Enantioselective synthesis of pyrroloindolines and tryptophan derivatives by an asymmetric protonation reaction

Pyrroloindoline and unnatural tryptophan motifs are important targets for synthesis based on their incorporation into a diverse array of biologically active natural products. Both types of alkaloids have also found applications as chiral catalysts and tryptophan derivatives are commonly employed as biological probes. On account of their applications, these frameworks have inspired the development of numerous enantioselective, catalytic reactions. In particular, the past few years have witnessed an impressive number of novel approaches for pyrroloindoline formation.

The first project described herein involves our contribution to pyrroloindoline research. We have developed an (R)-BINOL•SnCl₄-catalyzed formal (3 + 2) cycloaddition reaction between 3-substituted indoles and 2-amidoacrylates that affords pyrroloindoline-2-carboxylates bearing an all-carbon quaternary center. Mechanistic studies have elucidated that the enantiodetermining step is a highly face-selective catalyst-controlled protonation reaction. The subsequent application of this asymmetric protonation strategy to the synthesis of a variety of enantioenriched tryptophan derivatives is also discussed.

New strategies for the total synthesis of aza-propellane natural products

The propellane alkaloids comprise a large class of natural products that possess varying degrees of structural complexity and biological activity. The earliest of these to be isolated was acutumine, a chlorinated alkaloid that has been shown to exhibit selective T-cell cytotoxicity and antiamnesic properties. Alternatively, the hasubanan family of natural products has garnered considerable attention from the synthetic community in part due to its structural similarities to morphine. While these alkaloids have been the subject of numerous synthetic studies over the last forty years, very few enantioselective total syntheses have been reported to date.

As part of a research program directed towards the synthesis of various alkaloid natural products, we have developed a unified strategy for the preparation of the hasubanan and acutumine alkaloids. Specifically, a highly diastereoselective 1,2-addition of organometallic reagents to benzoquinone-derived tert-butanesulfinimines was established, which provides access to enantioenriched 4-aminocyclohexadienone products. This methodology enabled the enantioselective construction of functionalized dihydroindolones, which were found to undergo intramolecular Friedel-Crafts conjugate additions to furnish the propellane cores of several hasubanan alkaloids. As a result of these studies, the first enantioselective total syntheses of 8-demethoxyrunanine and cepharatines A, C, and D were accomplished in 9-11 steps from commercially available starting materials.

More recent efforts have focused on applying the sulfinimine methodology to the synthesis of a more structurally complex propellane alkaloid, acutumine. Extensive studies have determined that a properly functionalized dihydroindolone undergoes a photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition followed by a lactone fragmentation/Dieckmann cyclization to establish the carbocyclic framework of the natural product. The preparation of more appropriately oxidized propellane intermediates is currently under investigation, and is anticipated to facilitate our synthetic endeavors toward acutumine.

Cultura de tecidos desdiferenciados e embriões somáticos de Petiveria alliacea L. visando à produção de substâncias bioativas

Petiveria alliacea L. pertence à família Phytolaccacceae e é conhecida popularmente como guiné ou amansa-senhor, entre outros nomes. Tem sido muito utilizada na medicina popular como agente terapêutico, devido à diversas propriedades farmacológicas. Estudos fitoquímicos têm contribuído para a descoberta de grande variedade de substâncias biologicamente ativas produzidas em diferentes partes da planta (saponinas, alcalóides, flavonóides, sulfetos, taninos, cumarinas, entre outros). A análise química da raiz tem revelado grande quantidade de derivados sulfurados, principalmente o dibenzil trissulfeto (DTS), com atividade antifúngica, antibacteriana, antioxidante e anticancerígena. Visando avaliar a produção biotecnológica do DTS, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo, otimizar a cultura de novas linhagens de calos, células em suspensão e embriões somáticos, a partir de plantas de P. alliacea L. mantidas in vitro, com o monitoramento da capacidade biossintética das culturas. Os resultados mostraram que a produção de calos friáveis foi possível em explantes foliares inoculados em meio MS suplementado com PIC ou 2,4-D. Além da resposta calogênica, foi observada a produção de estruturas globulares caracterizadas como embriões somáticos. A ocorrência de embriogênese somática direta foi confirmada através da análise histológica do processo regenerativo. A indução de embriões somáticos gerou um processo de embriogênese secundária altamente repetitivo até 150 dias de cultura e conversão a plantas em freqüência de 5%. Em relação à cultura de células em suspensão a partir dos calos friáveis, observou-se uma diminuição do crescimento celular ao longo das subculturas. As culturas em suspensão originadas de tecido embriogênico secundário continuaram o processo repetitivo em meio líquido e apresentaram conversão a plantas em taxas mais baixas que as obtidas em meio sólido. A obtenção de plantas completas a partir dos embriões somáticos demonstrou a possibilidade de utilização desse sistema para a micropropagação dessa espécie. O monitoramento fitoquímico dos sistemas de cultura in vitro e plantas de campo mantidas em casa de vegetação durante 02 anos apresentou diferenças significativas, confirmando que a cultura de tecidos pode alterar as rotas metabólicas. A cromatografia gasosa acoplada à espectrometria de massas realizada com extrato em diclorometano de embriões secos e hexânico de embriões frescos e raízes secas de plantas provenientes de embriões somáticos, demonstrou a presença do DTS, constituindo, portanto, sistemas in vitro importantes para a modulação desta substância.

Avaliação da defesa química e da influência dos corais invasores Tubastraea coccinea e Tubastraea tagusensis na estruturação das comunidades bentônicas da Baía da Ilha Grande RJ

A introdução de espécies invasoras marinhas tem causado danos econômicos e ecológicos consideráveis em todo o mundo. Algumas destas espécies incluindo corais escleractíneos possuem adaptações, tais como metabólitos secundários utilizados para evitar a predação e competição por espaço por outros organismos. Este arsenal químico e as interações entre espécies invasoras e nativas podem causar alterações na distribuição das espécies e na estrutura das comunidades de costões rochosos tropicais. Os objetivos deste estudo foram (1) caracterizar os metabólitos secundários produzidos pelos corais invasores Tubastraea tagusensis e T. coccinea na Baía da Ilha Grande, Brasil, (2) detectar os compostos químicos liberados pelos tecidos de Tubastraea tagusensis in situ utilizando um aparelho submersível; (3) testar no campo os extratos metanólicos produzidos por ambas as espécies de Tubastraea contra a predação por peixes generalistas e assentamento de outros organismos, (4) testar no campo se os compostos químicos produzidos por ambos os corais invasores variaram na concentração ou tipo quando os corais foram colocados próximos de competidores nativos e (5) determinar como as comunidades de costões rochosos da Baía da Ilha Grande foram afetadas pela expansão de Tubastraea coccinea e T. tagusensis em 8 locais estudados durante 2 anos. As principais classes de substâncias encontradas nos extratos metanólicos de Tubastraea foram identificados como esteróis, ácidos graxos, hidrocarbonetos, alcalóides, ésteres e alcoóis, entretanto, o aparelho submersível identificou somente hidrocarbonetos liberados por Tubastraea na água do mar. O extrato metanólico de T. tagusensis reduziu a predação por peixes generalistas e já os extratos de ambas as espécies mostraram efeitos espécie-específicos sobre organismos incrustantes no campo. No experimento de interação competitiva foi detectada a presença de necrose nos tecidos do coral endêmico Mussismilia hispida e isso provocou variação nas concentrações de esteróis, alcalóides e ácidos graxos nos tecidos de Tubastraea. Em contraste, a esponja Desmapsamma anchorata cresceu sobre os tecidos das colônias de ambos os corais invasores. A presença de Tubastraea nas comunidades bentônicas causou uma dissimilaridade média de 4,8% nas comunidades invadidas. Uma forte relação positiva foi encontrada entre a cobertura de Tubastraea e a mudança na estrutura da comunidade da Baía da Ilha Grande. Portanto, os efeitos negativos de ambos os corais invasores são suficientes para acarretar mudanças na estrutura das comunidades bentônicas tropicais.

Avaliação do potencial leishmanicida e antibacteriano de Annona mucosa (Jacq.) - Annonaceae cultivada in vitro e in vivo

A biodiversidade brasileira abrange plantas de importância medicinal que podem ser utilizadas na formulação de novos fármacos. Contudo, tem sido reduzida em velocidade alarmante, em função de diferentes ações antrópicas. A cultura de tecidos vegetais propicia a conservação e uso do germoplasma permitindo a obtenção de substâncias de importância medicinal. As leishmanioses são consideradas um problema de saúde pública mundial sendo a espécie Leishmania braziliensis de maior importância epidemiológica no Brasil. Recentemente tem-se registrado aumento da resistência à linha de tratamento usual. Do mesmo modo, o uso indiscriminado de antibióticos levou ao aumento de bactérias multirresistentes, que representam sério risco de infecção. A espécie Annona mucosa (Jacq.) possui substâncias, como acetogeninas e alcaloides, que apresentam atividades antiparasitária e antimicrobiana. Nesse sentido, o objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o potencial leishmanicida e antibacteriano de extratos de A. mucosa de material produzido in vitro e in vivo. Foi proposto um protocolo de germinação in vitro, ainda não reportada para a espécie, com vistas à obtenção de plântulas axênicas. Em meio WPM foram cultivados explantes hipocotiledonares e foliares em meio MS, suplementados com PIC e diferentes concentrações de KIN, BAP ou TDZ. Os calos obtidos foram cultivados em meio líquido de mesma composição para a produção de suspensões celulares. Os materiais foram submetidos à extração metanólica e posterior fracionamento em hexano e diclorometano. Para a avaliação da atividade dos extratos sobre L. braziliensis foi usado o modelo in vitro, com a forma promastigota, e in vivo na forma amastigota, a partir do tratamento de macrófagos peritoneais de camundongos infectados com o parasito. Ambas as formas foram tratadas com os extratos por 96 e 48h, respectivamente. A atividade antimicrobiana foi avaliada por macrodiluição do extrato em Mueller-Hinton, sendo avaliado o crescimento das cepas após 16h de incubação a 48C. A germinação in vitro da espécie foi alcançada em substrato vermiculita estéril umedecido com solução de sais do meio MS, com taxa média de 85%. A maior produção de calos friáveis foi obtida em meios contendo KIN, com potencial uso para cultivo em suspensões celulares. Os extratos do material in situ e in vitro apresentaram atividade leishmanicida, apesar da toxicidade para macrófagos. Culturas de células em suspensão apresentaram potencial leishmanicida in vitro e redução da infecção em macrófagos. Os extratos do material avaliado apresentaram atividade antimicrobiana seletiva, com inibição do crescimento de Streptococcus pyogenes e Bacillus thurigiensis em diferentes concentrações avaliadas. Os métodos biotecnológicos empregados permitiram a obtenção de materiais com propriedades medicinais para as atividades leishmanicida e antibacteriana, assim como o material in vivo, constituindo este estudo o primeiro relato para as atividades propostas em A. mucosa.

Produção de plantas e metabólitos de Cleome dendroides Schult. & Schult. f. (Cleomaceae) utilizando diferentes sistemas de cultivo in vitro

Cleome dendroides é uma espécie endêmica da Mata Atlântica dos estados do Rio de Janeiro e Espírito Santo, bioma alterado por intensa atividade antrópica, o que constitui uma ameaça à preservação de suas populações. Não existem estudos dos pontos de vista fisiológico, biotecnológico, fitoquímico ou farmacológico sobre a espécie. Considerando-se o perfil fitoquímico e o potencial medicinal do gênero, torna-se relevante definirem-se protocolos para a produção de plantas e metabólitos de C. dendroides utilizando diferentes sistemas de cultivo in vitro. No presente trabalho, foram realizados estudos sobre a germinação in vivo da espécie, avaliando-se a influência do substrato, temperatura e luz. Não se observou qualquer tipo de dormência, sendo as temperaturas de 20, 25 e 20-30C, em areia ou vermiculita, apropriadas para a germinação in vivo. Definiu-se também uma metodologia eficiente de germinação sob condições in vitro, e as plântulas obtidas foram utilizadas como fonte de explantes para os estudos de propagação in vitro. A resposta morfogênica foi avaliada considerando-se a origem e tipo do explante, tipos e concentrações de reguladores de crescimento e número de subculturas. A metodologia empregada mostrou-se eficiente para a produção de brotos e manutenção de estoques de plantas in vitro que serviram como fonte de explantes. A melhor condição para a propagação in vitro foi definida em meio solidificado contendo BA, independentemente do tipo de explante e da origem. Os brotos obtidos foram alongados, enraizados e aclimatizados. Também foi estabelecida a cultura de raízes e a regeneração de brotos a partir destas culturas. Avaliou-se o efeito da origem do explante, assim como dos tipos e concentrações de fitorreguladores sobre a proliferação de raízes e a regeneração de brotos. O fitorregulador AIB propiciou maior multiplicação das raízes, enquanto BA mostrou-se eficiente na regeneração de brotos a partir das raízes recém-formadas. Foi estabelecido ainda um protocolo de cultura de calos e de suspensões celulares. Avaliou-se o efeito da origem e do tipo de explante, dos tipos e das concentrações de fitorreguladores sobre a calogênese. A combinação de PIC com KIN foi a mais eficiente para a indução de calos em explantes de plântulas obtidas a partir de germinação in vitro, produzindo calos que foram mantidos por pelo menos dois anos. As suspensões celulares também foram estabelecidas em meio contendo PIC + KIN, mantendo uma produção de biomassa de cerca de cinco vezes o peso fresco inicial por três sucessivas subculturas. Análises histoquímicas e fitoquímicas revelaram a presença de alcaloides nos calos e nas suspensões celulares. Foram realizadas análises fitoquímicas de plantas de campo, plantas aclimatizadas, plantas mantidas em estoque in vitro e culturas de raízes, as quais indicaram a presença de derivados de glicosinolatos. Os resultados demonstraram a viabilidade de produção de material vegetal de C. dendroides por meio de métodos biotecnológicos e a produção in vitro de metabólitos de importância medicinal

A preliminary study on the use of the local variety of ipil-ipil Leucaena leucocephala as a protein source for prawn feed

A study was carried out to determine the effect of 10 or 20% leaves or seeds in the diet of Penaeus monodon , and the extent to which local ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala ) could replace head shrimp meal. A brief description is given of the experimental methodology, and details of composition of the diet, proximate chemical composition of the diets, mean weight gain and survival of Penaeus monodon larvae fed shrimp head meal and ipil-ipil as protein sources, are presented. Mean weight gains for all groups were poor and not statistically significant. Survival rates for those fed 10% ipil-ipil were significantly higher than those fed 20% diets. Wherever the survival rate was high, mean weight gain was low and vice versa. The presence of the toxic alkaloids mimosine in ipil-ipil could have caused the low survival rate.

乌头碱类生物碱及其中药配伍规律的电喷雾质谱研究

利用电喷雾串联质谱（ESI-MSn）系统地研究了乌头属植物和中药煎煮液中的乌头碱型生物碱的质谱行为。实验表明，ESI-MSn不仅是一种灵敏的药用植物中乌头生物碱的分析方法，也是研究中药配伍规律和阐释中药复方合理内涵的有效工具。低能诱导碰撞解离肠导下，具有乌头碱骨架类型的生物碱断裂规律相似：丢失C8乙酰基或长链脂肪酰基是它们在MSZ中的特征断裂，在MS3和MS4中丢失1-4CH3OH，1-3H2O，CO，BzOH，CH3（N）或C2H5（N）是其他所有可能的断裂方式，并且结构的微小差别也能在串联质谱中得到反映。利用这些规律分析了生附子、生草乌、生草乌花、生白山草乌和制雪上一支蒿中的生物碱，我们不仅发现所有已知的化合物，还部分表征了50余种新化合物，其中具有15C，17C，19C和ZOC饱和或不饱和脂肪酰基，以10-OH-中乌头碱和10-OH-乌头碱为骨架的脂碱以及三脂型脂碱为首次在乌头属植物中发现。该结果提出了脂类生物碱在乌头属植物中普遍存在的可能性。另一方面，我们发现中药煎煮液具有缓冲溶液的性质，酸性和糖是影响剧毒性双酯型生物碱水解的两个因素。在pH5.0-5.5和糖的存在下，大部分双酯型生物碱水解为苯甲酰单酯型生物碱，少部分被转为脂碱，在pH2.8到3.5之间（半夏等与附子禁用中药煎煮液的pH），双酯型生物碱十分稳定，既不水解，也不转为脂碱。这样，我们不仅解释了传统中医药配伍理论的合理内涵，也表明她可能．存在着不足。此外，脂碱难溶于水，大部分脂碱煎煮后仍残留在药材组织中。最后，为评价脂碱的抗癌效果，我们用在水相下合成了8-棕榈酰-苯甲酰乌头原碱，体外实验表明，0.001mg／ml的8-棕榈酰-苯甲酰乌头原碱对肝癌细胞SMMC-7721和黑色素瘤细胞B16即具有很强的杀伤作用，并且提示它们可能具有不同的作用机制。

黄连中生物碱类化合物的电喷雾质谱研究

首先，利用现代软电离质谱技术－－一电喷雾质谱技术以及电喷雾源内碰撞诱导解离（CID）技术，对传统中药－－一黄连中的生物碱类化合物小聚碱及其同分异构体表小粟碱化合物的质谱碎裂机理进行了详细研究，实验结果表明，随着碰撞能量的变化，两者的质谱碎裂规律具有明显的差异，据此，建立了简便、快速、准确的小巢碱和表小聚碱两种同分异构体化合物区分的质谱新方法，为该类药材及其相应的中药制剂的质控提供了有效的手段和方法。其次，还利用电喷雾多级串联质谱（ESI-MSn）技术，系统地研究了传统中药－－一黄连中生物碱类化合物的质谱碎裂规律，我们通过一级质谱的数据，获得了黄连中生物碱类化合物的分子量信息，并对其中五个已知的生物碱进行了初步的确认，同时，通过一级质谱的结果，首次在黄连中发现的分子量为366的未知生物碱类化合物，并通过电喷雾多级串联质谱技术对上述六种化合物的结构进行了详细的研究，结合标准样品的串联质谱数据和文献资料，确认了五个已知的生物碱类化合物分别为小粟碱、巴马汀、药根碱、黄连碱和13-甲基小桨碱，并推断未知生物碱类化合物为13-甲基巴马汀，建立了黄连中生物碱类化合物简便、快速的质谱分析表征新方法，并为其他传统中药中生物碱类化合物的分析与表征积累了重要的理论数据，更重要的是建立了传统中药中未知生物碱类化合物确认和结构分析的质谱方法。此外，还利用量子化学DFT-B3LYP方法，6-31G（d）基组，详细研究了传统中药黄连中小璧碱分子的质谱碎片的相对稳定性。并通过对结合能的理论计算，探讨 质谱碎裂过程中关键基团的相对活性。结合几何参数比较和前线分子轨道分析等方法，从理论上解释了小聚碱化合物的质谱碎裂规律的合理性、分子结构特征及基团活性等，为研究该化合物的药效作用机理，以及药物分子的全合成提供理论依据。同时，还利用电喷雾质谱和薄层层析等方法，对含有黄连的传统复方－－一半夏泻心汤进行了初步的考察研究，通过复方中黄连的阴、阳性溶液对比分析，发现在半夏泻心汤中主要的生物碱类化合物，如：小聚碱、巴马汀、药跟碱、黄连碱在复方煎煮过程中在仅仅表现在数量的变化，而没有质的变化，进一步揭示了在半夏泻心汤复方中黄连中的生物碱类化合物的变化规律，为阐明传统复方的药效物质基础提供了科学依据。最后，确定了黄连中生物碱类化合物的毛细管电泳分析的最佳条件，并对黄连中小粟碱化合物进行了定量分析研究，建立了生物碱类化合物毛细管电泳分析的新方法。

附子及乌头属植物中二萜类生物碱的电喷雾质谱研究

电喷雾质谱是一种软电离技术，生物碱分子中均含有氮原子，具有很高的质子亲合势和气相碱度，特别适合电喷雾质谱分析。本文利用电喷雾质谱系统研究了乌头属的几种植物中二菇类生物碱的质谱行为。并且对中药复方中的生物碱成分的化学变化进行探讨，在串联质谱中，乌头碱类生物碱的裂解方式相似。双酷型、三醋型、脂类生物碱在MS2中容易丢失C8乙酸或长链脂肪酸形成特征子离子峰，在进一步CID谱中，在C15位失去CO为其特征。但是单酷型生物碱在串联质谱中碎裂方式与上述几种生物碱有很大差别，例如，在MSZ中主要失去甲醇，还会失去C3位经基，但是不会失去CS轻基。利用这些规律分析了附子及草乌中的生物碱，发现了多种具有特殊取代基的新化合物。以电喷雾质谱为检测手段分析了附子在炮制过程中的成分变化；并且发现了分离提取脂类生物碱的方法。高乌头中的生物碱以C18型为主，同时也包含少量C19乌头碱骨架的生物碱。这两种类型的生物碱在串联质谱中的碎裂规律相似，都容易失去取代基，而生物碱骨架比较稳定，难以碎裂。但是不同位置的取代基失去时所形成的子离子的丰度有很大差别，经过串联质谱可以获取重要的结构信息。并且通过串联质谱确定了刺乌头碱环糊精的包合位点，更正了文献中的错误。关白附的CZ。型海替生型生物碱在串联质谱中的行为与上述生物碱相似，容易失去取代基，但是在失去取代基的同时，常常伴随骨架中C-C键的断裂。由于这些生物碱的结构存在较强的规律，所以很容易表征其中的结构相似的新生物碱。另一方面，我们发现导致白术与附子配伍将导致共煎液中有毒生物碱成分增加，从而解释了八味地黄丸与人参汤导致中毒的原因。并且通过对八味地黄汤的配伍研究，发现起解毒作用的药材为山茱英，解毒机理为抑制了有毒生物碱的溶出。方中的山药能够抑制双酷型生物碱的水解。

五种毛壳霉属和曲霉属真菌代谢产物及细胞毒活性

毛壳霉属(Chaetomium)和曲霉属(Aspergillus)真菌产生多种具有生物活性的化合物。为系统阐明两属微生物的次生代谢物，对三种毛壳霉、两种曲霉真菌分别进行固态发酵，以色谱和波谱技术研究发酵物中的成分，分离鉴定了51个化合物，其中23个为新化合物，测试了部分化合物对肿瘤细胞的活性。 1、从螺卷毛壳霉（C. cochloides）固态发酵物中分离鉴定了11个化合物，3个新化合物为螺卷毛壳霉素A~C（1~3）。化合物1、3及dethio-tetra (methylthio) chetomin（4）对Bre-04、Lu-04和N-04细胞株生长抑制的GI50值为0.05~7.0 μg/mL。 2、从印度毛壳霉（C. indicum）固态发酵物中鉴定的三个异喹啉生物碱印度毛壳霉素A~C（12~14）代表两类骨架新颖的异喹啉生物碱。 3、从巴西毛壳霉（C. brasiliense）固态发酵物中鉴定了11个化合物，其中Mollicellins I~J（15~16）、2-Hydroxymethyl-6-methylmethyleugenin（19）为新化合物。化合物16和Mollicellin H（18）对Bre-04、Lu-04、N-04细胞株生长抑制的GI50值在2.5~8.6 μg/mL。 4、从土曲霉（A. terreus）固态发酵物中鉴定了18个化合物。5个为新化合物为Terretonin A~D（24~27）和Asterrelenin（28），24~27为二倍半萜化合物，28为吲哚生物碱。 5、从杂色曲霉(A. versicolor）固态发酵物中鉴定了16个化合物。9个新的化合物Brevianamides K~N (40~43)、Averins A~C (44~46)和Glyanphenines A~B (47~48)代表三种类型的生物碱。 6、综述了1997－2007年间新的二倍半萜的研究进展。 The fungi of the genera Chaetomium and Aspergillus produce various secondary metabolites with biological activities. In order to systematically study the secondary metabolites, the solid-state fermented rice culture of three species of Chaetomium and two of Aspergillus were chemically studied. By the means of chromatograhy and spectroscopy, 55 compounds were isolated and identified, among of them 23 were new ones. The biological activities of some compounds were investigated. 1. From the fungus C. cochliodes, three new epipolythiodioxopiperazines, chaetocochins A-C (1-3) were isolated, together with 8 known ones (4-11). Compounds 1, 3 and 4 showed growth inhibitory effects against cancer cell lines Bre-04, Lu-04 and N-04 with GI50 values from 0.05 to 7.0 μg/mL. 2. Three novel isoquinolines Chaetoindicins A-C (12-14) were isolated and identified from the fungus C. indicum. Chaetoindicin A, Chaetoindicins B-C represented two classes of novel carbon skeletons. 3. Three new compounds, Mollicellins I-J (15-16), and 2-hydroxymethyl-6-methylmethyleugenin (19), were isolated from C. brasiliense. Compound 16 and Mollicellin H (18) showed growth inhibitory effects against cancer cell lines Bre-04, Lu-04 and N-04 with GI50 values from 2.5 to 8.6 μg/mL. 4. Eighteen compounds were isolated from the fungus A. terreus. Terretonin A-D（24 - 27）and Asterrelenin（28） are new compounds belonging to sesterterpoids and indole-ralated alkaloid, respectively. 5. From the fungus A. versicolor, sixteen secondary metabolites, including nine new ones, Brevianamides K-N (40-43), Averins A-C (44-46), and Glyanphenines A-B (47-48), were isolated and identified. Brevianamides K-N (40-43), Averins A-C (44-46), and Glyanphenines A-B (47-48) represented three classes of alkaloids. 6. New sesterterpenes and their bioactivities reported from 1997 to 2007 were summarized.

四种药用植物的化学成分及芍药苷的微生物转化研究

本学位论文共有5章。第一章报道白芍的化学成分及芍药苷的微生物转化研究成果；第二章报道天山雪莲的化学成分研究；第三章报道两面针的化学成分研究；第四章报道通关藤的化学成分研究成果；第五章概述了花椒属植物中最近十年报道的新化合物及药理研究情况。 在第1章的第一部分报道了白芍（Paeonia lactiflora Pall.）的化学成分。我们采用正、反相硅胶柱层析等各种分离方法，从白芍的干燥根中共分离出14个化合物，其中1个为新化合物，其结构通过波谱分析证实为没食子酰白芍苷，另外还有2个为首次从该植物中分离得到。第二部分报道了芍药苷的微生物转化生产芍药苷代谢素-I的研究，从15株厌氧菌中筛选出10株有转化活性的菌株，其中短乳杆菌Lactobacillus brevis AS1.12的转化活性最好，对其转化条件进行了初步的筛选，确定了相对合理的转化工艺。 在第2章报道了天山雪莲（Saussurea involucrate Kar.et Kir.）全草乙醇提取物化学成分的分离纯化和结构鉴定。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离纯化和MS、NMR等波谱解析，共分离鉴定了28个化合物，结构类型分属于黄酮、倍半萜和木脂素等，其中2个新倍半萜化合物的结构分别表征为6α-羟基云木香酸6-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷和11βH-11,13-二氢去氢云木香内酯8α-O-(6′-乙酰)-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷。 第3章报道了两面针（Zanthoxylum nitidum （Roxb.）DC.）干燥根的乙醇提取物化学成分的分离纯化和结构鉴定。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离纯化和MS、NMR等波谱解析以及X-射线单晶衍射，共分离鉴定了16个生物碱，结构类型分属于苯并啡啶类、喹啉类和阿朴啡类等，其中2个新苯并啡啶类生物碱的结构分别表征为二聚双氢两面针碱和丙酮基双氢崖定椒碱。 第4章报道了通关藤（Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Wight et Arn.）水提取物化学成分的分离纯化和结构鉴定。通过正、反相硅胶柱层析等分离纯化和MS、NMR等波谱解析以及X-射线单晶衍射，共分离鉴定了14个化合物，结构类型均属于C21多羟基甾醇，其中4个新化合物tenacigenoside A, tenacigenoside B, tenacigenoside C和tenacigenoside D的结构分别表征为3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-17β-tenacigenin B (62), 3-O-2,6- dideoxy-4-O-methyl-D-lyxo-hexopyranosly-11α-O- methylbutyryl-12β-O-acetyl-tenacigenin B (63), 3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D- allopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-11α-O-tigloyl-tenacigenin C (64)和3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-11α-O-2- methylbutyryl-tenacigenin C (65)。 第5章概述了花椒属植物的化学成分及药理活性研究进展。 This dissertation consists of 5 chapters. The first chapter elaborate the phytochemical investigation of Paeonia lactiflora Pall., and microbial transformation of paeoniforin. The second, third and four chapters elaborate the phytochemical investigation of Saussurea involucrate Kar.et Kir., Zanthoxylum nitidum (Roxb.) DC. and Marsdenia tenacissima (Roxb.) Wight et Arn., respectively. Chapter 5 is a review on chemical constituents and bioactivities of Zanthoxylum species. The part one of chapter 1 focus on the isolation and identification of chemical constituents from P. lactiflora. Fourteen compounds were isolated from the roots of P. lactiflora by repeat column chromatography over normal and reversed phase silica gel. Among them, one is a new compound and the structure was suggested as galloyl-albiflorin by spectral evidence. In addition, two compounds were firstly reported in this plant. The part 2 is about microbial transformation of paeoniforin. Chapters 2, 3 and 4 were isolations and identifications of chemical constituents from S. involucrate, Z. nitidum and M. tenacissima, respectively. From the aerial parts of S. involucrate, 28 compounds including 7 flavonoids and 13 sesquiterpenoids were isolated and identified. Among them, 2 new compounds were characterized as 6α-hydroxycostic acid 6-β-D-glucoside and 11βH-11,13-dihydrodehydro- costuslactone 8α-O-(6'-acetyl)-β-D-glucoside, respectively, by means of spectroscopic analysis. Otherwise, 11 ones were firstly reported from this plant. The third chapter is about the phytochemical investigation of Z. nitidum. Sixteen compounds were isolated and identified. Among them, 2 new benzophenanthridine alkaloids were characterized as 8-acetonyldihydrofagaridine and 1,3-bis(8-dihydronitidinyl)-acetone by spectroscopic analysis. The fourth chapter is about the phytochemical investigation of M. tenacissima. Fourteen compounds were isolated and identified. Among them, 4 new compounds, tenacigenosides A~D, were characterized as 3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-17β- tenacigenin B, 3-O-2,6-dideoxy-4-O-methyl-D-lyxo-hexopyranosly-11α-O-methyl butyryl-12β-O-acetyl-tenacigenin B, 3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl- (1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-11α-O-tigloyl-tenacigenin C, and 3-O-6-deoxy-3-O- methyl-β-D-allopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-oleandropyranosyl-11α-O-2-methylbutyryl- tenacigenin C. Chapter 5 is a review on recent progress in bioactive constituents from plants of Zanthoxylum species.

几种中药材的化学成分及其定性定量检测方法研究

本论文由四部分组成。第一部分报道了佛手参提取物的化学成分研究，建立了活性成分含量测定的高效液相测定和指纹图谱研究，采用液质联用技术鉴定了主要色谱峰；第二部分报道了丹参及其复方制剂的特征图谱研究；第三部分探讨了两面针生物碱的电喷雾质谱裂解规律，并采用液质联用技术分离鉴定了提取物中的多种生物碱。第四部分概述了液质联用在药物代谢研究中的运用。 第一部分包括第一、第二和第三章。第一章针对佛手参（Gymnadeniaconopsea）块茎的甲醇提取物，采用大孔树脂和反相硅胶柱层析等各种分离方法，共分离鉴定出4 个化合物，通过波谱分析将它们的结构确定为dactylorhin B (1)、loroglossin (2)、dactylorhin A (3)和militarine (4)。这4 个化合物均是首次从佛手参中分离得到的琥珀酸葡萄糖苷类成分。第二章采用高效液相色谱法对西藏、四川、河北、青海和尼泊尔等不同地区产的十个佛手参样品进行腺嘌呤核苷和对羟基苯甲醇的定量分析，结果表明这2 个成份可视为佛手参的特征成分，但也注意到产地不同该2 个特征成分的含量也有所不同。第三章采用标准中药指纹图谱相似度计算软件，以10 个佛手参样品HPLC 图谱的平均值为相似性评价对照模板，对10 个样品进行了相似度评价，并经液质联用分析指认了7 个共有峰，分别为腺嘌呤核苷(1)、对羟基苯甲醇(2)、对羟基苯甲醛(3) 、dactylorhin B(4) 、loroglossin(5)、dactylorhin A(6)和militarine(7)。 第二部分包括第四、第五、第六和第七章。第四章运用电喷雾质谱检测了对照药材和五个不同产地的丹参药材中脂溶性和水溶性成分，系统地探讨了多种成分的电喷雾质谱规律，并以对照药材为标准建立了特征指纹图谱。五个产地的药II材通过与对照药材相对比，采用聚类分析的方法，得到了定性的鉴别与判断。并采用液质联用技术对丹参药材提取液中的化学成份进行分析，推测了九个特征峰，并对六样品的液相色谱图进行了聚类分析。第五章探讨了三七皂苷的电喷雾质谱电离和裂解规律，并采用电喷雾质谱法对三七标准药材，血通片中的皂苷成分进行了分析。第六章运用电喷雾质谱研究复方丹参片提取液的特征图谱，并和单味药材丹参和三七的特征图谱进行了对比研究。并运用HPLC-ESI MSn 分析鉴定了复方丹参片提取液中的化学成分，推测了12 个色谱峰。第七章总结了电喷雾质谱和液质联用技术在丹参药材，三七药材及复方丹参制剂中的运用的优势和局限性。 第三部分（第八章）研究了两面针生物碱中二氢白屈菜红碱(1)、二氢两面针碱(2)、8-酮基二氢白屈菜红碱(3)、8-丙酮基二氢两面针碱(4)、两面针碱(5)、和1,3-二(8-二氢两面针碱)丙酮(6)等六个苯并菲啶型生物碱的电喷雾质谱裂解规律，其中二氢两面针碱和二氢白屈菜红碱，8-丙酮基二氢两面针碱和8-酮基二氢白屈菜红碱是两对二个甲氧基分别在C-9 和C-10，C-10 和C-11 的同分异构体。实验结果表明，在相同的碰撞能下，这类位置异构体的ESI MS2 质谱二级碎片离子的相对峰度存在很大差异，这可以用于区分该类同分异构体，采用液-质联用可以对两面针的总生物碱提取物中的这些同分异构体加于区分。同时在本实验采用的液相色谱条件下，多种生物碱得到较好的分离，通过和对照品的保留时间，紫外吸收光谱及电喷雾质谱图对照，鉴定了11 个主要色谱峰。 第四部分（第九章）对液质联用技术在药物代谢中的运用进行了综述。 This dissertation consisted of four sections. The first two sections elaborated thephytochemical investigation of the rhizomes Gymnadenia conopsea R. Br., methoddevelopment for rapid identifying and qutifying the chemical condtituent of thistibetant medicine, and the chemical fingerprint analysis of rhizomes of G. conopsea,Salviae miltiorrhiza and P. notoginseng. The third section studied the fragmentationmechanism of six alkaloids from Zanthoxylum nitidium and method development forrapid identifying varieties of alkaloids from the extract of this herbal medicine. Thefourth section reviewed HPLC- MS method in drug metabolism studies. The first section consisted of chapters 1, 2, 3. Chapter 1 elaborated the phytochemicalinvestigation of Gymnadenia conopsea R. Br. Four succinate derivative esters wereisolated from the methanol extract of the rhizomes of G. conopsea through repeatedcolumn chromatography on normal and reversed phase silica gel, their structures weredetermined by ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR evidence. They were firstly discoveredfrom this species. In chapter 2, a high-performance liquid chromatography.diodearray detection (HPLC-DAD) method has been firstly developed for quantitation oftwo characteristic constituents, adenosine and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, from theextract of rhizomes of G. conopsea. All 10 samples of G. conopsea contained differentamount of adenosine and 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol. Adenosine and the4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol can be applied in identification and quality control for theroots of G. conopsea. In chapter 3, a high-performance liquid chromatography.diodearray detection.tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MSn) method has been firstly developed for chemical fingerprint analysis of rhizomes of G. conopsea andrapid identification of major compounds in the fingerprints. Comparing the UV andMS spectra with those of authentic compounds, seven main peaks in the fingerprintswere identified as adenosine, 4-hydroxybenzyl alcohol, 4-hydroxybenzyl aldehyde,dactylorhin B, loroglossin, dactylorhin A and militarine. The Computer AidedSimilarity Evaluation System for Chromatographic Fingerprint of TraditionalChinese Medicine (CASES) was employed to evaluate the similarities of 10 samplesof the rhizomes of G. conopsea collected from Sichuan, Qinghai and Hebei provincesand Tibet autonomous region of China, and Nepal. These samples from differentsources had similar chemical fingerprints to each other. The second section consisted of chapters 4, 5, 6 and 7. In chapter 4，both thecharacteristic spectra of liposoluble tanshinones and aqueous-soluble salvianolic acidswere established by the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS)technique and the differences between standard and crude rhizomes of Salviaemiltiorrhiza Bge. from 5 sources were analyzed. The law of electrospray ion trap mass(ESI ITMS) of typical tanshinones and salvianolic acids is studied.The analysis of the chemical constituent of rhizomes of Salviae miltiorrhiza Bge. byliquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrum (LC/MS) technique wasestablished，and the distances among standard herb and crude herb from 5 sourceswere calculated by clustering analysis. According the DAD spectra and MS2 data，9tanshinones could be speculated. In chapter 5, the character spectra of total saponinsin P. notoginseng extracts were established by ESI ITMS and selective ion monitoring(SIM) technology. The law of notoginsenosides by ESI MS2 was studied. In chapter 6,the characteristic spectra of Compound Danshen Tablet established and compared byESI-MS and HPLC/DAD/MS, 6 known tanshinones and 3 saponins were speculated.In chapter 7, the advantage and disadvantage of the strategy, using the ESI ITMS andLC/MS techniques for study of characteristic spetra of danshen and Compound Danshen Tablet, were summerized. The third section (chapter 8) studied the fragmentation mechanism of six alkaloids,dihydronitidine, dihydrochelerythrine, 8-acetonyl dihydronitidine,8-acetonyldrochelerythrine, nitidine and 1,3-bis (8-dihydronitidinyl)-acetone, by ESIMSn. Tandem mass spectrometry experiments indicated that different substitutionsites of the methoxyl groups at C-9 and C-10 or at C-10 and C-11 determined thedifferent abundances of the MS2 fragmentation ions using the same collision energy.According to the different abundances of MS2 product ions, positional isomericbenzo[c] phenanthridine alkaloids can be differentiated. Moreover, ten constituents inthe crude alkaloids extract from the roots of Zanthoxylum nitidium were rapidlyidentified by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem massspectrometry (HPLC-MSn), through comparing the retention times and ESI MSn spectra with the authentic standards. The fourth section (chapter 9) is a review on HPLC-MS method development in drug metabolism studies.

二萜生物碱植物的化学成分研究

本论文由三个部分组成。第一部分是综述性文章-天然C19-二萜生物碱的结构及其核磁共振波谱。这篇综述参考160余篇文献，将迄今为止发表的230余个天然C19-二萜生物碱按其结构和波谱特征，分为10个类型。重点叙述了每个类型的结构和核磁共振波谱，对一些立体构型与13C-NMR化学位移的关系进行了讨论。最后以表格的形式报导了每个天然C19-二萜生物碱的结构及其植物来源，并把其中170余个收集到的13C-NMR化学位移数据整理成表，作为手册，对鉴定此类化合物大有帮助。第二部分是实验论文--弯啄乌头的化学成分研究。重点报导了弯啄乌头(Aconitum campylorrhynchun Hand-Nazz.)中分离到的一个新生物碱--8-乙酰都啦碱(8-acetyldolaconine)的结构鉴定，并根据DEPT、COSY、COLO等对1H-NMR和13C-NMR的所有信号归属都进行了指定。通过各种图谱还发现这个生物碱的A环同时存在着椅式和船式两种构象导购体。另外还报导了从同一植物的生物碱部分分离到的两个二萜生物碱，它们都是嘟啦碱和aconosine.在非生物碱部分还分离到三个化合物，经鉴定证明是β-谷甾醇、棕榈酸和香豆酸。第三部分也是实验论文--展毛翠雀花中生物碱成分的研究。报导了从展毛翠雀花(Delphinium Kamaonense Var.glabrescens W. T. Wang)中初步分离到的两个生物碱。经IR、NS、1H-NMR和13C-NMR等方法确定结构，证明其中一个是新化合物，命名为展毛翠雀碱(glabredelphinine)。另外一个是前几年发现的二萜生物碱tatsiensine。这两个化合物的A环上都有碳-碳不饱和键，这在天然C19-二萜生物碱中还比较少见。This master's thesis consists of three parts. The first part is a review: The relationship between the chemical structures of natural C19-diterpene alkaloids and their NMR chemical shift data. The C19-diterpene alkaloids were divided into ten types according to their structures and NMR data. Some relationaships between configuration and NMR chemical shift have been discussed. The structures and distributions of more than 230 known C19-diterpene alkaloids and the assignments of 13C-NMR data of the 170 alkaloids of them were listed in tables. The second part is an experimental paper, Studies on the chemical constituents of Aconitum campylorrhynchum. Six compounds were isolated from the roots of title plant. One of them is a new alkaloid. It has been elucidaled as 8-acetyldolaconine by means of IR, MS, 1H-NMR,13C-NMR,DEPT,COSY,COLOC and on the basis of identification with aconosine by saponification. Other five compounds were idenfified as dolaconine, aconosine,β-sitosterol, palmitic acid and p-coumaric acid. The third part is also experimental paper: The alkaloids of Delphinium Kamaonense var.glabrescens. Two alkaloids were isolated from the roots of title plant. One of them, C22H22O6N,m.p.201-3℃,named glabredelphinine, was proved to be a new compound. Its structure has been established as 2(3)-dehydro-6-demethyl-18-delcosine by means of IR, MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR.The other one was identified as tatsiensine by comparising of IR, MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR data with that from the literatute.

手性有机小分子路易斯碱催化剂的设计、合成及其在亚胺不对称还原中的应用

手性胺是合成天然产物和手性药物的重要中间体，亚胺的不对称催化还原是制备光学活性手性胺的最直接有效的方法之一。但是，由于C＝N双键的反应活性较弱以及容易发生E/Z异构等问题，亚胺的不对称催化还原具有很大的挑战性，既具有高对映选择性又具有宽广底物普适性的催化剂很少。 本文分别由手性脯氨酸、哌啶酸、哌嗪酸以及氨基醇出发，设计和合成了一系列结构新颖、合成简便、性能优良的酰胺类有机小分子路易斯碱催化剂，以廉价的三氯氢硅为氢源，用这些催化剂催化亚胺不对称还原，得到了非常优良的收率、对映选择性和前所未有的底物普适性。 文献研究认为，除N-甲酰基外，分子内含有芳香酰胺是能催化亚胺还原的有机小分子路易斯碱催化剂具有较高对映选择性的必要条件，我们研究发现N-甲酰脯氨酸非芳香酰胺类催化剂（包括结构简单的C2-对称型脯氨酰胺类催化剂），对N-芳基酮亚胺的还原可获得达86%的对映选择性，远高于同类芳香酰胺催化剂，证明N-甲酰非芳香酰胺类路易斯碱催化剂在亚胺还原中也能得到高的对映选择性。 在进一步研究中，我们以手性六元哌啶酸为模板，分别设计合成了N-甲酰哌啶酸芳香酰胺和N-甲酰哌啶酸非芳香酰胺两类催化剂，其中芳香酰胺催化剂（S）-N-（甲酰基）哌啶-2-酸-1-萘基酰胺（28）和非芳香酰胺催化剂（2S,1'S,2'S）-N-（甲酰基）-哌啶-2-酸（1',2'-二苯基-2'-乙酰氧基-乙基）酰胺（30）显示出非常优良的催化活性和对映选择性，对于N-芳基芳香酮亚胺的还原，无论是缺电子体系还是富电子体系，绝大部分都能得到很高的收率（达98%）和对映选择性（达96% ee)。特别值得一提的是30对一些脂肪族亚胺和α,β-不饱和亚胺的还原，虽然底物为E/Z混合物，也能得到很高的收率（达93%）和对映选择性（达95% ee)，这样的底物普适性在过渡金属催化体系中也是前所未有的。 现有的催化亚胺还原的高对映选择性催化体系大多仅适用于甲基酮亚胺底物，对位阻较大的非甲基酮亚胺很难获得好的结果。我们以L-哌嗪酸为模板设计和合成出的（S）-N-（甲酰基）-哌嗪-2-酸-4-对叔丁基苯磺酰基-苯基酰胺不但对N-芳基甲基酮亚胺有很好的对映选择性（达90% ee)，而且对于大位阻的N-芳基非甲基酮亚胺有更好的对映选择性（达97% ee)。该催化剂与30在底物普适性方面具有很好的互补性。 我们还设计了基于1,2-二苯基氨基醇为模板的新型N-甲酰路易斯碱有机小分子催化剂，首次发现结构简单的N-甲酰（1S,2R）二苯基氨基醇能较好的催化N-芳基酮亚胺，最高可以得到82%的对映选择性。 针对我们设计合成的结构新颖、性能优良的催化剂，我们对催化机理进行了探讨和解释，提出了几个假想的机理模型。 Catalytic enantioselective reduction of imines represents one of the most straightforward and efficient methods for the preparation of chiral amines, an important intermediate for the synthesis of natural products and chiral drugs. However, asymmetric reduction of imines remains a big challenge and highly enantioselective catalysts with a satisfactorily broad substrate scope remain elusive. Factors contributing to the difficulty of this transformation include the weak reactivity of the C=N bond and the existence of inseparable mixtures of E/Z isomers. Starting from chiral proline, pipecolinic acid, piperazine-2-carboxylic acid and 1,2-diphenyl amino alcohol, a series of structurally simple and easily prepared amides were developed as highly effective Lewis basic organocatalysts for the asymmetric reduction of imines with trichlorosilane as the reducing agent, which promoted the reduction of N-aryl imines with high yields and excellent enantioselectivities with an unprecedented substrate spectrum. In the literature, it has been believed that besides the N-formyl group, the existence of an arylamido group in the structure of Lewis basic organocatalysts is a prerequisite for obtaining high enantioselectivity in the catalytic reduction of imines. However, we found that the N-formyl-L-prolinamides bearing non-arylamido groups, including structurally simple C2-symmetric tetraamides, could also work as effective Lewis basic catalysts to promote the asymmetric reduction of ketimines with high enantioselectivities (up to 86% ee), which are even more enantioselective than the analogues with arylamido groups. In further studies, we developed novel N-formamides with arylamido groups and non-arylmido groups as Lewis basic catalysts using the commercially available L-pipecolinic acid as the template. The catalysts (S)-1-formyl-piperidine-2-carboxylic acid naphthylamide 28 and (2S,1'S,2'S)-acetic acid 2-[(1-formyl-piperidine-2-carbonyl) -amino]-1,2-diphenyl-ethyl ester 30 were found to promote the reduction of a broad range of N-aryl imines in high yields (up to 98%) and excellent ee values (up to 96%) under mild conditions. Furthermore, catalyst 30 also exhibited high enantioselectivities (up to 95% ee) for the challenging aliphatic ketimines and α,β-unsaturated imines despite that these imines exist as E/Z isomeric mixtures. The broad substrate spectrum of this catalyst is unprecedented in catalytic asymmetric imine reduction, including transition-metal-catalyzed hydrogenation processes. Many of the currently available highly enantioselective catalytic systems only tolerate methyl ketimines, which gave poor results for bulkier non-methyl ketimines. Starting from L-piperazine-2-carboxylic acid, we developed (S)-4-(4-tert- butylbenzenesulfonyl)-1-formyl-N-phenyl-piperazine-2-carboxamide as highly enantioselective Lewis basic catalysts for the hydrosilylation of both methyl ketimines and steric bulky non-methyl ketimines. Moreover, higher enantioselectivities were obtained for non-methyl ketimines than methyl ketimines under the catalysis of this catalyst. Thus, this catalyst system complements with 30 in terms of the substrate scope. We also found that easily accessible (1R,2S)-N-formyl-1,2-diphenyl- 2-aminoethanol worked as an effective Lewis basic catalyst in the enantioselective hydrosilylation of ketimines, affording high enantioselectivities (up to 82% ee) for a broad range of ketimines. To rationalize the high efficiencies of the structurally novel catalysts we developed, several catalytic models have been proposed.