The structure and synthesis of fadyenolide,a new butemolide from piper fadyenii

The isolation, structure and synthesis of 5,6-$\text{Z}$- and $\text{E}$- fadyenolides, the simplest butenolides of the piperolide series, are reported.     

Simultaneous detection and quantification of DNA and protein biomarkers in spectrum of cardiovascular diseases in a microfluidic microbead chip

The rapid and simultaneous detection of DNA and protein biomarkers is necessary to detect the outbreak of a disease or to monitor a disease. For example, cardiovascular diseases are a major cause of adult mortality worldwide. We have developed a rapidly adaptable platform to assess biomarkers using a microfluidic technology. Our model mimics autoantibodies against three proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Cell-free mitochondrial DNA (cfmDNA) and DNA controls are detected via fluorescence probes. The biomarkers are covalently bound on the surface of size- (11–15 μm) and dual-color encoded microbeads and immobilized as planar layer in a microfluidic chip flow cell. Binding events of target molecules were analyzed by fluorescence measurements with a fully automatized fluorescence microscope (end-point and real-time) developed in house. The model system was optimized for buffers and immobilization strategies of the microbeads to enable the simultaneous detection of protein and DNA biomarkers. All prime target molecules (anti-CRP, anti-BNP, anti-LDL, cfmDNA) and the controls were successfully detected both in independent reactions and simultaneously. In addition, the biomarkers could also be detected in spiked human serum in a similar way as in the optimized buffer system. The detection limit specified by the manufacturer is reduced by at least a factor of five for each biomarker as a result of the antibody detection and kinetic experiments indicate that nearly 50 % of the fluorescence intensity is achieved within 7 min. For rapid data inspection, we have developed the open source software digilogger, which can be applied for data evaluation and visualization.

Graphical abstract

     

Practical and highly enantioselective ring opening of cyclic meso-anhydrides mediated by cinchona alkaloids

The cinchona alkaloid-mediated opening of prochiral cyclic anhydrides in the presence of methanol leading to optically active hemiesters is described. Very structurally diverse anhydrides are converted into their corresponding methyl monoesters, and either enantiomer can be obtained with up to 99% ee by using quinine or quinidine as directing additive. After the reaction, the alkaloids can be recovered almost quantitatively and reused without loss of enantioselectivity. Additionally, a catalytic protocol which permits the substoichiometric use of quinidine in the presence of easily accessible pentamethylpiperidine (pempidine) is presented.