Synthesis and insecticidal evaluation of phytoalexin phenalenones derivatives

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/j.cclet.2017.04.003

Phenalenone is a kind of defensive compound biosynthesized inside plants in response to the outside attack such as fungus and nematodes. A set of derivatives encompassing structural modifications on the privileged phenalenone scaffold were synthesized through introduction of phenyl and hydroxyl substitutes at 9-positon and 2-position and assessed their insecticidal activities against armyworm (Mythimna separata Walker) and cowpea aphids (Aphis craccivora). No obvious insecticidal activities of the synthesized compounds were observed against armyworm. Some of the 9-phenyl and 2-hydroxy substituted phenalenone analogues showed potential activities against cowpea aphids with 33%–41% mortality at 500?mg/L.

Full text of DOI:10.1016/j.cclet.2017.04.003

Accepted Manuscript
Title: Synthesis and insecticidal evaluation of phytoalexin
phenalenones derivatives
Authors: Ya-Nan Zhang, Yi-An Feng, Zhong Li, Xu-Sheng
Shao
PII:
S1001-8417(17)30130-4
DOI:
Reference:
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.cclet.2017.04.003
CCLET 4039
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Chinese Chemical Letters
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Revised date:
Accepted date:
13-1-2017
3-3-2017
4-4-2017
Please cite this article as: Ya-Nan Zhang, Yi-An Feng, Zhong Li, Xu-Sheng Shao,
Synthesis and insecticidal evaluation of phytoalexin phenalenones derivatives, Chinese
Chemical Lettershttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cclet.2017.04.003
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Original article
Synthesis and insecticidal evaluation of phytoalexin phenalenones derivatives
a,1
a, 1
a
a,
Ya-Nan Zhang , Yi-An Feng , Zhong Li , Xu-Sheng Shao
a
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 20037, China
Corresponding author.
E-mail address: shaoxusheng@ecust.edu.cn
1
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Graphical Abstract
A set of derivatives encompassing structural modifications on the privileged phenalenone scaffold were synthesized through introduction of
phenyl and hydroxyl substitutes at 9-positon and 2-position and assessed their insecticidal activities against armyworm (Mythimna separata
Walker) and cowpea aphids (Aphis craccivora).
ABSTRACT
Phenalenone is a kind of defensive compound biosynthesized inside plants in response to the outside attack such as fungus and nematodes. A set of
derivatives encompassing structural modifications on the privileged phenalenone scaffold were synthesized through introduction of phenyl and
hydroxyl substitutes at 9-positon and 2-position and assessed their insecticidal activities against armyworm (Mythimna separata Walker) and cowpea
aphids (Aphis craccivora). No obvious insecticidal activities of the synthesized compounds were observed against armyworm. Some of the 9-phenyl
and 2-hydroxy substituted phenalenone analogues showed potential activities against cowpea aphids with 33~41% mortality at 500 mg/L.
Keywords:Phenalenones derivativesInsecticidal activities Structural modifications
—
——

1
. Introduction
Phytochemicals have been successfully used for the development of biologically functional molecules because of their potential
group arrays and novel scaffold architectures [1-4]. Phytoalexin is an important part of plant defense system against diseases. In 1940,
Müller and Börger first proposed the concept of phytoalexin, which is used to describe the phenomenone that potato could produce the
chemical molecules to resist bacteria further damage after invaded by Phytophthora infestans [5]. Although the amounts of phytoalexin
in plants are not very high, they show a special activity to a variety of diseases. More and more studies have indicated that the
phytoalexin plays an important role in resisting the invasion of bacterium, fungus, nematodes and insects [6]. In recent years, research
on the biological activity, structure-activity relationship and action mechanism of the phytoalexin are developing rapidly. Therefore, it
becomes an important research direction for the development of new pesticide using the phytoalexin as the guide structure.
A number of plants including Musaceae, Strelitziaceae, Pontederiaceae and Haemodoraceae produce phytoalexins containing
phenalenone (PN) structural component [7-10]. These natural PNs or their modified structures showed fungicidal [11,12], malariacidal
[
13], radical scavenging capacity [14] and antiprotozoal activity [15]. PN derivatives have also been researched as dental drugs to
control oral key bacteria [16]. Recently Dirk Hölscher et al. reported that some PN analogues are the main defensive phytoalexins of
banana plants attacked by nematodes [17].
With a view to investigate the insecticidal effect of phenalenone analogues on cowpea aphids and armyworms, herein, we reported
the synthesis of a series of phenalenone derivatives and their insecticidal activities against cowpea aphids and armyworms.
2
. Results and discussion
2
.1. Molecular design
Holscher, D. et al. reported 9-phenyl-phenalenonles (PPNs) or 2-hydroxyl-9-phenylphenalenones (HPNs) have the rapid and long-
lasting nematicide activity to burrowing nematode Radopholus similis [15]. The substituents on the core PN have some influence on
the activity level. Compounds with fluorine are possible to improve the biological activities due to its simulation effect, electronic
effect, blocking effect and penetration effect [18]. Based on the above descriptions, we prepared nineteen substituted compounds at 9-
position and 2-position by attaching different aryl groups or non-aryl groups. The synthetic sequences for the target compounds are
depicted in Scheme 1.
2
.2. Synthesis
The PN was prepared by reaction of naphthalene and cinnamoyl chloride via Friedel-Crafts reaction and aromatization through
elimination of benzene [19]. PPNs were synthesized by slow adding PN to Grignard reagents in tetrahydrofuran at -40 °C and then in
refluxing dichloromethane catalyzed by 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ). Epoxidation of PPNs and acid treatment
of the intermediary epoxide facilitated the adding of 2-hydroxyl group to generate HPNs [20]. The corresponding mechanism was
shown in Scheme 2. Based on our experiments, a Michael addition of the Grignard reagents and PN was prefer to happen. And the
addition products were mainly determined by the steric effect. We got major products PPNs and little byproducts 1. The byproducts 2
from neucleophilic addition of carbonyl were seldom found. Another method to synthesize PPNs is bioisosterism. But bioisosterism
could limit the variety of substitutes at 9-positiion. So we chose the method of Michael addition and then epoxidation to synthesize
PPNs and HPNs.
The methods to prepare Grignard reagents are very stable, but still have some limitations. It was difficult to prepare Grignard
reagents with nitro benzene and other strong electron-withdrawing substituented benzene, which limited the introduction of types of
substituents. When the substituents were aryl groups and naphthenic groups, the yields were high reaching about 70%. But when the
substituents were alkanes, the byproducts increased. For compounds PPNs, due to the steric effect of aromatic, we obtained compounds
substituted at 9-position instead of 1-positiion or 3-positiion. All the yields were low in the synthesis of 2 hydroxyl substituted
compounds.
2
.3. Antiaphid and antiarmyworm activities
A total of nineteen phenalenone-based compounds were investigated for their activities against cowpea aphids and armyworms, the
results were summarized in Table 1 and other results were shown in the supporting information. Unfortunately, all the synthesized
compounds had no obvious antiarmyworm activities.
Due to the poor aqueous solubility, the starting testing concentration of most compounds was 100 mg/L. All the compounds had no
insecticidal activities against armyworm at 100 mg/L. Compounds PPN2, PPN5 and PPN6 had lower insecticidal activity against
aphids and the others did not show any insecticidal activities. Compounds HPN2, HPN3, HPN5, HPN6, HPN7 and HPN10 had an
insecticidal mortality of 16~41%. The compounds with substituted halogens at the para-position of the benzene had a little bit better
insecticidal activity with 16%~31% mortality at 100 mg/L. Compounds HPNs had slightly better insecticidal activities than PPNs. In
general, compounds had potential activities against aphids when the substituents were aromatic ring at 9-position. However,
compounds with fluorine did not show a good insecticidal activity as respected. When the substituents were cyclanes or alkanes, the
compounds lost antiaphid activities.
3
. Conclusion

Screening of a collection of modified phenalen-1-one based structures has led to the identification of several new and potent
insecticidal agents. Neither compound showed signs of antiarmyworm activities at concentration of 100 mg/L. While some compounds
exhibited moderate antiaphid activities. Introduction of aryl at 9-position could improve the antiaphid activities. Introduction of
hydroxyl at 2-position would enhance the antiaphid activities.
4
. Experimental
4
.1. Synthesis
1H NMR and 13C NMR spectra were recorded on BrukerAM-400 ( H at 400 MHz, 13C at 100 MHz) spectrometer with CDCl
DMSO-d as the solvent and TMS as the internal standard. High resolution electron mass spectra (ESI-TOF) were performed on a
Micromass LC-TOF spectrometer. Chemical shifts are reported in δ (parts per million) values. Analytical thin-layer chromatography
1
3 2
, D O or
6
(
TLC) was carried out on precoated plates (silica gel 60 F254), and spots were visualized with ultraviolet (UV) light.
General procedure for compounds PN: Alchlor (30 mmol) and naphthalene (10 mmol) were added to 10 mL anhydrous
dichloromethane, the mixture was cooled to room temperature. Cinnamoyl chloride (10 mmol) was added in succession under 0 °C,
and the mixture was refluxed for 3 h. Then the reaction mixture was cooled with iced hydrochloric acid and filtered. The filtrate was
extracted with dichloromethane. The solids were repeatedly boiled with hot dichloromethane and filtered until the filtrate became
colorless. All the organic extracts were combined, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate, and subjected to a rotary evaporator to give a
yellow solid. The crude product was further purified by column chromatography (petrol ether: ethyl acetate = 10:1). Yield 68% [21].
General procedure for the synthesis of PPN1-10: PN (0.004 mol) was dissolved in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (10 mL). The solution
was added dropwise to the appropriate Grignard reagent (0.006 mol, 1 mol/L in tetrahydrofuran, prepared from respective bromide and
magnesium) via a syringe at -40 °C. After stirring for 20 min, the reaction was moved to ice-bath and quenched with saturated aqueous
solution of ammonium chloride. The aqueous phase was extracted with dichloromethane and the combined organic layer was washed
with brine, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was dissolved in dichloromethane and
treated with DDQ (0.004 mol). The reaction was refluxed for 3 h, filtered to move the precipitate. The crude product was further
purified by column chromatography (petrol ether: ethyl acetate= 5:1) [22].
o
1
9
-(4-Ethylphenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one (PPN2): Yield, 71.3%; mp. 101.3 – 103.2 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl
3
): δ 8.13 (d, 1H, J =
8
4
1
.3), 8.01 (d, 1H, J = 7.9), 7.75 (d, 1H, J = 6.9), 7.66 (d, 1H, J = 9.7), 7.60 (d, 1H, J = 2.3), 7.58 (dd, 1H, J = 5.3, 2.7), 7.34 – 7.27 (m,
1
3
H), 6.59 (d, 1H, J = 9.7), 2.74 (q, 2H, J = 7.6), 1.32 (t, 3H, J = 7.6); C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl
40.09, 133.71, 131.83, 131.74, 131.67, 131.37, 130.60, 128.49, 128.46, 127.96, 127.83, 126.28, 126.10, 28.70, 15.41. HRMS (EI+)
16O (M+): 284.1201; found: 284.1198.
-(3,4,5-Trifluorophenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one (PPN5): Yield, 48.2%; mp. 204.7 – 206.9 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl
H, J = 8.3), 8.06 (d, 1H, J = 8.2), 7.82 (d, 1H, J = 6.9), 7.72 (d, 1H, J = 9.7), 7.69 – 7.63 (m, 1H), 7.51 (d, 1H, J = 8.3), 7.00 – 6.90 (m,
3
): δ 185.88, 147.91, 143.18, 140.34,
calcd. for C21
H
o
1
9
3
): δ 8.20 (d,
1
2
–
1
3
H), 6.60 (d, 1H, J = 9.7); C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl
3
): δ 185.41, 153.57 – 151.87 (m), 150.09 – 149.80 (m), 143.85, 140.88, 139.65
138.31 (m), 134.14, 132.21, 131.99, 131.90, 130.62, 130.22, 128.50, 128.17, 127.02, 126.12, 112.27 (dd, JCF = 16.2, 5.7 Hz). HRMS
+
+
(
EI ) calcd. for C19
-(4-(Trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one (PPN6): Yield, 73.5;mp. 191.3 – 193.5 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl
d, 1H, J = 8.3), 8.07 (d, 1H, J = 8.1), 7.81 (d, 1H, J = 6.9), 7.71 (dd, 3H, J = 8.9, 3.2), 7.65 (dd, 1H, J = 8.1, 7.2), 7.54 (d, 1H, J = 8.3),
9 3
H F O (M ): 310.0605; found: 310.0604.
o
1
9
3
): δ 8.21
(
7
1
.46 (d, 2H, J = 8.0), 6.59 (d, 1H, J = 9.7); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl
31.83, 130.92, 130.24, 129.18 (q, JCF = 32.5), 128.51, 128.24, 126.83, 126.09, 125.25 (q, JCF = 3.7), 124.42 (q, JCF = 270.4); F (376
3
): δ 185.65, 146.82, 145.84, 140.83, 134.06, 132.08, 131.88,
1
9
+
+
3 11 3
MHz, CDCl ): δ -62.35 (s, 3F). HRMS (EI ) calcd. for C20H F O (M ): 324.0762; found: 324.0753. (The analytical data of other target
compounds were shown in the Supporting information).
General procedure for the synthesis of HPN1-8: PPN (0.002 mol) was dissolved in anhydrous dichloromethane and cooled to 0 °C,
then treated with Triton B (0.003 mmol, CH OH) and t-butylhydroperoxide (0.003 mmol) for five hours. The reaction was quenched
with saturated aqueous solution NH Cl, the organic phase was separated, dried and evaporated. The residue was dissolved in
3
4
dichloromethane and p-toluenesulfonic acid (0.002 mmol). The progress was monitored by TLC. The final product was purified by
column chromatography (petrol ether: ethyl acetate= 6:1), affording deep-yellow solids [23].
o
1
2
-Hydroxy-9-(4-ethylphenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one (HPN2): Yield, 29.6%; mp. 132.7 – 133.9 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl
3
): δ 8.22
(
d, 1H, J = 8.2), 7.94 (d, 1H, J = 8.2), 7.74 (d, 1H, J = 7.0), 7.60 (t, 2H, J = 7.0), 7.33 (s, 4H), 7.13 (s, 1H), 4.73 (s, 1H, -OH), 2.78 (q,
1
3
2
1
3
3
H, J = 7.2), 1.34 (t, 3H, J = 7.6,); C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl ): δ 180.29, 149.77, 149.35, 143.63, 139.56, 135.60, 131.42, 130.70,
+
+
16 2
29.77, 128.79, 127.91, 127.77, 126.90, 125.06, 123.59, 112.67, 28.68, 15.26. HRMS (EI ) calcd. for C21H O (M ): 300.1150; found:
00.1146.
o
1
2
-Hydroxy-9-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one (HPN3): Yield, 22.45; mp. 185.1 – 186.5 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl
3
): δ 8.23
(
(
d, 1H, J = 8.2), 7.94 (d, 1H, J = 8.1), 7.74 (d, 1H, J = 7.0), 7.64 – 7.59 (m, 1H), 7.57 (d, 1H, J = 8.2), 7.38 – 7.32 (m, 2H), 7.22 – 7.15
1
3
m, 2H), 7.13 (s, 1H), 7.01 (s, 1H, -OH); C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl
3
): δ 180.31, 162.45 (d, JCF = 246.9), 149.77, 147.91, 138.09 (d,
J
CF = 3.5), 135.75, 131.63, 131.16, 130.93, 129.85, 129.73 (d, JCF = 8.1), 128.79, 127.14, 124.99, 123.67, 115.32 (d, JCF = 21.6), 112.91;
1
9
+
+
F (376 MHz, CDCl
-Hydroxy-9-(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one (HPN5): Yield, 34.5%; mp. 201.5 – 203.3 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl
δ 8.27 (d, 1H, J = 8.2), 7.96 (d, 1H, J = 8.1), 7.77 (d, 1H, J = 7.0), 7.68 – 7.61 (m, 1H), 7.54 (d, 1H, J = 8.2), 7.15 (s, 1H), 7.02 – 6.95
3 2
) δ -114.42 – -114.49 (m, 1F). HRMS (EI ) calcd. for C19H11FO (M ): 290.0743; found: 290.0742.
o
1
2
3
):

(
–
m, 2H), 6.94 (s, 1H, -OH); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl
137.95 (m), 135.98, 131.99, 131.31, 130.22, 129.92, 128.86, 127.62, 124.83, 123.72, 113.24, 112.42 (dd, JCF =16.3, 5.9); F (376
3
): δ 180.06, 152.58 – 152.02 (m), 150.14 – 149.70 (m), 149.61, 145.01, 138.18
1
9
+
+
MHz, CDCl
3
): δ -134.42 – -134.63 (m, 2F), -161.90 – -162.04 (m, 1F). HRMS (EI ) calcd. for C19
H
9
F
3
O
2
(M ): 326.0555; found:
3
26.0554.
o
1
2
-Hydroxy-9-(4-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one (HPN6): Yield, 30.0%; mp. 223.9 – 225.3 C; H NMR (400 MHz,
CDCl
8
3
): δ 8.28 (d, 1H, J = 8.2), 7.97 (d, 1H, J = 8.2), 7.81 – 7.71 (m, 3H), 7.67 – 7.61 (m, 1H), 7.56 (d, 1H, J = 8.2), 7.49 (d, 2H, J =
.2), 7.15 (s, 1H), 6.95 (s, 1H, -OH); 13C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl
): δ 180.27, 149.69, 147.07, 146.13, 135.89, 131.86, 131.14, 130.54,
3
1
9
1
29.66 (q, JCF = 32.5), 128.30, 127.42, 125.64, 125.26 (q, JCF = 3.7), 124.90, 124.29 (q, JCF = 270.4), 123.66, 122.94, 113.18; F (376
+
+
MHz, CDCl
3
): δ -62.36 (s, 3F). HRMS (EI ) calcd. for C20
H
11
F
3
O
2
(M ): 340.0711; found: 340.0706.
o
1
2
-Hydroxy-9-(4-chlorophenyl)-1H-phenalen-1-one (HPN7): Yield, 33.3%; mp. 211.2 – 212.8 C; H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl
3
): δ
8
.24 (d, J = 8.2, 1H), 7.95 (d, J = 8.2, 1H), 7.75 (d, J = 7.1, 1H), 7.62 (t, J = 7.7, 1H), 7.56 (d, J = 8.2, 1H), 7.47 (d, J = 8.3, 2H), 7.32
1
3
3
(d, 2H, J = 8.3), 7.14 (s, 1H), 6.99 (s, 1H, -OH); C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl ): δ 180.29, 149.74, 147.58, 140.70, 135.81, 133.73,
+
35
+
1
3
2
31.70, 130.99, 130.89, 129.86, 129.36, 128.82, 128.54, 127.22, 124.96, 123.62, 112.98. HRMS (EI ) calcd. for C20H11 ClO (M ):
+
37
+
06.0448; found: 306.0466; HRMS (EI ) calcd. for C20
2
H11 ClO (M ): 308.0418; found: 308.0418.
o
2
-Hydroxy-9-hydrocinnamyl-1H-phenalen-1-one (HPN10): Yield, 66.4%; mp. 67.9 – 69.8 C; 1H NMR (400 MHz, CDCl3): δ 8.08
(
d, 1H, J = 8.3), 8.02 (d, 1H, J = 8.1), 7.80 (d, 1H, J = 6.9), 7.76 (d, 1H, J = 9.7), 7.60 (dd, 1H, J = 7.9, 7.3), 7.44 – 7.37 (m, 2H), 7.32
+
(dd, 2H, J = 10.3, 4.8), 7.21 (t, 1H, J = 7.3), 6.78 (d, 1H, J = 9.6), 3.73 – 3.69 (m, 2H), 3.05 – 2.93 (m, 2H). HRMS (EI ) calcd. for
+
C
21
H
16O (M ): 284.1201; found:284.1202.
The analytical data of other target compounds were shown in the Supporting information.
4
.2. Antiaphid and antiarmyworm activities
All bioassays were performed on representative test organisms raised in the laboratory. Each experiment was repeated three times at
5 ± 1 °C according to the statistical requirements. Mortality rates were evaluated on the basis of a percentage scale of 0 to 100, 0
2
means no activity while 100 means total kill. If the mortality rates of the blank control were less than 5%, the results could be directly
used. If the mortality rates were more than 5% and less than 20%, the results should be corrected by V = ((X − Y)/X) × 100 (V = value
of corrected mortality; X = livability of the blank control; Y = livability of the treat) [24].
Acknowledgment
This work was financial supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 21472046，21372079) and Science and
Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality (No. 16391902300).
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[
[
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Scheme 1. Molecular design of phenalenone derivatives and their synthetic routes

Scheme 2. The mechanism of the synthesis of PPNs and the buproducts
Table 1
Activities against Aphis craccivora
Mortality (%) at various concentration (mg/L)
Compd.
5
00
100
0
20
0
PPN2
33
PPN5
PPN6
HPN2
HPN3
HPN5
n.d.
n.d.
41
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
n.d.
20
23
20
31
28
30
16
18
0
0
17
16
20
18
0
HPN6
HPN7
HPN10
n.d.= no data.
0