conditions afforded 3 in high yield in one step. We also found that in the case of α-naphthol without substituents other than a hydroxyl group at the C-1 position, regioselective o–o coupling reaction proceeded. The products 2a, 2b and 2g should be useful as synthetic intermediates for naturally occurring 3,3′-bijuglone, 3,3′-biplumbagin and elliptinone.

The first total and biomimetic synthesis of violet-quinone ( 1 ), which has a dinaphthofuranquinone (DNFQ) framework, is described. This synthesis features the oxidative dimerization of 1-naphthol 4 and the construction of the DNFQ framework by photochemical ring closure of 2,2′-binaphthoquinone 7 as a key intermediate. Compound 7 was prepared by the novel oxidative dimerization of 4 with a semiconductor (such as ZrO 2 ) in the presence of dioxygen, followed by oxidation of the resulting 2,2′-binaphthyl-1,1′-quinone 6 with HNO 3 .

Asymmetric intramolecular cyclization of aminoalkenes was catalyzed by a catalytic amount of n -butyllithium, diisopropylamine, and a newly designed chiral bisoxazoline in toluene to produce kinetically controlled exo -cyclized amines with up to 91% ee quantitatively.

A simple method was developed for the direct synthesis of 2,2′-binaphthoquinones and dinaphtho[1,2-b;2′,1′-d]furans, utilizing an oxidative reaction via electron donor–acceptor complexes of 1-naphthols with SnCl4 in the absence or presence of dioxygen. As an application of this method to natural product synthesis, we describe a facile biomimetic synthesis of several binaphthoquinones, 3,3′-bijuglone, 3,3′-biplumbagin and elliptinone.