A.L.-P. thanks CSIC for a contract under the JAE-doctor
program. Financial support by PLE2009 project from MCIINN
and Consolider-Ingenio 2010 (proyecto MULTICAT) are also
acknowledged.

Gold-catalyzed carbon-heteroatom bond-forming reactions.

Anthocyanins and other flavonoids

Applications of NMR Spectroscopy in Organic Chemistry.

The amount of research activity concerning alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones and alpha-alkylidene-gamma-butyrolactones has increased dramatically in recent years. This Review summarizes the structural types, biological activities, and biosynthesis of these compounds, concentrating on publications from the past 10 years. Traditional approaches to alpha-methylene-gamma-butyrolactones and alpha-alkylidene-gamma-butyrolactones are then reviewed together with novel approaches, including those from our own research group, reported more recently.

The Renaissance of α‐Methylene‐γ‐butyrolactones: New Synthetic Approaches

Flavonoids and their glycosides, including anthocyanins

Galphimia glauca Cav. (Malpighiaceae) is used in Mexican traditional medicine as a sedative in the treatment of mental disorders. Sedative properties of a methanolic extract of the aerial parts of this plant have been established in animal trials and an active compound, named galphimine B, has already been isolated. This compound was submitted to neuropharmacological testing, where it was shown that galphimine B had no significant effect as an anticonvulsant, while it exhibited a strong depressant activity on the nervous system.

Sedative effect of galphimine B, a nor-seco-triterpenoid from Galphimia glauca.

Constituents of zaluzania species—II

From the aerial parts of Salvia tiliaefolia Vahl, the known nisovalvipuberulin and two new clerodane diterpenoids, salvifolin and tilifodiolide, were isolated. The structure of salvifolin was deduced from spectral data. The structure of tilifodiolide was established by chemical and spectral means and X-ray diffraction analysis

Tilifodiolide, Tetraline-Type Diterpenoid of Clerodanic Origin from Salvia Tiliaefolia‡

Chemical investigation of the aerial parts of Salvia herbacea led to the isolation of eight new neo-clerodane diterpenes (1–8), named tehuanins A–H, and three known compounds. The structures of these compounds were determined by analysis of their spectroscopic data. Three of the new diterpenes possess a 1,8-epoxy group (1–3). This unusual structural feature was confirmed by X-ray diffraction of 1. The structure of the previously isolated 1α,10α-epoxysalviarin was revised. The absolute configuration of 6 was established by X-ray diffraction analysis of its bromo derivative 6a. Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory activities of these diterpenes were examined. None of the compounds were considered to be cytotoxic; however, compound 7 exhibited anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of indomethacin.

neo-Clerodane Diterpenes from Salvia herbacea

Two new 5,10-seco-neo-clerodanes, salvimicrophyllins A and B (1 and 2), and two new neo-clerodanes, salvimicrophyllins C and D (3 and 4), were isolated from the leaves and flowers of Salvia microphylla. The structures of these compounds were elucidated mainly by analysis of their NMR spectroscopic and mass spectrometric data. The relative configurations of the salvimicrophyllins were determined by analysis of NOESY spectra and ECD curves, and the relative configuration of compound 2 was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction crystallography.

Alfredo Ortega

Papers

Sedative effect of galphimine B, a nor-seco-triterpenoid from Galphimia glauca.

Constituents of zaluzania species—II

Tilifodiolide, Tetraline-Type Diterpenoid of Clerodanic Origin from Salvia Tiliaefolia‡

neo-Clerodane Diterpenes from Salvia herbacea

5,10-seco-neo-clerodanes and neo-clerodanes from Salvia microphylla.