Anti-inflammatory butenolide derivatives from the coral-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus and structure revisions of aspernolides D and G, butyrolactone VI and 4′,8′′-diacetoxy butyrolactone VI

Chemical investigation of the coral-derived fungus Aspergillus terreus led to the discovery of ten butenolide derivatives (1–10), including four new ones (1–4). The new structures were characterized on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data. Compounds 1 and 2 were a pair of rare C-8′′ epimers with vicinal diol motifs. The absolute configurations of 1–4 were determined via [Mo2(AcO)4] induced circular dichroism (ICD) spectra and comparison of their experimental ECD spectra. Importantly, the structures of reported aspernolides D and G, butyrolactone VI and 4′,8′′-diacetoxy butyrolactone VI have been correspondingly revised via a combined strategy of experimental validations, 13C NMR predictions by ACD/Labs software, and 13C NMR calculations. Herein we provide valuable referenced 13C NMR data (C-7′′, C-8′′, and C-9′′) for the structure elucidations of butenolide derivatives with 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-methylbutane-2,3-diol, 2-(2,3-dihydrobenzofuran-2-yl)propan-2-ol, or 2,2-dimethylchroman-3-ol motifs. Additionally, all the isolates (1–10) were assessed for anti-inflammatory activity by measuring the amount of NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages, and compound 10 showed an even stronger inhibitory effect than the postive control indomethacin, presenting it as a promising lead compound for the development of new anti-inflammatory agents.