synthesis and evolution of berberine derivatives as a new class of antiviral agents against enterovirus 71 through the MEK/ERK pathway and autophagy

Article abstract of DOI:10.3390/molecules23082084

Taking berberine (BBR) as the lead, 23 new BBR derivatives were synthesized and examined for their antiviral activities against four different genotype enterovirus 71 (EV71) strains with a cytopathic effect (CPE) assay. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies indicated that introduction of a suitable substituent at the 9-position might be beneficial for potency. Among them, compound 2d exhibited most potent activities with IC₅₀ values of 7.12-14.8 μM, similar to that of BBR. The effect of 2d was further confirmed in a dose-dependent manner both in RNA and protein level. The mechanism revealed that 2d could inhibit the activation of MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Meanwhile, it could suppress the EV71-induced autophagy by activating AKT and inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNK and PI3KIII proteins. We consider BBR derivatives to be a new family of anti-EV71 agents through targeting host components, with an advantage of broad-spectrum anti-EV71 potency.

Full text of DOI:10.3390/molecules23082084

molecules
Article
Synthesis and Evolution of Berberine Derivatives as a
New Class of Antiviral Agents against Enterovirus 71
through the MEK/ERK Pathway and Autophagy
Yan-Xiang Wang † ID , Lu Yang †, Hui-Qiang Wang, Xiao-Qiang Zhao, Ting Liu, Ying-Hong Li,
Qing-Xuan Zeng, Yu-Huan Li * and Dan-Qing Song *
Beijing Key Laboratory of Antimicrobial Agents, Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of
Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China;
wangyanxiang@imb.pumc.edu.cn (Y.-X.W.); yolo2022@163.com (L.Y.); hq_wangimb@163.com (H.-Q.W.);
xiaoqiangzhao2017@126.com (X.-Q.Z.); lutyliu@126.com (T.L.); liyinghong@imb.pumc.edu.cn (Y.-H.L.);
zqx50810793@163.com (Q.-X.Z.)
* Correspondence: yuhuanlibj@126.com (Y.-H.L.); songdanqingsdq@hotmail.com (D.-Q.S.);
Tel.: +86-10-6301-0984 (Y.-H.L.); +86-10-6316-5268 (D.-Q.S.)
† These authors contributed equally to this work.
ꢀꢁꢂꢀꢃꢄꢅꢆꢇ
ꢀꢁꢂꢃꢄꢅꢆ
Received: 17 July 2018; Accepted: 16 August 2018; Published: 20 August 2018
Abstract: Taking berberine (BBR) as the lead, 23 new BBR derivatives were synthesized and examined
for their antiviral activities against four different genotype enterovirus 71 (EV71) strains with a
cytopathic effect (CPE) assay. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies indicated that introduction
of a suitable substituent at the 9-position might be beneficial for potency. Among them, compound 2d
exhibited most potent activities with IC50 values of 7.12–14.8 µM, similar to that of BBR. The effect of
2d was further confirmed in a dose-dependent manner both in RNA and protein level. The mechanism
revealed that 2d could inhibit the activation of MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Meanwhile, it could
suppress the EV71-induced autophagy by activating AKT and inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNK
and PI3KIII proteins. We consider BBR derivatives to be a new family of anti-EV71 agents through
targeting host components, with an advantage of broad-spectrum anti-EV71 potency.
Keywords: enterovirus 71; berberine; structure-activity relationship; MEK/ERK pathway; autophagy
1. Introduction
Enterovirus 71 (EV71), a single-stranded positive-sense RNA virus belonging to the enterovirus
genus of the Picornaviridae family, is the primary cause of the hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD),
which is widely spread among infants and young children, especially those under 5 years old [1,2].
EV71 was first isolated from patients with central nervous system (CNS) diseases in California in
1969 and HFMD caused by EV71 infections usually is self-limiting, but some EV71-caused HFMD
cases have been associated with neurological diseases such as aseptic meningitis, myocarditis and
pulmonary edema [3–5]. Every year, from April to July, HFMD has a high incidence, which has become
a seriously social and public health concern in mainland China. However, up to now there is still no
effective drug for the prevention and treatment of HFMD in the clinic. This situation has resulted in a
very pressing need for the discovery of novel anti-EV71 drug candidates for the control of infectious
diseases arising from EV71 [6,7].
We have been working to find innovative drug candidates from Chinese natural products
such as berberine (BBR, Figure 1), which has been widely used in China for decades against
diarrhea as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). We have continuously reported that BBR
derivatives possess various pharmacological effects, such as antibacterial [8], anti-Coxsackie virus [9],
Molecules 2018, 23, 2084; doi:10.3390/molecules23082084
www.mdpi.com/journal/molecules

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anti-inflammatory [10], immunotherapeutic [11] and anti-tuberculosis activities [12]. Recently, we have
first identified that BBR exerted a moderate activity against EV71 replication with new mechanism
of action, mainly through down-regulating EV71-induced autophagy and MEK/ERK signaling
pathway [4]. The unique chemical scaffold and biological activity against EV71 of BBR spurred us to
further conduct structural modifications and optimization of its kind, so as to explore structure-activity
relationship (SAR) against EV71 as well as acquire promising anti-EV71 candidates.
Figure 1. Chemical structure of BBR, and structure modification strategy.
Based on the strategy, a series of new BBR derivatives, including variety esters and ethers on
positions 3 and 9 as depicted in Figure 1, were prepared due to the starting material availability and
synthetic ease, and evaluated for their anti-EV71 activity taking BBR as the lead. In the present study,
we described the synthesis of 23 new BBR derivatives, SAR analysis and primary mechanism of action
of the representative compound.
2. Results and Discussion
2.1. Chemistry
A total of twenty-three new BBR derivatives were semi-synthesized as displayed in Schemes 1–3,
taking commercially available BBR, palmatine (PMT) or jatrorrhizine (JTH) as the starting material,
respectively. All the 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HRMS-ESI spectra data of target compounds can be found
in Supplementary Materials. As shown in Scheme 1, the key intermediate
vacuum from BBR as reported previously [10 11]. Then, BBR ethers 2a were obtained by alkylation
of compound with corresponding bromides with K2CO3 as the base with yields of 40–58%. Similarly,
1 was obtained under
,
–g
1
BBR esters 2h and 2i were prepared through esterification of compound
1
[
13] with corresponding
chlorides in 37% and 38% yield, respectively.
◦
◦
Scheme 1. Reagents and conditions: (
K2CO3, CH3CN, 70 C.
a
) 195 C, 30–40 mmHg, 1 h; (
b
) R1Br, K2CO3, DMF, 70 C; (
c) R2Cl,
◦

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◦ ◦
Scheme 2. Reagents and conditions: (a) 195 C, 30–40 mmHg, 1 h; (b) R1Br, K2CO3, DMF, 70 C; (c) Benzyl
◦
chloroformate, K2CO3, CH3CN, 70 C.
Scheme 3. Reagents and conditions: (
a) R1Br, K2CO3, DMF, room temperature; (b) Benzyl chloroformate,
K2CO3, CH3CN, room temperature.
As described in Scheme 2, intermediate
position 9. Compounds 4a were prepared via alkylation with K2CO3 as the base in overall yields of
20–29%, while compound 4g was created by esterification of compound 3 by 21% yield.
Finally, as depicted in Scheme 3, the ether products 5a were directly obtained via alkylation
3 [14] was synthesized after demethylation of PMT on
–
f
–
f
using corresponding bromides at room temperature from starting material JTH. JTH was esterified
with benzyl chloroformate under alkaline condition to obtain compound 5g by 36% yield. All the
final products were purified via flash column chromatography using CH3OH/CH2Cl2 as the
gradient eluent.
2.2. Pharmacological Evaluation
2.2.1. SAR for Anti-EV71 Activity
Thus, all newly synthesized BBR analogues were screened for their anti-EV71 potencies in African
green monkey kidney (Vero) cells taking BBR as the positive control. EV71 strains used in the present
study include different genotype strains, such as H strain (VR-1432, genotype C2), BrCr strain (VR-1775,
genotype A), and JS-52 and SHZH98 (genotype C4). The potency against EV71 strains above mentioned
of each tested compound was evaluated by the combination of its IC50 and selectivity index (SI) value
as the important therapeutic indication. The structure and anti-EV71 activity of each new compound
are shown in Table 1.

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Table 1. SAR of all target compounds for anti-EV71 activity and cytotoxicity in Vero cells.
H Strain
JS-52 Strain
SHZH98 Strain
BrCr Strain
a
TC50
No.
R
a
a
a
a
SI b
IC50
IC50
SI
IC50
SI
IC50
SI
BBR
1
3
-
-
-
-
147
85.5
254
255
21.2
37.0
121
6.93
2.31
2.10
-
14.0
28.5
102
147
10.5
3.00
2.50
1.73
28.2
32.6
132
147
5.22
2.62
1.93
1.73
9.45
35.4
135
15.6
2.41
1.87
-
JTH
>147
>147
2a
223
48.3
4.62
45.5
4.89
60.4
3.69
32.3
6.90
2b
22.3
>5.34
-
5.73
3.89
5.46
4.08
2.04
4.26
10.9
2c
27.9
13.8
2.02
7.26
3.84
8.59
3.24
6.54
2d
2d-a
2e
82.8
437
12.4
>145
>5.31
6.70
7.12
145
11.6
3.00
5.40
14.8
>145
2.84
5.58
-
8.52
145
9.72
3.00
6.47
-
-
14.4
2.67
5.08
2.23
2f
9.22
54.9
>5.33
15.8
-
1.61
11.9
5.74
4.62
1.85
12.3
4.97
4.46
2.21
10.6
4.17
5.18
2g
3.47
2h
2i
124
167
434
>47.9
31.1
144
-
>47.9
43.6
-
3.83
-
>47.9
45.7
-
3.65
-
47.9
33.6
2.59
4.97
-
5.37
3.01
4a
>144
>144
>144
4b
4c
333
452
50.0
>144
>143
>15.9
-
-
-
109
99.3
44.2
3.05
4.55
1.13
>144
>143
>47.8
-
-
-
144
81.1
44.2
2.32
5.57
1.13
4d
4e
143
13.6
10.5
19.4
7.35
27.6
5.18
17.1
8.36
4f
306
351
82.2
3.73
-
54.2
129
5.65
2.72
82.2
3.73
-
66.0
4.64
-
4g
>143
>143
>143

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Table 1. Cont.
5a
250
130
1.93
2.02
109
2.29
2.44
144
1.74
1.20
125
2.01
2.44
5b
83.3
41.3
34.2
69.3
34.2
5c
248
93.7
2.65
-
101
2.46
4.55
123
2.01
3.41
44.1
5.62
-
5d
41.0
>15.9
9.01
12.0
>15.9
5e
5f
27.6
10.4
2.65
8.69
3.18
9.13
3.03
9.20
3.01
143
265
40.4
143
3.54
1.85
27.0
51.3
5.36
5.16
68.4
86.7
2.09
3.05
25.4
82.8
5.63
3.19
5g
a
The unit of µM was used to measure TC50 (median toxic concentration) and IC50 values which are calculated
based on the organic part of the target compounds. The average values of three batches were shown in this table
b
(n = 3). SI was calculated as the ratio of TC50 and IC50
.
First, the key intermediates
them showed decreased activity compared with that of BBR. SAR analysis was then focused on the
influence of substitutions on position 9 of ring D, and seven ether derivatives (2a ) and two ester
analogues (2h and 2i) were prepared and tested, respectively. As described in the table, among them,
ether compounds 2d with different substituents on the benzene ring displayed satisfactory potencies
with IC50 values of 12.4 and 15.8 M, especially compound 2d that exhibited lower cytotoxicity and
a better SI value of 6.7, similar to that of BBR. Meanwhile, the carboxylic acid form of compound 2d
2d ) exhibited a complete loss on the antivirus potency which indicated that compound 2d might
1, 3, and JTH were screened against H strain of EV71, and all of
–
g
–g
µ
(
-a
exert the activity on its original form. Two ester derivatives 2h and 2i gave obvious decreased activity,
The results hinted that introducing a suitable ether substituent on position 9 might be beneficial for the
ability against EV71.
In the second round of SAR study, the methylenedioxy ring was opened and substituent on
position 9 of ring D was attached, by which seven analogues 4a–g were created. Only compound 4e
with a 9-m-methoxybenzyloxycarbonylmethylenoxy moiety displayed a comparable activity to BBR.
Meanwhile, while methylenedioxy ring was opened and the substituent was switched to position
3 of ring A, compounds 5a–g were prepared and screened. Among them, compound 5e gave ideal
activities compared with BBR as well as high cytotoxicity. The inhibitory activity of compounds 5a
5f and 5g was partially or completely lost.
–d,
Next, the anti-EV71 activities of all the target compounds against JS-52, SHZH98 and BrCr strains
were also tested respectively. As shown in Table 1, the screening results were almost consistent
with that of H strain. These results indicated that appropriate substituents on position 9 and
methylenedioxy on ring A might be beneficial for the antivirus potency. Among them, compound 2d
exhibited most satisfactory potency against all tested genotype EV71 strains as well as high SI values,
which indicated that compound 2d exhibited a broad-spectrum anti-EV71 activity, and was selected as
the representative compound for further investigation.
Furthermore, microscopy and crystal violet staining was used to further investigation the
anti-EV71 effect of 2d with CPE (cytopathic effect) assay [4]. As shown in Figure 2A,B, the anti-EV71
effect of 2d was visually demonstrated that it could significantly reduce the EV71-induced CPE at the
concentration of 20 µM, better than that of BBR.

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Figure 2. The anti-EV71 effect of compound 2d in Vero cells with BBR as a positive control. (
reduced the EV71-induced CPE. Cells were examined using a microscopy ( 40); ( 2d reduced the
EV71-induced CPE. Cells were examined using crystal violet staining; ( 2d reduced the expression of
2d reduced the expression of
A) 2d
×
B)
C
)
EV71 VP1 RNA by one-step qRT-PCR assay. ** p < 0.001 * p < 0.05; (D)
EV71 VP1 protein by western blot assay.
2.2.2. Compound 2d Inhibits EV71 Replication in Both RNA and Protein Level
To further confirm the anti-EV71 activity, the VP1 down-regulatory activity of 2d was examined
in Vero cells infected with H strain of EV71, in comparison with that of BBR. As shown in Figure 2C,
compound 2d significantly reduced VP1 RNA expression in a dose-dependently way, and the activity
of 2d was better than that of BBR in the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction
(RT-qPCR) assay. Accordingly, VP1 capsid protein expression was also analyzed to examine its effect
on EV71 biological synthesis. As depicted in Figure 2D, compound 2d could obviously down-regulate
the expression of VP1 protein in a dose-dependent manner, and compound 2d exhibited better antiviral
effect than that of BBR at the concentration of 40 µM.
2.3. Compound 2d Inhibits the Phosphorylation of MEK/ERK
The activation of the MEK/ERK signaling pathway has been certified to play an essential role
in EV71 life cycle and pathogenesis in various cell types [15
could inhibit the phosphorylation of MEK/ERK induced by EV71 infection [
–
22]. We have first confirmed that BBR
]. To learn whether or not
4
2d would still act through MEK/ERK pathway as its parent BBR does, the inhibition experiment
of EV71 via this signaling pathway was done with 2d using BBR as the reference. As shown
in Figure 3, compound 2d could significantly inhibit the phosphorylation of both MEK and ERK
induced by EV71 infection, so as to attenuate the activation of MEK/ERK signaling pathway. We can
conclude that compound 2d inhibited the replication of EV71 through down-regulating MEK/ERK
signaling pathway.

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Figure 3. Compound 2d inhibits the phosphorylation of MEK/ERK with BBR as a control. Vero cells
(9
105 cells/well) were plated into 6-well culture plates and were mock-infected or infected with
×
EV71 (H, MOI = 0.1) for 1 h. The cells were then treated with compound 2d for 24 h and were harvested
for western blot assay.
2.4. Compound 2d Inhibits EV71-Induced Autophagy
EV71 infection triggers autophagy, which provides a support for EV71 replication [23].
Both JNK and PI3KIII proteins as upstream activators, play important roles in regulating autophagy,
and inhibition of corresponding signaling pathway could down-regulate autophagy [24]. Otherwise,
AKT, as an inhibitor of autophagy factor, could inhibit autophagy with its activation [25]. To further
understand whether 2d still affected autophagy after structure modification, the inhibition of activation
AKT and phosphorylation of JNK and PI3KIII proteins were also carried out using BBR as a reference [4].
As shown in Figure 4, compound 2d could activate AKT and inhibit the phosphorylation of JNK and
PI3KIII proteins similar to BBR as reported before.
Figure 4. Compound 2d inhibits EV71-induced autophagy. Vero cells were mock-infected or infected
with EV71 (H, MOI = 0.1) for 1 h. The cells were then treated with compound 2d and BBR for 24 h.
The cells were harvested and proteins were examined by western blot.

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Accordingly, we found that the lapidated LC3II, a marker for autophagy, decreased in the presence
of compound 2d, while compound 2d could not affect the expression of Beclin-1, similar to that of BBR.
Therefore, compound 2d exerted a potent anti-EV71 effect through the same mechanism with parent
BBR after the structure modification. Collectively, as depicted in the cartoon chart (Figure 5), compound
2d might exert a potent anti-EV71 activity through inhibiting the activation of MEK/ERK pathway
and suppressing EV71-induced autophagy by activating AKT and inhibiting the phosphorylation of
JNK and PI3KIII. As a result, compound 2d owned a potent anti-EV71 effect through the same action
mode with parent BBR after the structure modification.
Figure 5. The cartoon chart of mechanism of compound 2d against EV71.
3. Experimental Section
3.1. Apparatus, Materials, and Analysis Reagents
Melting points (mps) were obtained with a CXM-300 melting point apparatus (Shanghai
1
Changfang Optical Instrument Co., LTD., Shanghai, China) and are uncorrected. The H-NMR
spectra was recorded on an Inova 500 or 600 MHz spectrometer (Varian, San Francisco, CA, USA) and
13C-NMR on an Avance III 400, 500 or 600 spectrometer (Bruker, Zürich, Switzerland) with Me4Si as
the internal standard, all the samples were dissolved in DMSO-d6 before testing. High resolution mass
spectra (HRMS-ESI) data was recorded on an Autospec UItima-TOF mass spectrometer (Micromass
UK Ltd., Manchester, UK). Flash chromatography was performed on CombiflashRf 200 (Teledyne,
Lincoln, NE, USA), particle size 0.038 mm.
Vero cells were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Rockefeller, MD,
USA), and were cultured in Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine
serum (FBS) (GIBCO, Grand Island, NY, USA) and antibiotics (100 U/mL penicillin and 100 mg/mL
streptomycin) at 37 ◦C in a 5% CO2 incubator. EV71 strain SHZH98 isolated from the throat swab
sample of an HFMD case occurring in 1998 in China was kindly provided by Dr. Qi Jin (Institute of
Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical School, Beijing,
China), and JS-52 strain was a kind gift from Dr. Xiangzhong Ye (Beijing Wantai Biological Pharmacy
Enterprise Co., Ltd., Beijing, China). The EV71 BrCr and H strains were purchased from the ATCC.
All of EV71 strains were passaged in Vero cells.

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3.2. Chemistry
3.2.1. General Procedure for the Synthesis of Compounds 2a–i
◦
BBR (1.86 g, 5 mmol) was heated at 195–210 C for 10–15 min under vacuum (30–40 mmHg)
to afford a black oil, which was acidified with ethanol/concentrated HCl (95:5). The solvent was
removed by evaporation, the residue was collected and then purified by flash chromatography over
silica gel using CH2Cl2/CH3OH as the gradient eluent, affording the title compound
1 (1.43 g, 80%) as
a yellow solid. To a stirred solution of (100 mg, 0.31 mmol) in anhydrous CH3CN or DMF, K2CO3
1
(122 mg, 0.88 mmol) was added and heated to 70 ◦C. Then the R1Br or R2Cl (2–4.8 eq) was added and
stirred for 5–6 h. The mixture was cooled to precipitate completely, filtrated and then purified by flash
chromatography over silica gel using CH2Cl2/CH3OH as the gradient eluent to afford compounds
2a–i.
2,3-Methylenedioxy-9-ethyloxyformylmethylenoxy-10-methoxy protoberberine chloride (2a). Compound
1
(1.5 g, 4.2 mmol) was treated with ethyl bromoacetate (2.22 mL, 20 mmol) according t◦o the general
1
procedure to give the desired product 2a. Yield: 58%; yellow solid; m.p. 220–222 C; H-NMR
(400 MHz)
(s, 1H), 6.18 (s, 2H), 5.08 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 4.94 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 4.18 (q, J = 16.0, 2H), 4.04 (s, 3H),
3.22 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 1.21 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 3H). 13C-NMR (101 MHz)
169.2, 149.8, 149.2, 147.6, 145.6,
δ 9.95 (s, 1H), 8.95 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 8.00 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.81 (s, 1H), 7.10
δ
137.5, 132.8, 130.6, 126.6, 123.5, 120.3, 120.0, 108.3, 105.4, 102.0, 69.2, 69.1, 60.7, 57.1, 55.3, 51.8, 26.3, 14.0.
HRMS: calcd. for C23H22ClNO6 [M]+: 408.1442, found: 408.1444.
2,3-Methylenedioxy-9-isobutyloxyformylmethylenoxy-10-methoxy protoberberine chloride (2b). Compound
1
(1.5 g, 4.2 mmol) was treated with isobutyl bromoacetate (2.93 mL, 20 mmol) according to the general
◦
1
procedure to give the desired product 2b. Yield: 55%; yellow solid; m.p. 232–234 C; H-NMR
(400 MHz) 9.93 (s, 1H), 8.95 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 7.97 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (s, 1H), 7.10
(s, 1H), 6.18 (s, 2H), 4.97 (s, 2H), 4.94 (t, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 4.08 (d, J = 12.0 Hz, 1H), 4.04 (s, 2H), 3.31
(s, 3H), 3.21 (t, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 1.40 (t, J = 7.2 Hz, 6H). 13C-NMR (101 MHz)
167.7, 149.8, 148.7, 147.6,
δ
δ
145.5, 141.5, 137.5, 132.9, 130.6, 126.8, 123.0, 120.9, 120.3, 120.0, 108.3, 105.4, 102.0, 81.6, 69.5, 61.8, 57.1,
55.3, 27.6 (2), 26.3. HRMS: calcd. for C25H26ClNO6 [M]+: 436.1755, found: 436.1760.
2,3-Methylenedioxy-9-pivalylmethylenoxy-10-methoxy protoberberine chloride (2c). Compound
1 (357 mg,
1 mmol) was treated with 1-bromo-3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone (358.1 mg, 2 mmol) according to the
◦
general procedure to give the desired product 2c. Yield: 41%; yellow solid; m.p. 242–244 C; 1H-NMR
(500 MHz) 9.94 (s, 1H), 8.94 (s, 1H), 8.16 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.81 (s, 1H), 7.10
(s, 1H), 6.18 (s, 2H), 5.51 (s, 2H), 4.95 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.01 (s, 3H), 3.22 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 1.15 (s, 9H).
δ
13C-NMR (126 MHz)
δ 209.9, 149.7, 148.7, 147.6, 145.7, 141.9, 137.3, 132.8, 130.6, 126.5, 122.6, 121.0,
120.3, 119.9, 108.3, 105.3, 102.0, 73.1, 56.9, 55.3, 42.1, 26.3, 25.7 (3). HRMS: calcd. for C25H26ClNO5 [M]+:
420.1806, found: 420.1807.
2,3-Methylenedioxy-9-benzyloxyformylmethylenoxy-10-methoxyprotoberberine chloride (2d). Compound
1
(1.5 g, 4.2 mmol) was treated with benzyl bromoacetate (3.17 mL, 20 mmol) according to the general
◦
1
procedure to give the desired product 2d. Yield: 58%; yellow solid; m.p. 206–208 C; H-NMR
(400 MHz) 9.90 (s, 1H), 8.92 (s, 1H), 8.19 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.99 (d, J = 8.0 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (s, 1H),
7.34–7.29 (m, 5H), 7.09 (s, 1H), 6.18 (s, 2H), 5.19 (s, 2H), 5.16 (s, 2H), 4.84 (t, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 3.99 (s, 3H),
3.17 (t, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H). 13C-NMR (101 MHz)
168.7, 149.8, 149.0, 147.6, 145.6, 141.3, 137.4, 135.3, 132.8,
δ
δ
130.5, 128.3 (2),128.1 (3), 126.6, 123.4, 121.1, 120.3, 120.0, 108.3, 105.3, 102.0, 69.2, 66.1, 57.0, 55.2, 26.2.
HRMS: calcd. for C28H24ClNO6 [M]+: 470.1598, found: 470.1598.
2,3-Methylenedioxy-9-carboxylmethylenoxy-10-methoxy protoberberine chloride (2d-a). Compound 2d (0.5 g,
◦
1.1 mmol) was treated with concentrated hydrochloric acid (5.0 mL) at 50 C to give the desired product
◦
2d-a. Yield: 78%; yellow solid; m.p. 232–234 C; 1H-NMR (600 MHz)
δ
13.12 (br, 1H), 9.95 (s, 1H), 8.94
(s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H), 7.99 (d, J = 6.0 Hz, 1H), 7.80 (s, 1H), 7.10 (s, 1H), 6.18 (s, 2H), 4.98 (s, 2H),

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4.93 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H), 4.04 (s, 3H), 3.21 (t, J = 6.0 Hz, 2H). 13C-NMR (151 MHz)
δ
170.1, 149.8, 149.2,
147.6, 145.8, 141.7, 137.4, 132.9, 130.6, 126.7, 123.2, 121.2, 120.3, 120.0, 108.3, 105.4, 102.0, 69.1, 57.1, 55.3,
26.3. HRMS: calcd. for C21H18ClNO6 [M]+: 380.1129, found: 380.1132.
2,3-Methylenedioxy-9-p-tolylformylmethylenoxy-10-methoxy protoberberine chloride (2e). Compound
1
(357 mg, 1 mmol) was treated with 2-bromo-40-methyl acetophenone (426.1 mg, 2 mmol) according
to the general procedure to give the desired product 2e. Yield: 42%; yellow solid; m.p. 219–221 ◦C;
1H-NMR (500 MHz)
δ
10.01 (s, 1H), 8.96 (s, 1H), 8.18 (d, J = 5.0 Hz, 1H), 7.98 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.82
(s, 1H), 7.60–7.58 (m, 1H), 7.52–7.47 (m, 2H), 7.29–7.27 (m, 1H), 7.11 (s, 1H), 6.19 (s, 2H), 5.89 (s, 2H),
4.96 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 3.96 (s, 3H), 3.83 (s, 3H), 3.23 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
194.2,
δ
159.4, 149.7, 148.9, 147.6, 145.7, 141.9, 137.4, 135.2, 132.9, 130.6, 130.1, 126.6, 122.9, 121.0, 120.3, 120.1,
120.0, 119.8, 112.2, 108.3, 105.4, 102.0, 74.8, 57.0, 55.3, 55.3, 26.3. HRMS: calcd. for C28H24ClNO5 [M]+:
454.1649, found: 454.1653.
2,3-Methylenedioxy-9-m-methoxyphenylformylmethylenoxy-10-methoxy protoberberine chloride
Compound
(357 mg, 1 mmol) was treated with 2-bromo-30-methoxyacetophenone (458.1 mg,
2 mmol) according to the general procedure to give the desired product 2f. Yield: 41%; yellow solid;
m.p. 214–216 ◦C; 1H-NMR (500 MHz)
10.02 (s, 1H), 8.95 (s, 1H), 8.17 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.97 (d,
(2f).
1
δ
J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.89 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 2H), 7.82 (s, 1H), 7.38 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 2H), 7.11 (s, 1H), 6.18 (s, 2H),
5.87 (s, 2H), 4.95 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 3.22 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 2.40 (s, 3H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
δ
193.8, 149.7, 148.9, 147.6, 145.8, 144.4, 142.0, 137.4, 132.9, 131.4, 130.6, 129.4 (2), 127.7 (2), 126.6, 122.8,
121.0, 120.3, 120.0, 108.3, 105.3, 102.0, 74.6, 57.0, 55.3, 26.3, 21.2. HRMS: calcd. for C28H24ClNO6 [M]+:
470.1598, found: 470.1598.
2,3-Methylenedioxy-9-p-trifloromethylphenylformylmethylenoxy-10-methoxy protoberberine chloride (2g).
Compound
1 (357 mg, 1 mmol) was treated with 4-(trifluoromethyl)phenacyl bromide (534.1 mg,
2 mmol) according to the general procedure to give the desired product 2g. Yield: 40%; yellow solid;
◦
m.p. 238–240 C; 1H-NMR (500 MHz)
J = 10.0 Hz, 3H), 7.82 (s, 1H), 7.11 (s, 1H), 6.19 (s, 2H), 5.93 (s, 2H), 4.96 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 3.94 (s, 3H),
3.23 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
194.0, 149.8, 148.9, 147.6, 145.7, 141.7, 137.5, 137.2, 133.1,
δ 10.02 (s, 1H), 8.97 (s, 1H), 8.20 (t, J = 10.0 Hz, 3H), 7.98 (t,
δ
132.9, 132.9, 130.6, 128.6 (3), 126.6, 125.8, 123.1, 120.9, 120.3, 120.0, 108.4, 105.4, 102.0, 75.0, 57.0, 55.3,
26.3. HRMS: calcd. for C28H21ClF3NO5 [M]+: 508.1366, found: 508.1366.
2,3-Methylenedioxy-9-benzyloxyformyloxy-10-methoxy protoberberine chloride (2h). Compound
1 (357 mg,
1 mmol) was treated with benzyl chloroformate (682.4 mg, 4 mmol) according to the general procedure
◦
1
to give the desired product 2h. Yield: 38%; yellow solid; m.p. 195–197 C; H-NMR (400 MHz)
δ
10.03 (s, 1H), 9.06 (s, 1H), 8.31 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 8.24 (d, J = 15.0 Hz, 1H), 7.82 (s, 1H), 7.52–7.44
(m, 5H), 7.11 (s, 1H), 6.19 (s, 2H), 5.41 (s, 2H), 4.94 (t, J = 10.0 Hz, 2H), 4.02 (s, 3H), 3.22 (t, J = 10.0
Hz, 2H). 13C-NMR (101 MHz)
δ 151.5, 150.2, 150.0, 147.6, 144.2, 138.2, 134.6, 133.4, 132.7, 130.8, 128.6,
128.5 (2), 128.1 (2), 127.0, 125.9, 120.5(2), 120.2, 108.3, 105.4, 102.0, 70.7, 57.2, 55.3, 26.1. HRMS: calcd. for
C27H22ClNO6 [M]+: 456.1442, found: 454.1441.
2,3-Methylenedioxy-9-ethyloxyformyloxy-10-methoxy protoberberine chloride (2i). Compound
1 (1.5 g,
4.2 mmol) was treated with ethyl chloroformate (1.91 mL, 20 mmol) according to the general procedure
◦
to give the desired product 2i. Yield: 37%; yellow solid; m.p. 218–220 C; 1H-NMR (400 MHz)
δ 9.99 (s,
1H), 9.06 (s, 1H), 8.32 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 8.24 (d, J = 4.0 Hz, 1H), 7.82 (s, 1H), 7.10 (s, 1H), 6.18 (s, 2H),
4.95 (t, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 4.38 (q, J = 8.0 Hz, 2H), 4.08 (s, 3H), 3.22 (t, J = 4.0 Hz, 2H), 1.38 (t, J = 8.0 Hz, 3H).
13C-NMR (101 MHz)
δ 152.0, 150.9, 150.5, 148.2, 144.8, 138.7, 133.9, 133.3, 131.4, 127.5, 126.5, 121.1(2),
120.8, 108.9, 106.0, 102.6, 66.3, 57.8, 55.8, 26.6, 14.4. HRMS: calcd. for C22H20ClNO6 [M]+: 394.1285,
found: 394.1285.

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3.2.2. General Procedure for the Synthesis of Compounds 4a–g
◦
PMT (1.94 g, 5 mmol) was heated at 195–210 C for 10–15 min under vacuum (30–40 mmHg)
to afford the black oil, which was acidified with ethanol/concentrated HCl (95:5). The solvent
was removed by evaporation, the residue was collected and then purified by flash chromatography
over silica gel using CH2Cl2/CH3OH as the gradient eluent, affording the title compound
3 (1.6 g,
86%) as a yellow solid. To a stirred solution of compound (100 mg, 0.30 mmol) in anhydrous
3
CH3CN or DMF, K2CO3 (122 mg, 0.88 mmol) was added at room temperature. Then R1Br or benzyl
chloroformate (2–4 eq) was added and stirred for 0.5–1 h. The mixture was cooled to precipitate
completely, filtrated and washed by CH2Cl2 to afford compounds 4a
–g. The final products were
purified by flash chromatography over silica gel using CH2Cl2/CH3OH as the gradient eluent.
2,3,10-Trimethoxy-9-ethyloxyformylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (4a). Compound (373 mg, 1 mmol)
3
was treated with ethyl bromoacetate (668 mg, 4 mmol) according to the general procedure to give the
◦
desired product 4a. Yield: 24%; yellow solid; m.p. 204–206 C; 1H-NMR (500 MHz)
δ 9.95 (s, 1H), 9.05
(s, 1H), 8.21 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 8.03 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.73 (s, 1H), 7.11 (s, 1H), 5.07 (s, 2H), 4.96
(t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.18 (dd, J = 5.0 Hz, J = 10.0 Hz, 2H), 4.04 (s, 3H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.24 (t,
J = 10.0 Hz, 2H), 1.21 (t, J = 10.0 Hz, 3H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
δ 168.8, 151.4, 148.9, 148.6, 145.7, 141.4,
137.7, 132.9, 128.5, 126.7, 123.2, 121.0, 119.7, 118.8, 111.2, 108.6, 69.2, 60.7, 57.0, 56.0, 55.8, 55.5, 25.9, 14.0.
HRMS: calcd. for C24H26ClNO6 [M]+: 424.1755, found: 424.1757.
2,3,10-Trimethoxy-9-pivalylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (4b). Compound 3 (500 mg, 1.34 mmol)
was treated with 1-bromo-3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone (479.9 mg, 2.68 mmol) according t◦o the general
1
procedure to give the desired product 4b. Yield: 25%; yellow solid; m.p. 227–229 C; H-NMR
(500 MHz)
7.11 (s, 1H), 5.51 (s, 2H), 4.97 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.02 (s, 3H), 3.94 (s, 3H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.24 (t, J = 5.0 Hz,
2H), 1.15 (s, 9H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
209.9, 151.3, 148.6 (2), 145.7, 141.9, 137.5, 132.9, 128.5, 126.5,
δ 9.94 (s, 1H), 9.03 (s, 1H), 8.17 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.98 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.73 (s, 1H),
δ
122.5, 120.9, 119.6, 118.8, 111.1, 108.6, 73.1, 56.9, 56.0, 55.7, 55.4, 42.1, 25.9, 25.7 (3). HRMS: calcd. for
C26H30ClNO5 [M]+: 436.2119, found: 436.2119.
2,3,10-Trimethoxy-9-benzyloxyformylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (4c). Compound 3 (373 mg,
1 mmol) was treated with benzyl bromoacetate (916.2 mg, 4 mmol) according to the general procedure
◦
to give the desired product 4c. Yield: 29%; yellow solid; m.p. 196–198 C; 1H-NMR (500 MHz)
δ 9.90 (s,
1H), 9.01 (s, 1H), 8.20 (d, J = 9.2 Hz, 1H), 8.02 (d, J = 9.1 Hz, 1H), 7.71 (s, 1H), 7.32 (m, 5H), 7.10 (s, 1H),
5.18 (d, J = 15.1 Hz, 4H), 4.85 (t, J = 6.4 Hz, 2H), 3.99 (s, 3H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.19 (t, J = 6.4 Hz,
2H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
δ 168.7, 151.4, 148.8, 148.6, 145.6, 141.3, 137.6, 135.3, 132.9, 128.5, 128.3 (2),
128.1 (2), 126.6, 123.2, 121.0, 119.6, 118.7, 111.1, 108.5, 69.2, 66.1, 57.0, 56.0, 55.7, 55.3, 25.9. HRMS: calcd.
for C29H28ClNO6 [M]+: 486.1911, found: 486.1916.
2,3,10-Trimethoxy-9-p-tolylformylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (4d). Compound
3 (500 mg,
1.34 mmol) was treated with 2-bromo-40-methyl acetophenone (571.0 mg, 2.68 mmol) according
to the general procedure to give the desired product 4d. Yield: 21%; yellow solid; m.p. 228–230 ◦C;
1H-NMR (500 MHz)
δ 10.02 (s, 1H), 9.05 (s, 1H), 8.18 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 8.01 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.90
(d, J = 10.0 Hz, 2H), 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.39 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 2H), 7.11 (s, 1H), 5.87 (s, 2H), 4.97 (t, J = 5.0 Hz,
2H), 3.95 (d, J = 5.0 Hz, 6H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.25 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 2.40 (s, 3H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
δ
194.5, 151.9, 149.3, 149.2, 146.4, 144.9, 142.5, 138.2, 133.6, 132.0, 130.0 (2), 129.1, 128.3 (2), 127.2, 123.3,
121.5, 120.2, 119.4, 111.7, 109.2, 75.2, 57.6, 56.6, 56.3, 56.0, 26.5, 21.7. HRMS: calcd. for C29H28ClNO5
[M]+: 470.1962, found: 470.1961.
2,3,10-Trimethoxy-9-m-methoxyphenylformylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (4e). Compound 3 (500 mg,
1.34 mmol) was treated with 2-bromo-30-methoxyacetophenone (613.9 mg, 2.68 mmol) according to
the general procedure to give the desired product 4e. Yield: 20%; red brown solid; m.p. 200–202 ◦C;
1H-NMR (400 MHz)
δ
10.02 (s, 1H), 9.07 (s, 1H), 8.18 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 8.02 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.74
(s, 1H), 7.60 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.52–7.47 (m, 2H), 7.30–7.27 (m, 1H), 7.12 (s, 1H), 5.89 (s, 2H), 4.98 (t,

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J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 3.95 (s, 6H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.83 (s, 3H), 3.24 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H). 13C-NMR (101 MHz)
δ 194.2,
159.4, 151.4, 148.8, 148.6, 145.7, 141.9, 137.6, 135.3, 133.0, 130.1, 128.5, 126.7, 122.8, 121.0, 120.1, 119.8,
119.7, 118.8, 112.2, 111.2, 108.7, 74.8, 57.0, 56.1, 55.8, 55.5, 55.3, 26.0. HRMS: calcd. for C29H28ClNO6
[M]+: 486.1911, found: 486.1916.
2,3,10-Trimethoxy-9-p-trifloromethylphenylformylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (4f). Compound
3
(373 mg, 1 mmol) was treated with 4-(trifluoromethyl) phenacyl bromide (534 mg, 2 mmol) according
to the general procedure to give the desired product 4f. Yield: 29%; red brown solid; m.p. 240–242 ◦C;
1H-NMR (400 MHz)
δ
10.01 (s, 1H), 9.05 (s, 1H), 8.21–8.18 (m, 3H), 8.03–7.96 (m, 3H), 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.12
(s, 1H), 5.93 (s, 2H), 4.97 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 3.95 (d, J = 5.0 Hz, 6H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.25 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H).
13C-NMR (101 MHz)
194.0, 151.4, 148.8, 148.6, 145.7, 141.7, 137.7, 137.3, 133.0, 128.6 (2), 128.5, 126.7,
δ
125.8 (2), 125.3, 124.9, 122.94, 120.9, 119.77, 118.7, 111.2, 108.7, 75.0, 57.0, 56.1, 55.8, 55.5, 25.9. HRMS:
calcd. for C29H25ClF3NO5 [M]+: 524.1679, found: 524.1686.
2,3,10-Trimethoxy-9-benzyloxyformyloxy protoberberine chloride (4g). Compound
3 (373 mg, 1 mmol) was
treated with benzyl chloroformate (682.4 mg, 4 mmol) according to the general procedure to give the
◦
desired product 4g. Yield: 21%; yellow solid; m.p. 98–100 C; 1H-NMR (400 MHz)
δ 10.02 (s, 1H), 9.16
(s, 1H), 8.29 (dd, J = 10.0 Hz, J = 25.0 Hz, 2H), 7.74 (s, 1H), 7.53–7.43 (m, 5H), 7.11 (s, 1H), 5.41 (s, 2H),
4.96 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.03 (s, 3H), 3.95 (s, 3H), 3.88 (s, 3H), 3.24 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H). 13C-NMR (101 MHz)
δ
151.6, 150.0, 148.6, 144.2, 138.4, 134.6, 133.3, 132.8, 128.7, 128.6, 128.5 (2), 128.1 (2), 126.9, 125.9, 120.4,
120.2, 118.7, 111.2, 108.7, 70.7, 57.2, 56.1, 55.8, 55.4, 45.3, 25.7. HRMS: calcd. for C28H26ClNO6 [M]+:
472.1755, found: 472.1758.
3.2.3. General Procedure for the Synthesis of Compounds 5a–g
To a stirred solution of JTH (100 m◦g, 0.29 mmol) in anhydrous CH3CN or DMF, K2CO3 (122 mg,
0.88 mmol) was added and heated to 70 C. Then R1Br or benzyl chloroformate (2–4 eq) was added and
stirred for 5–6 h. The mixture was cooled to precipitate completely, filtrated and washed by CH2Cl2 to
afford compounds 5a–g.
2,9,10-Trimethoxy-3-ethyloxyformylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (5a). JTH (373 mg, 1 mmol) was
treated with ethyl bromoacetate (668 mg, 4 mmol) according to the general procedure to give the
desired product 5a. Yield: 35%; yellow solid; m.p. 234–236 ◦C; 1H-NMR (500 MHz)
δ 9.91 (s, 1H), 9.07
(s, 1H), 8.23 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 8.06–8.04 (m, 1H), 7.76 (s, 1H), 7.04 (s, 1H), 4.94 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.92
(s, 2H), 4.20 (dd, J = 5.0 Hz, J = 15.0 Hz, 2H), 4.10 (s, 3H), 4.08 (s, 3H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 3.19 (t, J = 5.0 Hz,
2H), 1.24 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 3H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
δ 168.2, 150.2, 149.5, 148.6, 145.4, 143.5, 137.4, 132.9,
128.2, 126.6, 123.3, 121.3, 112.0, 119.7, 112.4, 109.1, 64.9, 61.8, 60.7, 56.9, 56.1, 55.2, 25.7, 14.0. HRMS:
calcd. for C24H26ClNO6 [M]+: 424.1755, found: 424.1751.
2,9,10-Trimethoxy-3-pivalylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (5b). JTH (373 mg, 1 mmol) was treated
with 1-bromo-3,3-dimethyl-2-butanone (358.1 mg, 2 mmol) according to the general procedure to give
the desired product 5b. Yield: 28%; yellow solid; m.p. 223–225 ◦C; 1H-NMR (500 MHz)
δ 9.90 (s, 1H),
9.05 (s, 1H), 8.23 (d, J = 5.0 Hz, 1H), 8.05 (d, J = 5.0 Hz, 1H), 7.74 (s, 1H), 6.88 (s, 1H), 5.27 (s, 2H), 4.94 (t,
J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.10 (s, 3H), 4.08 (s, 3H), 3.96 (s, 3H), 3.18 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 1.20 (s, 9H). 13C NMR
(126 MHz)
δ
209.2, 150.2, 145.0, 148.6, 145.3, 143.5, 137.5, 132.9, 128.1, 126.6, 123.3, 121.2, 119.8, 119.1,
209.2, 150.2, 145.0,
112.0, 109.1, 68.8, 61.8, 56.9, 56.1, 55.2, 42.4, 25.8, 25.6 (3). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
δ
148.6, 145.3, 143.5, 137.5, 132.9, 128.1, 126.6, 123.3, 121.2, 119.8, 119.1, 112.0, 109.1, 68.8, 61.8, 56.9, 56.1,
55.2, 42.4, 25.8, 25.6 (3). HRMS: calcd. for C26H30 ClNO5 [M]+: 436.2119, found: 436.2118.
2,9,10-Trimethoxy-3-benzyloxyformylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (5c). JTH (373 mg, 1 mmol) was
treated with benzyl bromoacetate (916.2 mg, 4 mmol) according to the general procedure to give the
desired product 5c. Yield: 38%; yellow solid; m.p. 217–219 ◦C; 1H-NMR (500 MHz)
δ 9.90 (s, 1H), 9.06
(s, 1H), 8.23 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 8.04 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.75 (s, 1H), 7.40–7.35 (m, 4H), 7.03 (s, 1H),
5.23 (s, 2H), 5.01 (s, 2H), 4.93 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.10 (s, 3H), 4.08 (s, 3H), 3.96 (s, 3H), 3.16 (t, J = 5.0 Hz,

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2H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
δ
168.2, 150.2, 149.5, 148.6, 145.4, 143.5, 137.3, 135.5, 132.9, 128.34 (2), 128.1,
128.1, 127.94 (2), 126.6, 123.3, 121.3, 120.0, 119.73, 112.4, 109.2, 66.0, 64.9, 61.8, 56.9, 56.1, 55.2, 25.8.
HRMS: calcd. for C29H28ClNO6 [M]+: 486.1911, found: 486.1910.
2,9,10-Trimethoxy-3-p-methylphenylformylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (5d). JTH (373 mg, 1 mmol)
was treated with 2-bromo-40-methylacetophenone (426.1 mg, 2 mmol) according to the general
◦
1
procedure to give the desired product 5d. Yield: 38%; yellow solid; m.p. 218–220 C; H-NMR
(500 MHz) 9.89 (s, 1H), 9.06 (s, 1H), 8.23 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 8.05 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.76 (s, 1H),
7.65–7.63 (m, 1H), 7.54–7.51 (m, 2H), 7.32–7.29 (m, 1H), 7.06 (s, 1H), 5.75 (s, 2H), 4.93 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H),
4.10 (s, 3H), 4.08 (s, 3H), 3.99 (s, 3H), 3.85 (s, 3H), 3.16 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
193.5,
δ
δ
159.3, 150.2, 150.0, 148.6, 145.3, 143.5, 137.5, 135.4, 132.9, 130.0, 128.2, 126.6, 123.3, 121.3, 120.2, 119.8,
119.6, 119.2, 112.5, 112.3, 109.1, 70.5, 61.8, 56.9, 56.1, 55.4, 55.2, 25.7. HRMS: calcd. for C29H28ClNO5
[M]+: 470.1962, found: 470.1965.
2,9,10-Trimethoxy-3-m-methoxyphenylformylmethylenoxy protoberberine chloride (5e). JTH (373 mg, 1 mmol)
was treated with 2-bromo-30-methoxyacetophenone (458.1 mg, 2 mmol) according to the general
◦
1
procedure to give the desired product 5e. Yield: 36%;yellow solid; m.p. 218–220 C; H-NMR
(500 MHz) 9.89 (s, 1H), 9.06 (s, 1H), 8.23 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 8.05 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.96–7.94
(m, 2H), 7.76 (s, 1H), 7.42–7.40 (m, 2H), 7.04 (s, 1H), 5.71 (s, 2H), 4.93 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.10 (s, 3H),
4.08 (s, 3H), 3.99 (s, 3H), 3.15 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 2.42 (s, 3H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
193.2, 150.2, 150.1,
δ
δ
148.6, 145.3, 144.3, 143.5, 137.5, 132.9, 131.6, 129.3 (2), 128.2, 127.9 (2), 126.6, 123.3, 121.3, 119.8, 119.2,
112.3, 109.1, 70.3, 61.8, 56.9, 56.1, 55.2, 25.7, 21.2. HRMS: calcd. for C29H28ClNO6 [M]+: 486.1911, found:
486.1914.
2,9,10-Trimethoxy-3-p-trifloromethylphenylformylmethylenoxy protober berine chloride (5f). JTH (373 mg,
1 mmol) was treated with 4-(trifluoromethyl) phenacyl bromide (534.1 mg, 2 mmol) according to the
general procedure to give the desired product 5f. Yield: 35%; yellow solid; m.p. 213–215 ◦C; 1H-NMR
(500 MHz)
(s, 1H), 7.13 (s, 1H), 5.81 (s, 2H), 4.93 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.10 (s, 3H), 4.08 (s, 3H), 3.99 (s, 3H), 3.16 (t,
J = 5.0 Hz, 2H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
193.3, 150.2, 149.9, 148.6, 145.4, 143.5, 137.5, 137.3, 132.9, 132.8,
δ 9.90 (s, 1H), 9.07 (s, 1H), 8.25–8.22 (m, 3H), 8.05 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 8.01–7.99 (m, 2H), 7.77
δ
128.7, 128.2, 126.6, 125.7 (2), 124.7, 123.3, 122.5, 121.3, 119.9, 119.4, 112.4, 109.1, 70.7, 61.8, 56.9, 56.1, 55.2,
25.7. HRMS: calcd. for C29H25ClF3NO5 [M]+: 524.1679, found: 524.1679.
2,9,10-Trimethoxy-3-benzyloxyformyloxy protoberberine chloride (5g). JTH (373 mg, 1 mmol) was treated
with benzyl chloroformate (682.4 mg, 4 mmol) according to the general procedure to give the desired
product 5g. Yield: 36%; yellow solid; m.p. 140–142 ◦C; 1H-NMR (500 MHz)
δ 9.99 (s, 1H), 9.22 (s, 1H),
8.27 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 8.10 (d, J = 10.0 Hz, 1H), 7.95 (s, 1H), 7.46–7.41 (m, 6H), 5.32 (s, 2H), 4.99 (t,
J = 5.0 Hz, 2H), 4.12 (s, 3H), 4.09 (s, 3H), 3.97 (s, 3H), 3.24 (t, J = 5.0 Hz, 2H). 13C-NMR (126 MHz)
δ
152.1, 150.8, 150.7, 145.9, 143.7, 141.3, 136.5, 134.8, 132.5, 128.5, 128.5(2), 128.2(2), 127.9, 126.6, 125.7,
123.6, 122.3, 121.7, 121.4, 110.1, 70.0, 61.9, 56.9, 56.5, 55.2, 25.3. HRMS: calcd. for C28H26ClNO6 [M]+:
472.1755, found: 472.1753.
3.3. Biology Assays
3.3.1. CPE Inhibition Assay for Anti-EV71
The anti-EV71 activities of all tested compounds were detected by the virus-induced CPE assay.
Briefly, cells (3
remove the medium and infected cells with EV71 of 100
in serum-free medium for 1 h at 37 ◦C. After that, the unbound viruses were removed and various
concentrations of tested compounds were supplemented for incubation of another 72 h. IC50 defined
as the minimal concentration required to inhibit 50% of CPE was determined by Reed & Muench
method in 48 h. TC50 defined as the concentration that leads to the 50% of CPE which determined by
×
104 cells/well) were plated into 96-well culture plates and incubated for 16 h. Then,
×
TCID50 (50% tissue culture infective doses)

Molecules 2018, 23, 2084
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the same method in 72 h. In addition, the cells were stained the cells were colored with 0.5% crystal
violet in 20% ethanol for 15 min at room temperature and the cells were imaged after rinsed with PBS.
3.3.2. Cytotoxicity Assay
Cytotoxicity of all target compounds in Vero cells was analyzed by CCK (TransGen Biotech,
Beijing, China) assay. In brief, cells in exponential phase (3
×
104 cells/well) were seeded into 96-well
culture plates and incubated overnight. Then, the medium was removed and different concentrations
of all target compounds were applied in duple. After 48 h incubation, the cytotoxicity of all target
compounds was determined by CCK assay. The signals were read at 450 nm on Enspire (Perkin Elmer,
Waltham, MA, USA). The TC50 was defined as the concentration that inhibits 50% cellular growth in
comparison with the controls. It is calculated by the Reed and Muench method.
3.3.3. Western Blot Analysis
Cells were lysed in the M-PER mammalian protein extraction reagent (Thermo, Rockford, IL,
USA) containing halt protease inhibitor single-use cocktail (Thermo). The protein concentration was
determined by BCA Protein Assay Kit (Thermo). Equal amount of samples (15 µg proteins) were
denatured and applied to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE),
and then electrophoresis products were transferred to a polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF) film and
blocked by 5% (w/v) milk or BSA at room temperature. An hour later, PVDF membranes were
incubated at room temperature with specific primary antibody. After a standard washing, membranes
were incubated with horse radish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled secondary antibody. The signals were
detected using ECL detection kit (GE Healthcare Life Sciences, Pittsburgh, PA, USA). The primary
antibodies used in the experiment included β-actin, p-p44/p42 MAPK, p44/p42 MAPK, p-MEK, MEK,
p-JNK, JNK, p-AKT, AKT, PI3KIII, LC3B, Beclin-1 (Cell Signaling Technology, Danvers, MA, USA),
and EV71-VP1 (Abnova, Taibei, China). HRP-labeled secondary antibodies included goat anti-rabbit
and anti-mouse HRP-labeled antibodies (Cell Signaling Technology).
3.3.4. qRT-PCR Quantification
Vero cells (9
×
105 cells/well) were plated into 6-well culture plates and incubated for 16 h.
The medium was removed and cells were infected with EV71 for 1 h (H). Various concentrations of
compound 2d and BBR were supplemented for incubation of another 24 h. Total RNA of the infected
cells was isolated using the RNeasy Mini kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany) and the information of the
primer was listed in the Table 2.
Table 2. Oligonucleotides used for real-time RT-PCR.
0
0
Oligonucleotide
Sequence (5 –3 )
0
5 -GCAGCCCAAAAGAACTTCAC-3
0
0
5 VP1(EV71)
0
0
0
3 VP1(EV71)
5 -ATTTCAGCAGCTTGGAGTGC-3
0
5 -TGACGGGGTCACCCACACTGTGCCCATCTA-3
0
0
5 β-actin
0
0
0
3 β-actin
5 -CTAGAAGCATTTGCGGTGGACGATG-3
One-step qRT-PCR was performed with SuperScript III Platinum SYBR Green One-step RT-PCR
Kit (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) using the ABI 7500 Fast real-time PCR system (Applied Biosystems,
Carlsbad, CA, USA). PCR assay was carried out in a 25 µL volume and the target fragment amplification
was carried out as follows: reverse transcription at 50 ◦C for 3 min; initial activation of HotStar Taq
DNA Polymerase at 95 ◦C for 10 min; 40 cycles in two steps: 95 ◦C for 15 s, 60 ◦C for 30 s.

Molecules 2018, 23, 2084
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3.3.5. Statistical Analysis
Data were expressed as the mean
ANOVA using MTLAB software (8.6, MathWorks, 2015, Natick, MA, USA). A threshold of p < 0.05
±
standard error of the mean and analyzed with one-way
was defined as statistically significant.
4. Conclusions
Taking BBR as the lead, 23 new BBR derivatives were synthesized and examined for their anti-EV71
activities against different genotype strains with CPE assay. SAR indicated that introduction of a
suitable 9-ether group might be beneficial for potency. Among them, compound 2d exhibited most
potent activities against all tested EV71 strains with IC50 values in the range of 7.12–14.8 µM. Its effect
was further confirmed in a dose-dependent manner both in RNA and protein level, better than
that of BBR. The preliminary mechanism revealed that compound 2d could inhibit the activation
of MEK/ERK signaling pathway. Furthermore, 2d could suppress the EV71-induced autophagy by
activating AKT and inhibiting the phosphorylation of JNK and PI3KIII proteins. Compound 2d owned
a potent anti-EV71 effect with new mechanism of action, has been selected for next investigation.
We consider BBR derivatives to be a new class of antiviral agents against EV71 through targeting
host components. The results provided the powerful information for further development of this
kind of compounds into a novel family of antiviral candidates against EV71, with an advantage of
broad-spectrum anti-EV71 potency.
1
Supplementary Materials: The following are available online. Figure S1: H-NMR, 13C-NMR, HRMS-ESI spectra.
Author Contributions: Y.-X.W. performed part of synthetic experiments and wrote the paper, L.Y. and H.-Q.W.
performed the biological assay, X.-Q.Z. and T.L. was responsible for literature search, Y.-H.L. and Q.-X.Z. conceived
and designed the chemistry experiments, Y.-H.L. conceived and designed the biology experiments, D.-Q.S.
designed the target compounds and chemistry experiments.
Funding: This work was supported by the CAMS initiative for innovative medicine 2016-12M-1-011 and the
National S&T Major Special Project on Major New Drug Innovation (2018ZX09711003-005-004) and the National
Natural Science Foundation of China (81321004, 81473248 and 81773782).
Acknowledgments: The authors thank center for analysis and testing of Institute of Materia Medica and Institute
of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences for their contributions to the determination of
HR-MS, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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2018 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access
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