Synthesis and revision of the stereochemistry of a cyclopentenone natural product isolated from ascomycete strain A23-98

The 2-propenyl-4,5-dihydroxycyclopent-2-enones 4, 10 and 14 have been synthesised in optically active form. NMR data suggest the compounds 10 and 14 (but not 4) correspond to compounds isolated from ascomycete strain A23-98.     

Synthetic and structural study of 4-phosphacyclohexanones and 3-aza-7-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-ones

The synthesis of bicyclic phosphorus–nitrogen (PN) compounds containing the rigid bicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-one framework was attempted using the Mannich condensation reaction of four different phosphorinanone classes with amines and aldehydes. Three different isomers of 4-tert-butyl-2,6-di(methoxycarbonyl)-3,5-bis(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-4-phosphacyclohexanone were obtained from the Michael addition reaction of tert-butylphosphine with 2,4-di(methoxycarbonyl)-1,5-bis(p-dimethylaminophenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one. The reaction of the all-equatorial isomer with methylamine and formaldehyde produced the bicyclic PN compound 7-tert-butyl-1,5-di(methoxycarbonyl)-6,8-bis(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-3-methyl-3-aza-7-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-one. The identical Mannich reaction of the enol tautomer also yielded the same product, as well as the PN compound 4-tert-butyl-6-methoxycarbonyl-5-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)-2-methyl-2-aza-4-phosphacyclohexanone and the E/Z isomers of 3-(p-dimethylaminophenyl)methyl-2-propenoate. The newly synthesised 3-aza-7-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-9-one PN compound adopts a chair–chair conformation both in solution and the solid state.     

Preparation of thieno[2,3-b]pyrroles starting from ketene-N,S-acetals

Thieno[2,3-b]pyrroles 4 can easily be synthesised in two different ways by using phenyl isothiocyanate and activated methylene compounds. The priority of the formation of the thiophene or pyrrole ring is investigated.     

Synthesis of fluorescent water-soluble functionalised benzo[a]phenoxazinium salts

In order to develop long-wavelength functionalised oxazine dyes with good water solubility and high photostability for biological applications, a series of novel side-chain functionalised benzo[a]phenoxazinium salts were synthesised and characterised. These polycyclic cationic compounds showed strong fluorescence in ethanol and water (pH 7.4), with an emission wavelengths higher than 637 nm, as well as high quantum yields and moderate Stokes’ shifts. The photostability of the fluorophores synthesised, under irradiation at 419 nm, was good to excellent in ethanol and moderate in water at physiological pH.     

Synthesis of short and long-wavelength functionalised probes: amino acids' labelling and photophysical studies

Fluorescent labelling of α-amino acids at their N or C terminals in the main and lateral chains at short and long wavelengths was carried out in different ways. The N-[3-(naphthalen-1-ylamino)propanoyl]amino acid methyl esters synthesised showed strong fluorescence in the visible region (∼415 nm) of the electromagnetic spectrum. Condensation of these compounds with 5-diethylamino-2-nitrosophenol or 5-ethylamino-4-methyl-2-nitrosophenol produced the benzo[a]phenoxazine derivatives, with maximum emission wavelengths shifted to values higher than 644 nm. The synthesis of novel functionalised 5,9-diaminobenzo[a]phenoxazinium salts, by reaction of 5-ethylamino-4-methyl-2-nitrosophenol and N-substituted 1-naphthylamine and their use in the covalent labelling of the N or C terminals of valine, produced derivatives with long-wavelength emissions (644-653 nm). Photophysical studies using the synthesised compounds both in different solvents and in controlled pH were undertaken. Preliminary evaluation of photostability of the cationic polycyclic heterocycles in ethanol and water at physiological pH was also performed.     

A new eco-friendly strategy for the synthesis of novel antimicrobial spiro-oxindole derivatives via supramolecular catalysis

Novel spiro-oxindole derivatives were synthesised by one-pot multicomponent reaction using isatins, urea and 1,3-dicarbonyls. β-Cyclodextrin, an oligosaccharide, catalysed the reaction and can be reused for further reaction after recovery. This developed synthetic route is environmentally benign in which water is used as solvent to produce excellent yields of products. The synthesised compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against two bacteria and two fungi. All the synthesised spiro-oxindoles exhibit significant antimicrobial activity.     

醋酸铟化合物的合成及热稳定性研究

合成了３个新的醋酸铟化合物；Ｅｔ２ＩｎＯＡｃ，ＥｔＩｎ（ＯＡｃ）２，Ｉｎ（ＯＡｃ）３，并经元素分析，ＩＲ及ＭＳ鉴定，讨论了二乙基醋酸铟化合物受热引起的歧化反应和这些化合物的热稳定性。．     

Stereoselective synthesis of new bicyclic N,O-iso-homonucleoside analogues

The synthesis of two new bicyclic nucleoside analogues is reported. These compounds are iso-homonucleoside and are synthesised through a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an enantiopure cyclic nitrone to protected allyl acohol and subsequent introduction of thymine by a Mitsunobu reaction.     

About the Leuckart reaction of chiral 2-norbornanones bearing electron-withdrawing groups: reaction of bridgehead triflates and triflamides

The mechanism of the Leuckart reaction of 3,3- and 7,7-dimethyl-2-oxo-1-norbornyl triflates and triflamides, synthesised by us starting from (1R)-camphor and (1R)-fenchone, has been studied. Strikingly, the electron-withdrawing capacity of the bridgehead substituents has demonstrated not to be enough to control the Wagner-Meerwein rearrangement during the course of the reaction, so that only both enantiomers of a 3,3-dimethylnorbornanediamine derivative have been obtained as final products. As a result, the total synthesis of these interesting chiral compounds has been optimised and shortened until three overall steps starting from (1R)-fenchone.     

Efficient palladium-mediated or base-induced 5-endo-dig cyclisation of C5-alkynylated pyrimidine derivatives: conventional and microwave-assisted synthesis of novel furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines

A series of the novel 5-alkynyl- and furo[2,3-d]pyrimidine derivatives in which the sugar moiety is replaced by a methoxymethyl (MOM) group is synthesised using the Sonogashira cross-coupling reaction under both conventional and microwave conditions, in good to excellent yields. The 5-endo-dig cyclisation of 5-alkynylpyrimidine derivatives promoted by a Pd-catalyst or base gives the corresponding furo[2,3-d]pyrimidines in good yields.     

Functionalised benzo[a]phenoxazine dyes as long-wavelength fluorescent probes for amino acids

A series of monoreactive functional benzo[a]phenoxazinium chlorides with a carboxyl, hydroxyl, amine or chloromethyl group were used as labels in the preparation of long-wavelength fluorescent amino acid bioconjugates. UV-visible and fluorescence studies of all compounds were carried out in ethanol and water at physiological pH. The absorption and emission of all compounds synthesised were in the range 555-640 nm and 632-681 nm, respectively.     

New synthesis of N-substituted benz[g]isoquinoline-3,5,10(2H)-triones

Various N-substituted benz[g]isoquinoline-3,5,10(2H)-triones 7 were prepared starting from vitamin K₃ (menadione) 9. The key steps involve substitution of a benzylic bromide by a primary amine and intramolecular condensation across the ester moiety of a (3-bromomethyl-naphth-2-yl)acetate 8 followed by oxidation with cerium(IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) and spontaneous dehydrogenation, resulting in the title compounds 7. A selection of the synthesised new compounds was tested in vitro against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.     

A palladium complex with a new hemilabile amino- and sulfur-containing phosphinite ligand as an efficient catalyst for the Heck reaction of aryl bromides with styrene. The effect of the amino group

A palladium complex with a new hemilabile amino- and sulfur-containing phosphinite ligand has been synthesised and its crystal structure determined. This system efficiently catalyses the Heck reaction of aryl bromides with styrene at 130°C after 24 h, with turnover numbers of up to 100000 and with a selectivity towards trans-stilbenes ranging from 91.5 to 96.3%. The analogous sulfur-containing phosphinite without the amino group has also been synthesised and subjected to the Heck reaction. The constructive role of the amino group on the formation of the P,S-chelate palladium complex as well as in the Heck reaction is discussed.     

Unique self-anhydride formation in the degradation of cytidine-5'-monophosphosialic acid (CMP-Neu5Ac) and cytidine-5'-diphosphosialic acid (CDP-Neu5Ac) and its application in CMP-sialic acid analogue synthesis

Sialyloligosaccharides are synthesised by various glycosyltransferases and sugar nucleotides. All of these nucleotides are diphosphate compounds except for cytidine-5'-monophosphosialic acid (CMP-Neu5Ac). To obtain an insight into why cytidine-5'-diphosphosialic acid (CDP-Neu5Ac) has not been used for the sialyltransferase reaction and why it is not found in biological organisms, the compound was synthesised. This synthesis provided the interesting finding that the carboxylic acid moiety of the sialic acid attacks the attached phosphate group. This interaction yields an activated anhydride between carboxylic acid and the phosphate group and leads to hydrolysis of the pyrophosphate linkage. The mechanism was demonstrated by stable isotope-labelling experiments. This finding suggested that CMP-Neu5Ac might also form the corresponding anhydride structure between carboxylic acid and phosphate, and this seems to be the reason why CMP-Neu5Ac is acid labile in relation to other sugar nucleotides. To confirm the role of the carboxylic acid, CMP-Neu5Ac derivatives in which the carboxylic acid moiety in the sialic acid was substituted with amide or ester groups were synthesised. These analogues clearly exhibited resistance to acid hydrolysis. This result indicated that the carboxylic acid of Neu5Ac is associated with its stability in solution. This finding also enabled the development of a novel chemical synthetic method for CMP-Neu5Ac and CMP-sialic acid derivatives.     

Novel fluorescent cyanide-selective chemosensor based on a functionalised pillar[5]arene copper(II) complex

As a novel macrocyclic host, pillar[5]arene can selectively recognise guest molecules in organic solvents. In this study, a fluorescent chemosensor composed of a functionalised-pillar[5]arene and Cu²⁺ metal complex (PN–Cu), which shows good selectivity for CN^? anions, has been designed and synthesised. Complexation between PN–Cu and anions has been probed by means of various fluorescence-based methods. PN–Cu, as a turn-on fluorescence chemosensor showed high selectivity towards CN^? ions in comparison to other anions, and its detection limit for CN^? was calculated as 9.03 × 10^?7 M. The PN–Cu sensor can serve as a recyclable component in sensing materials. Moreover, the interaction between the singly functionalised pillar[5]arene and Cu²⁺ has been probed through various tests. Based on the remarkable selectivity of the chemosensor PN–Cu, we propose that it might be used as a potential material for CN^? recognition.     

The synthesis and characterisation of novel o-substituted benzyldi-t-butylphosphine-boranes

The novel compounds o-(chloromethyl)benzyldi-t-butylphosphine-borane and o-(methoxymethyl)benzyldi-t-butylphosphine-borane have been synthesised in 54% and 51% yields, respectively, and have been fully characterised. An improved method for the synthesis of α-chloro-α′-methoxy-o-xylene is also reported.     

Stereochemical effect on biological activities of new series of piperidin-4-one derivatives

New series of (2S,3R,4S,6R)-3-methyl-4-alkyl-2,6-diarylpiperidin-4-ol were synthesised by the reduction of cis-3-alkyl-2,6-diarylpiperidin-4-one using Grignard reagent. The structural assignments and conformational studies of the synthesised compounds were established based on the IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, NOESY and mass spectral studies. Their stereochemical effect on antibacterial, antifungal and anthelmintic activities was studied.     

The influence of structural changes of symmetrical dimers containing two phenyl groups on liquid crystalline behaviour

Some symmetrical dimeric compounds containing biphenyl, biphenylcarboxylic acid or benzoiloxyphenyl moieties and polymethylene spacers were synthesised. The mesogenic properties of the synthesised compounds were investigated by optical microscopy, calorimetric and X-ray methods. It was shown that the location and direction of the ester bonds has a crucial significance in mesophase formation.     

New liquid crystals derived from thiophene connected to the 1,2,3-triazole heterocycle

In this work, six new compound derivatives from thiophene were synthesised. The three symmetrical compounds were synthesised containing two heterocyclic 1,2,3-triazole on each side of thiophene, 2,5-disubstituted and the three non-symmetrical compounds were synthesised containing alkyne groups as a spacer in replacing one of these heterocycles. The structural modifications were made by changing the number of alkoxy groups in order to understand the relation between structure and mesomorphic behaviour. Some of the compounds presented liquid crystalline properties, smectic and nematic mesophases. The non-symmetrical compounds allowed for a low emission in the blue region.     

Trifluoroethoxy‐Coating Improves the Axial Ligand Substitution of Subphthalocyanine

A novel trifluoroethoxy (TFEO)‐coated SubPc ( 1 ) and various axially functionalised derivatives thereof ( 2 ) have been efficiently synthesised. The advantage of the TFEO‐coating on SubPcs compared to conventional fluorine‐coated or uncoated molecules has been clearly demonstrated, as axial derivatisation has been realised in very good yields. Among various SubPcs synthesised, formyl‐SubPc 2 f has been further used as a building block for the synthesis of donor–acceptor SubPc–C₆₀ hybrid 8 , while iodo‐SubPc 2 e has been used for the synthesis of trifluoroethoxy‐coated SubPc–Pc dyads 9 and 10 . All of these compounds are highly soluble in all common organic solvents, which greatly facilitates their purification and characterisation. The SubPcs 2 a – c incorporating oligoethylene glycol moieties are attractive from a biological point of view, while SubPcs 8 – 10 may prove useful for studies of intramolecular electron‐ and energy‐transfer processes.