Reactions of ω-diphenylphosphinofunctionalized alkyl phenyl sulfides Ph2P(CH2)nSPh (n = 1, 1a; 2, 2a; 3, 3a), sulfoxides Ph2P(CH2)nS(O)Ph (n = 1, 1b; 2, 2b; 3, 3b) and sulfones Ph2P(CH2)nS(O)2Ph (n = 1, 1c; 2, 2c; 3, 3c) with dinuclear chlorido bridged rhodium(I) complexes [(RhL2)2(μ-Cl)2] (L2 = cycloocta-1.5-diene, cod, 4; bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, dppe, 5) afforded mononuclear Rh(I) complexes of the type [RhCl{Ph2P(CH2)nS(O)xPh-κP}(cod)]1 (n/x = 1/0, 6a; 1/1, 6b; 1/2, 6c; 2/0, 8a; 2/1, 8b; 2/2, 8c; 3/0, 10a; 3/1, 10b; 3/2, 10c) and [RhCl{Ph2P(CH2)nS(O)xPh-κP}(dppe)] (n/x = 1/0, 7a; 1/1, 7b; 1/2, 7c; 2/0, 9a; 2/1, 9b; 2/2, 9c; 3/0, 11a; 3/1, 11b; 3/2, 11c) having the P^S(O)x ligands κP coordinated. Addition of Ag[BF4] to complexes 6–11 in CH2Cl2 led with precipitation of AgCl to cationic rhodium complexes of the type [Rh{Ph2P(CH2)nS(O)xPh-κP,κS/O}L2][BF4] having bound the P^S(O)x ligands bidentately in a κP,κS (13a–18a, 15b–18b) or a κP,κO (13b, 14b, 13c–18c) coordination mode. Unexpectedly, the addition of Ag[BF4] to 6a in THF afforded the trinuclear cationic rhodium(I) complex [Rh3(μ-Cl)(μ-Ph2PCH2SPh-κP:κS)4][BF4]2·4THF (12·4THF) with a four-membered Rh3Cl ring as basic framework. Addition of sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide to complexes 6–11 led to a selective deprotonation of the carbon atom neighbored to the S(O)x group (α-C) yielding three different types of organorhodium complexes: a) Organorhodium intramolecular coordination compounds of the type [Rh{CH{S(O)xPh}CH2CH2PPh2-κC,κP}L2] (22a–c, 23a–c), b) zwitterionic complexes [Rh{Ph2PCHS(O)xPh-κP,κS/O}L2] having κP,κS (21a, 21b) and κP,κO (20b/c, 21c) coordinated anionic [Ph2PCHS(O)xPh] ligands, and c) the dinuclear rhodium(I) complex [{Rh{μ-CH(SPh)PPh2-κC:κP}(cod)}2] (19). All complexes were fully characterized spectroscopically and complexes 15b, 15c, 12·4THF and 19·THF additionally by X-ray diffraction analysis. DFT calculations of zwitterionic complexes gave insight into the coordination mode of the [Ph2PCHS(O)Ph] ligand (κP,κS versus κP,κO).

The alkaloid pattern of the endemic plant Papaver coreanum Nakai (Papaveraceae) was determined for the first time. Eight alkaloids could be identified by LC/ESIMS/MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Among them, protopine and allocryptopine represent the main components. Besides norsanguinarine, sanguinarine, dihydrosanguinarine, oxysanguinarine, lincangenine, and cryptopine, some other trace alkaloids were found whose structures remain unknown.

Thiohydroximates comprise a diverse class of compounds important in both biological and industrial chemistry. Their syntheses are generally limited to simple alkyl and aryl compounds with few stereocenters and a narrow range of functional groups. We hypothesized that sequential action of two recombinant enzymes, a sulfatase from Helix pomatia and a β-O-glucosidase from Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus, on glucosinolates would allow synthesis of thiohydroximates from a structurally broad array of abundant precursors. We report successful synthesis of thiohydroximates of varied chemical classes, including from homochiral compounds of demonstrated biological activity. The chemoenzymatic synthetic route reported here should allow access to many, if not all, of the thiohydroximate core structures of the ~200 known naturally occurring glucosinolates. The enrichment of this group for compounds with possible pharmacological potential is discussed.

The linear furanocoumarins 5-(2,3-epoxy-3-methyl-butoxy)-chalepensin, 5-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydroxybutyl)-psoralen-diacetate (7), 5-methoxy-3-[3-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-acetyloxy-3-methyl-butyl]-psoralen and 5-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydroxybutyloxy)-3-[3-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyl]-psoralen, and the coumarin derivative 7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6-carboxymethyl-3-[3-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyl]-coumarin were isolated from the leaves of Dorstenia foetida (Moraceae) along with the known compounds psoralen, bergapten, isopimpinellin, phellopterin, 5-methoxychalepensin and turbinatocoumarin. Further furanocoumarins were characterized by ESI-MS/MS investigations. The nonpolar extracts of D. foetida exhibit antifungal, antibacterial and cytotoxic activity, however, no anthelminthic activity.

The lipid components of three Cameroonian seed oils, ke tchock (Aframomum arundinaceum), njangsa (Ricinodendron heudelotii) and calabash nutmeg (Monodora myristica), have been investigated. Gas chromatography (GC)–mass spectrometry (MS) fatty acid (FA) analysis showed M. myristica seed oil to be dominated by linoleic (49.29%) and oleic (37.17%) acids; R. heudelotii was mainly linoleic (58.73%), followed by stearic (15.00%) and oleic (14.21%) acids; A. arundinaceum was predominantly oleic (65.76%) and palmitic (20.36%) acids. Electrospray ionization (ESI)-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR)-MS analysis showed seven major triacylglycerol (TAG) classes for M. myristica, with C54:5, C54:4 and C54:6 dominating. R. heudelotii had eight major TAG classes with C54:8, C54:7 and C54:6 being most abundant. A. arundinaceum also had eight major TAG classes with C52:2, C54:3 and C50:2 dominating. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of the TAGs showed that both sn-1,3 and sn-2 positions were predominantly occupied by linoleoyl and oleoyl chains. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescence detector (FLD) analysis showed that M. myristica contained only α- and β-tocopherols (195.40 and 73.95 µg/g, respectively), R. heudelotii contained mainly γ-tocopherol (289.40 µg/g), and A. arundinaceum had mainly γ- and β-tocopherols (236.78 and 124.93 µg/g, respectively). GC–MS analysis of the unsaponifiable matter showed that β-sitosterol was the most abundant phytosterol in all three seed oils. The absolute amounts of 4-desmethylsterols were 196.15, 608.71 and 362.15 µg/g for M. myristica, R. heudelotii and A. arundinaceum seed oils, respectively. These compositional and structural studies provide justification for the use of all three seed oils in food products.

Reactions of ω-diphenylphosphinofunctionalized alkyl phenyl sulfides Ph2P(CH2)nSPh (n = 1, 1a; 2, 2a; 3, 3a), sulfoxides Ph2P(CH2)nS(O)Ph (n = 1, 1b; 2, 2b; 3, 3b) and sulfones Ph2P(CH2)nS(O)2Ph (n = 1, 1c; 2, 2c; 3, 3c) with dinuclear chlorido bridged rhodium(I) complexes [(RhL2)2(μ-Cl)2] (L2 = cycloocta-1.5-diene, cod, 4; bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, dppe, 5) afforded mononuclear Rh(I) complexes of the type [RhCl{Ph2P(CH2)nS(O)xPh-κP}(cod)]1 (n/x = 1/0, 6a; 1/1, 6b; 1/2, 6c; 2/0, 8a; 2/1, 8b; 2/2, 8c; 3/0, 10a; 3/1, 10b; 3/2, 10c) and [RhCl{Ph2P(CH2)nS(O)xPh-κP}(dppe)] (n/x = 1/0, 7a; 1/1, 7b; 1/2, 7c; 2/0, 9a; 2/1, 9b; 2/2, 9c; 3/0, 11a; 3/1, 11b; 3/2, 11c) having the P^S(O)x ligands κP coordinated. Addition of Ag[BF4] to complexes 6–11 in CH2Cl2 led with precipitation of AgCl to cationic rhodium complexes of the type [Rh{Ph2P(CH2)nS(O)xPh-κP,κS/O}L2][BF4] having bound the P^S(O)x ligands bidentately in a κP,κS (13a–18a, 15b–18b) or a κP,κO (13b, 14b, 13c–18c) coordination mode. Unexpectedly, the addition of Ag[BF4] to 6a in THF afforded the trinuclear cationic rhodium(I) complex [Rh3(μ-Cl)(μ-Ph2PCH2SPh-κP:κS)4][BF4]2·4THF (12·4THF) with a four-membered Rh3Cl ring as basic framework. Addition of sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide to complexes 6–11 led to a selective deprotonation of the carbon atom neighbored to the S(O)x group (α-C) yielding three different types of organorhodium complexes: a) Organorhodium intramolecular coordination compounds of the type [Rh{CH{S(O)xPh}CH2CH2PPh2-κC,κP}L2] (22a–c, 23a–c), b) zwitterionic complexes [Rh{Ph2PCHS(O)xPh-κP,κS/O}L2] having κP,κS (21a, 21b) and κP,κO (20b/c, 21c) coordinated anionic [Ph2PCHS(O)xPh] ligands, and c) the dinuclear rhodium(I) complex [{Rh{μ-CH(SPh)PPh2-κC:κP}(cod)}2] (19). All complexes were fully characterized spectroscopically and complexes 15b, 15c, 12·4THF and 19·THF additionally by X-ray diffraction analysis. DFT calculations of zwitterionic complexes gave insight into the coordination mode of the [Ph2PCHS(O)Ph] ligand (κP,κS versus κP,κO).

The lipid components of three Cameroonian seed oils, ke tchock (Aframomum arundinaceum), njangsa (Ricinodendron heudelotii) and calabash nutmeg (Monodora myristica), have been investigated. Gas chromatography (GC)–mass spectrometry (MS) fatty acid (FA) analysis showed M. myristica seed oil to be dominated by linoleic (49.29%) and oleic (37.17%) acids; R. heudelotii was mainly linoleic (58.73%), followed by stearic (15.00%) and oleic (14.21%) acids; A. arundinaceum was predominantly oleic (65.76%) and palmitic (20.36%) acids. Electrospray ionization (ESI)-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR)-MS analysis showed seven major triacylglycerol (TAG) classes for M. myristica, with C54:5, C54:4 and C54:6 dominating. R. heudelotii had eight major TAG classes with C54:8, C54:7 and C54:6 being most abundant. A. arundinaceum also had eight major TAG classes with C52:2, C54:3 and C50:2 dominating. 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of the TAGs showed that both sn-1,3 and sn-2 positions were predominantly occupied by linoleoyl and oleoyl chains. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescence detector (FLD) analysis showed that M. myristica contained only α- and β-tocopherols (195.40 and 73.95 µg/g, respectively), R. heudelotii contained mainly γ-tocopherol (289.40 µg/g), and A. arundinaceum had mainly γ- and β-tocopherols (236.78 and 124.93 µg/g, respectively). GC–MS analysis of the unsaponifiable matter showed that β-sitosterol was the most abundant phytosterol in all three seed oils. The absolute amounts of 4-desmethylsterols were 196.15, 608.71 and 362.15 µg/g for M. myristica, R. heudelotii and A. arundinaceum seed oils, respectively. These compositional and structural studies provide justification for the use of all three seed oils in food products.

The alkaloid pattern of the endemic plant Papaver coreanum Nakai (Papaveraceae) was determined for the first time. Eight alkaloids could be identified by LC/ESIMS/MS and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Among them, protopine and allocryptopine represent the main components. Besides norsanguinarine, sanguinarine, dihydrosanguinarine, oxysanguinarine, lincangenine, and cryptopine, some other trace alkaloids were found whose structures remain unknown.

Thiohydroximates comprise a diverse class of compounds important in both biological and industrial chemistry. Their syntheses are generally limited to simple alkyl and aryl compounds with few stereocenters and a narrow range of functional groups. We hypothesized that sequential action of two recombinant enzymes, a sulfatase from Helix pomatia and a β-O-glucosidase from Caldicellulosiruptor saccharolyticus, on glucosinolates would allow synthesis of thiohydroximates from a structurally broad array of abundant precursors. We report successful synthesis of thiohydroximates of varied chemical classes, including from homochiral compounds of demonstrated biological activity. The chemoenzymatic synthetic route reported here should allow access to many, if not all, of the thiohydroximate core structures of the ~200 known naturally occurring glucosinolates. The enrichment of this group for compounds with possible pharmacological potential is discussed.

The linear furanocoumarins 5-(2,3-epoxy-3-methyl-butoxy)-chalepensin, 5-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydroxybutyl)-psoralen-diacetate (7), 5-methoxy-3-[3-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-acetyloxy-3-methyl-butyl]-psoralen and 5-(3-methyl-2,3-dihydroxybutyloxy)-3-[3-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyl]-psoralen, and the coumarin derivative 7-hydroxy-5-methoxy-6-carboxymethyl-3-[3-(β-d-glucopyranosyloxy)-2-hydroxy-3-methyl-butyl]-coumarin were isolated from the leaves of Dorstenia foetida (Moraceae) along with the known compounds psoralen, bergapten, isopimpinellin, phellopterin, 5-methoxychalepensin and turbinatocoumarin. Further furanocoumarins were characterized by ESI-MS/MS investigations. The nonpolar extracts of D. foetida exhibit antifungal, antibacterial and cytotoxic activity, however, no anthelminthic activity.