Synthesis of Barleriaquinones-I & II

Synthesis of two naturally occurring anthraquinones, Barleriaquinone-I (BQ-I) and Barleriaquinone-II (BQ-II) is achieved from commercially available naphthalene-1,5-diol. The anthraquinone core is constructed by utilizing simultaneous Heck and cross coupling reaction as the key step.     

Magnetic Alignment of Polymer Macro‐Nanodiscs Enables Residual‐Dipolar‐Coupling‐Based High‐Resolution Structural Studies by NMR Spectroscopy

Experimentally measured residual dipolar couplings (RDCs) are highly valuable for atomic‐resolution structural and dynamic studies of molecular systems ranging from small molecules to large proteins by solution NMR spectroscopy. Here we demonstrate the first use of magnetic‐alignment behavior of lyotropic liquid‐crystalline polymer macro‐nanodiscs (>20 nm in diameter) as a novel alignment medium for the measurement of RDCs using high‐resolution NMR. The easy preparation of macro‐nanodiscs, their high stability against pH changes and the presence of divalent metal ions, and their high homogeneity make them an efficient tool to investigate a wide range of molecular systems including natural products, proteins, and RNA.     

A straight forward and first total synthesis of Penilumamides B–D

A simple and straight forward first total synthesis of rare lumazine peptides, Penilumamide B, C and D isolated from the marine-derived fungi Aspergillus and Penicillium sp. is described from a common starting material, 1,3-dimethyllumazine-6-carboxylic acid. Penilumamide C was prepared from Penilumamide B by oxidation of the methionine residue to the corresponding sulphone.     

Formation of pH‐Resistant Monodispersed Polymer–Lipid Nanodiscs

Polymer lipid nanodiscs are an invaluable system for structural and functional studies of membrane proteins in their near‐native environment. Despite the recent advances in the development and usage of polymer lipid nanodisc systems, lack of control over size and poor tolerance to pH and divalent metal ions are major limitations for further applications. A facile modification of a low‐molecular‐weight styrene maleic acid copolymer is demonstrated to form monodispersed lipid bilayer nanodiscs that show ultra‐stability towards divalent metal ion concentration over a pH range of 2.5 to 10. The macro‐nanodiscs (>20 nm diameter) show magnetic alignment properties that can be exploited for high‐resolution structural studies of membrane proteins and amyloid proteins using solid‐state NMR techniques. The new polymer, SMA‐QA, nanodisc is a robust membrane mimetic tool that offers significant advantages over currently reported nanodisc systems.     

Stereoselective total synthesis of paecilomycin E and F and its two congeners Cochliomycin C and 6-epi-Cochliomycin C

An efficient and concise approach to the total synthesis of Paecilomycins E (1) and F (2), Cochliomycin C (4) and 6-epi-Cochliomycin C (3) is described. The synthesis involves novel route to the synthesis of Paecilomycin E and F and further conversion to Cochliomycin C and 6-epi-Cochliomycin C. Olefin metathesis and base promoted macro lactonization being the key reactions followed by chlorination to achieve target Cochliomycin C and 6-epi-Cochliomycin C.     

Stereoselective synthesis of (R)-(−)-denopamine, (R)-(−)-tembamide and (R)-(−)-aegeline via asymmetric reduction of azidoketones by Daucus carota in aqueous medium

A simple and efficient stereoselective synthesis of (R)-denopamine and other naturally occurring hydroxy amides from optically active (R)-2-azido-1-arylethanols, is described for the first time via reduction of the corresponding -azidoarylketones with enzymes from Daucus Carota root, under mild and environmentally friendly conditions. The products are formed with high degrees of enantioselectivity.     

Efficient numerical schemes for singularly perturbed parabolic initial-boundary-value problems

In this article, we propose two efficient numerical schemes for singularly perturbed parabolic reaction-diffusion initialboundary-value problems. The spatial derivative is replaced by a hybrid scheme, which is a combination of the cubic spline and the classical central difference scheme in both the methods. In the first method, the time derivative is replaced by the Crank-Nicolson scheme, whereas in the second method the time derivative is replaced by the extended-trapezoidal scheme. These schemes are applied on the layer resolving piecewise-uniform Shishkin mesh. Numerical examples show ε -uniform convergence results. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Organocatalytic Formal Intramolecular [3+2]-Cycloaddition to Acquire Biologically Important Methanodibenzo[a,f]azulenes and Methanobenzo[f]azulenes

Lawsones were transformed into the functionally rich framework of methanodibenzo[a,f]azulenes and methanobenzo[f]azulenes in a single- or two-pot operation through five organocatalytic sequential reactions in very good yields with excellent selectivities. These resultant molecules are basic skeletons of important antibiotics, which highlights the value of this formal intramolecular [3+2]-cycloaddition as a key protocol.