1534 Letters
5.44 (s, OHs), 4.52 (m, H-8′), 4.37 (m, H-2′), 4.12 (m, H-1′), 3.83 (s,
and C-9), 160.9 (C-4), 142.5 (C-7), 129.4 (C-2 and C-6), 127.8 (C-
8), 115.4 (C-1′), 114.1 (C-3 and C-5), 58.9 (C-1′), 55.3 and 52.2 (2-
OCH3), 46.8 (C-4′), 29.1 (C-2′), 24.8 (C-3′).
OCH3), 3.44 (m, H-11′), 3.12 (m, H-3′), 2.3–1.9 (m, H-9′, H-6′, H-4′,
and H-10′). 13C NMR (CD3COD, δ [ppm]): 169.7, 169.0, and 168.9
(C-7′, C-9, and C-12′), 147.0 (C-4), 146.8 (C-3), 141.0 (C-7), 129.9
(C-1), 122.9 (C-6), 122.1 (C-8), 116.5 (C-5), 115.2 (C-2), 86.5 (C-
5′), 74.0 (C-2′), 71.0 (C-1′), 70.5 (C-3′), 58.8 (C-8′), 49.5 (-OCH3),
47.0 (C-11′), 37.3 (C-4′), 37.0 (C-6′), 30.4 (C-9′), 23.2 (C-10′).
(E)-methyl 1-(3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)acryloyl)pyrrolidine-2-car-
boxylate (9): Compound 9 was prepared as described for 5 using
caffeic acid 6 and L-proline methyl ester hydrochloride. The oily
product obtained was purified by chromatography on silica gel,
eluting with dichloromethane. Yield: 40%. [α]D − 64 (c 0.05,
CH3OH). 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, δ [ppm], J [Hz]): 7.31 (d, J = 15.4, H-
7), 7.06 (s, H-2), 6.97 (d, J = 8.6, H-5), 6.76 (d, J = 8.6, H-6), 6.66 (d,
J = 15.4, H-8), 4.40 (m, H-1′), 3.72 (m, H-4a’), 3.68 (s, -OCH3), 3.50
(m, H-4b’), 2.19–1.86 (m, H-2′, and H-3′). 13C NMR (DMSO-d6, δ
[ppm]): 172.4 and 164.1 (C-5′ and C-9), 147.4 (C-4), 145.3 (C-3),
141.7 (C-7), 126.3 (C-1), 120.6, 115.5, and 115.2 (C-6, C-8, and C-
5), 114.6 (C-2), 58.4 (C-1′), 51.4 (-OCH3), 46.3 (C-4′), 28.5 (C-2′),
24.2 (C-3′).
(E)-4-(3-(2-(methoxycarbonyl)pyrrolidin-1-yl)-3-oxoprop-1-en-
yl)-1,2-phenylene-diacetate (11): Diacetylcaffeic acid 10 and L-
proline methyl ester hydrochloride were coupled as described
for 5 and 9. Yield 49%. [α]D − 48 (c 0.05, CHCl3). 1H NMR (CDCl3, δ
[ppm], J [Hz]): 7.64 (d, J = 15.4, H-7), 7.38, 7.34, and 7.19 (H-6, H-
2, and H-5), 6.67 (d, J = 15.4, H-8), 4.59 (m, H-1′), 3.83 (m, H-4′a),
3.74 (s, -OCH3), 2.29 (2 -OCOCH3), 2.16–1.75 (H-4b’, H-2′, and H-
3′). 13C NMR (CDCl3, δ [ppm]): 172.6, 168.0, 167.9, 164.4 (C-5′, C-
9, and 2 -OCOCH3), 143.0 (C-4), 142.3 (C-3), 141.0 (C-7), 134.0 (C-
1), 126.3, 123.7, and 122.3 (C-6, C-8, and C-5), 119.1(C-2), 59.0 (C-
1′), 52.2 (-OCH3), 46.9 (C-4′), 29.1 (C-2′), 22.6 (C-3′), 20.5 (2-
OCOCH3).
1-cinnamoylpyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid (18): 1 mL of 1 M NaOH
was added to a methanol solution (1 mL) of compound 16
(0.4 mmol). The mixture was stirred at r.t. for 2 h, neutralized
with 1 M HCl, and the methanol was evaporated under reduced
pressure. The aqueous solution was cooled in an ice bath and ac-
idified at pH 2 with 1 M HCl. The solid obtained was separated by
filtration and washed with water. Yield: 87%. RMN 1H (CD3OD, d
[ppm], J [Hz]): 7.55 (d, J = 15.4, H-7), 7.53–6.93 (5 Har), 6.89 (d,
J = 15.4, H-8), 4.46 (m, H-1′), 3.76 (m, H-4′), 2.22–1.96 (m, H2′,
and H3′). 13C NMR (CD3OD, d [ppm]): 173.0 and 165.7 (C-5′ and
C-9), 142.8 (C-7), 134.8 (C-1), 129.7, 128.5, 127.8, 117.8 (5 C‑ar),
117.6 (C-8), 59.2 (C-1′), 30.6 (C-2′), 24.3 (C-3′).
(E)-1-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl)acryloyl)pyrrolidine-2-carboxylic acid
(19): This derivative was obtained as described for 18, by alkaline
hydrolysis with methanol and 1 M NaOH. Yield: 87%. 1H‑NMR
(CD3OD, δ [ppm], J [Hz]): 7.65 (d, J = 15.6, H-7), 7.68–7.11 (4
Har), 6.95 (d, J = 15.6, H-8), 4.72 (m, H-1′) 4,00 (s, -OCH3), 3.97
(m, H-4′), 2.50–2.22 (m, H2′, and H3′). 13C NMR (CD3OD, δ
[ppm]): 175.7 and 167.7 (C-5′ and C-9), 162.9 (C-4), 143.9 (C-7),
130.8 (C-2 and C-6), 129.7 (C-8), 116.8 (C-1), 115.5 (C-3 and C-5),
60.7 (C-1′), 55.9 (-OCH3), 48.6 (C-4′), 30.3 (C-2′), 25.7 (C-3′).
In vitro measurement of enzyme inhibition: POP and DPP IV ac-
tivities were determined as described previously [10,,23,28].
The IC50 value was defined as the concentration of fraction re-
quired to inhibit 50% of enzyme activity. Data were analyzed us-
ing GraphPad Prism 6 software. The assays were performed in
triplicate and with a blank for each sample without enzyme, and
the percentage of inhibition was calculated by comparing the ab-
sorbance of the sample to the blank. POP activity was evaluated
using verbascoside [10] and Z-prolyl-prolinal as positive con-
trols, while in the DPP IV assay, the standard inhibitor isoleucine
thiazolide (P32/98) was used as the control.
Methyl 1-cinnamoylpyrrolidine-2-carboxylate (16): Isobutyl
chloroformate (2.7 mmol) was added to a cooled (− 15°C) solu-
tion of cinnamic acid 12 (2.7 mmol) and NMM (2.7 mmol) in THF
(14 mL) and stirred at − 15°C for 15 min. A solution of L-proline
methyl ester hydrochloride (2.7 mmol) and NMM (2.7 mmol) in
DMF (5 mL) was then added and the reaction mixture was stirred
for 24 h, allowing it to warm up to r.t. slowly [21]. The reaction
mixture was evaporated, then poured into chloroform and ex-
tracted with a saturated solution of HCl 1 N, NaHCO3, and water.
The organic phase was dried with MgSO4 and evaporated to dry-
ness, resulting in an oil which was purified by recrystallization
Supporting information
Details regarding the synthesis of the known derivatives 2–4, 7–
8, 10, and 14–15, NMR spectra of compounds as well as
provenance, purity of substances, and equipment are available
as Supporting Information.
Acknowledgments
!
using hexane/ethyl acetate to give 16 as
a
white solid
1
(m.p. 85.3–88.3°C). Yield 81%. [α]D − 68 (c 0.05, CHCl3). H NMR
(CDCl3, δ [ppm], J [Hz]): 7.61 (d, J = 15.5, H-7), 7.39–7.24 (5 Har),
6.63 (d, J = 15.5, H-8), 4.49 (m, H1′), 3.75 (m, H-4′a), 3.64 (s,
-OCH3), 3.59 (m, H-4′b), 1.97 (m, H-2′, and H-3′). 13C NMR (CDCl3,
δ [ppm]): 172.7 and 164.8 (C-5′ and C-9), 142.8 (C-7), 142.6,
135.0, 129.6, 128.7, and 127.8, 117.8, (6 C‑ar and C-8), 58.9 (C-
1′), 52.1(-OCH3), 46.8 (C-4′), 29.0 (C-2′), 24.7 (C-3′).
The study was supported by CAPES-Coordenação de Aperfeiçoa-
mento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Ministério da Educação-Bra-
zil), the MECD (Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte de
España), MCI-FEDER (BIO2008-00799), the Fundació la Marató
de TV3, and the Generalitat de Catalunya (CeRBa and
2005SGR‑00663).
(E)-methyl 1-(3-(4-methoxyphenyl)acryloyl)pyrrolidine-2-carbox-
ylate (17): This derivative was prepared as described for 16 using
p-methoxycinnamic acid 13 and L-proline methyl ester hydro-
chloride. The oily product obtained was purified by chromatogra-
phy on silica gel, eluting with chloroform. Yield: 50%. [α]D − 56 (c
0.05, CHCl3).1H NMR (CDCl3, δ [ppm], J [Hz]): 7.67 (d, J = 15.4, H-
7), 7.44–6.88 (4 Har), 6.60 (d, J = 15.4, H-8), 4.61 (m, H1′), 3.85 (m,
H-4′a), 3.82 (s, -OCH3), 3.74 (s, -OCH3), 3.69 (m, H-4′b), 2.11 (m,
H-2′, and H-3′). 13C NMR (CDCl3, δ [ppm]): 172.9 and 165.2 (C-5′
Conflict of Interest
!
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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