Isolation, structure elucidation and evaluation of anti-inflammatory and anti-infectious activities of fungal metabolites

Fungi make an enormous contribution to our life. The role of yeast in the production of alcohol and bread is well known. We consume fungi directly in the form of edible mushrooms and in cheese, which get their characteristic flavour and aroma from the presence of fungi. Fungi are also used for the production of antibiotics and enzymes for use in the food industry. Over the last decades Fungi have been used for the production of recombinant proteins,some of which have great therapeutic potential. Although infrequently recognised as important decomposers of organic detritus, Fungi play a significant role in degrading biological matter, such as fallen leaves. In a more negative note some fungi (for example member of the genus Aspergillus and Candida) are capable of causing serious life threatening infections in immuno-compromised patients, and other fungi can be serious environmental contaminants. According to a recent publication less than 5% of fungal species are currently known, suggesting that millions of fungal species and therefore, potentially million of fungal bioactive natural products remain to be discovered

Bioactive compounds derived from echinoderms

The marine environment provides a rich source of natural products with potential therapeutic applications. The rate of studies in marine animals, particularly invertebrates has increased considerably in the last few years leading to an increase in the number of bioactive compounds discovered. In this context, this review focuses on the phylum Echinodermata and aims at summarizing and highlighting the bioactive compounds derived from the echinoderms discovered between 2009 and 2013, clarifying their structure, distribution, biosynthetic origin, and biological activity

Unexpected 5,6,7,8,9,10-Hexahydro-6,6-pentamethylenephenanthridines and 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-4,4-tetramethylene-1<i>H</i>-cyclopenta[<i>c</i>]quinolines from Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller Quinoline Synthesis and Their Implications for the Mechanism of That Reaction

The real mechanism of the Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller quinoline synthesis remains controversial and not well understood despite several mechanistic studies reported on the matter. A series of unexpected and unusual 5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-6,6-pentamethylenephenanthridines and 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-4,4-tetramethylene-1<i>H</i>-cyclopenta­[<i>c</i>]­quinolines have been obtained through the Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller quinoline synthesis. On the basis of these unexpected results and in agreement with some of the previously reported quinoline syntheses, an alternative mechanistic pathway is proposed for this variant of the reaction. It involves the formation of a Schiff base through a reaction between the ketone and the aniline derivative in the first step, followed by a cycloalkenylation at the <i>ortho</i>-position to the amine functional group of the aniline derivative, and an annulation in the final step to close the quinoline ring, leading to a dihydroquinoline derivative. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a mechanistic pathway being proposed for any variant of the Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller quinoline synthesis

Unexpected 5,6,7,8,9,10-Hexahydro-6,6-pentamethylenephenanthridines and 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-4,4-tetramethylene-1<i>H</i>-cyclopenta[<i>c</i>]quinolines from Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller Quinoline Synthesis and Their Implications for the Mechanism of That Reaction

The real mechanism of the Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller quinoline synthesis remains controversial and not well understood despite several mechanistic studies reported on the matter. A series of unexpected and unusual 5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-6,6-pentamethylenephenanthridines and 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-4,4-tetramethylene-1<i>H</i>-cyclopenta­[<i>c</i>]­quinolines have been obtained through the Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller quinoline synthesis. On the basis of these unexpected results and in agreement with some of the previously reported quinoline syntheses, an alternative mechanistic pathway is proposed for this variant of the reaction. It involves the formation of a Schiff base through a reaction between the ketone and the aniline derivative in the first step, followed by a cycloalkenylation at the <i>ortho</i>-position to the amine functional group of the aniline derivative, and an annulation in the final step to close the quinoline ring, leading to a dihydroquinoline derivative. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a mechanistic pathway being proposed for any variant of the Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller quinoline synthesis

Unexpected 5,6,7,8,9,10-Hexahydro-6,6-pentamethylenephenanthridines and 2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-4,4-tetramethylene-1<i>H</i>-cyclopenta[<i>c</i>]quinolines from Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller Quinoline Synthesis and Their Implications for the Mechanism of That Reaction

The real mechanism of the Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller quinoline synthesis remains controversial and not well understood despite several mechanistic studies reported on the matter. A series of unexpected and unusual 5,6,7,8,9,10-hexahydro-6,6-pentamethylenephenanthridines and 2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-4,4-tetramethylene-1<i>H</i>-cyclopenta­[<i>c</i>]­quinolines have been obtained through the Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller quinoline synthesis. On the basis of these unexpected results and in agreement with some of the previously reported quinoline syntheses, an alternative mechanistic pathway is proposed for this variant of the reaction. It involves the formation of a Schiff base through a reaction between the ketone and the aniline derivative in the first step, followed by a cycloalkenylation at the <i>ortho</i>-position to the amine functional group of the aniline derivative, and an annulation in the final step to close the quinoline ring, leading to a dihydroquinoline derivative. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a mechanistic pathway being proposed for any variant of the Skraup–Doebner–Von Miller quinoline synthesis