A new dihydrobenzofuran lignanoside from Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron

A new lignanoside, （7R,8S）-7,8-dihydro-7-（4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyphenyl）-1＇-formyl-3＇-y-methoxyl-8-hydroxymethylbenzo- furan-4-O-β-D-glucopyranoside （moellenoside A）, was isolated from Selaginella moellendorffii Hieron. Its structure was determined by spectroscopic evidences. 2007 Wei Sheng Feng. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved.     

Synthesis and electrochemical evaluation of substituted imidazo[4,5-d]pyrrolo[3,2-f][1,3] diazepine scaffolds

Substituted 4-(2,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrol-3-yl)-1H-imidazoles were prepared from 5-amino-1-aryl-4-cyanoformimidoylimidazoles and cyanoacetamide, under mild experimental conditions. The pyrrolyl-imidazoles were cyclized to the corresponding 7,8-dihydroimidazo[4,5-b]pyrrolo[3,4-d]pyridines by reflux in ethanol, with catalysis by DBU. The same pyrrolyl-imidazoles were reacted with orthoesters, at room temperature and in the presence of sulfuric acid, to generate 3,7-dihydro-8H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyrrolo[3,2-f]diazepines in very good yield. Electrochemical studies of the imidazo[4,5-d]pyrrolo[3,2-f][1,3] diazepine derivatives were carried out. The reduction potential of 7-ethyl-3-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-3H-imidazo[4,5-d]pyrrolo[3,2-f][1,3] diazepine-9-carbonitrile was in the adequate range for presenting bioreduction properties.     

Two pairs of enantiomeric neolignans from Lobelia chinensis

A pair of new enantiomeric neolignans, ethyl 3-[(2R,3S)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl] propanoate (+) (1) and ethyl 3-[(2S,3R)-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-7-methoxy-2,3-dihydro-1-benzofuran-5-yl] propanoate (-) (1), together with a pair of known enantiomeric neolignans (+) (2) and (-) (2), as well as five known lignans (3-7) were isolated from the ethanol extract of Lobelia chinensis. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses, including 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and CD spectra.     

Substituted γ-lactones. XXX. Reactions of α-Keto-β-Subtituted-γ-butyrolactones with diamines

The condensation reaction between α-keto-β-aroyl (or acyl) -γ-butyrolactones, 4a-4e and o-phenylenediamine or 2, 3-diaminonaphthalene leads under retrograde aldol condensation involving loss of formaldehyde to formation of 3-substituted-3, 4-dihydro-2 (1H) quinoxalinones or benzo [g] quinoxalinones, 7a-7g , respectively as a new convenient synthesis of this type of heterocyclic systems. The reaction of type 4 compound with 4, 5-diaminopyromidine, 8 , was found to proceed differently. 2-[(4-Amino-5-pyrimidinyl)amine]-4-oxo-3-(hydroxymethyl)-4-phenyl-2-butenoic acid 9 was the only product formed when the reaction between 4a and 8 was run in ethanol. The same reaction in glacial acetic acid proceeds with loss of formaldehyde, to afford 7-phenacylidene-7,8-dihydro-6 (1H)-pteridione 10 . The reaction between type 4 compounds and ethylenediamine or 1, 4-phenylenediamine leads to the formation of the bis-condensation products 13–15 , respectively.     

Synthesis of 4-[(1,3-diaminopyrrolo[3′,4′:4,5]pyrido[2,3-d]-pyrimidin-8-yl)benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid as a potential antifolate

This paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor Roland K. Robins The synthesis of 4-[(1,3-diaminopyrrolo[3′,4′:4,5]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-8-yl)benzoyl]-L-glutamic acid ( 18 ), a potential antifolate and anticancer agent, has been achieved starting from 1,4-dibromobutan-2-ol with alkyl p-aminobenzoic acids. Condensation of these two agents gave 1-(4-alkoxycarbonylphenyl)pyrrolidin-3-ols 7a,b , which were oxidized to the corresponding pyrrolidin-3-one derivatives 8a,b . Compounds 8a,b were converted into 1,3-diamino-8-(4-alkoxycarbonylphenyl)-7,8-dihydro-9H-pyrrolo[3′,4′:4,5]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines 12a,b in 4 steps. Saponification of 12b the benzoate ester and coupling with di-tert-butyl glutamate afforded a mixture of 7,8-dihydro product 16 and its aromatized derivative 17 . Finally hydrolysis of esters 16 or 17 gave only the title compound 18 . The 7,8-dihydro tricyclic derivatives were easily air-oxidized to form their fully aromatized compounds. The title compound 18 was one tenth less active than MTX against HL-60 cells in culture.     

C,O-dialkylation of Meldrum's acid: synthesis and reactivity of 1,3,7,7-tetramethyl-4H,10H-6,8,9-trioxa-2-thiabenz[f]azulen-5-one

Reaction of Meldrum's acid with 3,4-bis(chloromethyl)-2,5-dimethylthiophene (1) or 3,4-bis(bromomethyl)-2,5-dimethylthiophene (2) produces the kinetically favored C,O-dialkylation product, 1,3,7,7-tetramethyl-4H,10H-6,8,9-trioxa-2-thiabenz[f]azulen-5-one (4). Recrystallization of 4 from refluxing methanol results in the methanolysis product 5-(4-methoxymethyl-2,5-dimethylthiophen-3-ylmethyl)-2,2-dimethyl[1,3]dioxane-4,6-dione (5). Attempts to isomerize 4 to the thermodynamically favored C,C-dialkylation product, 1,3-dimethyl-5,6-dihydro-4H-cyclopenta[c]thiophene(2-spiro-5)2,2-dimethyl-4,6-dione (8), result in the formation of 1,3-dimethyl-7,8-dihydro-4H-thieno[3,4-c]oxepin-6-one (6). The transformation occurs via a retro-Diels-Alder elimination of acetone followed by hydrolysis and decarboxylation of the resulting ketene. The ketene is trapped by tert-butyl alcohol, furnishing 1,3-dimethyl-6-oxo-7,8-dihydro-4H,6H-thieno[3,4-c]oxepine-7-carboxylic acid tert-butyl ester (7). All compounds are characterized spectroscopically as well as by X-ray crystallography of products 4-7.     

Amides from the stem of Capsicum annuum

7'-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-N-[(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]propenamide (1), 7'-(3',4'-dihydroxyphenyl)-N-[(4-methoxyphenyl)ethyl]propenamide (2), N-p-trans-coumaroyltyramine (3), N-trans-caffeoyltyramine (4), beta-sitostenone (5), ferulic acid (6), hydroferulic acid (7), 5-hydroxy-3,4-dimethoxycinnamic acid (8), veratic acid (9), vanillic acid (10), isovanillic acid (11), syringic acid (12), (+)-syringaresinol (13), and pheophorbide a (14) were isolated from the stems of Capsicum annuum (Solanaceae). Among them, 1 is a new amide compound. The structures of these compounds were characterized and identified by spectral analyses.     

The Terpenoids of Maytenus boaria MOL. (Celastraceae)

The known triterpenoids β-amyrin (= olean-12-en-3β-ol; 22 ), lupeol (= lup-20(29)-en-3β-ol; 17 ), betulin (= lup-20(29)-ene-3β,28-diol; 18 ), lup-20(29)-ene-3β,30-diol ( 20 ), oleanolic acid (= 3β-hydroxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid; 21 ), and betulonic acid (= 3-oxolup-20(29)-en-28-oic acid; 19 ), together with epicatechol (= cis-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol; 23 ), 5′-O-methylgallocatechol (= trans-2-(3,4-dihydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol; 24 ), and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde were isolated from the aerial parts of Maytenus boaria (MOL. ). Additonally, the eight 4,C⁴-dihydro-β-agarofuran sesquiterpenoids 1–8 , one of them a diol with a (4R)-configuration, and compound 9 were present in the extract. The structures of these compounds were established by spectroscopic and chemical means.     

Bioactive aromatic derivatives from endophytic fungus, Cytospora sp

Two new benzyl gamma-butyrolactone analogues, (R)-5-((S)-hydroxy(phenyl)-methyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (1) and its 6-acetate (2), and a new naphthalenone derivative (8), together with eight additional known aromatic derivatives, (S)-5-((S)-hydroxy(phenyl)-methyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (3), (S)-5-benzyl-dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (4), 5-phenyl-4-oxopentanoic acid (5), gamma-oxo-benzenepentanoic acid methyl ester (6), 3-(2,5-dihydro-4-hydroxy-5-oxo-3-phenyl-2-furyl)propionic acid (7), (3R)-5-methylmellein (9), integracins A (10) and B (11) were isolated from Cytospora sp., an endophytic fungus isolated from Ilex canariensis from Gomera. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, comparison with reported data, and chemical interconversion. The absolute configurations of the new compounds (1, 2, 8) were established on the basis of optical rotation or CD spectra analysis. Preliminary studies showed antimicrobial activity of these compounds against the fungi Microbotryum violaceum, Botrytis cinerea and Septoria tritici, the alga Chlorella fusca, and the bacterium Bacillus megaterium.     

Studies on the syntheses of analgesics. Part XXXIX . Synthesis of 1,2,3,4,5,6- Hexahydro-8-hydroxy -2,6-methane-3,6,1 1-trimethyl-2,3-benzo|g| diazocine and 1,2,3,4,5,10,11,12-Octahydro-7-hydroxy-1,5-dimethylpyridazino|2,3-b| isoquinoline |studies on the syntheses of heterocyclic compounds. Part LXI |

1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexahydro-8-hydroxy-2,6-methano-3,6,1 1-trimethyl-2,3-benzo |g| diazocine (IV) and 1,2,3,4,5,10,11,12-octahydro-7-hydroxy-1,5-dimethylpyridazino |2,3-b| isoquinoline (VI) were synthesized from a common intermediate, 3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2-butanone (VII), through several steps. Reaction of VII with ethyl bromoacetate gave the mixture of ethyl 4-keto-3-(3-methoxyphenyl)-3-methylpentanoate (XIV) and ethyl 4-keto-5-(3-methoxyphenyl)hexanoate (XV) which were hydrolyzed and condensed with methylhydrazine to give the 4,5-dihydro-5-(3-methoxyphenyl)-2,5,6-trimethyl- (XVIII) and 4,5-dihydro-6-(3-methoxy-α-methylbenzyl)-2-methylpyridazine-3(2H)one (XIX). Reduction of XVIII and XIX followed hy cyclization afforded the 2,3-benzo |g| diazocine (XXII) and the pyridazino |2,3-b| isoquinoline (XXIII) which on treatment with 47% hydrobromine acid afforded the phenolic bases (IV and VI), respectively. The mass spectrum of IV, VI, XXII and XXIII was also discussed.     

Antihepatitis B virus constituents of Solanum erianthum

Eleven compounds were isolated from the methanolic extract of the leaves of Solanum erianthum D. Don, including five alpha-linolenic acid analogs, alpha-linolenic acid (1), 13S-hydroxy-9(Z),11(E)-octadecadienoic acid (2), 9S-hydroxy-10(E),12(Z), 15(Z)-octadectrienoic acid (3), 9(Z),11(E)-octadecadienoic acid (4), and octadecanoic acid (5); two benzofuran-type lactones, loliolide (6) and dihydroactinidiolide (7); two steroidal alkaloids, solasonine (8) and solamargine (9); a flavonol glycoside, camelliaside C (10); and a flavone, 5-methoxy-(3,4"-dihydro-3",4"-diacetoxy)-2",2'-dimethylpyrano-(7,8:5",6")-flavone (11). Among these isolated compounds, 9 showed the most potent activity against HBsAg, with an IC50 of 1.57 microM, followed by 8 (IC50 is 5.89 microM). In the testing against HBeAg, 11 was the only active compound with an IC50 of 36.11 microM. Compound 9 also revealed strong inhibition of DNA replication towards HBV and its IC50 was 2.17 microM. However, alpha-linolenic acid (1) showed a prominent selected index (SI), both in anti-HBsAg and inhibition of DNA replication with SI values of 7.75 and 7.18, respectively. This is the first report that unsaturated fatty acid 1, steroidal alkaloid glycoside 9 and flavone 11, all showed excellent activity against HBV. These results provide lead candidates in the development of anti-HBV drugs from natural sources.     

New heterocyclic structures. [1,2,5]Thiadiazolo[3′,4′:4,5]pyrimido-[2,1-b][1,3]thiazine and thiazolo[3,2a][1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine

Derivatives of two new molecular structures, namely, 7,8-dihydro-6H,10H-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3′,4′:4,5]pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazin-10-one and 6,7-dihydro-9H-thiazolo[3,2-a][1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-d][pyrimidin-9-one, and derivatives of N-substituted sulfamic acid, namely, (8-amino-3,4-dihydro-2H,6H-pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazin-6-on-7-yl)sulfamic acid and (7-amino-2,3-dihydro-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-on-6-yl)sulfamic acid, were separated out as by-products in the reduction reaction of 8-amino-3,4-dihydro-7-nitroso-2H,6H-pyrimido[2,1- b][1,3]thiazin-6-one and 7-amino-2,3-dihydro-6-nitroso-5H-thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidin-5-one derivatives, respectively, with sodium hydrosulfite. A mechanism of reaction, which hypothesizes the action of sodium hydrosulfite in an asymmetic form, is proposed. The results of single-crystal X-ray investigation on 7,8-dihydro-6H,10H-[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3′,4′:4,5]pyrimido[2,1-b][1,3]thiazin-10-one (R = 0.032 for 863 reflections) and (8-amino-3,4-dihydro-2H,6H-pyrimido[2,1-b]- [1,3]thiazin-6-on-7-yl)sulfamic acid, sodium salt (R = 0.028 for 3507 reflections) are reported.     

Studies on uricosuric diuretics. II. Substituted 7,8-dihydrofuro[2,3-g]-1,2-benzisoxazole-7-carboxylic acids and 7,8-dihydrofuro[2,3-g]benzoxazole-7-carboxylic acids.

A series of substituted 7,8-dihydrofuro[2,3-g]-1,2-benzisoxazole-7-carboxylic acids 9 and 7,8-dihydrofuro[2,3-g]benzoxazole-7-carboxylic acids 12 were synthesized and evaluated for uricosuric and diuretic activities in rats. Many of the benzisoxazole derivatives 9 showed uricosuric and only weak diuretic activities, whereas the benzoxazoles 12 exhibited potent diuretic activities with little affecting urate excretion. Among these compounds, 5-chloro-7,8-dihydro-3-phenylfuro[2,3-g]-1,2-benzisoxazole-7-carbo xylic acid (9b, AA-193) was found to be a potent uricosuric agent without diuretic activity and was selected for further development.     

Five-membered 2,3-dioxo heterocycles: LXXXIX. Reaction of methyl 1-aryl-3-cinnamoyl-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates with (E)-4-arylaminopent-3-en-2-ones. Crystalline and molecular structure of 9-acetyl-4-cinnamoyl-3-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-methyl-7-phenyl-1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nona-3,8-diene-2,6-dione

Methyl 1-aryl-3-cinnamoyl-4,5-dioxo-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrrole-2-carboxylates reacted with 4-benzylamino- and 4-arylaminopent-3-en-2-ones to give 1-aryl-7-benzyl- and 1,7-diaryl-9-acetyl-4-cinnamoyl-3-hydroxy-8-methyl-1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nona-3,8-diene-2,6-diones. The crystalline and molecular structures of 9-acetyl-4-cinnamoyl-3-hydroxy-1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-8-methyl-7-phenyl-1,7-diazaspiro[4.4]nona-3,8-diene-2,6-dione were studied by X-ray analysis.     

Polyphenolic components of knotwood extracts from Abies sibirica

An extract from the knotwood of Abies sibirica (Siberian fir) was studied by HPLC, NMR spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry with the goal to identify new sources of phytoestrogens, which are promising medicinal agents, and to obtain new representatives of natural compounds of the indicated group. The following compounds were found in the extract and identified: 2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-3-hydroxymethyl-4-[1-hydroxy-1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-phenyl)methyl]tetrahydrofuran (1), 5′-(7-hydroxymatairesinyl)-5″-(7?-hydroxymatairesinol) (2), 2,3-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)butane-1,4-diol (3, (?)-secoisolariciresinol), and 3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzyl)-5-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-(hydroxymethyl)dihydro-furan-2(3H)-one (4). Compound 2 was previously unknown.

     

Electrophilic substitution of the nido-dicarbaborate anion 7,8-nido-C2B9H12- with sulfenyl chlorides

Sulfenyl chlorides RSCl (R = p-C(6)H(4)OMe, Ph, p-C(6)H(4)NO(2), CN or 2-C(5)H(4)N) react with 7,8-nido-C(2)B(9)H(12)(-) with asymmetric substitution on the pentagonal C(2)B(3) face to give 9-RS-7,8-nido-C(2)B(9)H(11)(-) (R = p-C(6)H(4)OMe (3), Ph (4), p-C(6)H(4)NO(2) (5), CN (6)) and the zwitterion 9-(S-2-C(5)H(4)NH)-7,8-nido-C(2)B(9)H(11) (7), respectively, in high yield, while tBuSCl did not react and S(2)Cl(2) led to decomposition. Further reaction of 5-7 with iodine gave the corresponding iodo derivatives NMe(4) [9-I-11-RS-7,8-nido-C(2)B(9)H(10)] (R = p-C(6)H(4)NO(2) (8), CN (9)) and the zwitterion 9-I-11-(S-2-C(5)H(4)NH)-7,8-nido-C(2)B(9)H(11) (10), respectively. Compounds 3-10 were fully characterised by (1)H, (11)B, (11)B{(1)H}, (13)C{(1)H} spectroscopy, IR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and elemental analysis, 3-7 also by (11)B-(11)B{(1)H} COSY NMR spectroscopy and 8-10 by X-ray structure determination.     

Synthesis of 7,8-dihydro-6H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolin-5-ones and related derivatives

This paper describes the synthesis of a new series of 4-amino-1-(unsubstituted and chloro or fluoro substituted benzyl)-7,8-dihydro-6H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinolin-5-ones 8 and the corresponding 7,8-dihydro-6H,9H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]quinoline-4,5-diones 13 . The derivatives obtained by reaction of these compounds with sodium azide in concentrated sulfuric acid are also reported.     

Polyketides from a marine sponge-derived fungus Mycelia sterilia and proton-proton long-range coupling

A series of polyketide-originated metabolites (1-5) were isolated from a marine sponge-derived fungus Mycelia sterilia. Of these, 1-3 were new compounds. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods as (4R*, 5S*, 6S*, 8S*, 13R*)-1-(2,8-dihydroxy-1,2,6-trimethyl-1,2,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-naphthalen-1-yl)-3-methoxy-propan-1-one (1), 4,8-dihydroxy-7-(2-hydroxy-ethyl)-6-methoxy-3,4-dihydro-2H-naphthalen-1-one (2) and 1-methyl-naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid (3). In 1, the proton-proton long-range coupling phenomenon claimed attention and was discussed.     

Studies on the constituents of Broussonetia species X. Six new alkaloids from Broussonetia kazinoki Sieb.

Six new alkaloids, broussonetines W, X, M1, U1, J3, and J2 (1-6) were isolated from the branches of Broussonetia kazinoki SIEB. (Moraceae) as minor constituents. They were formulated as (2R,3R,4R,5R)-2-hydroxy-methyl-3,4-dihydroxy-5-17-(cyclohexy-2-on-1(6)-enyl)heptyllpyrrolidine (1), (2R,3S,4R,5R)-2-hydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxy-5-17-(cyclohexy-2-on-1(6)-enyl)heptyl]pyrrolidine-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), (2R,3R,4R,5R)-2-hydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxy-5-[(9R)-9,13-dihydroxytridecyl]- pyrrolidine (3), (2S,3S,4S)-2-hydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxy-5-(10-oxo-13-hydroxytridecyl)-5- pyrroline (4), (2R)-2-[(IS,2S)-1,2-dihydroxy-8-1(2R,3R,4R,5R)-5-(2-hydroxymethyl-3,4-dihydroxy-1-acetylpyrrolidinyl)loctyl]piperidine (5), (2R)-2-[(1S,2S)-1,2-dihydroxy-8-[(2R,3R, 4R,5R)-5-(2-hydroxymethy]-3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidinyl)]octyl]piperidine (6).     

Monitoring of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine in urine by high-performance liquid chromatography after pre-column derivatization with glyoxal reagents

A new, simple and sensitive pre-column fluorescence derivatization high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of the oxidative DNA stress marker, 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine, was developed. Solid-phase extraction using an Oasis HLB cartridge avoided troublesome sample preparation steps, interference from charged species and frequent and essential electrode maintenance in electrochemical procedures. 8-Oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine and other guanine compounds were selectively derivatized with glyoxal reagents (phenylglyoxal, 3,4-methylenedioxyglyoxal, 2-naphtylglyoxal and 6-methoxynaphthylglyoxal) at 40-60 degrees C. Derivatization with 6-methoxynaphthylglyoxal at 40 degrees C for 30 min gave the strongest fluorescence product. The fluorescence derivatives from reaction with 6-methoxynaphthylglyoxal were separated on a Capcell Pak C18 SG 120A column (4.6 mm i.d. x 150 mm, 5 microm) with acetonitrile-5 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6.0; 3:7, v/v) as mobile phase. The detection wavelength of the fluorescence derivative of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine was lambda(ex) 400 nm and lambda(em) 510 nm. The detection limit of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine was 1 ng/mL using 50 mL of urine. The calibration graphs were linear up to 30 microg/mL for 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine. The relative standard deviation of 20 ng/mL of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine was 7.0%. The proposed method was compared with the enzymatic ELISA 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine analysis method (8-OH-dG Check, JaICA, Shizuoka, Japan). The correlation coefficient was 0.79 (n = 20) and y = 0.85x + 5.34. The proposed method was applied to the monitoring of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine in urine from male heavy smokers.